In this issue:
Soothing Osteoarthritis by Diet
The Yea Man
János Sánta
Many Christians, when they first hear about the message of Christ’s
righteousness, receive it gladly and eagerly, as the dry land receives a
refreshing shower. Love towards God is kindled in the heart, and the
soul longs to serve God. But no matter how much pleasure a person takes
in this wonderful message, time will tell him about his own
insufficiency, and the fact that somehow the Spirit is not “operating”
in his life the same way the “manual” suggests. In such a state, it’s
tempting to question one’s own faith, honesty, or even the truths of the
Bible; or what’s even worse, some are tempted to put on a hypocritical
church-face. And yet all the words of the Bible are true, and all the
mountains may melt before any of the words of Jesus would lose the
tiniest bit of their power to transform souls. So where is the problem?
The following passage from Ellen White speaks about the reason for this
phenomenon and gives insight into the solution as well:
“Many are inquiring, “How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?” You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will . This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice . Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him . You can give Him your will ; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him. {SC 47.1}”
Oh, thoughts so reassuring! We need not despair: let’s just give our will to God, and everything shall work! True, true, but what does this mean in practical terms? For if these words remain on the level of fragrant theological flourishing, they won’t have any impact on our daily lives. We need to understand wherein the true force of the will lies, so that we may be able to apply it effectively.
A seeming contradiction
When we examine this quotation from Steps to Christ closely, we can discover a contradiction. While listing our failures, she says that our promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand, and we cannot keep our pledges. However, in the second part of the paragraph she speaks about the true force of the will, and the power of choice, as if these were the means by which we are to escape this miserable condition. But hold on a second, aren’t resolutions and pledges themselves acts of the will? When I say, “I give my will to God”, is that not a resolution and a pledge? How can the power of choice be the key to the solution, if we are frequently defeated especially in this area? How can we even talk about the true force of the will, when our everyday experience tells almost exclusively about the weakness of our will? How can we deal with this contradiction?
No wonder Ellen White writes that we need to understand something about the true force of the will. We need to learn how we can apply our will in the right way. For it is a fact that we can use our will in the wrong way, and that doesn’t mean that we are set to do wrong. No, not by far, we don’t want to do wrong, we want to do right! Just as Paul:
“For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Rom 7:18b-19)
Here, in Romans 7, Paul speaks about the same experience as we have been describing: I want to do good, but am unable to perform; instead, I do evil, which I don’t want to do at all. The wrong action of the will is portrayed here: my will is focused on doing good. This has never worked, and will never work, because of the sinful human nature we all have. For example when my wife unexpectedly and “unjustly” pricks me with a discontented remark, I know it is not right for me to snap back at her with “righteous indignation”, and yet that is what pours out of me in the critical moment. And what remains afterwards? Shame, guilt, and remorse for failing Christ again. That is why the Lord warned us, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Is it possible at all to apply our will in the right way, if it is so weak through the flesh – and if yes, how?
The right action of the will
The word of God admonishes us to yield ourselves unto God (Rom 6:13). However, we often find it difficult to actually do it, because we don’t consider an important factor:
“So then it is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Rom 9:16)
This verse reveals a fundamental truth about us. It points out how powerless our will is and how vain our efforts are. The truth is that our willpower is so weak that in ourselves we are not even able to yield ourselves to God. Someone might protest, “No, this cannot be; this would be unfair from God! How then can He expect us to yield ourselves, if we are unable to do it?!” Let’s stop at this point. We need to recognize that there is another factor in this same verse, which is vital to the victorious life: the God that shows mercy .
As long as we base our surrender on our own will and resolutions, we are guaranteed to fail. We may utter a “yes” with our mouths, but it will turn into a “no” in our members. In order for our yes to remain yes, we need the grace and mercy of God. Only His power is able to reinforce and validate our pledges, and this power is available to us in the Word of God.
“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice , harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Heb 3:15)
This verse is the formula for the right action of the will. In vain do we squeeze out holy resolutions of ourselves, for they will be powerless through the flesh. But when the Word of God speaks – today, as we hear His voice – a torrent of creative power rushes to us in His words, enabling our will to yield ourselves to God. That’s why it is so important that we open our hearts and yield ourselves to God when we hear the voice of God and feel His touch on our hearts, because if we forgo that divine touch, we won’t have the power to do the same later.
So we can see, that the true force of the will is derived from the Word of God. His Word empowers us day by day to yield ourselves to Him. When His word speaks to my heart, I can freely declare: “Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me, and that Your words will perform what You say. I am Yours, and I submit myself to Your will. Be it unto me according to Thy word!”
Jesus, the Yea-Man
The life of Jesus Christ is the proof that entire surrender to God is possible. In His life, there were no forfeited pledges; whatever He declared, it was so:
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Mt 5:37)
“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ , who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea .” (2Cor 1:19)
Jesus fully submitted His will unto God, and so His words were imbued with divine power. With His words He healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead, calmed down storms, dried up the fig tree. But even more awe-inspiring is the fact, that the same divine power which was working miracles through His words, is also able to reinforce our will so much, that our yea will indeed be yea, and our nay, nay!
Our yea
„When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay… For all the promises of God in him [Christ] are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us .” (2Cor 1:17,18,20)
Paul’s statement is stunning: the same power that was working through the words of Jesus Christ, works the same way through our words! When we speak, we speak the oracles of God (1Pt 4:11), and the divine power that is inherent in the Word of God creates the reality of our utterance. That is why the book of Revelation describes the overcomers of the last great conflict and the secret of their victory with these words:
„And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony …” (Rev 12:11a)
Our promises and resolutions are no more powerless. Our words spoken with faith are fulfilled, because the omnipotent power of Jesus validates them. We need not despair anymore because of our failures! And when my wife plows into my pride again, I can answer her with the love of Jesus, “Honey, you’re right, thank you for loving me!”
Reinforced vows
The practical application of this wonderful truth is further expanded by the law of vows we find in Numbers 30.
„If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” (Num 30:2)
The man is Christ, the Yea-man. His promises stand sure all the time, under every circumstance. In contrast to this, the law of vows for women proves that we are always in a dependent state:
„And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.” (Num 30:6-8)
This law displays the functioning of our will. In Romans 7, Paul gives us an example, where the woman represents our will, the first husband is our carnal nature, and the second husband is Christ. The law of vows makes us understand that as long as the carnal nature (the husband) rules over our will (the woman), all our noble resolutions for God will be in vain, because our carnal nature (the husband) will make our vows of none effect, and so we fail. However, based on the same principle, as soon as our will is transferred to Christ (the new husband), He will reinforce our vows, and our spoken words will remain effectual.
The day of salvation
The call of God’s mercy is beckoning to us each and every day from His Word. Jesus Christ offers us His righteous life, and together with Himself all the goods of His Father’s house. It lies in our power to accept this invitation, to lay hold on the promises of Christ with faith, and thereby to experience the power of His word. As we take our stand with Christ, our members, which before were powerless to do good, are now liberated to perform God’s will. This is the opportunity for us to act in the power of God:
„We then, as workers together with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time ; behold, now is the day of salvation .)” (2Cor 6:1-2)
As we submit ourselves to Christ, His Spirit takes possession of our being and enables us to work together with Him. This is the accepted time for us to fulfill all that Jesus asks of us, that is, what He intends to do in us, and through us, with our cooperation.
For example, His words tell me, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” (Eph 4:31) This is my response: “Lord, I submit myself to the power of Your word; now, in the name of Jesus I put away from my life all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking; my members are Yours to command, so that Your love and peace might flow out of me, even when people hurt me. Thank You for doing in me that which is impossible for me to do.”
We need not be afraid of failure, for He is our surety of success: He will draw our thoughts under His authority, He will imbue our actions with His love, and our words with power from above. And when we are facing the critical situation, be it sudden temptation, misuse or anything, the love of Jesus will be manifested in our behaviour. As we cooperate with Christ, we are also made Yea-men in Him!
It is the will of our Father for all the days of our lives to be such a day of salvation, as we experience His power of grace. Incline your ears unto the hearing of His word, and yield yourself unto Him in obedience every morning. Claiming the promises, declare, “I am Yours!”, and trust in the saving power of His grace. As we grow in our understanding and appreciation of the power of choice, our spiritual muscles build up by practicing faith. The Lord help us learn our lessons as fast as grace permits, so that each and every day we might say:
„I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” (Psalm 71:16)
Love is God’s Gift
Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray was a South African preacher who lived more than a hundred years ago. The following passage is taken from his book, “Absolute Surrender. “
There has been a little editing, but the content of the article has not been changed.
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Love is God’s Gift. Without this we cannot live the daily life of love.
How often, when we speak about the consecrated life, we have to speak about temper, and some people have sometimes said:
“You make too much of temper.”
I do not think we can make too much of it. Think for a moment of a clock and of what its hands mean. The hands tell me what is within the clock, and if I see that the hands stand still, or that the hands point wrong, or that the clock is slow or fast, I say that something inside the clock is not working properly. Temper is just like the revelation that the clock gives of what is within. Temper is a proof whether the love of Christ is filling the heart, or not. There are many who find it easier in church, or in prayer-meeting, or in work for the Lord to be holy and happy, than in the daily life with wife and children and servant; easier to be holy and happy outside the home than in it! Where is the love of God? It is in Christ. God has prepared for us a wonderful redemption in Christ, and He longs to make something supernatural of us.
Then there is the tongue! We sometimes speak of the tongue when we talk of the better life, and the restful life, but just think what liberty many Christians give to their tongues. They say:
“I have a right to think what I like.”
When they speak about each other, when they speak about their neighbors, when they speak about other Christians, how often there are sharp remarks! God keep me from saying anything that would be unloving; God shut my mouth if I am not to speak in tender love. But what I am saying is a fact. How often there are found among Christians who are banded together in work, sharp criticism, sharp judgment, hasty opinion, unloving words, secret contempt of each other, secret condemnation of each other! Oh, just as a mother’s love covers her children and delights in them and has the tenderest compassion with their failures, so there ought to be in the heart of every believer a motherly love toward every brother and sister in Christ. Have you aimed at that? Have you sought it? Have you ever pleaded for it? Jesus Christ said: “As I have loved you, love one another.” And He did not put that among the other commandments, but He said in effect:
“That is a new commandment, the one commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.”
It is in our daily life and conduct that the fruit of the Spirit is love. From that there comes all the graces and virtues in which love is manifested: joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness; no sharpness or hardness in your tone, no unkindness or selfishness; meekness before God and man. You see that all these are the gentler virtues. I have often thought as I read those words in Colossians, “Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering,” that if we had written, we would have put in the foreground the manly virtues, such as zeal, courage and diligence; but we need to see how the gentler, the most womanly virtues are specially connected with dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
These are indeed heavenly graces. They never were found in the heathen world. Christ was needed to come from Heaven to teach us. Your blessedness is longsuffering, meekness, kindness; your glory is humility before God. The fruit of the Spirit that He brought from Heaven out of the heart of the crucified Christ, and that He gives in our heart, is first and foremost, love.
John says: “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us.” That is, I cannot see God, but as a compensation I can see my brother, and if I love him, God dwells in me. Loving my brother is the way to real fellowship with God.
There may be a brother, a most unlovable man. He worries you every time you meet him. He is of the very opposite disposition to yours. You say:
“I cannot love him.”
Oh, friend, you have not learned the lesson that Christ wanted to teach above everything. Let a man be what he will, you are to love him. Love is to be the fruit of the Spirit all the day and every day. Yes, listen! if a man loves not his brother whom he hath seen, if you don’t love that unlovable man whom you have seen, how can you love God whom you have not seen? You can deceive yourself with beautiful thoughts about loving God. You must prove your love to God by your love to your brother; that is the one standard by which God will judge your love to Him. If the love of God is in your heart you will love your brother. The fruit of the Spirit is love.
And what is the reason that God’s Holy Spirit cannot come in power? I can dip a little water into a broken piece of a vessel; but if a vessel is to be full, it must be unbroken. And the children of God, wherever they come together, to whatever church or mission or society they belong, must love each other intensely, or the Spirit of God cannot do His work. We talk about grieving the Spirit of God by worldliness and ritualism and formality and error and indifference, but, I tell you, the one thing above everything that grieves God’s Spirit is this want of love. Let every heart search itself, and ask that God may search it.
Our Love Shows God’s Power
Why are we taught that “the fruit of the Spirit is love”? Because the Spirit of God has come to make our daily life an exhibition of divine power and a revelation of what God can do for His children.
In the second and the fourth chapters of Acts we read that the disciples were of one heart and of one soul. During the three years they had walked with Christ they never had been in that spirit. All Christ’s teaching could not make them of one heart and one soul. But the Holy Spirit came from Heaven and shed the love of God in their hearts, and they were of one heart and one soul. The same Holy Spirit that brought the love of Heaven into their hearts must fill us too. Nothing less will do. Even as Christ did, one might preach love for three years with the tongue of an angel, but that would not teach any man to love unless the power of the Holy Spirit should come upon him to bring the love of Heaven into his heart.
Think of the church at large. What divisions! Think of the different bodies. Take the question of holiness, take the question of the cleansing blood, take the question of the baptism of the Spirit, what differences are caused among dear believers by such questions! That there are differences of opinion does not trouble me. We do not have the same constitution and temperament and mind. But how often hate, bitterness, contempt, separation, unlovingness are caused by the holiest truths of God’s Word! Our doctrines, our creeds, have been more important than love. We often think we are valiant for the truth and we forget God’s command to speak the truth in love. And it was so in the time of the Reformation between the Lutheran and Calvinistic churches. What bitterness there was than in regard to the Holy Supper, which was meant to be the bond of union among all believers! And so, down the ages, the very dearest truths of God have become mountains that have separated us.
If we want to pray in power, and if we want to expect the Holy Spirit to come down in power, and if we want indeed that God shall pour out His Spirit, we must enter into a covenant with God that we love one another with a heavenly love.
Are you ready for that? Only that is true love that is large enough to take in all God’s children, the most unloving and unlovable, and unworthy, and unbearable, and trying. If my vow, absolute surrender to God, was true, then it must mean absolute surrender to the divine love to fill me; to be a servant of love to love every child of God around me. “The fruit of the Spirit is love.”
Oh, God did something wonderful when He gave Christ, at His right hand, the Holy Spirit to come down out of the heart of the Father and His everlasting love. And how we have degraded the Holy Spirit into a mere power by which we have to do our work! God forgive us! Oh, that the Holy Spirit might be held in honor as a power to fill us with the very life and nature of God and of Christ!
Who Shut the Door?
Gideon Clayton
You probably wont believe this but the story is true. My mother is 87 years old and can scarcely walk, as a matter of fact moving about for her is extremely difficult since she has arthritis among other problems, with extreme swelling of both legs.
One night one of her great granddaughters visited her for a few hours before leaving through the back door of her modest living quarters, without closing and locking the door. That door through which she exited was very difficult to close because it had been strained and therefore required a strong push to close it. Mom is very weak and is very dependent on the members of the family with whom she lives. My Dad (her husband) unfortunately passed away a little more than a year ago. Daddy had been her arms and legs, but now she was practically on her own with these infirmities.
On this night she needed someone to close the door which her great grand daughter had unwisely left open, but no one could hear her voice as she called for assistance. The rest of the family lived upstairs of the large two storey house and they were all upstairs and out of ear shot. Mother had a problem but she also knew the solution to the problem. As she stared out the open door she could see the darkness without, and this troubled her. She could do nothing, walking to close the door was next to impossible given the state of her swollen legs.
What Mom did next took a lot of faith. The little lady simply struggled into bed and asked the Lord to close the door for her. She made herself comfortable as best she could and waited for the door to close. Mother sat there and waited expectantly not doubting for one moment that it would close. She didn’t have to wait long. Suddenly the door slammed shut and fastened itself securely. My mother wasn’t surprised she simply fixed her pillow and went to sleep.
I pray that my faith will grow to be just as great as hers.
Jamaica Campmeeting Report
The Jamaican campmeeting for 2012 began with a few shadows hanging over it. For one, there were questions as to whether or not October was a good time for the campmeeting. Previously, our campmeeting was usually held in March/April, during the Easter weekend. However, it is so difficult to find an available campsite at that time that we decided to see how things would work out during the latter part of the year when there was not such a demand for campsites. Several people stated that it would be more difficult for them in October because they had work commitments. There were also a few interpersonal domestic issues which contributed to the feeling that this campmeeting might not be the best.
The first day of the campmeeting suggested that the misgivings were justified. There were less than thirty persons in attendance. The overhanging issues seemed to have dealt a significant blow to the meetings. To human eyes things appeared to be discouraging. Nevertheless, we proceeded in the confidence that God would bless us even if there were only a few of us who attended. So it turned out to be. The messages presented on that first day were fit for audiences of thousands and we hope and pray that by God’s grace and through the agency of the internet, thousands may yet be blessed by these messages.
The second day, God encouraged us and things returned to normal. Those in attendance rapidly grew to close to eighty persons whose enthusiastic participation contributed greatly to some hearty and melodious singing. There is a sampling of the congregation singing on our website, where you can join in and participate in the joyful melodies which ascended at the campmeeting.
Now that the campmeeting is past, we can look back on it and in reflection view it as one of the better campmeetings that we have had. I believe that most of those who attended can agree that it truly was a blessed time. The fellowship was great, but even more wonderful was the way God attended the presentation of the messages, the testimonies and the musical items.
The sermons and the musical items are all uploaded to the internet and may be accessed by visiting the Restoration Ministries website ( www.restorationministry.com ), browsing to the multimedia page and scrolling down. Close to the end of the page you will find the Jamaican Campmeeting 2011 songs and sermons.
The theme of the campmeeting was, “The harmony of the Gospel.” Brothers Howard Williams and David Clayton collaborated together in seeking to present a harmonious development in their presentations, showing how there is a natural progression from understanding the truth about God, through Righteousness by Faith, eventually ending with the baptism of the holy spirit. The topics of their presentations were (in the following order):
The Son of God – David Clayton
The Righteousness of Christ – David Clayton
The Two Adams – Howard Williams
The Spirit of God – Howard Williams
The New Birth – David Clayton
The Kingdom of God – David Clayton
The Gospel of the Kingdom – Howard Williams
The Fight of Faith – Howard Williams
The other speakers were Brothers Ken Corklin, Lenworth Frankson, Donald Clayton and Peter Barnz. While they were not given any guidelines as to what to speak about there was a pleasing harmony to all the presentations which were made and it was evident for those who gave it some thought that God had directed in the preparation of each message.
The other topics were as follows:
None Good but One – Ken Corklin
Miracles and Faith – Ken Corklin
Practical Godliness – Ken Corklin
Standing Fast in Faith – Lenworth Frankson
More Abundant Life – Lenworth Frankson
Royal Jelly – Donald Clayton
Blessings to the Nations – Peter Barnz
There were eight visitors from overseas, all from the USA. It required a sacrifice for them to be at this campmeeting, but if the testimonies are anything to go by, they all felt that it was more than worth the sacrifice to be here and are making plans to attend again in the future.
The campsite itself is one of the most beautiful and well kept that we have been at. Amazingly it is just fifteen minutes away from the Restoration Ministries chapel here in Manchester, Jamaica. Sitting on the top of a hill, the campsite gave us the opportunity of watching the sun rise out of the sea each morning and there were always a few people out before worship each morning to take pictures and watch the beautiful beginning of the day.
When all things are considered, it was a wonderful campmeeting and our only regret is that some of our brethren were not able to be present for one reason or another. It was a campmeeting worth making sacrifices to attend, and those who were missing were robbed of rich blessings. Nevertheless, we look forward eagerly to next year and trust that the God of mercy and grace will be pleased to bless us even more.
Is the Dragon about to roar?
David Clayton
Barak Obama. Has there ever been an American president who has stirred up deeper emotions than this man? As soon as his name is mentioned some people get infuriated and reel off a list of reasons why he is second cousin to the Devil himself. On the other hand, other people grow misty-eyed and sentimental at mention of his name. They are fanatically loyal to him and think he is the best thing that ever happened to the world.
Poor Barak Obama is undoubtedly a pawn. He is in a position that I certainly do not envy. For many coloured people he is the black man’s ultimate role-model, the demonstration that we black people are as good as anybody else in the world. Some coloured people think that any criticism of Obama is a criticism of our race. It is very difficult for them to find fault with anything he does. On the other hand there are some persons who hate him violently simply because he is a black man in a position that they feel should be filled only by whites. I had the misfortune to visit a website one day where he was very seriously characterized as a monkey. So it seems that no matter what Obama does, there are some for whom he cannot be wrong, and some for whom he cannot be right.
Of course, there are many who are simply sincere, honest people who just see Obama as another human being who sits in a position of great responsibility. They either commend or condemn him on the basis of his decisions. But it is hard for those people to be heard because there are so many strong emotional factors surrounding the presidency of Obama, that everything he does is coloured by those issues.
I watched a little of the election results as they came in but I went to bed long before the final result was known. However while watching the thought crossed my mind, “I am sorry for whoever becomes president, for whoever it is, he is probably going to preside over the establishment of the Mark of the Beast.” I don’t really know much about Romney or Obama. I find politics boring and meaningless. I know how excited some of us get about it, but I am aware of the fact that no matter how I feel, the world will do its thing. It follows the agenda of Satan and that agenda says that these governments will ultimately war against God’s people (no matter who is president) and will seek to destroy the worship of God. I know that Romney is a committed Mormon, I know that Obama fully endorses homosexuality, abortion and other moral depravities, but it must be hard to have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. I am sorry for those who felt they had to vote.
It is not just the political world which seems tense and expectant but the physical and social world are crying out that we have arrived at the end of the ages. Every day there is news of some fresh disaster, some storm or fire or earthquake more unexpected and severe than anything that has happened before in recorded history. Are we listening? Can we hear, can we see?
Students of prophecy know that we are living in the moment when the two-horned beast is about to speak like a dragon. There is not much question about this. The computerization of the entire world, the globalized economy, the stratification of wealth have finally brought those conditions upon us where it is now possible for all the world to be commanded to receive the Mark of the Beast.
So, we can expect great things in the next couple of years. Not necessarily good things, but great things. If any of us have put our trust in man, we can expect to be severely disappointed. Romney didn’t win, but don’t think it would have made much difference if he had. The word of God is the only truth in which we can put our confidence and it tells us plainly,
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Tim 3:13)
Those of us who have some understanding of the prophecies of the Bible and who have our fingers on the pulse of current events, are surely aware of the fact that the world is going through its death pangs. It is making its final desperate efforts to sweep the unwary into the final trap. I am reminded of a poem which my late father wrote:
It is the end –
earth’s sordid cruise
has reached its reck’ning day;
without excuse,
or scope for flight, at bay
she stands, and hurls
obscene impiety,
while broad unfurls
her flag of brigandry;
It is the end.
It is the end –
for Nero’s song
affronts the air again,
and dying wrong
has summoned a refrain
and revelry,
and vain deceptious mirth
to remedy
the stricken soul of earth;
It is the end.
It is the end –
and thousands fast
imprisoned in her doom,
The holocaust
must speedily consume:
Arise! Ye men
of love and steadfast faith,
to brave her den,
and bring her slaves from death;
it is the end.
When Jesus spoke of the end of the world, He gave a graphic warning:
(Mat 24:48-51) But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; (49) And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; (50) The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, (51) And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The words are striking and instructive. To “eat and drink with the drunken” signifies to partake of their beliefs, their concerns, their ideas. The people of the world are drunk with the indoctrination they have been fed. They see human efforts and planning, governmental intervention as their means of obtaining a “better” life. Can it be that any of God’s children are caught up in the same folly? Either supporting or else downgrading this or that political leader?
Let us spend out energies on better things. We shall soon hear the roar of the Dragon and feel his wrath. Let us spend our time in sharing the answer to the world, in presenting Christ in His beauty. Every other work will fail miserably.
Soothing Osteoarthritis by Diet
Lenworth Frankson
Osteoarthritis (bone; arthritis) is a very common joint disorder, which is caused by aging and wear and tear on the joints. Osteoarthritis, not to be confused with Rheumatoid arthritis, is also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis. It is a form of arthritis caused by inflammation, the breaking and wearing down (and the eventual loss) of the cartilage in the joints over time. It is reported to be the most common type of arthritis. The National Health Service in the UK says that approximately 8.5 million people are affected by this disease and The Arthritis Foundation in the USA also says that about 27 million Americans are affected.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is sometimes referred to as rheumatoid disease and is chronic, progressive and disabling . It is known as an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, the tissue around the joints and other organs in the human body. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the joints in the hands and feet first, but any joint may become affected. People with rheumatoid arthritis commonly have stiff joints and feel generally unwell and tired.
Our immune system is a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed to seek out and destroy organisms and substances which harm us, such as infections, but in some people their immune system starts attacking their own bodies, mistaking body tissues for foreign invaders, hence an autoimmune disease. People with an autoimmune disease have antibodies in their blood which target their own body tissues, resulting in inflammation. The immune system of the individual with rheumatoid arthritis attacks the lining of the joints, causing them to be inflamed and swollen. Osteoarthritis is basically the result of the wear-and-tear damage which occurs at the joint.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease with signs and symptoms gradually worsening over time. There is no cure for osteoarthritis apart from divine healing. Therapy however is often used for the pain and swelling and may help, as well in keeping the person mobile and active. Experts say that people who take steps to actively manage their osteoarthritis are more likely to gain control over their symptoms. This disease is most likely to affects a person’s hands, hips, knees, lower back and neck but can affect any joint. The cartilage of the affected joint is gradually worn down, eventually causing bone to rub against bone. Bony spurs then develop on the unprotected bones causing pain and inflammation.
As we age, most of us begin experiencing aches and pains that are new and foreign to our bodies. Most people who suffer from these aches turn to “ pills” for relief but easing arthritis symptoms aren’t just about exercise and pills. The foods we eat can, to some extent, help to sooth our arthritic joints.
Hippocrates who is known as the father of medicine said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He was on the right track because the use of the right foods can definitely help to sooth arthritic joints.
Some promising research shows that certain foods and nutrients may help ease osteoarthritis symptoms. Although more study is needed to confirm the results, most of the foods studied to date are good for us anyway and should be included into our diet to support and boost our overall health.
Some foods to consider that could help in the soothing of arthritic joints:
• Strawberries, oranges, peaches, red peppers and kiwis : These fruits are packed with vitamin C. Studies suggest vitamin C may block or retard the progression of osteoarthritis and the accompanying cartilage loss.
• Olive oil : Dr. Leo Galland an honors graduate from Harvard University believes that extra-virgin olive oil has natural anti-inflammatory benefits, whether raw or cooked. Recent research has identified the antioxidant called “ oleocanthal ”, which is only found in extra-virgin olive oil. Oleocanthal is a natural anti-inflammatory with similar effects to the drug ibuprofen (Advil) in stopping an enzyme that causes pain and inflammation. Studies have shown that people with inflammatory arthritis experience a decrease in pain and stiffness of their joints when treated with olive oil.
• Flax seeds, walnuts, soybeans, tofu and salmon : These foods are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, with flax seeds and walnuts having the highest. Omega-3 fatty acids have long been promoted by health experts for their anti-inflammatory qualities. These fats help prevent a wide range of medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D is also important because if you are deficient in vitamin D (and many adults are), boosting your intake could help with osteoarthritis pain and disability. Sources for vitamin D are sunlight, salmon, tuna, eggs and fortified cereals.
• Raw apples, apricots, nectarines, pears and plums with skin, blackberries, red raspberries, cranberries, cherries and broad beans contains antioxidants called “ catechins” which sooth inflammation and could delay cartilage damage in people with arthritis. Barley, raisins and rhubarb are also good sources of catechins. A review of studies published in 2006 in “ Life Sciences ” found evidence that catechins can prevent tumor blood vessel growth, protect against the development of atherosclerotic plaque buildups in arteries, help promote anti-diabetic effects in insulin resistance and provide significant protection against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The review also noted that catechins are as much as 100 times more potent as an antioxidant than vitamin C and 25 times more potent than vitamin E. Green and black teas ( which I do not recommend) are among the highest source of catechins but they also contain caffeine , and excessive amounts can cause insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and headaches and much more.
· Leafy Greens : The more plant-based foods you add to your diet, the better it will be for your joints. A Mediterranean-style diet that emphasizes fruit, nuts, and veggies may help quiet inflammation. Leafy greens also are rich in vitamin K, a nutrient that seems to play a role in osteoarthritis prevention.
Foods to avoid:
Fried & Processed Foods
Researchers at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine examined disease prevention through diet and their findings showed that “cutting back on the consumption of fried and processed foods can reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body’s natural defenses.”
Sugars & Refined Carbohydrates
High amounts of sugar affect negitively our immune systems as well as hormone levels, resulting in constant fatigue. Too much sugar consumption also contributes to an imbalance of nutrients. Your body compensates by stripping calcium from bones and teeth, leading to conditions including arthritis. For our best interest we should cut out candies, processed foods, white-flour-baked goods, and sodas to reduce any arthritis pain.
Dairy Products
Dairy products may contribute to arthritis pain due to a protein they contain that irritates tissue around the joints. Some sufferers of arthritis pain have shown more success by switching to a vegan diet—which contains no animal products whatsoever. Rather than getting protein from meat and dairy, vegan protein sources-nuts, grains and vegetables- is a healthier choice.
Alcohol & Tobacco
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that “using tobacco and alcohol can lead to a number of health problems that may affect your joints.” NIH states that smokers are more at risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, while those who consume alcohol have a higher risk for developing gout. Healthy joints require a balanced diet, physical activity, and an adequate amount of rest—all of which can be compromised by alcohol and tobacco use.
Salt
Dehydration can make the deterioraion or thinning of cartilage in the joints occur faster than normal. This is because cartilage is mostly water. Eating too much salt can cause dehydration because your body will absorb the water in order to battle the sodium retention. This, in turn, takes water away from the other systems of your body. Eating a low salt or low sodium diet will help your body to stay hydrated, which will aid in keeping your cartilage as healthy as possible. In addition to eating a low salt diet, you should drink plenty of water.
Many baked goods and snacks contain corn or other oils high in omega-6 fatty acids— including sunflower and safflower. While these treats may satisfy your taste buds, they trigger inflammation. Replace with anti-inflammatory alternatives including olive oil, nuts, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds, all rich in healthy omega-3s.
A University of Maryland Medical Center study examined the pain-relieving effects of omega-3s on individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and reported an increase in joint pain relief.
Water and Arthritis
How does water help arthritis? Since arthritis pain comes from inflamed joints and joints that are not being cushioned properly, water acts as a lubricant that softens the cartilage and allows the cells in the cartilage to move easier and reduce the shock of movement. When we are properly hydrated water moves to the joint cavity or area. The water helps joints to glide back and forth easily. If there is not enough water, the joint will become stiff. Insufficient fluid could irritate the tissue around it and cause inflammation.
Without enough water, our joints will not work properly as well. In addition to this, with too little water we will be increasing the chances of many other ailments. Dehydration also contributes to poor metabolism. Water is also essential for the chemical reactions that take place inside your bodies and without enough of it, many different ailments can occur including arthritis. A person with arthritis should drink at least ten to twelve glasses of water a day to keep this lubricating action going. Not only will you feel better and feel less pain, but the water will help other systems in your body function well.
There is no guarantee that changing your diet would lead to the healing of arthritic joints but consider the fact that most of the foods that are healthy for joints happen to be great for our bodies as well. Eating healthy foods will not necessarily cure arthritic joints but could help in soothing them. Most people are aware that our bodies need a lot of water but many are not aware that our joints depend on this water, daily, for proper function.
Remember our body belongs to God and as good stewards we should take care of it. The decision to eat right by God’s grace should be an easy one.
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