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Worship: For Heaven’s Sake The ministry of John the Baptist was huge news and spread throughout Galilee and Nazareth as well. When Jesus heard about him, He recognized the call. “His time had come.” He left His business as carpenter, said His goodbyes to His mother, and left for the Jordan. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, reviewed an article that provided tips for staying healthy at graduation parties. (Read more below.)
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
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Worship: The Baptism of Jesus
Wellness: Healthy Graduation Parties
TOPICS THIS WEEK – May 21 – 27
Worship Sunday – The Dedication; Monday – “We Have Seen His Star”; Tuesday – As a Child; Wednesday – The Passover Visit; Thursday – Days of Conflict; Friday – The Voice in the Wilderness; Saturday, the Sabbath – The Baptism [All topics per Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.]
Wellness Sunday – How Your Diet Is Putting a Hole in Your Head! Monday – Natural Remedies for Acne; Tuesday – Natural Remedies for Psoriasis; Wednesday – Natural Remedies for Eczema; Thursday – Foods That Make You Bipolar; Friday – Hospitals Can Be Deadly; Saturday, the Sabbath – Healthy Graduation Parties
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Words of Encouragement
Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
For Heaven’s Sake…
Although Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins, they had never met. Nevertheless, to John “it had been revealed that the Messiah would seek baptism at his hands, and that a sign of His divine character should then be given. Thus he would be enabled to present Him to the people. DA 109.3
When John saw Jesus approach the Jordan, he saw in Him a purity of character never before seen in mankind and thought himself unworthy to perform the baptism. But Jesus said, “‘Suffer it to be so now: for thus it cometh us to fulfill all righteousness.’ And John, yielding, led the Saviour down into the Jordan, and buried Him beneath the water. ‘And straightway coming up out of the water,’ Jesus ‘saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.'” DA 111.1
“Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us. DA 111.2
“Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank. A new and important era was opening before Him. He was now, upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of His life. Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired. He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor. He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub. No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude. DA 111.3
“Alone He must tread the path; alone He must bear the burden. Upon Him who had laid off His glory and accepted the weakness of humanity the redemption of the world must rest. He saw and felt it all, but His purpose remained steadfast. Upon His arm depended the salvation of the fallen race, and He reached out His hand to grasp the hand of Omnipotent Love. DA 111.5
“The Saviour’s glance seems to penetrate heaven as He pours out His soul in prayer. Well He knows how sin has hardened the hearts of men, and how difficult it will be for them to discern His mission, and accept the gift of salvation. He pleads with the Father for power to overcome their unbelief, to break the fetters with which Satan has enthralled them, and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer. He asks for the witness that God accepts humanity in the person of His Son. DA 111.6
“Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light,–fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One. DA 112.1
“Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ DA 112.2
“These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission. Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal.” DA 112.3
At the baptism, as at Calvary’s cross and during creation week, all the Godhead were present. God the Father was heard introducing His Son. And God the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descended upon God the Son. The Holy Three, each in His singular role, agree and cooperate as One in the plan of salvation for mankind. This, explained Pastor Flemons in detail, is quite different from the traditional Trinity and the modern definition trinity now sweeping the Protestant world.
(This study is based on Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21,22 and chapter 11, “The Baptism” in The Desire of Ages (DA), by Ellen G. White.)
For Health’s Sake…
Also sharing a few of his own, Pastor Flemons suggests eating a healthy and timely meal before arriving at a graduation party. While there, seek for an opportunity to kindly request a glass of water or other juice you know is there but which may not be on the “menu.” Hostesses enjoy making everyone feel well served.
When you know there will be salad, bring your own salad dressing. A good healthy dressing can be made with fresh lemon juice, oil, salt and seasonings. You may need to bring your own meal and explain that your Doctor has you on a special diet. Eat slowly, he advises, for proper digestion. It helps avoid allergies, which result from the presence of undigested protein in the body system. Never continue eating throughout the party. That alone is risky business for your health. They often run late into the evening, which poses other problems: not being able to get to bed at a timely manner nor getting to digest your food properly before bedtime.
By all means, take advantage of servings of fresh fruit and vegetable dishes, when provided as long as it doesn’t cause you to eat between meals, thus interrupting digestion and adding toxins, instead of nutrition. Otherwise, enjoy good fellowship with family and friends.