Church of God and Saints of Christ

24May2010

Quiz: The Sower

Posted by admin1 under: Bible Quizzes & Puzzles.

To answer this Quiz, please read the parable of The Sower in St. Matthew 13: 1-23 and St. Mark 4:1-20.

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15May2010

Who is on the Lord’s side?

Posted by admin1 under: Search the Scriptures.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19.

WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? : WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT LIFE

Thousand of years ago, the LORD God of heaven, the Giver of Life answered the question that has baffled the learned many of our society. The lawyers have wrestled with it, the judges in the courts of law have been perplexed by it. Individual members of our society and civic groups have gathered to decide on this but have failed in all ways to stand on the LORD’s side.

When Moses went up on the mountain to receive the law and the Testimony, Israel gathered themselves unto Aaron and said unto him, ‘Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.’ Exodus 32:1.

Aaron in turn makes for them a molten calf and they worshipped it. And the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. God says to Moses, ‘Get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:” verse 7.
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. He crushes the molten calf which they had made and strawed it upon the water and made Israel drink of it. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And Moses instructs the children of Levi to go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

Even now, the question still applies to us: Who is on the Lord’s side concerning abortion? Who is ready to leave the mainstream and become unpopular in the sight of men, but save his soul? This question can be answered if we silence every voice and creed that man has decreed, and turn to the inerrant and sure word of our God.

1. As a safeguard to human life, what did God command?
Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13

2. How gruesome is the sin of murder?
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. Numbers 35:33-34.

3. Faced with a decision what does God say concerning life over death?
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19.

4. Who alone has the right to give and to take away?
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21.

5. What law did God give concerning the unborn child?
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. Exodus 21:22.

6. When does life begin with God?
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

7. Did David say all our members are written before they exist?
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16.

8. Then God has work for us even before we are even born, does He?
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Isaiah 49:1-3.

Note: ‘The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother’

9. God does not put at what stage one is in their mother’s womb before He calls them. As soon as a woman conceives, there is begins to exist a precious life which God has already named:

‘From the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.’
Usually we give names to children after they are born. We call them by various names as fetus, embryo etc, but God calls that which is nothing to man, by name. And when that is killed, a human with a name has been murdered.

‘And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword’
To God there is a voice in the womb, while to man there is just an embryo. God prepares the unborn for His work, hiding that in the shadow of his hand, polishing and prepares the unborn for His glory. When that is killed, how great a sin man has committed against the plans and purposes of God!

10. God is very succinct about shedding of innocent blood. That is what abortion achieves.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 (Look also at the following verses: Isaiah 59:7, Psalm 94:21

Feel free to add your comments to this lesson because God is always glorified when we often speak one to another about His Word:
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:16-17

This Lesson is derived from The Sabbath School Manual and Study Guide: SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES pages 427-431. If you want the Lesson in it’s entirety or own the book for yourself please write us: contact@cogasoc-tsot.org.

Lesson Courtesy of www.cogasoc-tsot.org

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5May2010

Blessed!

Posted by admin1 under: Devotions/Meditations.

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God (Deuteronomy 28: 1-2).

Often we think of blessings as being independent of what we do, as random series of us receiving good things from the Lord.  It could be so to some extent because “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Psalms 103: 10). God continues to be good even when we are not. And that is a blessing in itself.

However the blessings  and curses are also the results of our actions or lack thereof. We are blessed when we keep the commandments and cursed when we do not: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22: 14).

The scriptures emphasize that we are blessed in doing good, even before receiving the good reward. The blessing is in doing,  hence Paul writes “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20: 35). The blessing is in doing and in giving.

Jesus also taught: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (St. Matthew 6: 33). We will receive all these things, but we have to seek him first. Our commitment to God must come first.  So religion is not to get, but it is something to do. That is why also Jesus specifically taught saying, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”  (St. John 13: 17). Meaning blessed are ye if ye do them. If we do not do them, then there is no blessing either.

Taking the understanding that it is more blessed to give than to receive, on the Mount of Olives Jesus taught a lot about being blessed. One of the blessings he mentioned was for those who are peace makers. The blessing and reward was for them to be called the Children of God (St. Matthew 5: 9). So to be blessed enough to be called a child of God, the duty is to go out and make peace with others and to pursue it (Psalms 34: 14).

It is a blessing to keep God’s Commandments because often it is only few who obey His voice. Being blessed is not only the reward for doing for the Lord. For David wrote in Psalms 34: 1 saying “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth”. Our obedience can bless the Lord. Our praises bless the Lord, even as David sang “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalms 103: 1).

Blessing entails both receiving from the Lord as much as giving to the Lord. For as much as we want to receive good things from the Lord, let us also be prepared to give to God. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (Psalms 41: 13).

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29April2010

Remember Me

Posted by admin1 under: Devotions/Meditations.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom (St. Luke 23: 42).

What will we do without memory? Many of our daily activities, indeed we cannot neglect to include our future, both mundane and important things we do rely on our memory.  There is nothing that we do, that does not need our memory. And whilst we forget many things and forget to serve God, but our God does not forget us.

One of the thieves hung next to Jesus realizing his eternal fate, pleaded for mercy, and said to Jesus, “remember me”. Jesus reassured him, “today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (St. Luke 23: 43).  Jesus was telling this thief that he will remember him, and deal kindly with him.

When somebody says “remember me” they mean have me in mind when the  good opportunity arises. These were Joseph’s words to the Chief Butler after interpreting the dream for him. “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him” (Genesis 40: 14; 21; 23). As people, often we forget the goodness, but remember the bad. But praise be to God, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalms 103: 14).

Sometimes, when life is hard,  and we may feel forsaken and forgotten, yet God is with us in all our tribulations. No matter how long it takes, we must believe that God will deliver us in His appointed time. Hannah longed and prayed for a child for many years. Yet , “the Lord remembered her” (I Samuel 1: 19). When our trials take long, it is not because God has forgotten about us and our needs, for the scriptures reassure us that “he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalms 121: 4). We must wait on the Lord, with the faith that God hears us, and in the appointed time he will deliver us. Rachel too was barren for many years, “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb” (Genesis 30: 22).

What we go through sometimes may seem to take a lifetime, let us be reassured that God is not man that he should forget. What he has done for others, he will do for us too.  When you feel like giving up, just pray “remember me” because in due time, in the appointed time God will remember you.

Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son (Genesis 18: 14). Our suffering, trials and tribulation may not be for a week or month. It may take years. No matter how long it takes, let us know that the time for deliverance is with God. “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him” (Genesis 21: 2).

Meditation: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalms 27: 14).

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11April2010

Quiz: Passover

Posted by admin1 under: Bible Quizzes & Puzzles.

Do you want to find out how much you know about the Passover? Take this multiple choice Bible Quiz to find out.

Please go to Quiz: Passover to view the quiz

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