Worship: For Heaven’s Sake Paul desperately wanted to see his son in Christian service. But just in case he was killed before Timothy could arrive, he warned and advised him of many things on his heart that he knew would challenge Timothy’s ministry and Christians in general. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, says that if you want God to work a miracle of healing, you must be willing to be committed and obedient to the laws of health. He then quoted from the book A Call to Medical Evangelism. (Read more below.)
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QTQT Please listen to the recording to hear the testimony of one of our listeners.
Special Prayer was offered for a call-in listener 5827. Her text said this: “Please pray for the spiritual growth of my family and me. Also for my health and finances. A special miracle is needed and that God will allow me to see his glory. Pray also for the ministry [TOR] and God’s blessing upon it.”
Remember to continue praying also for Melinda, who has a brain lesion, for 96-year-old Aunt Deanie (hospice), 3116, 9047, Geraldine (Cookie in ICU at Emory, Atlanta), Rowe family (Greenville, AL – bereavement), Cindy’s move to Uganda, Rosalee with her family and friends, 4190, a bereaved family, the Dawsons with their Voice in the Wilderness ministry, 3464 to be an effective soulwinner for Christ, 6252’s first international trip, John and Mary (Calif), 3719, and all others who have requested our prayers. Thank you.
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FaceBook – Paul’s Last Letter
FaceBook – When Prayer for Healing Is Presumption
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TOPICS THIS WEEK – September 24 – 30
Worship Sunday – In Rome; Monday – Caesar’s Household; Tuesday – Written From Rome; Wednesday – At Liberty; Thursday – The Final Arrest; Friday – Paul Before Nero; Saturday, the Sabbath – Paul’s Last Letter [All topics per The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White.]
Wellness Sunday – New Tricks for Old Dogs; Monday – The Importance of Exercise; Tuesday – Lessons, Testimonies of Healing from Amish Country; Wednesday – Why Our Bad Habits Haven’t Killed Us Yet; Thursday – How to Really Change America; Friday – Healing a Brain Tumor with Garlic; Saturday, the Sabbath – When Prayer for Healing Is Presumption
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Words of Encouragement
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
For Heaven’s Sake…
“‘Thou therefore, my son,’ Paul continued, ‘be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ AA 500.2
“The true minister of God will not shun hardship or responsibility. From the Source that never fails those who sincerely seek for divine power, he draws strength that enables him to meet and overcome temptation, and to perform the duties that God places upon him. The nature of the grace that he receives, enlarges his capacity to know God and His Son. His soul goes out in longing desire to do acceptable service for the Master. And as he advances in the Christian pathway he becomes ‘strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’ This grace enables him to be a faithful witness of the things that he has heard. He does not despise or neglect the knowledge that he has received from God, but commits this knowledge to faithful men, who in their turn teach others. AA 501.1
“In this his last letter to Timothy, Paul held up before the younger worker a high ideal, pointing out the duties devolving on him as a minister of Christ. ‘Study to show thyself approved unto God,’ the apostle wrote, ‘a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ ‘Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.’ AA 501.2
“The apostle warned Timothy against the false teachers who would seek to gain entrance into the church. ‘This know also,’ he declared, ‘that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy; . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.’ AA 502.1
“Fearing that Timothy’s mild, yielding disposition might lead him to shun an essential part of his work, Paul exhorted him to be faithful in reproving sin and even to rebuke with sharpness those who were guilty of gross evils. Yet he was to do this “with all long-suffering and doctrine.” He was to reveal the patience and love of Christ, explaining and enforcing his reproofs by the truths of the word. AA 503.2
“After speaking of the scene of his trial before Nero, the desertion of his brethren, and the sustaining grace of a covenant-keeping God, Paul closed his letter by commending his beloved Timothy to the guardianship of the Chief Shepherd, who, though the undershepherds might be stricken down, would still care for His flock.” AA 508.2
This study is based on the Second Epistle to Timothy and chapter 49, “Paul’s Last Letter,” The Acts of the Apostles (AA), by Ellen G. White.)
For Health’s Sake…
“Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not regard their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by works. God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health and make no efforts to prevent disease. When we do all we can on our part to have health, then may we expect that the blessed results will follow, and we can ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the preservation of health. He will then answer our prayer, if His name can be glorified thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to do. God will not work in a miraculous manner to preserve the health of persons who are taking a sure course to make themselves sick, by their careless inattention to the laws of health. {CME 35.2}–Ellen G. White, A Call to Medical Evangelism, p. 35.2
Pastor Flemons then noted the difference between faith and presumption, quoting in part this statement from the same author in her inspired book on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages:
“But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption isSatan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” DA 126.1