POINTS OF TRUTH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

Crusade Church of God

P.O. Box 102, Russellville, AR 72811, USA Ph. 479-498-4524

Mini-Study from the Editor

Children of the Devil, and Children of God

The Apostle Paul once wrote to a young evangelist who was prone to discouragement saying,- "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12)

Paul wrote this last letter while in prison awaiting his eventual execution for the sake of the gospel whom the Jews had rejected. Because of this rejection, they brought false charges against Paul when he arrived at Jerusalem and had him arrested. Being a Roman citizen, Paul appealed to Caesar and was confined in Rome where he wrote many of his important epistles.

Paul commissioned young Timothy to combat false teachings in the Churches. And because Paul loved Timothy as a son and he did not want him to be ignorant of the fact that most of the brethren would "turn away from the truth", he charged him to "fulfill his ministry" and not allow himself to become disheartened. (2 Timothy 4)

Why did Paul warn Timothy that he would be persecuted?

Paul knew that those who had once received Jesus, the promised Seed through the agency of the holy spirit, only to later refuse to follow His lead, would no longer be the children of God but would ultimately become the children of the Devil, enemies of the heritage of God.

In Matthew 13, Jesus likened the world to a field which has both the Lord's SEED and Satan's SEED sown in it.

The Lord's Seed producing "wheat" and the Devil's Seed producing "Tares" or weeds.

The wheat bears useful fruit while the tares are fruitless and worthless. The Seed is the Word of God, which received, produces repentance, water baptism and reception of the holy spirit and eventually, eternal life in the Family of God.

In the world today there are those who have been called and have said, "Yes Lord." These are presently the children of God. And there are those who have been called and said, "No Lord", or have later fallen away. These are the children of the Devil.

Then there is the vast majority of humanity whom God has not yet called, and have received neither the Lord's Seed nor the Devil's Seed, but are simply still of the seed of Adam. Jesus said,- "No one can come to Me unless the Father draw him." (John 6:44)

The latter are those spoken of in Revelation chapter 20 who will be resurrected after the Millennial reign of Christ, and have the "books" of the Bible opened to their understanding. Then they will be given the opportunity to receive the Word and live, or reject it and perish.

God has set before man LIFE and DEATH and has counseled, "CHOOSE LIFE." Ultimately, all who have ever been born of Adam will become either a child of God or a child of the Devil. Notice Matthew 13:37-42,- "The one who sows the GOOD SEED is the SON OF MAN, and the FIELD is the WORLD; and as for the good seed, these are the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM; and the TARES are the CHILDREN OF THE EVIL ONE, and the enemy who sowed them is the DEVIL, and the HARVEST is the END OF THE AGE; and the reapers are angels.

Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and THOSE WHO COMMIT LAWLESSNESS, and will CAST THEM INTO THE FURNACE OF FIRE, in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Notice that the children of the Evil One are "those who commit lawlessness." Many today come in the name of Jesus but do not teach observing the Law of the Ten Commandments, of which Jesus said would not pass away until heaven and earth pass away. (Matthew 5:17-19)

If observance to these fundamental Laws are no longer required, then for what transgressions are these "lawless" ones cast into the fire? If the Ten Commandments are no longer "in force" then how can the penalty of lawlessness be "enforced?" John said,- "SIN IS. . .the transgression of the Law." (1 John 3:4) And Paul said,- "The WAGES OF SIN is DEATH, but God's GIFT is ETERNAL LIFE." (Romans 6:23) Again, God sets before us Life and Death.

SCRIPTURES WITH COMMENTARY

John Chapter one states that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God,(the Father) and the Word was God (the Son). This one called the Word is Jesus, who came to His own, the Israelites, and they received Him not, but murdered Him. (Verse 11) Now notice Verses 12-13,- "But a many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

What About Those Who Received Him Not?

Answering Nicodemus in John 3 and certain Jews in John 8 who were laying claim to the promises of God through the natural seed of Abraham, Jesus told them in effect, that it was not enough to be born of Abraham to "see the kingdom", but one must be born again of the spirit. Now notice Jesus' response to those Jews who would not receive Him.

"If God were YOUR FATHER, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me."

"Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word."

"You are of YOUR FATHER the DEVIL, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies."

Notice that Jesus said that Satan was a murderer from the beginning. He successfully recruited Cain to carry out his evil desire to murder Abel, his righteous brother.

"But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?"

"HE WHO IS OF GOD hears the WORDS OF GOD; for this reason you do not hear them, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF GOD." (John 8:42-47)

1 John 3:7-13,- "Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous"

"The one who PRACTICES SIN is OF THE DEVIL; for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the Devil."

Those who practice sin as a way of life cannot be the Children of God.

"No one who is born (Gk. conceived) of God practices sin, because His SEED abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

"By this the children of God and the children of the Devil are obvious; any one who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

"Not as CAIN, who was OF THE EVIL ONE, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous."

"Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you."

Cain was of the Evil One. But how? How did he come to receive the seed of the Devil?

Genesis 4 records that both Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God, but only Abel's offering was accepted. The reason? His sacrifice was in accordance with his deeds and Cain's was not. Cain's deeds were evil which made his sacrifice more of a offering of appeasement rather than one of appreciation. Perhaps Cain felt that Abel was too righteous which left him lacking by comparison. Certainly, Abel was far more righteous than Cain wanted to be.

Finding a bitter place to plant his evil seed, Satan tempted Cain with the desire to kill his brother. It was at this point that God intervened and spoke to Cain saying,- "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, SIN IS CROUCHING at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6-7)

Once again, God was laying Life and Death before one and pleading, "CHOOSE LIFE!"

Sadly, Cain did not allow the Word to be implanted in him and instead became a son of the Evil One, and carried out the desire of his father by killing his brother.

Abel was the first martyr.

He was the first child of God murdered by the first child of the Devil. Jesus called Abel righteous (Matthew 23:35), and Abel is listed as one the faithful in the cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 11 who await their eternal reward at the return of Christ.

Now Remember,- WHY DID CAIN KILL ABEL? Because his deeds were evil or lawless and his brother's were righteous. The children of God have always, and will always be persecuted by the children of the Devil until the return of Christ.

Notice Galatians 4:28-29,- "And you brethren, (children of God) like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh PERSECUTED him who was born according to the spirit, so it is now also."

Near the end of His ministry on earth, Jesus entered the Temple for the last time. Facing off with the Jewish religious establishment who were making plans to have Him killed, Jesus pronounced seven woes to them. (woe means great sorrow) For three years He had preached the Word to them, and in their sight healed the sick and even raised the dead, but they would not hear nor receive the Promised Seed (Gal.3:16) so as to become children of God and heirs of the Kingdom.

Matthew 23:29-35,- "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Actors) For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "if we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets." Consequently you bear witness against yourselves, that you are SONS of THOSE WHO MURDERED THE PROPHETS."

The seed connection here is not of Abraham but of the Evil One.

"Fill up then the measure of the guilt of your fathers."

By killing the Son of God and those who He would send, they would be filling up the measure of the cup of wrath which God will pour out in the day of judgment.

"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?"

"Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, that UPON YOU MAY FALL THE GUILT OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON EARTH, from the blood of RIGHTEOUS ABEL to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar."

How could those Jesus was speaking to be responsible for the murder of men who lived thousands of years before their birth?

Responsible for even the death of Abel?

The only explanation is that the true guilt falls on Satan and his seed, the children of the Devil who carry out the unlawful desires of their father. Like Cain, the first to receive the Devil's seed, these men had also allowed themselves to be conceived of the Devil by rejecting Jesus.

Cain was not deceived, God had warned him directly and personally. He consciously CHOSE to carry out Satan's desire to murder Abel. Likewise, these religious leaders were not at first deceived but also chose to carry out the desire of their father to murder Jesus, the Righteous One.

The holy spirit, is the spirit of truth and leads a Christian into truth. Sometimes understanding a truth is painful and difficult to accept. It always calls for a confession that you were wrong, and for a necessity for change. Embracing a truth can mean the loss of family, friends and employment.

These self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes would have to denounce their traditions which they held dear. These highly educated religious scholars would have to humble themselves and receive Bible instruction from the likes of fishermen and tax-collectors whom Jesus had called to be Apostles. It was a difficult choice for them, but one which had to be made. Again God was setting before them life and death.

Truth is the first casualty when one succumbs to Satan.

Paul told the Thessalonian brethren that when one loses his love for truth, God will actually send upon him a spirit of delusion in order that he would believe lies. (2 Thes. 2)

It is at that point they become a child of the Devil and lose their salvation. They may actually believe they are carrying out the desires of God when in fact they are carrying out the desires of the Devil. Notice,- "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue; but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is OFFERING SERVICE TO GOD."

The Jewish religious leaders had already received this same mind-set from the spirit of delusion, believing that Jesus should die to protect the people from being deceived. Word had just reached them that Jesus had resurrected Lazarus from the dead, and it was witnessed by many. They knew that much more people would begin to follow Him after so great a miracle. Their Solution? Kill Jesus! Persecute and discredit His disciples. Spread lies.

But the children of God who are faithful will love truth even when it hurts, because they know God must be worshiped in spirit and truth. (John 4) And they have the desire of their heavenly Father to worship Him.

STORY OF KING SAUL

When Israel demanded a king in the days of Samuel, God gave them Saul and placed His anointing and blessing upon him. Saul was commissioned by God to carry out a judgment against a pagan king named Amalek. God instructed Saul to destroy both man, woman, child and beasts of the Amalekites. But Saul did not carry out the desire of God.

God spoke to Samuel and said that He regretted making Saul king of Israel because he had not followed the commandment He had given him.

When Samuel confronted Saul concerning his disobedience, Saul said,- "I have carried out the command of the Lord." And said that he had only taken possession of the flocks and herds to offer them in sacrifice to God.

Notice Samuel's reply,- "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed than the fat of rams."

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry."

"Because you have rejected the WORD of the Lord, He has rejected you from being king." (Samuel 15:22-23)

Chapter 16, verse 14 says that the spirit of the Lord departed Saul and an evil spirit entered. The transition was complete. Saul had gone from a child of God, led by the holy spirit, to a child of the Devil terrorized by an evil spirit.

This evil spirit would compel Saul to try to kill David who was a man after God's own heart. WHY DID SAUL SEEK TO KILL DAVID? Because his deeds were evil and David's were righteous. And because,- "Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul." (Samuel 18:12)

Again, all it takes to be persecuted by the children of the Devil is to be faithful children of God. Ultimately, we will all be persecuted or become a persecutor.

CHILDREN OF GOD STRUGGLE WITH SIN

CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL STRUGGLE WITH GOD

In Romans 7, Paul says that as a Child of the spirit living in his physical body of death, he found that the pulls of the flesh wage war with the spirit man and the ways of God.

Paul said that he had given his will to God, and agreed with the laws of God with his mind, but found himself struggling against the law of sin.

Like Paul, Christians may often find themselves saying or doing things that they immediately regret, and even wonder why they did them. Christians repent daily. Like Paul, they find themselves in spiritual warfare and struggle against sin.

But it is a fight to overcome sin and its nature, not a fight against the Word of God. As Paul told Timothy,- "Fight the good fight of faith."

WHEN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SIN STOPS

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST GOD BEGINS

God may lead one into a truth that is so difficult to accept that instead of struggling to carry out the desire of God through repentance, the struggle becomes against the truth itself.

As the children of Israel grumbled in nonacceptance of where God had led them after the exodus, the temptation is there for the children of God to grumble against a revelation of truth which requires action. In this, God again is setting before us Life and Death, and counsels "Choose Life!"

God had delivered Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Egypt is a type for sin, so God had freed the slaves from bondage to "sin." But lying between them and the land of promise was the wilderness of sin. It was there that almost all of them perished.

Likewise, the spiritual children of God find themselves released from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus, but living in a wilderness of sin with all its perils.

Jesus prayed, "Father, I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but keep them from the Evil One" (John 17:15)

To the Philippians, Paul wrote that he had not obtained perfection but was pressing toward the mark of his high calling in Christ Jesus; determined to remain steadfast in the faith and teachings of Jesus.

"Brethren, join in following MY EXAMPLE, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."

"For MANY WALK, (children of the Devil) of whom I often told you, and now tell you EVEN WEEPING, that they are ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST."

"Whose END is DESTRUCTION, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who SET THEIR MINDS ON EARTHLY THINGS."

"For OUR CITIZENSHIP (children of God) is in Heaven, from which also WE EAGERLY WAIT for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will TRANSFORM THE BODY of our humble state into conformity with the body of HIS GLORY." (Philippians 3:17-21)

Rejoice, children, for your redemption is near. Larry R. Lasiter

From Our Voices Youth Ministry

Why I am Waiting for Love ?

By: Miss Karen Nicole

  I have always dreamed of a true pure love. One that is selfless and steady. Right now the only love I know that is pure is the love I have for Christ, that He has for me. I have given myself completely to Him. And I know that one day, in the same way I shall give myself to the man God gives to me.

I have realized, I want to save myself for him just as much as I want him to save himself for me. From the first kiss, to holding hands, they are both saved for each other.

I must guard my heart though, and not give it away to the wrong person. Because then I could find myself compromising what I hold most important.

" When I was fourteen, my older sister and I convinced my parents to buy us matching purity rings, because we had promised to each other, and to God, that we would save ourselves for marriage. I still wear the ring around my neck to this very day.

I've made the decision to not date. Now I guess there are a lot of things that go along with that. The main reason it was never an issue? I was home-schooled.

I had no pressure to date, and I never really thought that much of it. I mean my parents always taught me the consequences of doing so. I grew up telling people, "Guys are disgusting, sick minded, and immature." but then I realized that there are some wonderful godly men out there, and I changed it to, "Why bother dating? I'm not going to get married for at least five years (at the age of 14), and there's no point in it."

Okay now I have said I have made the decision to not date. What is my definition of dating you ask?

I'm saying, devoting time before marriage that you should devote to God, giving of yourself; kisses, hand holding, sex. I just want to make sure I can live for God alone before I try to live for God with someone else!

I'm not going to kiss a guy unless I know for sure he's going to marry me, and I'm going to marry him. I think all people should set themselves standards and go by them.

To all those guys out there, I have a little tip for you. Most Christian girls respect you more if you do not kiss them(myself, being one of them). In not kissing, it shows that you respect and value their purity, and it also shows that you can restrain yourself, even when all your passions collide telling you that you should kiss them.

And the reason I say no kissing, or anything? Well that's because of one of my favorite phrases,- " A lust is never fulfilled, it's always wanting more." Just remember that. lust is never fulfilled, it's always wanting more

I don't condemn dating, nor do I suggest it for all, maybe it can be an effective way to reach the goal of finding a mate for marriage, but only if you are "in tune" with what God says.

From Our Voices Youth Ministry

What About Abstinence?

By: Robert Layton

I was holding a notice from my 13-year old son's school announcing a meeting to preview a new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students.

When I arrived at the school, I was surprised to discover only about a dozen parents there. As we waited for the presentation, I thumbed through page after page of instructions in the prevention of pregnancy and disease. I found abstinence mentioned only in passing.

When the teacher arrived with the school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the material. What happened next was shocking. There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand.

The teacher and the nurse said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment. My mind had gone blank, and I could think of nothing to say. The teacher explained to me that the job of the school was to teach "facts" and the home was responsible for moral training. I sat in silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support to the materials.

"Donuts at the back," announced the teacher during the break. "I'd like you to put on the name tags we have prepared. They're right by the donuts and mingle with the other parents." Everyone moved to the back of the room. As I watched them affixing their name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed that I had not been able to convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence materials.

I uttered a silent prayer for guidance. My thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's hand on my shoulder. "Won't you join the others, Mr. Layton?" The nurse smiled sweetly at me. "The donuts are good."

"Thank you, no," I replied.

"Well, then, how about a name tag? I'm sure the others would love to meet you."

"Somehow I doubt that," I replied.

"Won't you please join them?" she coaxed.

Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, "Don't go." The instruction was unmistakable. "Don't go."

"I'll just wait here," I said.

When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table, and thanked everyone for putting on name tags. She ignored me.

Then she said, "Now we're gonna give you the same lesson we'll be giving your children."

"Everyone please peel off your name tags."

I watched in silence as the tags came off. "Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a tiny flower. Who has it, please?"

The gentleman across from me held it up. "Here it is!"

"All right," she said. "The flower represents disease. Do you recall with whom you shook hands?"

He pointed to a couple of people.

"Very good," she replied. "The handshake in this case is intimacy. So the two people you had contact with now have the disease."

There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, "And with whom did the two of YOU shake hands?"

The point was well taken, and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease is spread. "Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease."

It was then that I heard the still, small voice again. "Speak now," it said, "But be humble." I noted wryly the latter admonition, then rose from my chair.

I apologized for any upset I may have caused earlier, congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had only one small point to make. "Not all of us were infected, " I said. "One of us ABSTAINED."

From Streams in the desert

The Power of Song

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year old son, Michael prepare for the new sibling.

They discovered that the new baby was going to be girl, so day after day and night after night Michael would put his head on Mommy's tummy and sing to his sister.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen and in time the labor pains came. Soon they were coming every five minutes. . .then every three minutes. . ..and finally only a minute apart.

But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. A C-section would be necessary. Finally, after the long struggle, Michael's little sister arrived in the world. But she was in serious condition.

With its siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at Saint Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.

As the long days went by, sadly the little one's health progressively worsened. The pediatric specialist regretfully informed them that there was little hope for the baby's survival. "Be prepared for the worst", he said. Karen and her husband made funeral arrangements and visited possible burial sites.

They had lovingly decorated a special room for the new arrival in their home, and now, tragically found themselves planning her funeral.

Little Michael did not understand and kept begging his parents to let him see his baby sister. "I need to see her!" he kept saying.

By week two, though the baby was clinging to life, death appeared imminent. There would surely be a funeral before the week was over.

Karen decided to let little Michael see his sister for the first and last time. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and took him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.

Before they got to the Baby's room, a nurse approached and said that Michael would not be allowed to see his baby sister, "I'm sorry, but we just cannot allow small children in ICU, there are too many very sick people who he may disturb."

Karen explained how little Michael had anticipated his sister's birth and how he had sang to her while she was in the womb. Karen pleaded, "Michael has not seen his sister alive, please let him see her alive before he sees her in her little coffin, for she is dying as we speak."

This, of course broke the nurse's heart, and she led them both to the baby's room.

After reaching the tiny infant's bedside, little Michael gazed at his little sister as she struggled to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year old, Michael sang, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey. . ."

Suddenly, the baby seemed to respond. Her pulse rate began to stabilize! "Keep singing, Michael!" encouraged Karen, in tears. "You never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."

As Michael continued to sing, his little sister's ragged, strained breathing began to smooth out until finally, she sounded like a kitten purring!

"The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms". . . Michael's little sister began to relax and rest, a healing rest seemed to envelope her.

Miraculously, soon Michael's little sister was released from the hospital and allowed to go home.

Woman's Day magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song."

The medical staff just called it a "miracle."

Karen called it a "miracle of God's love."

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Did Jesus

Teach the Ten Commandments?

  By: Larry R. Lasiter

It seems as though everyone you meet today professes to be a Christian. Rarely does a day go by that I don't enter into conversation with at least one person that claims to be living for Christ.

What is so amazing about most of these people, is their lack of Biblical knowledge. Biblical understanding is an all together different matter. Sometimes I run across a person that is Bible literate, but needs a better understanding of the Scriptures. A Bible literate person may often not understand the meaning of the Scriptures, but is familiar with names, places and stories in them.

But today it is easy to find professing Christians carrying Bibles they have never really studied. Recently I visited with a young man with aspirations to be a youth Pastor. He was already conducting Bible study sessions, as I understand. It did not take but a few minutes talking with him for me to realize that he had never read his Bible. I'm sure he read a very few selected passages, but it was very obvious that he had not read his Bible through, nor studied it much at all.

He is making the same mistake so many make, -they believe they already know the basics of the Bible. Holy Scripture is often used as the authority for an idea already conceived in a person's mind. Sometimes it fits, and sometimes it doesn't.

Recently a famous college basketball coach, known for his unbridled tongue and hot temper made this statement, -"I believe our Father cares more about what you do, than what you say." According to the Scriptures, God cares about both what we do, and what we say. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus says that we will answer for every careless word we speak. And further warns, that a person's words can bring condemnation upon them. This famous coach is apparently not worried about his history of verbal abuse, because he has convinced himself that what he says, and how he says it is not very important to God. But careful study of Matthew 12 with a humble and repentant heart would change his mind wouldn't it?

There are literally BILLIONS of people in this world that profess to be CHRISTIANS. Yet the vast majority know very little about what Jesus taught. Yes, they know stories about Him and His life, and they may have memorized a few of His statements, but most cannot tell you where His teachings differed from the Jewish religious establishment in which He lived.

Just where did Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders differ? The Jewish leaders stressed obedience to the Ten Commandments, the other laws from Moses and their own traditions which God had not commanded.

Clearly, Jesus condemned the burdensome TRADITIONS of the Jews, Notice Mark 7:8-9 -"Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. You nicely set aside the commandments of God in order to keep your tradition."

Although Jesus labeled the Jewish religious leaders as "hypocrites", He taught His followers to do the things they instructed and observe the things they do, but not be hypocrites as they were. This, because they were sitting in "Moses seat" of authority. Notice Matthew 23:1-3 -"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, "The Scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them." Jesus did not recognize the Jewish traditions that the Pharisees and Sadducees required of the people, but He did honor the commandments of God.

Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18, all record the encounter Jesus had with the young rich ruler. This young man was a Jewish ruler, and he asked Jesus what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him, that he must keep the commandments. The young ruler then asked, "which"? Jesus then named five of the Ten Commandments.

According to this teaching from Jesus, one must keep the commandments of God in order to enter into eternal life. If Jesus was here today, face to face with you and I, would He tell us different? Is there a separate standard for us today, than it was for this young rich ruler?

Notice Hebrews 13:7-8 -"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the SAME YESTERDAY, and TODAY, yes and FOREVER." Jesus is always the same, He does not give MANY different directions to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The road is both close, straight and narrow to life, with FEW finding it, but the road to destruction and death is wide, and MANY travel this path.(Matthew 7)

Although so many religious leaders today claim that Jesus did away with His heavenly Father's commandments, Jesus Himself left word that we should never think that. Notice Matthew 5:17-19 -"DO NOT THINK that I came to ABOLISH THE LAW or the PROPHETS (Prophecies); I DID NOT come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Here Jesus says plainly that He did not come to do away with the Ten Commandments, and that they will be in force until heaven and earth pass away. Has this happened? Has heaven and earth passed away? The answer to that question is obvious, isn't it? Jesus said that the person who omits what he considers to be the least of the Commandments, and teaches this to others, will be called least in the Kingdom of God. Jesus didn't say that person would even be in the Kingdom, but he will be called "least" by those who are.

WHICH OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD DO YOU THINK IS THE LEAST?

By their actions, it is safe to conclude that most professing Christians believe the FOURTH COMMANDMENT to be the "LEAST" of the Ten. Do you think that? If you do to the point of breaking this commandment to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, and then teach others that it is a commandment that need not be observed today, then by Jesus' own words, will you not be ranked "LEAST" in the Kingdom? If you are unfaithful in observing this commandment, how could Jesus say to you, "Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant, enter into My Father's glory?" Those are words that every true Christian longs to hear.

The FOURTH COMMANDMENT is not just a day set aside to attend church services and fellowship.

It is HOLY TIME. It is a 24-hour TIME PERIOD set-aside and sanctified by the Creator in the beginning.

Jesus kept this Commandment and so did His disciples, even after His crucifixion. The seventh day SABBATH is not a "Jewish institution", it was given to "MAN" at the end of the creation week.

So often people professing to be Christians, and who profess to believe in the validity of the Ten Commandments, fail to observe this holy day. Why? I've been told many things. Most of which, only amounts to excuses.

They may say "No one really knows which day the original Sabbath was." Or, "I don't think God cares which day you keep, as long as you go to church services." But usually its, -"We keep Sunday because it's the "Lord's Day"

This means they believe it is the day on which Jesus was resurrected. I believe the Bible supports a Sabbath resurrection, not a Sunday resurrection, but that's a different subject. But even if the resurrection occurred on Sunday, how would that negate the validity of the Sabbath? Would that suddenly make the only weekday God made holy, unholy? Even those who believe in the Sunday resurrection, and wish to commemorate it weekly, should not break the Sabbath in order to do so, should they? Certainly, it is not wrong to assemble together to worship God on any day of the week, but where is the Scriptural authority to REPLACE the Sabbath with another day?

You break this commandment if you work, do your own pleasure (Isaiah 58), or fail to assemble to worship on this holy day.(Lev.23)(Heb.10:23-25) Now, if you come together on other days to worship, study, sing, etc, that's fine by the Scriptures, but there is no authority given to MAN to "un-ordain" what GOD has "ordained". And there is no Divine Authorization for Sunday observance.

The real truth is, most who profess obedience to Christ have never carefully studied this subject. They never ask, -"Why isn't my local church observing the Sabbath?" They assume, someone, somewhere in their religious hierarchy must know the reason why, and so they simply put their trust in them.

But the Bible tells us to trust no MAN, and prove our beliefs and practices by the Word of God. Notice the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 -"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES daily, to SEE WHETHER THESE THINGS WERE SO."

Are you "noble-minded" like the people of Berea? If you are, you will carefully examine what you have heard from me today by the Holy Scriptures. WHY? Well, in order that you "see whether these things are so."

If Jesus did not come to abolish His Father's Commandments, then He did not change the Fourth One. I don't ask you to assume that I am right, like so many of you have assumed that the professing "Christian" world is right in observing Sunday, but prove it from the pages of your own Bible.

Look at it with an open and honest mind, willing to seek the truth. If Christians are to observe the Ten Commandments, then how can we neglect the Fourth? I would venture that you do not KNOW WHY you don't observe this Commandment. I'm sure that's why I get so many excuses.

Wouldn't it be a much stronger "LIGHT" to this dark world, to be able to say, -"I keep the Sabbath because it is the one of the Ten Commandments written in stone by the finger of God,... Jesus kept it,... Paul, Peter and John all kept it,... and the Bible teaches its observance?"

NEWS, Letters & Odds `n' Ends

Gay Sweep: In its March 28 issue, the nation's most prominent homosexual magazine, the Advocate, boasted that homosexuals control Hollywood and the engines of the entire American entertainment industry, film, television, music and theater.

The impression left by the Advocate is that America's new homosexual power elite has harnessed the communications media to ridicule, belittle, intimidate, and demonize middle-class American marriage and family life.

In article after article, homosexual actors and actresses, writers and producers, directors and gay pundits celebrate their ability to use the entertainment industry to Homo-sexualize the culture and shape the minds of millions of American youth.

Homosexual philosopher Gabriel Rotello writes that films will be used to remove the stigma attached to hard-core homosexual, lesbian, and trans-gender pornography. He writes, "For gay men, porn is perhaps the gayest form of entertainment we have," and that Hollywood should make pornography as acceptable as they have homosexuality.

The same issue of the Advocate gloats over homosexual triumphs in the field of religion, politics and public education. (Christian News, 4/10/2000)

Confessions:

"Is Saturday the seventh day according to the Bible and the Ten Commandments? I answer yes. Is Sunday the first day of the week and did the Church change the seventh day --Saturday -- for Sunday, the first day? I answer yes. Did Christ change the day'? I answer no!

J. Card. Gibbons" Roman Catholic Church

"For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible."

Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1957), p. 50.

"There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week .... Where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament. . . absolutely not!

"To me it seems unaccountable that Jesus, during three years' intercourse with His disciples, often conversing with them upon the Sabbath question . . . never alluded to any transference of the day; also, that during forty days of His resurrection life, no such thing was intimated.

"Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history . . . But what a pity it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of the sun god, adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism!"

"There was never any formal or authoritative change from the Jewish seventh-day Sabbath to the Christian first-day observance."

William Owen Carver, Baptist Church, The Lord's Day in Our Day, p. 49.

"'But,' say some, 'it was changed from the seventh to the first day.' Where? when? and by whom? No man can tell. No; it never was changed, nor could it be, unless creation was to be gone through again: for the reason assigned must be changed before the observance, or respect to the reason, can be changed! It is all old wives' fables to talk of the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day."

Alexander Campbell, Disciples of Christ, The Christian Baptist, Feb. 2, 1824,vol. 1. no. 7, p. 164.

"The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intentions of the apostles to establish a Divine command in this respect, far from them, and from the early apostolic Church, to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday."

Dr. Augustus Neander, Lutheran Church, The History of the Christian Religion and Church  Join Us for the

FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2000

Yorktown Bay Retreat

Near Hot Springs, Arkansas

October 14-21

www.pointsoftruth.com/feast.html

Nestled in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Central Arkansas, this retreat offers the Feast goer a true family atmosphere in a beautiful, serene setting. Yorktown Bay will become a small community of Brethren all living and sharing meals together in fine fellowship, activities and worship. This retreat is surrounded on three sides by the crystal clear waters of Lake Ouachita which offers swimming, fishing and boating. Feast goers will be only minute from the famous resort city of Hot Springs.

Daily services will be held in the beautiful new Dining Hall. The Hall will also serve as a "hang-out" for fellowship and games. We will be blessed with the musical talents of Melvin Johnson of Woodbury, Tennessee, Domenica Gordon of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joanna Boston of Little Rock, Arkansas, Sarah Lasiter of Russellville, Arkansas, and we expect more talent to join us as the Festival nears. Speakers are still being scheduled but will include Jerry Boston, TV Evangelist and pastor of the Church of God at Little Rock, and Larry R. Lasiter, voice of the Points of Truth Radio Broadcast and pastor of the Church of God Fellowship in Russellville, Arkansas. Possible speakers who have been invited but have not made commits include, Henry Anderson, Wayne Holmes, Wayne Schatzle and Mike Cox. Those of you who can serve in various ways, please let us know.

The Festival is sponsored by Points of Truth Christian Ministries along with the Church of God at Little Rock. Points of Truth Christian Ministries is associated with the Church of God Fellowship, an unaffiliated congregation in Russellville, Arkansas. Points of Truth Christian Ministries will provide Sail boats, Canoes and Paddle Boats daily completely free for feast goers. We will also provide shuttles to and from the three tiny Bay islands on two afternoons via Party Barge. Special meals will be served at no cost following services on the first and last Holy Days.

Those of you who enjoyed observing the Feast in times past at Big Sandy, Texas, will love Yorktown Bay. Brethren will experience a true feast atmosphere as collectively, the family of God comes before Him in fellowship and worship for eight days.

Hope to see you there!

Register soon to insure that you get the accommodations that you need.

By TELEPHONE: 479-498-4524

By MAIL: Points of Truth, P.O. Box 102, Russellville, AR 72811

By EMAIL: lasiter@pointsoftruth.com

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH YOU

There are lots of photographs and detailed information at our Web Site:

www.pointsoftruth.com

Email: lasiter@pointsoftruth.com