Our Higher Calling Ministry

2012-12-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

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"My life has changed completely since Our Higher Calling came to visit us at our school. I now have a group here where we pray for our friends and encourage them to walk closer with Jesus."
-Students from Miracle Meadows High School

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Welcome to the official website of Our Higher Calling Ministry. We are a ministry of Christians dedicated to spreading the good news of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ through Studies, Presentations, Sermons, Seminars and more. Our team includes individuals of both young and old who have been blessed of the Lord with various talents to continue the spreading of his word.

Mission Statement

“God calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example of Christ's character. In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that through cooperation with Divinity, human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character. This is God's assurance to us that we, too, may obtain complete victory.” -Peter’s Counsel to Parents, pp. 58.

CHRISTIAN REFLECTIONS

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• Why Not Believe?
by Edwin M. Cotto

READ Psalm 53:1
Think about the many things that this world can offer you, money, fame, pleasure in things or places, etc. It can all fill your heart with joy it's true, but let's face reality, none of these will last you forever. There all temporary. Some might last you 20 years, others maybe 2 days...

Read More>>

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• You’re sickness called “Sin”
by Edwin M. Cotto

READ Mark 1:29-30
Among the many beautiful stories of the New Testament, we have the lovely detail of a women who began to experience one of the worst times of her life. Her dreams and expectations, with hopes of one day realizing them, seemed to now slowly fade away. Her thoughts upon that bed were of the most frightening ones...

Read More>>

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• The case for Sola-Scriptura
by Edwin M. Cotto

READ Leviticus 24:5-6
My intent in this small document is to show how the bible is complete in all its 66 books. That we need neither the book of Enoch, the book of Morman or any other book to be an addition, equal or greater, to the authority of the Holy Bible. The bible is its own interpreter, and is the complete word of God (something even Ellen G. White stressed), and this study will attempt to prove that. The bible says...

Read More >>

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www.OurHigherCallingMinistry.com

2009-10-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Does the Word have the last Word?

The Case for Sola Scriptura

-An interesting fact to consider-

By Edwin M. Cotto

My Intent in this small document is to show how the bible is complete in all its 66 books. That we need neither the book of Enoch, the book of Morman or any other book to be an addition, equal or greater, to the authority of the Holy Bible. The bible is its own interpreter, and is the complete word of God (something even Ellen G. White stressed), and this study will attempt to prove that. The bible says:

"Do not interpretations belong to God?" -Genesis 40:8

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation." -2 Peter 1:20

"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

"Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read." -Isaiah 34:16

How do we interpret prophecy, doctrine – or just scripture as a whole? By the bible. The bible is its own interpreter, no other book, nor any person need interpret it for us. The prophet Isaiah spoke these wise words:

"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." -Isaiah 28:9-10.

This scripture is clear: Do you want to understand the bible? Do you want an interpreter? The bible will be your interpreter. How? "Line upon line" says the prophet, "here a little and there a little." However, the following Catholic argument ha been brought to my attention:

Where in the bible does it teach that it has the last word? That it is all we need? And that it is enough?

Yes the bible is very clear that the books of the bible are complete and enough for the Christian to build the proper faith Christ wants him to have. Lets take a closer look at this truth.

It was King David's custom to look towards the sanctuary of God and study it deeply. Out of his studies he could conclude the truths of God. It's no wonder that the truths of God are found within the sanctuary service. In fact, it is the sanctuary that lays out the whole plan of salvation. David certainty knew this, he said,

"Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuary." -Psalm 77:13.

The earthly sanctuary was a "pattern" of the true heavenly sanctuary in heaven (Study this in Hebrew 9 – 10), where Christ the true high priest ministers there on our behalf. Lets see that quickly before we proceed.

Study the following chapters: Exodus 25 (note verses 8-16), Exodus 26 (note verse 30) Exodus 27 (compare verse 2 with Revelation 9:13), Exodus 30, Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 24. I know it's much, but the whole books of Exodus and Leviticus deserves serious study.

If you've done this, you will notice, the outer court contained, as you walk in, first the Alter of sacrifice. This pictures the death of messiah Jesus. What's the first thing a believer does to actually become a believer? He "believes" in the "sacrifice" Jesus the true Lamb of God did. As you continue walking in, you find the bowl of water. This symbolized baptism, the next step a Christian takes after believing. Now, visualize yourself walking into the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. The three things you'll find in there, if you studied these chapters, are the Table of shewbread, the Alter of incense and the 7 branch candle sticks. These symbolizing 1) Jesus the bread "that came down from heaven" and his words "spiritual food" that the believer now studies intensively in his walk with Jesus. 2) His prayers, which ascend up as sweet incense to the throne of God (Rev. 8:3). And 3) Jesus being the "light" of the world in this new converts life, shining in this dark world for all to see his example of a Christian life. In the last apartment you find the 10 commandments, the written character of Christ manifesting itself in the life of the true believer. So we see then how this study teaches us of the whole plan of salvation – laid out in plain view for all those who seek to know it.

King David, understood the mystery of the prosperity of the wicked and of death when he said:

"Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end." -Psalm 73:17.

We can conclude, then, that great truths can be learned from studying the sanctuary. So, as David did, let us do that now, and this will answer the Catholic argument…

Within the Sanctuary it was commanded to place, as already noted, a table of "shewbread" in the holy place, the first apartment of the sanctuary. Read Leviticus 24:5 and 6, closely. Notice how God commanded that upon this table there be put 12 loaves of bread. Now many people will say that this can symbolizes many things such as the 12 apostles, the 12 stars upon the women's head in the book of Revelation, and so on. But lets follow the rule we noted earlier in Isaiah 28:9-10, and let the bible tell us. Notice how peculiar God was in setting these pieces of bread upon this table; he said to put 6 loaves on one side and 6 loaves on the other. Why 6 on one side and 6 on the other? Why not make it easy and just put them on the table no matter what the order, or just stack it all on top of each other? Because God wants to teach us something with this, as he knows everything, even the future.

Let me ask you this, what does "Bread" symbolize according to the bible? Well, Jesus said, "I am the Bread of life." Study this in John chapter 6. There you go! Bread in the bible symbolizes Jesus. But are there 12 Jesus'? Or 6 Jesus' here and 6 Jesus' there? Of course not, so there has to be more then this. Note closely John 5:39 in your bible. One version renders it: "You study the scriptures, and these very scriptures speak about me!" That's it! The scriptures, which speak about Jesus who is the bread, will also be symbolized by "bread."

We've determined that bread will symbolize both Jesus and his words, or in other words, the holy bible. With that in mind, refer back to Leviticus 24:5-6, and notice again the "6 on one side, and 6 on the other side," forming a number of 66. Now ask yourself this question:

How many books are contained within the bible?

Look it up… its 66.

The Passion of the Lord Video

2009-04-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

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Hey Rosie... press play:
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2009-03-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

The Body/The Temple
by Jessica Cotto and Dahiana Jenkins

Click the play button to watch.

2009-03-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Restoration of his Image
by Edwin M. Cotto

Click the play button to watch.

2009-02-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Online Sermons

Feel free to browse through our online sermons. Sermons that are not linked are upcoming sermons. Please be patient with us as we continue to add more resources to this section of our site.

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• The Restoration of his Image
by Edwin M. Cotto

• The Body/The Temple
by Jessica L. Fontanez and Dahiana Jenkins

• The Health Message
by Damien T. Jenkins

• Cursed to be a blessing
by Damien T. Jenkins

• Satan's biggest problem
by Edwin M. Cotto

• Journey through the Sanctuary
by Edwin M. Cotto

• Subliminally Controlled
by Edwin M. Cotto

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Testimonies

• Damien T. Jenkins
• Che Siki Plang
• Damien Sims
• Edwin M. Cotto

2009-02-24T23:14:00.001-08:00

You’re sickness called “Sin”
-The story of the untold story-

Among the many beautiful stories of the New Testament, we have the lovely detail of a women who began to experience one of the worst times of her life. Her dreams and expectations, with hopes of one day realizing them, seemed to now slowly fade away. Her thoughts upon that bed were of the most frightening ones. What will she do now? She has so much more she wants to accomplish in her life, but now it seems nearly impossible. This sickness has taken hold of her very being, and in her mind she feels the need of a savior. But who? Who will find time to visit this poor old women to comfort her in her time of need? Who will spend the time she desires to talk sweet words of love and comfort into her ears, and encourage her to stand firm in her faith? Amidst her agony, and as she looks around… she is lonely. No one is home. She can only stare at the ceiling of her room, and wait until this terrible sickness has done its job. Who was this woman? It’s a women you least hear spoken of in the scriptures. Her story is least mentioned in sermons. But her story is one of the most impacting ones found in the Holy Bible. It is the story of Simon’s mother-in-law.

Turn with me to the book of Mark, chapter 1, beginning in verse 29. Notice, before we enter into this passage, that the savior, Jesus Christ, is not here at the moment. He began his ministry elsewhere, recruiting his beloved disciples, men of poor and humble statues. He entered into a synagogue, were he would meet violent opposition to his words. Here, he healed a man. The account says, “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, saying, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God” – verses 23-24. Many speak about the demon possessed man who had a spirit called Legion, whom Jesus healed. This man though, also had many spirits, for the spirit speaking referred to himself as “us.” At the very moment Jesus’ holy presence entered the synagogue where this sin stricken man was found and taught the people… at that very moment that spirit cried out, “Let us alone!” Who was this man who can stir up the very spirits? This man was Jesus, and with one command, the spirits departed from the man, and he layed healed of his sickness. Could this same man heal Simon’s mother-in-law also? His fame quickly scattered through out the land of Galilee. Something happened when this man entered that sin stricken synagogue. Jesus, a bold and courageous man, entered into the problem, and solved it. How many of us would dare enter into where the problem resides in order to help solve that problem? The thought is unimaginable for us. The very sound of a demon possessed person sends cold down our spine. But where that problem was… where that sin was… where that sickness called SIN was, there he entered, and there he healed. Could this man possibly do the same for others who are also sick with sin? That man whom Jesus healed was probably sick for a very long time because of the multiple spirits that were within him. What sin caused this man to end up like this? What was he really in need of? Healing… but from what? Just healing from his physical sickness? Or also healing from his spiritual sickness, which caused him to end up the way he did? This man need more then healing, he needed a healer.

Jesus now leaves the synagogue. He entered into it when it was most stricken with sickness, but he doesn’t stop there. No, Jesus is interested in more then one sheep. He has come to gather in all his lost sheep, and it is amazing how he does this one by one, with a personal touch in each case. Such is also the case in verses 29-30. Notice the verses:

Mark 1:29-30
(29) And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
(30) But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Notice that if you read verse 16, you will find that Simon and Andrew were fishing. They then followed Jesus into that synagogue. James and John also were with them. Who was in that house? Only Simon’s mother-in-law, lonely, and afraid, suffering from an unnamed sickness that had her nearly paralyzed upon her bed. How severe was her sickness? All we know, from the greek word translated “fever” is that is was pretty extreme, for it literally means “inflamed.’ So bad, that verse 31 hints to the fact that she was unable to move up from her bad on her on. But then came this man. She had probably heard of this man. “This must be he who healed that spirit possessed man?” she probably thought. “Could he do the same with me?”

Verse 29 again shows how Jesus enters where the problem resides. It reads… “they entered into the house…” He knew what he would find there. Being the Son of the living God, he knew exactly what he was about to face. But he was more interested in something else, and this is made evident by how he approached the problem. Read with me verse 31:

Mark 1:31
(31) And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Let us analyze each occurrence that took place. It reads that “he came…” Has Jesus come into your life yet? It reads, “and he took her by…” the ear? The neck? There is something special about grabbing someone by the hands, isn’t there? Do you know why most men find themselves putting the women on the opposite side of the street and holding her hand there when walking down a sidewalk? Well in the early years of this country, the streets were made in an almost bent type of way, where when it rained, the water accumulated on both sides of the street. These puddles, when ran over by a passing vehicle, would splash on the sidewalk. And of the poor lady walking by at that moment! So the men found it well mannered to place her on the other side. This act, along with holding her hand, symbolized protection, appreciation, and comfort. Jesus, when he grabbed this woman by the hand, at the moment she felt unsafe, he told her with this that she was safe. At the moment she felt worthless, he told her with this that she was somebody. At the moment when she felt alone… he encouraged her with this simple act to not fear, for the comforter has arrived. But that wasn’t the only thing our Lord did for her, he also, “lifted her up.” Why did she need to be lifted up? Because she couldn’t lift herself up! She felt in her time of trouble a weakness that made her almost give up. She couldn’t move. She could stand. She could do her daily task of cleaning or cooking. So Jesus entered into her problem… into the time she was at her worst state, and told her with this one act of lifting her as he tells us all, “my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co. 12:9). All these simple but impacting acts of Jesus upon this women means but one thing: he wants to get personal with us as he did with her. She had a personal impact with the savior. Besides healing her physically, Jesus invited her to have a relationship with him. He saw in her eyes the need for someone to heal her, not just of her disease, but to also heal her inwardly. She needed forgiveness, love, peace. And he saw all this… before he entered into her sin stricken home.

Toward the end of this verse, we read, “and she ministered unto them.” Now her joy has come. Now she is alive and healthy. Now she is ready to begin her household chores once more. Yet her first act as a newly wed, now married to Jesus her savior, she “ministers unto him.” It is one thing to be healed of a sickness, and it is another to be healed from a sickness and now begin a life of appreciation for he who healed you. When the deaf and mute stricken man was healed of his sickness, although he was told to not publish the news, he could hold himself. He spread the word quickly. When a leprous man was healed of his leprosy, immediately the news flashed throughout the land. As soon as she was healed, she ministered unto him. She began to work for him, serving him, comforting him, because now she has a personal relationship with him. When we come to Christ with an open heart, we will freely receive him. He will not only come into our home’s, our home being our sin stricken bodies, he will come in and be a physician to first, and I emphasis this… first heal us spiritually, and then physically, as was in her case. And when he heals us, and forgives us of our many trespasses, and restores with us a personal relationship with him, he puts within our hearts the desire to please him. It comes to the point where we “want” to serve him, because of how thankful we are of his friendship and companionship.

Let us now, before entering the next verse, pause for a moment and reflect on what Jesus really went through on that cross. Did Simon’s mother-in-law suffer as he did? Have you suffered as he did? Many of complain at the moments in our lives when we feel we can not continue on any more. We question God, as probably she did. We worry and fear, and we desire sweet release from this terrible time of trouble as she did. We want a companion, a friend, someone to be there for us at this awful moment. We feel that just because Jesus left to heaven he will now comfort us now as he did to those alive when he was here upon the earth. But we forget that his arms of salvation and healing were opened once for all time that day she he was crucified for us. As each nail held him upon that cross, he invited all, past present and yes… future (you and me) to approach him in hug. The terrible pains he went through for us, simply because he loves us and so that we can live, is unthinkable. When they wiped Jesus in the torturing cell, the Romans had the habit of wiping also the legs of their victims so that they would become nearly crippled. And I can only imagine, that Satan thought to himself at that moment, “do you want to heal those crippled, well take this, and now you become crippled.” Or when upon his holy brow a crown of thorns was forced upon it. These thorns, being possibly about 3 to 4 inches in length, punctured the veins surrounding his head. One of these veins was the optic nerve that, when damaged, can cause severe headache and near blindness. Jesus, being crippled and nearly blind, could not even make it in his weakness to the place of the cross. He fell, and the cross landed upon him. A man had to carry the cross for him. And I can only imagine the enemy, once again saying, “Ah Jesus, you want to heal those whom I have caused to be blind almost all their lives, well here, now you be blind!” And one day, before this terrible scene, Jesus stood in front of a tomb covered by a giant rock and yelled out, “Lazarus, come forth!” And Lazarus came forth out of that tomb, alive! And as Jesus layed upon that cross, paying the penalty we deserved, the penalty I deserved, gasping for some air, and longing for some water to release him at least a little bit from this time of anguish, the enemy must have been thinking… “Do you want to give life to those who have died? Do you want to heal and give life to all those whom I have captured with sin in my grip of death? Do you want to resurrect those who are now dead… well here… now you die…” And Jesus died… for you… and for me.

Did Simon’s mother-in-law suffer the way our Lord has? Have you suffered the way he has? You are in need of healing. You have a sickness. The same sickness she had inwardly. This sickness is called “sin.” Would you allow Jesus to heal you of this sickness? Don’t worry about the people in your life who might now think differently of you, or of the darkness around you. In fact… let us return to the story of Simon’s mother-in-law, and see how this man who suffered that death on the cross steps also into darkness:

Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Many read this verse and move on, but I want you to notice something particular about this verse. It read, “at even, when the sun did set…” Isn’t this always the case? Once a believer comes to Jesus, and changes his life around, the evening comes and the sun sets. Why? Because you have been taken out from off the enemies grip. He had you where he wanted you when you were not in Christ, but now that you left he has to bring you back. But this applies to those who have never meet Christ also. Amidst this darkness in our lives, when the sun is set, when we can not see and we are all alone, lo, those diseased and possessed with devils come! Yet, notice how Jesus deals with this situation:

Mark 1:33-34 And all the city was gathered together at the door….

Stop! Before reading on, do you remember where Jesus was just before this? Well first he when to a church where there was a problem, then he went to Simons mother-in-law’s home where again there was a problem… not he steps outside into more problems. Jesus loves the problems! Take a closer look at this verse. It reads that “all the city” was gathered at the door, now read the next verse:

Mark 1:34
(34) And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

He healed many that were sick and cast out the devils out of those possessed. How could Jesus heal “all the city” without first stepping “out” of the home and entering amidst those sick individuals? Once again we find our Lord placing himself where he can perform a miracle, where he can heal all those truly seeking his help. He can… and will enter our homes, our lives, our bodies… and heal us, and bring us to have a close personal relationship with him.

Verse 33 said something important I decided to leave for last. Where did all “the city” gather to? To “the door.” The news about this man who can heal them moved them to this home. Only hearing that he was in there, yet without knowing for sure, they came closer and closer to that “door.” I can imagine the crowd waiting for him to simply open that door and step out into there darkness to help them. The lame and crippled, the blind, the mute, the poor both physically and in spirit, those troubled by evil spirits, those who can not get rid of those tormenting thoughts. How about those in need of forgiveness, those who feel lonely, those who have lost a loved one, those with unanswered questions, those with deep concern for themselves, those contemplating suicide, suffering with an addiction, dieing of cancer, depressed, afraid, feeling void, hurting. Or parents with sick children, children with no parents, prostitutes, the hungry, the confused. Are you one of those mentioned here? My friend… all you need to do is gather yourself at that door. The news has been spread, the gospel is simple… Jesus is at that door, behold, Jesus is the door:

John 10:9
(9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

We all have a sickness, we are all dieing slowly, but praise be to God who has given his only begotten son, to give his life a ransom for many, so that we may be healed, forgiven, and restored to God through Jesus Christ, that one day we may all sing that song of joy and gladness, and may behold the face of he who, “was wounded in the house of my friends.” -Zechariah 13:6.

God bless you.

2009-02-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

Why Not Believe?

Think about the many things that this world can offer you, money, fame, pleasure in things or places, etc. It can all fill your heart with joy it's true, but let's face reality, none of these will last you forever. There all temporary. Some might last you 20 years, others maybe 2 days. Money last's only until it is all spent. Fame? Only until someone more famous take's your place and people forget about you. Pleasure? Well, sometimes not as long as we'd like. But one way or another it all ends. Its all for a little while. Even our lives. Things come, and things go. We live… and unfortunately, we all die. However when we do die, what then? Consider the following questions:

1: Are you living a life of hope beyond these present things?
2: Would you like to see deceased loved one's again some day?
3: Is their something better beyond what this present world has to offer?
4: Is there life after death?

Let's tackle each question one by one…

First: What is a life without hope? It is a gloomy, sad life. Whether one may realize it or not, it is a life that has no future, no wishes, no hope beyond death. A life that says, "when I die I'm just dead, that's it, nothing else and nothing more." This is the result of trying to look at life at a limited human point of view. We only believe in what we see. Like the old saying, "If I can see it, I can believe it." But what's the point in that? Assurance? You can't always be assure. You can not see in front of the airplane if you are a passenger. You "hope" there is no other plane in your way. You "believe" in the pilot that he will not collide with some mountain, or with another jet. So you cant always believe only what you see. We are sometimes obligated to have faith and hope. Why not, then, have faith and hope in God? You don't know where you're going after death, nor can you prove that nothing happens to you when you die. So why not just believe in a life after death?

Or, you can't always be sure just because you can see it. The apple your about to eat might look juicy on the outside, but on the inside it might be rotten, or it might not taste sweet. How will you find out? You will never know unless you take a bite and taste it. Your friend might say it will taste good, your brother might say it will taste bad, though unless you try it for yourself, you will never find out. The bible says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." How would you like to be always sure of what will happen to you after death? Why not try it? Why not taste? Why not believe?

Second: My mother passed away a few years back. I have hope and faith in the living God that I will one day see her again, and be reunited with her. This is a promise Jesus has made to me in the bible, and this is what keeps me alive not just physically but also mentally. People look and ask, "How could this man even smile while going through this tragic moment?" I answer, "only through Jesus, that's how."

I have noticed two things with individuals who believe in Jesus and those who do not. When a loved one dies, the believer goes through much grief and heartache, as does the unbeliever. The believer cry's, as does the unbeliever. The believer asks questions, and so does the unbeliever. But there is one big difference between the two. One is at peace at heart. One has hope that they will one-day see that loved one again. One lives life happier without trying to forget the tragedy. One sees life much more differently, as if they are here but for a little while, and will one day live forever with their loved one in a better place. His countenance glows with joy! The believer accepts what has happened because they have this "hope" that they'll see that loved one again. This hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. They both experience the same things, grief, heartache, sadness, tears, anger, etc. Yet the believer has hope and gains more hope, the unbeliever stays just where he is.

Have you lost someone you loved so much? Wouldn't you like to know for a fact that one day you'll meet again? Why not give Jesus a chance to touch your heart and give you his "peace." A peace that looks beyond death, beyond trouble, beyond pain, beyond tribulation! Doesn't that sound wonderful? The true Christian understands this. Would you also like to have this hope that's only found in Jesus? Why not believe?

Third: This world has its pretty views and nice moments. But those moments always have an end, and all the nice looking things have something wrong with it. Like the beautiful mountains. From far they are wonderful, but try climbing it. There is a risk of getting bite by a tick, stung by a bee. You can fall, slip and brake an ankle. How about the beautiful rivers and lakes? Full of fish that can bite. Bacteria flout along the stream, some of which can be fatal if accidentally swallowed.

This world is becoming over populated. The present count of human population on the earth is about 6 billion. It is said that within the next 30 years it will go up to a shocking number of 25 billion people. That number will just continue to increase, and disease will continue to spread among the humans and the animals. China is such a heavy populated country that a family's third child is to be put to death. This is what the world is coming to.

Just look around you. Look outside the window, garbage on the streets. Dead plants and animals. In the cities you find drunken people, and poor beggars pleading for money to eat. All this and still no hope for something better?
This world only brings problems, and problems beg for a solution. This world only offers temporary solutions, but the true solution is found in God. The Bible says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Why not hope and believe in something BETTER then this? Why not believe in a place where there is no disease, no death, no temporary amusement or solutions, and no fading flowers? Why not believe?

Fourth: The question is asked, is there life after death? You can not prove there is, yet you can not prove there isn't. That is why we have faith. But consider the following:

Two Roads- the Atheists road and the Believers road. At the end of there road of life they both die. If the Atheist was right in saying there is nothing after death, then both the believer and the atheist die and are forever doomed. But if the believer was right in saying there is a God and a life after death, they both still die, but only ONE is resurrected into life eternal… the believer. The unbelieving Atheist stays right where he is, dead. Who has the higher percentage of being right in their beliefs? The believer in Jesus Christ does. So why not believe?

If there is no God, there is no meaning

What happens when we try to take God away? Just the other day I read in the newspaper, "Another columbine-like shooting in a public school!" A kid, fanatic of Hitler, decides life has no meaning, and shoots up the school, killing a number of students including 3 teachers and a 14 year old girl. Skeptics pose the question, "Why doesn't God stop the shootings in the schools?" Well haven't you heard? God isn't allowed in the schools anymore! You see, the moment we try to take God away from our lives, tragedy, suffering and death reign. Hope is completely lost, and hopelessness and misery take its place. Without God life has no meaning and morality has no foundation. One author puts it like this:

"When God is present in our lives, humanity lives with the sense that we have value as persons, that life has a purpose, and that morality has meaning. Such things are sufficiently founded only on the Creator-God who is personal (therefore we have value), who created us to be in fellowship with him (therefore life has an ultimate meaning), and who is holy (therefore morality has sufficient foundation)." The Compact Guild to World Religions, Dean C. Halverson, p. 31.
The world hates the idea that there is a God because they know that, the very moment they accept and believe in God, they have to let go of there selfish, evil deeds that they love so much. They prefer to teach our children that we are all a big mistake that happened by chance, and that we eventually evolved from animals. But if we are going to teach our children that they are animals that came about by mistake, don't be surprised when they begin to act like it!

However if we teach them that there is a loving God who has laws and order and who created them to have fellowship with them, and that he wants the best for us, how much less violence do you think this world would have? How many of these children would grow up to live a life of hope and true happiness, a life full of goals, meaning, and purpose? True joy can only be found in Jesus Christ. If you take away God, you take away the whole meaning of life. Which will leave us with no hope, no faith, no meaning and nothing to look forward to after death. If there is no "absolute good" found in a God then you can not judge the actions of that boy who shot up the school. But if we accept God and believe in him life makes much more sense.

We are left, then, with only one true answer to life's greatest questions: There is an absolutely good God who created you and loves you, and wants you to live forever. If this is not true, then hope is crushed, and you will never really be at peace with yourself and the world. So why not believe?

Jesus offers you hope

Today is your day!

Some people hope in earthly things, such as their business, money, women, parents, husband, wife, children, home, fame… all of which has an end. But today you are being offered to hope on someone that will never fade away. Someone that will never die, and will give you true hope and happiness. But most importantly, someone who will give you the free gift of eternal life. The Bible says, "Today, if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts" Psalm 95:7-8. Jesus stands knocking at the door of your heart. As soon as you let him in he will enter and dine with you. He will give you life in all its fullness. All he asks is for a relationship. Accept him and believe in him today, be baptism for the remission of sins and receive God's forgiveness. Because it is the sin problem that separates us from God. As soon as we admit that we are sinners in need of a savior, and allow Jesus to enter our lives and make a change for our greater good, our lives will be completely transformed. You will not look at anything the same ever again. All your problems, all your troubles, your tribulations… you will look beyond all this because you will understand why those things happen.

2 Corinthians 4:17
(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Today is your day. Don't wait any longer. Prophecies are being quickly fulfilled. Soon the prayers of the saints will finally be answered and all the misery and grief and death, all sin and sinners will finally be destroyed. Would you like to be among those redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ? Don't wait until it's to late, nor wait until your troubles get worst. Don't allow yourself to get more depressed, sick, stressed, etc.

Hope is when you in-vision that tomorrow will be better then day. And true hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. Give Jesus a chance to give you hope, to make you truly happy and most importantly, to freely give you eternal life, because he can and he will, but only if you believe. So... Why not believe?

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts of the Apostles 2:38

2009-02-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

Online Videos

Feel free to browse through any of our online videos and share them with as many people as you'd like. You may duplicate them and hand them out in your community free of charge. No need to ask us for permission (but we would like to know!):

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The Three Angels Messages: The First Angel

The Three Angels Messages: The Second Angel

The Three Angels Messages: The Third Angel

The Kingdom of Christ Established

The Passion of our Lord

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Recently created videos

Attack of the Sabbath and the coming Sunday Law part 2

2009-02-11T15:10:00.001-08:00

Download link for the
Identifying the antichrist video:

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Folow the link below:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/3dw9na

2009-01-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Recomended Websites

2009-01-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

The Passion of the Lord

A depiction of the story of Jesus Christ... his life, his death, and his resurection. Created by Our Higher Calling Ministry.

2009-01-11T12:54:00.000-08:00

Mission trip to Miracle Meadows School for troubled Youth

Please pray for these children, as some are preparing for baptism. Visit Miracle Meadows School for more information. This video created by Our Higher Calling Ministry.

2009-01-11T11:31:00.001-08:00

Donations and Gifts

You may donate to our ministry by clicking the "donate" button below, or you may contact us via our email address to arrange some other means through which to donate. To learn more on the cause you will be supporting, see our activities page and our who are we page. All donations are for the furthering of this ministry and its goals. Thank you for your generous gifts!

Your friends,
The team at
Our Higher Calling Ministry

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2009-01-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

Recent Activities

The following are some of our recent activities beginning from the top of the list. Please feel free to browse through each section and to share with others.

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-Presenting the Health Message at Camden, New Jersey (2009)

We were invited to share a message on health at the Mount Olivet Seventh Day Adventist Church in Camden, New Jersey. Pastor Frank E. Leggette III invited us to speak to his 300 plus congregation on Sabbath afternoon just before the A.Y. program. Minister Damien T. Jenkins presented his sermon entitled "The Health Message" which included a power-point presentation and a question and answer period at the end. The congregation was blessed and the Pastor is interested in inviting us back for a future event. Please pray for this church as it continues to grow in Christ and learn more present truth through their leader Pastor Leggette.

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-Invited to speak in Bronx, New York (2009)

Elder Steven Negron invited Edwin M. Cotto of Our Higher Calling Ministry to speak at Bedford Park Seventh Day Adventist Church in Bronx New York. This church just opened up a Youth Church in its basement and we were invited to be the first speakers on the opening Sabbath of this church. Minister Edwin M. Cotto gave a sermon titled The Restoration of his Image, one he also shared at Miracle Meadows School and which can be viewed at our Online Sermons page. The congregation was blessed and Elder Negron promises to invite us back to share more of our experiences and sermons at this newly constructed church. Please pray for this churches mission as they seek to get more and more young people involved in the work of the Lord.

Elder Steven Negron has two websites where he shares his experience as a minister and his testimony of how he went from a street thug with a vision of one day becoming a Hip-Hop artist to a Christian with a vision to share with the world what Jesus Christ has done for him. A photo of his past as a Hip-Hop artist came out in the book Born in the Bronx by Joe Conzo, which he shares with other young people in an effort to show them the dangers of rap music. His websites are:

rescuedministries.org/
stevennegron.com/ (spanish)

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-Week of Prayer at Miracle Meadows in West Virginia (2009)

We just returned from Miracle Meadows School once again. The last time we were there, we held a weekend seminar on "righteousness by faith," and as a result of the workings of the Holy Spirit, many of these children have given their lives over to Jesus Christ. Our most recent theme was called "Thy Way, O God, is in the sanctuary." Many children were released of their earthly bagages through Jesus Christ and have accepted him into their lives as their personal savior by responding to the alter calls. Please return often as the video footages are being prepared to post here.

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-Sharing our testimonies at 3ABN (2009)

We were invited to appear on 3ABN's #1 show Celebrating Life in Recovery. The host is Cheri Peters, and she was interested in sharing our testimonies on her show. We will keep you updated on the time when it will appear on 3abn. Visit Cheri Peters website by clicking on the image below:

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-Mission trip to Miracle Meadows High School for Troubled Youth (2008)

The following are video footages along with pictures of our mission to to Miracle Meadows High School in November of 2008. Some of these students have since been preparing for baptism.

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2008-12-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

Heres todays How to trap a pro-abortionist tip #36...
BumperSticker

2008-12-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

Your right, one day you will stop smoking... when its to late!
BumperSticker

2008-12-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

You dont have to believe in God if you dont want to... BumperSticker

2008-12-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

Who is the Antichrist?
BUMPERSTICKER

2008-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

Identifying the Antichrist

Some say that the antichrist is Barack Obama. Others say its Prince Charles. But what does the bible say?

The bible gives us 13 Identification Marks to help us identify who the antichrist really is. Who will fit all 13? Watch the videos below and find out:

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Part 1:

Part 2:

2008-12-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

Online Store

*closed on the sacred hours of the Sabbath Day

After donation is made, send us an email with your information (if required), and we will send out your request the very next business day. We dont require a donation, but request it only for the furthering of this ministry.

Donate HERE.

1: Identifying the Antichrist

The bible provides 13 identification marks to pinpoint exactly who is the antichrist. This 14 minute presentation is filled with biblical and historical proof, along with graphics that will keep you entertained while at the same time learning. This DVD, if ordered by postal mail, comes with pamphlets on End Time issues. Watch the Promo Video HERE.

How do you want it?
- Available online. Sent as a secured downloadable file to your email.
- Available in DVD for a donation.

Sent the next business day.

2: The Genealogy of his Image

Our Higher Calling Ministry recently went to Miracle Meadows School where Edwin M. Cotto preached a sermon on the Image of Christ. The sermon is about the perfect character that Adam and Eve had before they sinned, how they lost it, and how to retain it back. Watch as Edwin makes a final call at the end and see the many students that gave their hearts to the Lord by responding to this call. DVD format.

How do you want it?
-Available online. Sent as a secured downloadable file to your email.
-Available in DVD for a donation.

Sent the next business day.

3: Point by Point Response to TD Jakes RSVP

This DVD is not up yet, but will be soon. Our Higher Calling Ministry is passionate, not only with the truth of the Holy Scriptures, but also for those poor souls who have been decieved into believeing a lie. In this DVD you will watch Edwin M. Cotto and the team at the Adventist Defense League (another website run by this ministry) soundly refute the claims this minister has made against the biblical doctrine of the Sabbath Day. We have prepared a free written response while you wait for the video:

Response to TD Jakes RSVP

4: The Sanctuary Message: Journey Through The Sanctuary

In this 1 hour and 20 minute sermon, Edwin M. Cotto takes you on a journey through every part of the sanctuary, detailing every furniture found therein, from beginning to end, and letting the bible explain itself as to what each furniture represents. You will learn how the study of the Sanctuary refutes error, and will be fully gounded in the truth. This sermon is interactive, inviting you to participate in certian parts that you may appreciate the facts being brought forth! Audio format.

How do you want it?
-Available online. Sent with graphics as a secured downloadable file to your email.

Sent the next business day.

5: Ministry BumperStickers

-Who is the Antichrist? Find out: The-ThreeAngels.blogspot.com VIEW
-Christian? Which day is the Lord's Day? Read Isaiah 58:13 and find out! VIEW
-You dont have to believe in God if you dont want to. but... VIEW
-Your right, one day you will stop smoking... when its to late! VIEW
-Heres todays How to trap a pro-abortionist tip #36 VIEW

Protective "sample" seal can be removed after donation.

-More coming soon!

2008-12-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

Studies and Sermons

Click the Microphone below

to listen directly from the radio website:

We had a show SATURDAY, March the 29th at 6:00 pm.______________________________________________

Recent Shows:

Upcoming shows:

Healing in Jesus - A study of Mark 1:29-35
The Sanctuary Message: Recognizing False teachings (Part 2)
Examining the arguments against the Law of God
The Return to Eden: The Health Message Part 1
The Return to Eden: The Health Message Part 2

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www.OurHigherCallingMinistry.com

2008-03-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

Who Are We

We are...

... Seventh Day Adventists with one goal in mind, to introduce souls to the lovely Jesus for the salvation of their souls, and to nourish those already converted to Christ with the truth as it is found in his word.

We have...

... a burden within ourselves to tell you about JESUS. This website is specifically for that, and if we reach but ONE soul with the truth as found in Jesus we praise the most high God for such a blessed opportunity.

We dont...

... compromise in any way. We love the truth, therefore we tell the truth as is found in the scriptures.

We dont...

... attack individuals in any way; not their characters nor their denominations. We teach the uncompromising truth, but in love and respect towards those of a diffirent denominational view.

We believe...

... that Jesus is almost here, and that those preparing for translation here on earth will "strive" and "wrestle" with God, as did Jacob, for that blessing from on high. They will yearn for the perfecting of character and the removing of their sins that they may reflect more and more the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, that at his appearing we may be... "like him..." -1 John 3:2.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." -Hebrews 13:20-21.

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We provide a number of presentations, including, but not limited to:

• Sermons
• Bible Studies
• Music (spiritual, not contemporary)
• Prophecy Seminars
• Week of Prayers
• Weekend Seminars
• Health Presentation
• Natural Remedies Presentation
• Cooking Classes
• Physical Therapy Treatments
• and more

Our studies and presentations on both prophecy and Health are always in one accord with both the Holy Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, and our highest education, more then anything, is that of preparing for the world to come:

"True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come." -Ellen G. White, Education, p. 13.

We are available to serve in your community at your church, home, school or upcoming Christian event. To view our most recent activities, go to our Activities page. You may contact us by clicking here or copy our email address: ourhighercalling77@yahoo.com.

To reach our website, simply go to:

www.ourhighercallingministry.com.

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The Sabbath in Genesis

2008-03-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

The Sabbath in Genesis

by Edwin M. Cotto

It has been argued many times that neither the Sabbath commandment nor Sabbath observance is found anywhere in the Old Testament book of Genesis. That the same Hebrew word “shabbath” as found in the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8) is no where to be found therein and that therefore because of this, the Sabbath is completely absent from the book of Genesis. Since this is true, it has been argued that the first appearance of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16 as a commandment, and in Exodus 20 as part of the moral law. Yet the truth about the Sabbath’s existence in Genesis has been acknowledged by both Adventists and non-Adventists alike. So before examining the facts that make this truth clear, we will start with…

The commandment that points us back to creation week.

Exodus 20:8-11
(8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The question, “Is the Sabbath in Genesis?” is fully answered right here in the fourth commandment itself. Notice in Genesis that God blessed the seventh day:

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Now when we return to the commandment, verse 10 reads:

Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God

The fourth commandment says God blessed the seventh day, and then says that the seventh day “is the sabbath” day. The words “is the” makes it ever clear that the seventh day of Genesis 2:3 is the same seventh day of the fourth commandment, which God himself says that that is the “sabbath” day.

If there is any doubt, God repeats it one more time in the Decalogue:

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Again, the “seventh day” was the day he “blessed” which he names as the “sabbath day.” And in case we are not sure of which day this was, God specifies it here by saying that it was the day after he made the “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…” which day is the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). The question, therefore, “Is the Sabbath day mentioned anywhere in the book of Genesis?” is fully answered by the Almighty himself, because the Hebrew word “shabbath” translated “sabbath” in Exodus 20:11 is, says YHWH himself, the “seventh day” mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3. If the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is not connected to the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11, why did Moses make such a connection? The answer is clear, and stands un refuted: because the seventh day of creation week is the sabbath day of the moral Law.

Is there therefore now any need to search for the Sabbath in the book of Genesis? Is not the answer the Almighty gave through, “thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18) in the fourth commandment not enough? Says the Psalmist, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” -Psalm 119:89. How easy and clear is this fact that even a babe can comprehend it! Yet, those against the “sabbath of the Lord” continue to urge for proof of the Sabbath within the book of Genesis only, so we move on to show that its existence is made evident in Genesis 2:1-3 by Moses’ use of the words…

Blessed and Sanctified.

Says the Patriarch:

Genesis 2:1-3
(1) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
(2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Take note that after “the heavens and the earth were finished” –verse 1, God still had one more work to get done on the seventh day. The beginning of verse 2 reads, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made…” One may ask, “What other work did God do on the seventh day and does this not violate it as a day of rest?” We answer, no, because the work he did on the seventh day was not secular work, for verse one already tells us that the heavens and the earth were already “finished.” The work he did on the seventh day is answered in verse 3:

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” –verse 3.

Rather then being a secular work, God performed a spiritual work upon the seventh day… he “blessed” and “sanctified” it.

That he “blessed” it is significant, because the bible teaches that whatever the Lord blesses, it is blessed forever. David, the servant of the Lord, understood very well that when God blesses something it will forever be blessed when he said:

1 Chronicles 17:27.
(27) Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Even after the entrance sin, the Sabbath remains blessed:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Once again we find a connection between the seventh day of Genesis and the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11. Moses said clearly that it was the “seventh day” that the Lord “blessed,” because that in it he had “rested.” Will our opponents continue to claim that the sabbath of the commandment is not the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 when the word of God itself shows that the blessing of the seventh day of creation week continued on till the commandment was given?

Now, if the Sabbath was instituted as a temporary institution, as some would have us believe, why then did the Lord bless it? Is it not clear from the above verse in 1 Chronicles 17:27 that what the Lord blesses is blessed forever? How, if the Sabbath has been abolished, is the Sabbath still blessed, seeing it no longer exists, and no one no longer experiences it? Ponder on this for a moment before continuing. The very fact that it was blessed by God himself is sufficient enough to show how perpetual it is. And we know that this is true, and that king David did not lie, because we find the existence of the seventh day Sabbath, still blessed, in the “new heaven and the new earth” –Isaiah 66:23. The prophet Isaiah’s words are therefore proof that indeed what God blesses… “shall be blessed for ever.”

The reason why he blessed the seventh day but did not bless the previous six days was because he had a special purpose for the seventh day, as will now be seen by his use of the word “sanctified.”

The word “sanctified” is used numerous times in the Old Testament, and is a word used in public settings, either of proclamations or dedications. The English word “sanctified” according to Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary means:

1) Sanctified: 1. Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services.

According to Brown Driver Brigg’s Hebrew definitions, the Hebrew word “qadash” translated “sanctified” means:

1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, to be set apart, be consecrated.

Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance says “qadash” means:
1) A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean.

And the Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the word “hagiazō” which means:

1) to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.

In other words, to “sanctify” means to, “pronounce, dedicate, to consecrate, be set apart for holy use.” A better understanding of this word can be found in its usage throughout the Old Testament.

Notice the following verse:

Exodus 13:1-2
(1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2) Sanctify [qadash] unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Notice the word here is used in the context of sanctifying, or dedicating “all” the firstborn. It was announced by God that all the children be sanctified unto him, and this demanded “all” the people to be involved, for they had to obey the Lord and bring in their children for dedication. All were to know, that God was the owner of every firstborn, whether of man or beast. Note also this next verse:

2 Kings 10:20
(20) And Jehu said, Proclaim [qadash] a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

When used here in the context of proclaiming a solemn feast, “all” the Baal worshipers of Israel were to be informed of this event and to attend it. One more verse:

Numbers 20:12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify [qadash] me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

According to this verse, Moses and Aaron were to sanctify God “in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

So we see that when the word “qadash” is used, it is to publicly announce or proclaim that something is set apart for holy use. All those involved were to be made aware of this announcement. Now when God “sanctified” the seventh day and set it apart as a holy day for holy use, who was he proclaiming this to? To who was he announcing that this day was to be holy and set apart? It must have only been to those alive upon the earth at that moment, Adam and Eve. It was not for those of other worlds, if there were any at that time. Neither was it for the angels of heaven for these did not live on the earth and could therefore not experience the six day cycle of the earth. Only Adam and Eve were alive then, and to them only was it announced that the seventh day was set apart for holy use.

J.N. Andrews in “History of the Sabbath,” in comparing Exodus 19:23 with Exodus 19:12, makes the following analysis:

“But the most striking illustration of the meaning of this word may be found in the record of the sanctification of Mount Sinai. When God was about to speak the ten commandments in the hearing of all Israel, he sent Moses down from the top of Mount Sinai to restrain the people from touching the mount. "And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it." Turning back to the verse where God gave this charge to Moses, we read: "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount or touch the border of it." Hence to sanctify the mount was to command the people not to touch even the border of it; for God was about to descend in majesty upon it. In other words, to sanctify or set apart to a holy use Mount Sinai, was to tell the people that God would have them treat the mountain as sacred to himself. And thus also to sanctify the rest-day of the Lord was to tell Adam that he should treat the day as holy to the Lord.The declaration, "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," is not indeed a commandment for the observance of that day; but it is the record that such a precept was given to Adam.” –History of the Sabbath, ch. 2, p. 7. emphasis ours.

It is no wonder that Jesus later says, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” –Mark 2:27. Many quote this to say that they were not made for the Sabbath, and they are absolutely right, you were not made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for you! This is why God publicly announced to Adam and Eve that the seventh day was holy and set apart for use… for “their” holy use, for they were the only ones alive upon the earth at that time to hear this proclamation. If it was not made for them, and they did not heed this as a command to obey, then God’s sanctifying it was useless. Man was given work to do (Genesis 2:15), yet his work was to be done only for six working days, for upon the seventh day, already blessed and set apart, was for his to use as sacred time with the Lord without secular interruption.

We have seen how God himself says that the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is the Sabbath day mentioned in Exodus 20:8-11. We have also seen that God’s “sanctifying” of the seventh day was an indication that Adam and Eve were to make use of that holy day. We now want to show you how that between the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 and the fourth commandment of Exodus 20:8-11 there is…

A connection between Hebrews words.

The word “rested” in Genesis 2:2 is the translation of the Hebrew word “shabath” and is often used in the Old Testament within the context of “ceasing” or “resting.” When God “rested” on the seventh day, he “ceased” from all his labor which he had performed in the previous six days. Note the two definitions given for this Hebrew word by Brown Driver Briggs:

1) to cease, desist, rest
2) 2) (Qal) to keep or observe the sabbath

First and formost it means to “cease, desist, rest,” but then we find it can also mean to “keep or observe the sabbath,” because to keep the Sabbath means to cease from your own labor and rest upon the seventh day.

The commandment contains another word:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath [shabbath] day, and hallowed it.

The Hebrew word translated “sabbath” in the fourth commandment is “shabbath” and is, says Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance, “intensive of ‘shabath.’ Already we find a connection between Hebrew words. Now that we have learned how closely related Genesis 2:1-3 is to Exodus 20:8-11, when we read in Genesis that God “rested on the seventh day” he was in essence “keeping the Sabbath day.” So while the Hebrew word “shabbath” is not found in Genesis, the Hebrew word “shabath” is, and its close connection and nearly same meaning is but more proof that a “sabbath day” rest is what is intended in Genesis 2:1-3.

But our critics insist that there is no Sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3, despite all the evidence already presented to the contrary. From every corner, this truth is attacked, and when all else fails, they use the “missing evidence” argument, not knowing that with this argument the attack turns right around to them as the ones missing the evidence. Such a “missing evidence” argument is when they say that…

The phrase “evening and morning” is missing from the seventh day.

Our opponents claim that the phrase “evening and morning” is the identifying mark of the ending of the creation of the days in Genesis 1. Each day, after the creation which took place upon that day, these words were spoken…

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Upon reaching the seventh day, this phrase is absent. So it is claimed that, because this phrase is absent from the seventh day, a phrase which identifies the ending of the day and beginning of the next day, that the seventh day was meant to continue on forever without ending. A cute thought indeed, but does this really mean that seventh day was to be unending? Let’s examine the facts:

Fact #1: Set apart.

Above we have learned that God “sanctified” the seventh day. We learned that when he “sanctified” it he was in essence “setting it apart” for holy use. If the seventh day was to continue on throughout eternity, how were those alive to hear this proclamation of a “set apart” day to actually set it apart? And does not the very words “set apart” even hint to our opponents that he set it apart from the previous days, just as the first day was set apart from the second day, and second day from the third day, and so forth? The difference, however, with those other days and the seventh day, is that it was set apart for “holy use” as was shown above.

Fact #2: The “yome.”

We ask our opponents: What was the result of the “evening and morning?” Their own verses answers this question:

Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Take note that after every time the phase is used, it results in a “day.” After the evening morning of the second day, we get another “day.” After the evening and morning of the third day, we again get another “day.” The Hebrew word translated “day” is the Hebrew word “yom,” and is “defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1,” says Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew definition. If the combination of the “evening and morning” make up the “yom” or day, take note, that this same word “yom” is also used in reference to the seventh day:

Genesis 2:2-3
(2) And on the seventh day [yom] God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day [yom] from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day [yom], and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Therefore, our opponents must remain consistent with their logic. If the six days prior to the seventh have an ending, then so does the seventh day, which also uses the same resulting hebrew word “yom.”

Fact #3: A “week” in heaven.

The most disturbing verse in the bible for our critics is one they have no choice but to acknowledge. They have tried their very best; everywhere from saying it is all symbolic to saying that it is only applicable to the past. Some have gone to the extreme to, after finding no other way to escape this reality, accuse us of claiming or somehow supporting new moon observance. Yet no matter what the claim might be, the following verse is clear even to the eyes of a child, and is piercing through the hearts of the sabbaths most valiant opponents. These verses are found in book of the ancient prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 66:22-23
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
(23) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

The argument is brought forth, that Isaiah is simply saying that in the New Earth there will be constant worship, from week to week, and from month to month. Little to they realize, that by such a claim they actually debunk their own reasoning of the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3. Let me explain.

If the “sabbath to sabbath” reference in Isaiah 23 is merely to show how worship will be “from week to week” one has to admit that a week necessitates the seventh day, for without the seventh day, there could not logically be a “week.” A week consists of “seven” days, and as much as there has to be a first day to begin a week, there must also be a seventh day to end it. If therefore there will be a “week to week” worshiping of God in the New Earth, the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3 was not a perpetual day, because our opponents claim that this supposed “perpetual day” will be restored when the saints go to heaven and sin if finally destroyed. How will this perpetual rest, or seventh day be restored in the New Earth as they claim, if Isaiah 66:23 clearly says that we will worship from one week to the next? No doubt we will enter into the rest of the true heavenly Canaan, as taught in Hebrews 3 and 4, but the weekly rest, the memorial of God’s creation, will continue from week to week, only this time it will be a memorial of God’s “new” creation of the heavens and earth, for, says the apostle, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I make all things new.” Revelation 21:1-5.

This verse is very difficult for anti-Sabbatarians to deal with. If Isaiah is depicting an event not to far from his time, but before the time of Christ, then why does he reference the same “new heaven and new earth” that John the Revelator cites? And if that is symbolic, John’s must also be symbolic, and there will not really be a new heaven or new earth.

The accusation is hurled at us, that if it all literal (and we don’t subscribe to the entire chapter being literal), then there will be carcasses in the new earth according to verse 24. But this does not move us, for the verse says that they “will go forth, and look upon the carcasses…” and we know that this will literally take place, for as New Jerusalem descends from heaven, God destroys the wicked (Revelation 20:9) and those inside the city walls will obviously be able to look outward at the transpiring event. This does not mean that their dead bodies will abide there forever, for the very word “carcasses” implies a “decaying body” that will soon disappear, as Malachi alludes to, “ye shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.” Malachi 4:3.

Both the “it is all literal” and the “it is all symbolic” positions are faulty, which is why we take up the “double application” position of this chapter, explained in more detail at another webpage at this site titled: Isaiah 66:23: New Moon observance?

Fact # 4: Missing evidence

In light of the above facts, the claim that seventh day was instituted to be a perpetual day of rest is based upon missing evidence. The reason why the phrase” evening and morning” was not included seems obvious by Moses’ use of the words “blessed” and “sanctified” which set the record strait that this was a day set apart for holy use. By claiming the seventh day is also a “yom” as was the previous days, Moses clearly showed that the seventh day was to also be a literal 24 hour period as was the other six days. The burden of proof lies on the part of our opponents to show that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day of rest. Not one verse in the entire bible even suggests that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day. Missing evidence is not evidence at all. But we ask, did Adam and Eve think they were living in a perpetual seventh day rest? Many would be surprised to learn that Adam and Eve were well aware of the seventh “yom” rest, because by sinning through eating that fruit…

Adam and Eve essentially broke the Sabbath commandment.

That might be hard to swallow, and hard to believe, but, readers, let the word of God be, “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,” piercing, “even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” –Hebrews 4:12. Let us face the facts and see clearly that when James said that when we break even one of the commandments we have in essence broken them all (James 2:10), he was not lying. Now the Law of God, says the Psalmist, is “perfect” –Psalm 19:7. It is also “holy” and perfectly “just” –Romans 7:12. Paul also says that where ever there is sin, there must also be a law, for “where no law is, there is no transgression” – Romans 4:15. He clearly said that, “by the law is the knowledge of sin” –Romans 3:20. So, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, how did they know they actually sinned? Paul answer’s that we have knowledge of sin by “the law.” There must have therefore been a law in place when Adam and Eve sinned, for they clearly acknowledged their sin (Genesis 3:2, 3, 7). What law was this? Let us return to Genesis:

Genesis 2:17
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The law was not to eat of this tree. But did it stop there? What was the problem with eating a fruit? Is there a particular sin in eating a fruit? Of course not, the problem was within their hearts. To go against God’s wishes was to violate his law and set yourself over his will for your life. It went much deeper then merely eating a fruit, for there is no perticular sin in eating a fruit. There was actually an even bigger law she violated:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

She violated the 10 commandments, because she "lusted" after that which God forbade. For those who that think this is not a violation of the 10 Commandments, beloved, take a closer look:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Now compare her actions with the following commandment:

Exodus 20:17
(17) Thou shalt not covet

Eve took a “look” at the tree, and entertained the thought that God might just be wrong. She felt that it “was pleasant to the eyes,” and “a tree to be desired to make one wise.” Was not God’s counsel not wise enough? Clearly, she violated the 10th commandment not to covet, for she “coveted” that fruit. Yet, this isn’t the only commandment she broke. By placing herself over God’s law, she elevated “self” over God himself, in this way she broke the first commandment, for anything that is first in our lives besides God is our god, especially “self.”

Now, above we read that James teaches that when we break one we have broken them all. Each and every one of the 10 Commandments law are “perfect” and holy.” The fact that the law is “perfect” shows it has always existed together, for why would a perfect law need another law added to it after words, since it is already perfect? (David clearly said the law is perfect in Psalms 19:3, so the law that was “added” in Galatians 3 was not added because this law was not perfect, it was added “because of transgression” –verse 19.) Each of the 10 Commandments have always existed together, and never apart, as James said:

James 2:11
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

In other words, if you break even one of the commandments, you have broken the entire law, and since the law has always existed together, for it is perfect, and God spoke them at the same time, Eve had actually broken the entire law, which included the 4th commandment, the Sabbath! No wonder Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, because as mentioned above, Jesus was well aware that Adam and Eve were Sabbath keepers. To hard to swallow? Believe ye his words, and recognize that Adam was not the only patriarch aware of the Sabbath, for…

Abraham also kept the Sabbath.

Below is an extract from another study found at this website:

Genesis 26:5(5) Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Note: Many would be surprised to learn that faithful Abraham was also a Sabbath keeper. The above verse states that he obeyed God and kept his commandments. Now lets read some more about the commandments that Abraham kept:

1 Chronicles 16:15-17(15) Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;(16) Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;(17) And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.

Some believe the covenant God made with Abraham was circumcision, but a closer look reveals this was not the covenant, but the “sign” of that covenant:

Genesis 17:7-11(7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.(8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.(9) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.(10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.(11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Notice above that circumcision was to be a token (or sign) “of the covenant.” In 1 Chronicles 16, verse 17, we read that the same covenant God made with Abraham was “the same” he made with “Israel for an everlasting covenant. What was the covenant he made with Israel?

Deuteronomy 4:13(13) And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Therefore, since the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the Ten Commandments, which included the Sabbath, this means they were all Sabbath keepers. –Who Kept the Sabbath?

When a covenant is made, there are two parties involved, and both parties agree to do something in order to sustain that pact, or contract, or covenant. If one violates his end of the deal, the contract is broken and becomes void. God’s end of his contract was that he was going to “bless” Abraham with the land and with multiplying his seed (Genesis 15:5, 17:8, 16, 20). And because Abraham believed in God, that God would keep his promise, his belief was “counted unto him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). But why does then God say in Genesis 26:5 that Abraham “obeyed” his laws and commandments? Read closely the verses before, it reads that God will multiply Isaac’s seeds “because” that Abraham obeyed him. Abraham’s end of the contract was that he was to faithfully obey God’s laws as a result of his belief in God, and in return God would bless him and his seed. It was because Abraham believed first, then obeyed his laws, that God kept his promises. If Abraham would have just “believed” but broken God’s law, his faith which would have been without works... which is a“dead” faith –James 2:26. His belief was counted unto him for righteousness, but his belief produced “obedience” to God’s law, and those laws, according to 1 Chronicles 15:16-17 was the same law, or covenant, that God made with Israel, which covenant was the 10 Commandments (Deut. 4:33)! And the truth that God’s covenant was not a new thing to him is made crystal clear by the wording of Deuteronomy 4:13. Take a look:

Deuteronomy 4:13
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Take note, dear reader, that Moses said God “declared” his covenant. The word “declared” implies it was not given "for the first time,” but rather, as it has already existed, it was “declared” to them for their benefit. This is made more evident by the Hebrew word “nagad,” which in the majority of times throughtout the Old Testament is used in the context of declaring or making known something that already existed. Then notice that it reads, “his covenant.” God made known “his” covenant to them. It is not "their" covenant, as our opponants would have us believe. No, it was “his” covenant, because this covenant of his was his before he declard it to the children of Israel, it was first a covenant between him and Abraham! But I can hear the critics already, "God said the covenant was not made with their fathers!" Let's all read that verse together:

Deut. 5:3
The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

Some think that when this verse says "our fathers" it is speaking about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet, knowing that this will not contradict 1 Chronicles 16:15-17, for God's word does not contradict itself, we must realized that Moses was not here talking about Abraham, but about the fathers of those Israelites that were slaves in Egypt! Remember, they were in Egyptian bondage for 400 years (Genesis 15:13). That means that if a bible generation in those days was 100 years long, that's at least four generations of "fathers" that did not experience this covenant! That is why Moses said that the Lord did not make this covenant of 10 Commandments with "our fathers," because the Israelites there present were the children of those Israelites that died while slaves in Egypt.

God’s word the final Authority

The idea therefore, that the Sabbath is no where to be found in the book of Genesis is without bases, and is an idea that was foreign to patriarchs like Moses and David. God’s word is quick and powerful, and “sharper then any two edged sword” –Hebrews 4:12. It is perfect and a chastiser to the proud and haughty. May it now forever be settled that God's law truly is "sure, they stand fast for ever and ever..." -Psalms 111:7-8

We pray this study was helpful.

You're Thought Questions Answered

Since adding this study to the website and discussing these issues with others I have been presented with some questions. Below are two questions, if you have any others, please email me and send them to me to add them here. Thank you.

Question: If Adam was given the Sabbath as a literal 24 period to rest on, what did they have to rest from since they were created just before on day six?

Answer: Genesis 1 is the account of the creations of God, but Genesis 2 is another account of some events that took place during creation week, specifically on the sixth day. Notice that Genesis 1:27 says that both Adam and Eve were created on day six. Yet there are things that took place between the time Adam was created and the time Eve was created, according to the second account in Genesis 2. Take a look:

Genesis 2:15-18
(15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Take note that “before” the women was created God told Adam to “dress it and to keep it.” The words “dress and keep” in the Hebrew means to both work and guard the Garden of Eden. As soon as Adam was created on day six, just before the women, who was also created on day six, he was given work to do. It was on the day “after” day six, which was the seventh day, that he was to rest the Sabbath day. Eve who was to follow after her husbands example also participated in his labor. Therefore what they rested from on the seventh day was the work they for given to do on day six.

Question: If the “day” of the seventh day was really supposed to simply be a 24 hour period, why then is the phrase “evening and morning” missing from there?

Answer: The reason why this phrase is absent is because another similar phrase was placed there, which is “blessed and sanctified it.”

The phrase” evening and morning” indicate that the day is set apart and separate from the day before it and from the day after it. The result of the phrase “evening and morning” is the “day.” Take another look:

Genesis 1:5
(5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And it goes on from there with the following days, the evening and the morning phrase “results” in the day. Now what is the resulting phrase for the seventh day? Again, the phrase “the Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day.” The word “sanctified” also indicates, as does the “evening and morning” phrase, that the day is “set apart” day, or yom. Therefore, if Moses would have said the phrase “evening and morning” for the seventh day, he would have been repeating himself, for he already indicated that it is set apart by his use of the word “sanctified.”

Why Not Believe?

2008-03-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

-A Challenge to YOU the Reader-

Think about the many things that this world can offer you, money, fame, pleasure in things or places, etc. It can all fill your heart with joy it's true, but let's face reality, none of these will last you forever. There all temporary's. Some might last you 20 years, others maybe 2 days. Money last's only until it is all spent. Fame? Only until someone more famous take's your place and people forget about you. Pleasure? Well, sometimes not as long as we'd like. But one way or another it all ends. Its all for a little while. Even our lives. Things come, and things go. We live… and unfortunately, we all die. However when we do die, what then? Consider the following questions:

1: Are you living a life of hope beyond these present things?

2: Would you like to see deceased loved one's again some day?

3: Is their something better beyond what this present world has to offer?

4: Is there life after death?

Let's tackle each question one by one…

First: What is a life without hope? It is a gloomy, sad life. Whether one may realize it or not, it is a life that has no future, no wishes, no hope beyond death. A life that says, "when I die I'm just dead, that's it, nothing else and nothing more." This is the result of trying to look at life at a limited human point of view. We only believe in what we see. Like the old saying, "If I can see it, I can believe it." But what's the point in that? Assurance? You can't always be assure. You can not see in front of the airplane if you are a passenger. You "hope" there is no other plane in your way. You "believe" in the pilot that he will not collide with some mountain, or with another jet. So you cant always believe only what you see. We are sometimes obligated to have faith and hope. Why not, then, have faith and hope in God? You don't know where you're going after death, nor can you prove that nothing happens to you when you die. So why not just believe in a life after death?

Or,

You can't always be sure just because you can see it. The apple your about to eat might look juicy on the outside, but on the inside it might be rotten, or it might not taste sweet. How will you find out? You will never know unless you take a bite and taste it. Your friend might say it will taste good, your brother might say it will taste bad, though unless you try it for yourself, you will never find out. The bible says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." How would you like to be always sure of what will happen to you after death? Why not try it? Why not taste? Why not believe?

Second: My mother passed away a few years back. I have hope and faith in the living God that I will one day see her again, and be reunited with her. This is a promise Jesus has made to me in the bible, and this is what keeps me alive not just physically but also mentally. People look and ask, "How could this man even smile while going through this tragic moment?" I answer, "only through Jesus, that's how."

I have noticed two things with individuals who believe in Jesus and those who do not. When a loved one dies, the believer goes through much grief and heartache, as does the unbeliever. The believer cry's, as does the unbeliever. The believer asks questions, and so does the unbeliever. But there is one big difference between the two. One is at peace at heart. One has hope that they will one-day see that loved one again. One lives life happier without trying to forget the tragedy. One sees life much more differently, as if they are here but for a little while, and will one day live forever with their loved one in a better place. His countenance glows with joy! The believer accepts what has happened because they have this "hope" that they'll see that loved one again. This hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. They both experience the same things, grief, heartache, sadness, tears, anger, etc. Yet the believer has hope and gains more hope, the unbeliever stays just where he is.

Have you lost someone you loved so much? Wouldn't you like to know for a fact that one day you'll meet again? Why not give Jesus a chance to touch your heart and give you his "peace." A peace that looks beyond death, beyond trouble, beyond pain, beyond tribulation! Doesn't that sound wonderful? The true Christian understands this. Would you also like to have this hope that's only found in Jesus? Why not believe?

Third: This world has its pretty views and nice moments. But those moments always have an end, and all the nice looking things have something wrong with it. Like the beautiful mountains. From far they are wonderful, but try climbing it. There is a risk of getting bite by a tick, stung by a bee. You can fall, slip and brake an ankle. How about the beautiful rivers and lakes? Full of fish that can bite. Bacteria flout along the stream, some of which can be fatal if accidentally swallowed.

This world is becoming over populated. The present count of human population on the earth is about 6 billion. It is said that within the next 30 years it will go up to a shocking number of 25 billion people. That number will just continue to increase, and disease will continue to spread among the humans and the animals. China is such a heavy populated country that a family's third child is to be put to death. This is what the world is coming to.

Just look around you. Look outside the window, garbage on the streets. Dead plants and animals. In the cities you find drunken people, and poor beggars pleading for money to eat. All this and still no hope for something better?
This world only brings problems, and problems beg for a solution. This world only offers temporary solutions, but the true solution is found in God. The Bible says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Why not hope and believe in something BETTER then this? Why not believe in a place where there is no disease, no death, no temporary amusement or solutions, and no fading flowers? Why not believe?

Fourth: The question is asked, is there life after death? You can not prove there is, yet you can not prove there isn't. That is why we have faith. But consider the following:

Two Roads- the Atheists road and the Believers road. At the end of there road of life they both die. If the Atheist was right in saying there is nothing after death, then both the believer and the atheist die and are forever doomed. But if the believer was right in saying there is a God and a life after death, they both still die, but only ONE is resurrected into life eternal… the believer. The unbelieving Atheist stays right where he is, dead. Who has the higher percentage of being right in their beliefs? The believer in Jesus Christ does. So why not believe?

If there is no God, there is no meaning

What happens when we try to take God away? Just the other day I read in the newspaper, "Another columbine-like shooting in a public school!" A kid, fanatic of Hitler, decides life has no meaning, and shoots up the school, killing a number of students including 3 teachers and a 14 year old girl. Skeptics pose the question, "Why doesn't God stop the shootings in the schools?" Well haven't you heard? God isn't allowed in the schools anymore! You see, the moment we try to take God away from our lives, tragedy, suffering and death reign. Hope is completely lost, and hopelessness and misery take its place. Without God life has no meaning and morality has no foundation. One author puts it like this:

"When God is present in our lives, humanity lives with the sense that we have value as persons, that life has a purpose, and that morality has meaning. Such things are sufficiently founded only on the Creator-God who is personal (therefore we have value), who created us to be in fellowship with him (therefore life has an ultimate meaning), and who is holy (therefore morality has sufficient foundation)." The Compact Guild to World Religions, Dean C. Halverson, p. 31.
The world hates the idea that there is a God because they know that, the very moment they accept and believe in God, they have to let go of there selfish, evil deeds that they love so much. They prefer to teach our children that we are all a big mistake that happened by chance, and that we eventually evolved from animals. But if we are going to teach our children that they are animals that came about by mistake, don't be surprised when they begin to act like it!

However if we teach them that there is a loving God who has laws and order and who created them to have fellowship with them, and that he wants the best for us, how much less violence do you think this world would have? How many of these children would grow up to live a life of hope and true happiness, a life full of goals, meaning, and purpose? True joy can only be found in Jesus Christ. If you take away God, you take away the whole meaning of life. Which will leave us with no hope, no faith, no meaning and nothing to look forward to after death. If there is no "absolute good" found in a God then you can not judge the actions of that boy who shot up the school. But if we accept God and believe in him life makes much more sense.

We are left, then, with only one true answer to life's greatest questions: There is an absolutely good God who created you and loves you, and wants you to live forever. If this is not true, then hope is crushed, and you will never really be at peace with yourself and the world. So why not believe?

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psalm 53:1

Jesus offers you hope

There is no other god that can relate to your pain as Jesus can. Not Buddha, not Confucius, not Allah, nor any other. There is only one God that understands what you are going through; he understands your pain and suffering, he is the Lord Jesus Christ. He came down from heaven above, and died for us on the cross. He suffered the death penalty we all deserve because of our sins so that we can have life eternal through his sacrifice. Isn't that great! Jesus went through it all, he was tempted in every way that we are (Hebrews 4:15). He suffered immense pain and agony (1 Peter 2:24). He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood, falsely accused, betrayed and insulted, he knows what grief is like (Isaiah 53:3-9; Luke 23:10; Matthew 20:18) and much more. Yet death did not have the victory, Jesus was raised to life after buried in the tomb for three days! Victory is swallowed up whole, and life can now be freely given through Jesus. He offers a hope that extends beyond anything. He can give you a peace that nothing can take away, not death, not suffering, not anything at all. Jesus says, "Peace I give you, not peace as the world gives, but my peace. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27. He understands, and he extends his hands to you, to help you, and give you life eternal: "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23. It's a gift, a FREE Gift. Take it, its your to keep. All you have to do is believe. Why not believe? What have you got to lose? Your car, your friends, your money? That's all temporary my friend, yet this is for eternity! Why not try it? It wouldn't hurt; instead, it will heal you, guaranteed!

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts…" Romans 5:1-5.

Today is your day!

Some people hope in earthly things, such as their business, money, women, parents, husband, wife, children, home, fame… all of which has an end. But today you are being offered to hope on someone that will never fade away. Someone that will never die, and will give you true hope and happiness. But most importantly, someone who will give you the free gift of eternal life. The Bible says, "Today, if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts" Psalm 95:7-8. Jesus stands knocking at the door of your heart. As soon as you let him in he will enter and dine with you. He will give you life in all its fullness. All he asks is for a relationship. Accept him and believe in him today, be baptism for the remission of sins and receive God's forgiveness. Because it is the sin problem that separates us from God. As soon as we admit that we are sinners in need of a savior, and allow Jesus to enter our lives and make a change for our greater good, our lives will be completely transformed. You will not look at anything the same ever again. All your problems, all your troubles, your tribulations… you will look beyond all this because you will understand why those things happen.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" 2Co 4:17.

Today is your day. Don't wait any longer. Prophecies are being quickly fulfilled. Soon the prayers of the saints will finally be answered and all the misery and grief and death, all sin and sinners will finally be destroyed. Would you like to be among those redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ? Don't wait until it's to late, nor wait until your troubles get worst. Don't allow yourself to get more depressed, sick, stressed, etc.

Hope is when you in-vision that tomorrow will be better then day. And true hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. Give Jesus a chance to give you hope, to make you truly happy and most importantly, to freely give you eternal life, because he can and he will, but only if you believe. Why not believe?

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Act 2:38

Your Sickness called "SIN"

2008-03-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

You’re sickness called “Sin”
-The story of the untold story-

Among the many beautiful stories of the New Testament, we have the lovely detail of a women who began to experience one of the worst times of her life. Her dreams and expectations, with hopes of one day realizing them, seemed to now slowly fade away. Her thoughts upon that bed were of the most frightening ones. What will she do now? She has so much more she wants to accomplish in her life, but now it seems nearly impossible. This sickness has taken hold of her very being, and in her mind she feels the need of a savior. But who? Who will find time to visit this poor old women to comfort her in her time of need? Who will spend the time she desires to talk sweet words of love and comfort into her ears, and encourage her to stand firm in her faith? Amidst her agony, and as she looks around… she is lonely. No one is home. She can only stare at the ceiling of her room, and wait until this terrible sickness has done its job. Who was this woman? It’s a women you least hear spoken of in the scriptures. Her story is least mentioned in sermons. But her story is one of the most impacting ones found in the Holy Bible. It is the story of Simon’s mother-in-law.

Turn with me to the book of Mark, chapter 1, beginning in verse 29. Notice, before we enter into this passage, that the savior, Jesus Christ, is not here at the moment. He began his ministry elsewhere, recruiting his beloved disciples, men of poor and humble statues. He entered into a synagogue, were he would meet violent opposition to his words. Here, he healed a man. The account says, “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, saying, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God” – verses 23-24. Many speak about the demon possessed man who had a spirit called Legion, whom Jesus healed. This man though, also had many spirits, for the spirit speaking referred to himself as “us.” At the very moment Jesus’ holy presence entered the synagogue where this sin stricken man was found and taught the people… at that very moment that spirit cried out, “Let us alone!” Who was this man who can stir up the very spirits? This man was Jesus, and with one command, the spirits departed from the man, and he layed healed of his sickness. Could this same man heal Simon’s mother-in-law also? His fame quickly scattered through out the land of Galilee. Something happened when this man entered that sin stricken synagogue. Jesus, a bold and courageous man, entered into the problem, and solved it. How many of us would dare enter into where the problem resides in order to help solve that problem? The thought is unimaginable for us. The very sound of a demon possessed person sends cold down our spine. But where that problem was… where that sin was… where that sickness called SIN was, there he entered, and there he healed. Could this man possibly do the same for others who are also sick with sin? That man whom Jesus healed was probably sick for a very long time because of the multiple spirits that were within him. What sin caused this man to end up like this? What was he really in need of? Healing… but from what? Just healing from his physical sickness? Or also healing from his spiritual sickness, which caused him to end up the way he did? This man need more then healing, he needed a healer.

Jesus now leaves the synagogue. He entered into it when it was most stricken with sickness, but he doesn’t stop there. No, Jesus is interested in more then one sheep. He has come to gather in all his lost sheep, and it is amazing how he does this one by one, with a personal touch in each case. Such is also the case in verses 29-30. Notice the verses:

Mark 1:29-30
(29) And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
(30) But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Notice that if you read verse 16, you will find that Simon and Andrew were fishing. They then followed Jesus into that synagogue. James and John also were with them. Who was in that house? Only Simon’s mother-in-law, lonely, and afraid, suffering from an unnamed sickness that had her nearly paralyzed upon her bed. How severe was her sickness? All we know, from the greek word translated “fever” is that is was pretty extreme, for it literally means “inflamed.’ So bad, that verse 31 hints to the fact that she was unable to move up from her bad on her on. But then came this man. She had probably heard of this man. “This must be he who healed that spirit possessed man?” she probably thought. “Could he do the same with me?”

Verse 29 again shows how Jesus enters where the problem resides. It reads… “they entered into the house…” He knew what he would find there. Being the Son of the living God, he knew exactly what he was about to face. But he was more interested in something else, and this is made evident by how he approached the problem. Read with me verse 31:

Mark 1:31
(31) And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Let us analyze each occurrence that took place. It reads that “he came…” Has Jesus come into your life yet? It reads, “and he took her by…” the ear? The neck? There is something special about grabbing someone by the hands, isn’t there? Do you know why most men find themselves putting the women on the opposite side of the street and holding her hand there when walking down a sidewalk? Well in the early years of this country, the streets were made in an almost bent type of way, where when it rained, the water accumulated on both sides of the street. These puddles, when ran over by a passing vehicle, would splash on the sidewalk. And of the poor lady walking by at that moment! So the men found it well mannered to place her on the other side. This act, along with holding her hand, symbolized protection, appreciation, and comfort. Jesus, when he grabbed this woman by the hand, at the moment she felt unsafe, he told her with this that she was safe. At the moment she felt worthless, he told her with this that she was somebody. At the moment when she felt alone… he encouraged her with this simple act to not fear, for the comforter has arrived. But that wasn’t the only thing our Lord did for her, he also, “lifted her up.” Why did she need to be lifted up? Because she couldn’t lift herself up! She felt in her time of trouble a weakness that made her almost give up. She couldn’t move. She could stand. She could do her daily task of cleaning or cooking. So Jesus entered into her problem… into the time she was at her worst state, and told her with this one act of lifting her as he tells us all, “my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co. 12:9). All these simple but impacting acts of Jesus upon this women means but one thing: he wants to get personal with us as he did with her. She had a personal impact with the savior. Besides healing her physically, Jesus invited her to have a relationship with him. He saw in her eyes the need for someone to heal her, not just of her disease, but to also heal her inwardly. She needed forgiveness, love, peace. And he saw all this… before he entered into her sin stricken home.

Toward the end of this verse, we read, “and she ministered unto them.” Now her joy has come. Now she is alive and healthy. Now she is ready to begin her household chores once more. Yet her first act as a newly wed, now married to Jesus her savior, she “ministers unto him.” It is one thing to be healed of a sickness, and it is another to be healed from a sickness and now begin a life of appreciation for he who healed you. When the deaf and mute stricken man was healed of his sickness, although he was told to not publish the news, he could hold himself. He spread the word quickly. When a leprous man was healed of his leprosy, immediately the news flashed throughout the land. As soon as she was healed, she ministered unto him. She began to work for him, serving him, comforting him, because now she has a personal relationship with him. When we come to Christ with an open heart, we will freely receive him. He will not only come into our home’s, our home being our sin stricken bodies, he will come in and be a physician to first, and I emphasis this… first heal us spiritually, and then physically, as was in her case. And when he heals us, and forgives us of our many trespasses, and restores with us a personal relationship with him, he puts within our hearts the desire to please him. It comes to the point where we “want” to serve him, because of how thankful we are of his friendship and companionship.

Let us now, before entering the next verse, pause for a moment and reflect on what Jesus really went through on that cross. Did Simon’s mother-in-law suffer as he did? Have you suffered as he did? Many of complain at the moments in our lives when we feel we can not continue on any more. We question God, as probably she did. We worry and fear, and we desire sweet release from this terrible time of trouble as she did. We want a companion, a friend, someone to be there for us at this awful moment. We feel that just because Jesus left to heaven he will now comfort us now as he did to those alive when he was here upon the earth. But we forget that his arms of salvation and healing were opened once for all time that day she he was crucified for us. As each nail held him upon that cross, he invited all, past present and yes… future (you and me) to approach him in hug. The terrible pains he went through for us, simply because he loves us and so that we can live, is unthinkable. When they wiped Jesus in the torturing cell, the Romans had the habit of wiping also the legs of their victims so that they would become nearly crippled. And I can only imagine, that Satan thought to himself at that moment, “do you want to heal those crippled, well take this, and now you become crippled.” Or when upon his holy brow a crown of thorns was forced upon it. These thorns, being possibly about 3 to 4 inches in length, punctured the veins surrounding his head. One of these veins was the optic nerve that, when damaged, can cause severe headache and near blindness. Jesus, being crippled and nearly blind, could not even make it in his weakness to the place of the cross. He fell, and the cross landed upon him. A man had to carry the cross for him. And I can only imagine the enemy, once again saying, “Ah Jesus, you want to heal those whom I have caused to be blind almost all their lives, well here, now you be blind!” And one day, before this terrible scene, Jesus stood in front of a tomb covered by a giant rock and yelled out, “Lazarus, come forth!” And Lazarus came forth out of that tomb, alive! And as Jesus layed upon that cross, paying the penalty we deserved, the penalty I deserved, gasping for some air, and longing for some water to release him at least a little bit from this time of anguish, the enemy must have been thinking… “Do you want to give life to those who have died? Do you want to heal and give life to all those whom I have captured with sin in my grip of death? Do you want to resurrect those who are now dead… well here… now you die…” And Jesus died… for you… and for me.

Did Simon’s mother-in-law suffer the way our Lord has? Have you suffered the way he has? You are in need of healing. You have a sickness. The same sickness she had inwardly. This sickness is called “sin.” Would you allow Jesus to heal you of this sickness? Don’t worry about the people in your life who might now think differently of you, or of the darkness around you. In fact… let us return to the story of Simon’s mother-in-law, and see how this man who suffered that death on the cross steps also into darkness:

Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Many read this verse and move on, but I want you to notice something particular about this verse. It read, “at even, when the sun did set…” Isn’t this always the case? Once a believer comes to Jesus, and changes his life around, the evening comes and the sun sets. Why? Because you have been taken out from off the enemies grip. He had you where he wanted you when you were not in Christ, but now that you left he has to bring you back. But this applies to those who have never meet Christ also. Amidst this darkness in our lives, when the sun is set, when we can not see and we are all alone, lo, those diseased and possessed with devils come! Yet, notice how Jesus deals with this situation:

Mark 1:33-34 And all the city was gathered together at the door….

Stop! Before reading on, do you remember where Jesus was just before this? Well first he when to a church where there was a problem, then he went to Simons mother-in-law’s home where again there was a problem… not he steps outside into more problems. Jesus loves the problems! Take a closer look at this verse. It reads that “all the city” was gathered at the door, now read the next verse:

Mark 1:34
(34) And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

He healed many that were sick and cast out the devils out of those possessed. How could Jesus heal “all the city” without first stepping “out” of the home and entering amidst those sick individuals? Once again we find our Lord placing himself where he can perform a miracle, where he can heal all those truly seeking his help. He can… and will enter our homes, our lives, our bodies… and heal us, and bring us to have a close personal relationship with him.

Verse 33 said something important I decided to leave for last. Where did all “the city” gather to? To “the door.” The news about this man who can heal them moved them to this home. Only hearing that he was in there, yet without knowing for sure, they came closer and closer to that “door.” I can imagine the crowd waiting for him to simply open that door and step out into there darkness to help them. The lame and crippled, the blind, the mute, the poor both physically and in spirit, those troubled by evil spirits, those who can not get rid of those tormenting thoughts. How about those in need of forgiveness, those who feel lonely, those who have lost a loved one, those with unanswered questions, those with deep concern for themselves, those contemplating suicide, suffering with an addiction, dieing of cancer, depressed, afraid, feeling void, hurting. Or parents with sick children, children with no parents, prostitutes, the hungry, the confused. Are you one of those mentioned here? My friend… all you need to do is gather yourself at that door. The news has been spread, the gospel is simple… Jesus is at that door, behold, Jesus is the door:

John 10:9
(9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

We all have a sickness, we are all dieing slowly, but praise be to God who has given his only begotten son, to give his life a ransom for many, so that we may be healed, forgiven, and restored to God through Jesus Christ, that one day we may all sing that song of joy and gladness, and may behold the face of he who, “was wounded in the house of my friends” Zechariah 13:6. God bless you.