What Is the Condition of Your Wall?

As we take time to observe God’s Sabbath, I thought it might prove helpful to continue the study of walls in the Sabbath Thought for this week.

Let’s begin with a question. What is the state of your wall? Do we realize that God has assigned us to build a wall and to keep it up?

Notice the words of God in Ezekiel 22:25-30: The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, "Thus says the Lord GOD," when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it. . . .

Do we have a wall to keep the enemies of God's way out of our lives and homes? Have we set boundaries against the world, or have we torn down the wall? If we have a wall, are we leaving the gates open and unguarded? Are we willing to fight to defend our families and our church? Or do we just let the enemy stream in unchallenged? Are we willing to stand up to the world?

This particular wall is not one of brick and stone, but a spiritual wall anchored by God, designed to keep spiritual problems out.

1 Timothy 5:8 says that if we fail to provide for the needs of our loved ones—both physically and spiritually—we are worse than an unbeliever! Have we done anything to protect our families—or has worldliness hurdled our puny walls, totally pervading every aspect of our lives?

Satan hates walls. "Let's all be one happy family," he whispers in our ears. "Walls are for the immature. You're spiritually mature now, so you can handle immorality without a problem." Don't fall for this line.

God Himself teaches us through His example to erect impregnable bulwarks against Satan. He placed cherubim with flaming swords at the entrance to the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of  life (Genesis 3:24), and even New Jerusalem will have towering walls and gates (Revelation 21:12, 14). In type, the church is to be a wall (Song of Songs 8:10), within which peace dwells and righteousness flourishes. God supplies this spiritual wall to those who seek His Way, His providence and His will. The work of rebuilding our personal wall is the effort we put into seeking a strong relationship with Him, and He then provides the defenses for us. God becomes our wall.

David understands this perfectly. He often praises God as his rock, his high tower, his fortress, his wall. "I will love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; . . . my stronghold" (Psalm 18:1-2). For a child of God, no other wall can effectively protect us from spiritual assaults: "He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved".

God puts a wall around His people to keep Satan at bay, as in the example of Job. Satan complains, "Have You not made a hedge [wall] around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?" (Job 1:10). Only after God removed the wall could Satan attack Job—and he wasted no time doing so! Surely, we see the lesson in this.

If we reject God, break down the wall or neglect our relationship with Him, what happens? "Whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent" (Ecclesiastes 10:8). The Bible depicts Satan as a serpent. Many brethren have allowed their walls to crumble, and Satan has struck.

Sometimes God Himself tears down our walls because of our sins (Isaiah 5:4-5). As Paul puts it, He delivers us to Satan for the destruction of our flesh in the hope we will repent (1 Corinthians 5:5).

What is the condition of our wall? Is it broken down or in need of repair?

The surest way to restore the wall is through sincere and complete repentance. Playing at the repair job, daubing bits of untempered mortar here and there, will only increase God's wrath (Ezekiel 13:8-16). Such a wall, lacking God, gives the impression of security but crumbles at the smallest enemy strike. We must be totally committed to restoring our neglected relationship with God, thus restoring God's presence as the wall.

As you keep the Sabbath day, consider what is the condition of my wall? Upon assessment, if your wall is need of repair, seek God’s help to restore it fully.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Every Kingdom Divided Against Itself Is Brought To Desolation

Last week, the attempt by the Republican Party to overturn the
Affordable Care Act (aka: Obamacare) failed. Because of the
division in the majority party not enough votes could be
mustered in order to prevail. This failure to deliver on the
campaign promise made both by presidential candidate
Donald Trump and many congressional candidates as well is a
major setback.

The obvious conclusion is that our national government is
divided. The question that yet remains to be answered is, “Can
our government reach a level of unity where legislation can be
passed that will serve to move our country in a more positive
direction?”

Jesus Christ addressed the issue of a house divided in Matthew
12:22-26, “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed,
blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the
blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the
multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of
David?" Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This
fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the
ruler of the demons." But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said
to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will
not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against
himself. How then will his kingdom stand?”

Barnes’ Notes comments, “Their subtle and cunning device
was completely foiled, and Jesus made their argument recoil
on their own heads. A kingdom or a family can prosper only
by living in harmony. The different parts and members must
unite in promoting the same objects. If divided-if one part
UNDOES what the other DOES-it must fall. So with the
kingdom of Satan. It is your doctrine that Satan has
"possessed" these whom I have cured. It is also your doctrine
that he has helped me to cure them. If so, then he has helped
me to undo what he had done. He has aided me to cast himself
out-that is, to oppose and discomfit himself.

At this rate, how can there be any stability in his kingdom? It
must fall, and Satan must have less than human prudence.”
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997,
2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The national leadership of the United States seems to be
hopelessly divided. Can we come together to achieve a
common purpose? I’m sure we all hope for that outcome.
However, we must realize that if we continue on the current
divided against itself it will not stand.

Living in a divided world is one of those things that is vexing
to a Christian. How do we change this situation? Sadly, we
cannot change this situation.

But we can know that when we come together on Passover
evening, to participate in the footwashing, the bread, and the
wine it symbolically points to unity.

Unity begins with humility and service of others as
symbolized by the footwashing.

Unity is further accomplished as we continue to yield to Jesus
Christ continuing His work in us as symbolized by the eating
the bread and drinking of the wine.

We may live in a divided world, but we by our humility,
service, repentance, and growth in righteousness can be
unified as the body of Christ. In the Passover service, we are
renewing our commitment to be one with God and one
another.

I think Paul summarizes the concept of unity conveyed in the
Passover well in 1 Corinthians 10:16-18, “The cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not a very sharing in the blood of Christ?
When we break the bread do we not actually share in the body
of Christ? The very fact that we all share one bread makes us
all one body. Look at the Jews of our own day. Isn't there a
fellowship between all those who eat the altar sacrifices? (The
New Testament in Modern English, J. B. PHILLIPS)

Enjoy the Sabbath rest,

Gary Smith

Make Prayer Great Again

Today is a day of hope for many as our new President, Donald
Trump, takes office.

Donald Trump was never supposed to become the president of
the United States. He was considered a clown, a blowhard and
an entertainer with no political expertise. He was opposed by
Republicans, Democrats, and the media. In fact, he was given
no chance of winning the presidency.

But against all odds, he went on to be victorious on November
8, 2016. When many of us went to bed on that evening, we
doubted he would be the next president. I know I was sleeping
soundly when my wife came in and told me that Mr. Trump
had won Wisconsin. As I was falling back to sleep, I thought
he might really win. On Wednesday morning, I learned that
his victory in Pennsylvania had put him over the top in the
electoral tally.

We might ask, “Why did Donald Trump win the presidency?”
It seems that Mr. Trump latched onto themes that resonated
with the American people. He promised to make America
great again. Why would people latch onto this promise?
Because many people feel that America has lost its greatness
and unless we turn from the path we are on national greatness
will be lost forever.

It is my hope that the new President, the Congress and the
Cabinet can make some progress toward restoring many of the
values that have made our country truly great for the last two
hundred years. Our greatness over that time has come about
because of God’s grace and mercy extended to our land.

Greatness can only be regained as we turn to the God of the
Bible. The prophet Joel spoke of the need for a return to God
and God’s mercy, “But even now," says the Lord, "repent
sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and
mourning. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing
your clothes is not enough." Come back to the Lord your God.
He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his
promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.” (Joel
2:12-13).

One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was not
renowned for being overly religious when he took office.
However, the magnitude of being president as the nation was
divided in Civil War drove President Lincoln to turn to God in
a way he had not done in his earlier life. I believe that if our
president and other leaders turn to God then we can turn things
around. But will our leaders and our nation humble
themselves before God and seek his wisdom in the years
ahead?

President Trump faces a divided nation similar in many ways
to the time before the Civil War. There was no reconciliation
between the aggrieved parties in 1860 and it seems to be a
most formidable challenge to heal the breaches that exist in
2017. Healing the breaches in the present day are especially
formidable because there no longer seems to be a fixed
standard of right and wrong. Most sadly, if decisions are made
that are in harmony with God and His word the outcome will
likely be outrage among many in our land.

In Paul’s time, the Roman Emperors reigned supreme and
during the last part of his ministry, Nero ruled. Nero was an
abominable ruler and yet Paul requested prayers for him in 1
Timothy 2:1-4: “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”

Paul gives us good instruction in regard to how we should
pray for the new president. Mr. Trump faces a formidable
challenge ahead of him. Not only should we pray for all men,
but we should pray that God would make it possible for us to
“lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence.”

We can be thankful this Sabbath day that we worship a God
who will be with us regardless of how things work out in the
political world.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Truth Is Fallen In The Street

The prophet Isaiah was inspired to record for us the spiritual
condition of the people of Israel.

A passage that is especially applicable to 21st century America
is found in Isaiah 59:13-15, “In transgressing and lying against
the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression
and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of
falsehood. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands
afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot
enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes
himself a prey.”

Consider the issue of truth in light of the current contest for
the presidency of the United States. Each day it seems there
are more lies, denials, and attempts to hide the truth. The saga
that has unfolded with the Hillary Clinton email scandal is a
vivid illustration of what happens when one fails to tell the
truth.

Imagine how sure of a position Mrs. Clinton would be in at
present if when the news of the private email server broke, she
admitted the error and told the truth about what she did. It
would have ended the matter at that point.

Sadly, by lying about the matter, scrubbing the server,
destroying phones and seeking to obliterate the evidence it has
spurred a deeper pursuit of the matter. The process of digging
for the truth has exposed lying on many levels and jeopardized
Mrs. Clinton’s bid for the presidency.

Isaiah points out that the lack of truth among the people of
Israel had reached the point where they were speaking from
the heart when they uttered falsehoods. As lying is a standard
operating procedure, it reaches a point where the truth is no
longer important. Lying is just a means to self-protection,
self-preservation, or the accomplishment one’s selfish desire.

Who cares about the collateral damage that comes from
falsehood?

The collateral damage that stems from lying is that justice and
righteousness, which depend upon truth, are difficult to find.
Justice which should be fundamental to the legal system is not
attainable when lying is widespread. We only have to look at
the F.B.I.’s handling of the email server matter to more fully
understand what Isaiah is talking about.

When a society reaches the level of corruption described by
Isaiah, the person who tells the truth and departs from evil
makes himself a prey or target.

People tend to completely forget that God is quite aware of a
society’s condition. We are given God’s view in Isaiah 59:15-
16, “Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there
was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered
that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought
salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained
Him.”

God sees the falsehoods which contribute to a lack of justice
in our nation.

More importantly, God notes the sorry condition in which a
society finds itself when there is a lack of truth. God in verse
16 notes that “there was no man” who would correct this
problem. In fact, where it says that He “wondered” that there
was no intercessor, it could be translated “He was appalled”
that there was no intercessor.

This verse tells us all we need to know about the election of a
president. No matter who is elected they are not going to
correct the problem of lying. No matter how much enthusiasm
a presidential candidate inspires they do not have the power to
correct such a fundamental problem as truth failing to be a
society’s standard.

Our only hope is referred to in Isaiah 59:20-21, ““The
Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from
transgression in Jacob," says the Lord. “As for Me," says the
Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon
you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not
depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your
descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants'
descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and
forevermore."

In other words, our Redeemer will bring us to repentance,
redeem us from our sins, and God’s words—the truth—will be
in our mouth forevermore.

Happy Sabbath

Gary Smith

The Right Approach to God’s Feast Days

Since the Holy Days will be observed shortly, I thought it would be valuable to consider the right approach to God’s Feast Days.

Isaiah states, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats” (Isaiah 1:10-11). Isaiah’s statement seems odd in light of the fact that God directed Israel to offer various sacrifices.

The prophet condemns the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their sacrifices. Has God suddenly changed His mind about sacrifices or is there another reason why God inspired Isaiah 1:10-11?

Apparently, the people were quite diligent in making sacrifices and offerings at the temple. They offered and sacrificed large numbers of animals. However, God is not pleased with what they were offering because their approach is wrong. What is wrong with their approach? Before addressing what was wrong with their sacrifices, let’s examine what more God has to say.

"When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies —I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:12-15).

It should be noted that where they were falling short in coming before God is explained by understanding what is meant by “to trample my courts”. Barnes’ Notes states, “To tread his courts was an expression therefore, equivalent to, to worship. To tread the courts of the Lord here, has the idea of profanation. Who has required you to tread those courts with this hollow, heartless service? It is often used in the sense of treading down, or trampling on” (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Why are Judah’s sacrifices futile? Sadly, it has to do with their sinfulness. They offered sacrifices and offerings, burned incense, gathered for the Sabbath and Holy Days, and offered up an abundance of prayers. They were religious while still practicing sin. There was no humility, recognition of sin, or repentance.

The sacrificial system had ceased to serve its purpose of focusing the people on God and the need for righteousness. The people are religious but it is form without substance (2 Timothy 3:5).

The point here is that the character of the people had degenerated to the point that the manner in which they keep the Sabbath and religious festivals had become offensive to God. Their attitudes and approach had so degenerated that the Holy Day observances were hardly recognizable to God as having originated with Him. They were no longer His feasts, but the wayward people's feasts. Indeed, besides observing God's true festivals in a wrong manner and attitude, Israel had even instituted its own substitute holidays and participated in pagan observances.

Because of the people's defiance, we see that God has ceased listening to their prayers.

What is the lesson for the 21st century Christian? The lesson is that God has instructed us to make sacrifices and offerings, to attend the Holy Days, and to offer up prayers, but our attendance or giving an offering is not the most important thing. We can do all of those commanded things while continuing in sin and not walking humbly before God. Unless our heart is right, we are wasting God’s time and our time as well.

What is most important is the condition of our heart. King David came to understand this point and reflect that understanding in his prayer of repentance in Psalms 51:16-17, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise.”

As we come before God in prayer, on a Sabbath or Holy Day, God looks at our heart. Are we coming before Him in humility, in repentance, in joy and in gratefulness?

If we prepare our heart to seek our God, then He will accept our sacrifices and offering. He will hear our prayers. And He will be most glad that we are honoring Him through the Sabbath and Holy Days
.
As the Holy Days of the seventh month begin, we must take time to look at our spiritual condition and acknowledge our need for God in our lives. With that right approach, we can be assured God will be glad we honor Him at the Feast.

Gary Smith

Preaching the Gospel

As the Sabbath day arrives, I would like us to consider “the preaching of the Gospel.”

When Jesus began His ministry, He began to preach a particular message. Mark mentions this in Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."”

After His death and resurrection, Christ re-emphasized the work that the Apostles were to carry out, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen (Matthew 28:19-20). Clearly the Apostles were to carry on the work that Christ began in Galilee. They were to preach the gospel message of the soon coming kingdom of Heaven. They were to make disciples, which can only be done by teaching the truths of the Bible. These verses emphasize repentance since one can only have their sins washed away in the waters of baptism upon repentance.

Did the Apostles preach the gospel? We only have to look at what happened on the day of Pentecost in 31 AD. Acts 2:38-41 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

The Gospel was preached. Disciples were added to the Church by God and congregations were established throughout the world. For a time, the Church of God enjoyed a relative freedom to preach the truths of the Bible and to meet the Roman Empire and beyond.

However, by the end of the 1^st Century, distortion of the truth and persecution upon the Church had begun. By 325 AD, with the decisions of the Council of Nicaea and Roman Emperor, Constantine, God’s people had to go into hiding for better than 1280 years. At the end of that time, the door was slowly opened for the Church to go forward to openly preach the Gospel.

For those of us associated with the Radio Church of God and its later manifestation, the Worldwide Church of God, we have lived in a remarkable time. A hundred years in which there has been relatively little suppression of the truth. It has been a time when the church could proclaim the Gospel to the world, over the airwaves, on TV, and in print. It has been an era in which the Church could meet in peace without fear of oppression.

On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court decided a case legitimatizing something that is condemned by the scriptures. It opens the door for actions to be taken against those who wish to follow the scriptures.

Some questions:

• Will we be able to meet in peace while holding fast to the truth?
• Will we individually and collectively come under attack because our religious beliefs?
• Will we be able to hold jobs where we are forced to accept something we know to be in opposition to God’s way of life?
• Most fundamentally, can we continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ if we can no longer preach the message of repentance from dead works?

Pandora’s Box has been opened and there is no putting what has been unleashed back in the bottle.

Will we follow the Apostles admonition as we go forward in preaching the truth even if we are threatened and persecuted? Note what Peter and the other apostles said in response to the religious authorities seeking to suppress the truth, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." (Acts 5:29-32).

How the future will unfold exactly is unknown, but all of God’s people must be aware that on June 26, 2015 we crossed a threshold that can only bring challenges for God’s people.

We especially need God’s protection, wisdom, and guidance as we journey on to the Kingdom of God.

Stay focused on the hope we receive every Sabbath day and may God hasten the reality that the Sabbath portrays.

Gary Smith