June 7 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not kill.” Exo. 20: 13; Deut. 5: 17; Matt. 5: 21,22, KJV.
O if only men would understand the spiritual magnification of this commandment (and the rest of the nine), the nation and mankind would not be suffering all the prejudice, racial hatred and killings hemorrhaging society today!
“Whosoever HATETH his brother is a MURDERER: and you know no murderer has life in him.” 1 John 3:15. “The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan: and it led him to put to death [thru his combined Jewish and Roman agencies] the Son of God. Whoever cherishes MALICE or UNKINDNESS is cherishing the same spirit; and its fruit will be unto death. In the REVENGEFUL THOUGHT the evil deed lies enfolded, as the plant in the seed.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, p.89.
“The law of God takes note of the JEALOUSY, ENVY, HATRED, MALIGNITY, HATRED, LUST and AMBITION that surge through the soul, but have NOT found expression in OUTWARD action, because the OPPORTUNITY, not the WILL, has been wanting. And these SINFUL EMOTIONS will be brought into the account in the day when ‘God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing.’ [Eccl. 12: 13,14].” Ibid, Signs of the Times, Jan. 10, 1911.
“All acts of INJUSTICES that TEND TO SHORTEN LIFE; the spirit of hatred and revenge, or the indulgence of any PASSION that leads to injurious acts toward others, or causes us even to WISH them harm, a selfish NEGLECT of caring for the needy and suffering; all SELF-INDULGENCE or UNNECESSARY DEPRIVATION or EXCESSIVE LABOR that tends to injure health,—-all these are, to a greater or lesser degree, a VIOLATION of the SIXTH COMMANDMENT.” Ibid, Patriarchs & Prophets, p.308.
“Some sacrifice physical and moral OBLIGATIONS, thinking to find happiness, and they lose both soul and body. Others will seek their happiness in indulgence of and UNNATURAL APPETITE, and consider the indulgence of taste more desirable than health and life.
“Many suffer themselves to be ENCHAINED by sensual passions, and will sacrifice physical health, intellect and moral powers, to the gratification of LUST. They will bring themselves to UNTIMELY GRAVES, and in the Judgment will be charged with SELF-MURDER.” -Ibid, Youth’s Instructor, Apr. 1872.
So we can better understand now that not all “who say, Lord, Lord” or simply profess to be Christians will automatically hear Jesus say “well done thou good servant” but those who “overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” May we be found among them is my hope, prayer and ministry to all of you. NMF