Worship: For Heaven’s Sake The marriages of Isaac and Lot each tell a story to the world in every succeeding generation. Lot’s wife was unconverted, says Pastor Flemons. She was the reason Lot was still in Sodom in the first place. But Rebekah moved from the directions of God.
“The wife of Lot was a selfish, irreligious woman, and her influence was exerted to separate her husband from Abraham. But for her, Lot would not have remained in Sodom, deprived of the counsel of the wise, God-fearing patriarch. The influence of his wife and the associations of that wicked city would have led him to apostatize from God had it not been for the faithful instruction he had early received from Abraham. The marriage of Lot and his choice of Sodom for a home were the first links in a chain of events fraught with evil to the world for many generations.” {PP 174.2}
“He who has entered the marriage relation while unconverted, is by his conversion placed under stronger obligation to be faithful to his companion, however widely they may differ in regard to religious faith; yet the claims of God should be placed above every earthly relationship, even though trials and persecution may be the result. With the spirit of love and meekness, this fidelity may have an influence to win the unbelieving one. But the marriage of Christians with the ungodly is forbidden in the Bible. The Lord’s direction is, ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.’ 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18. {PP 175.1}
“Isaac was highly honored by God in being made inheritor of the promises through which the world was to be blessed; yet when he was forty years of age he submitted to his father’s judgment in appointing his experienced, God-fearing servant to choose a wife for him. And the result of that marriage, as presented in the Scriptures, is a tender and beautiful picture of domestic happiness: ‘Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.'” {PP 175.2}
“True love is a high and holy principle, altogether different in character from that love which is awakened by impulse and which suddenly dies when severely tested. It is by faithfulness to duty in the parental home that the youth are to prepare themselves for homes of their own. Let them here practice self-denial and manifest kindness, courtesy, and Christian sympathy. Thus love will be kept warm in the heart, and he who goes out from such a household to stand at the head of a family of his own will know how to promote the happiness of her whom he has chosen as a companion for life. Marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be only its beginning.” {PP 176.3}
To the two stories of these few souls (Isaac and Rebekah and that of Lot and Lot’s wife), we can say that never has so many owed so much to so few.
[For further details, read Genesis 18:26-33; Ellen G. White’s Patriarchs and Prophets, PP 174.2 -176.3. Also, please listen to the recording to hear the commentary of Pastor Flemons, who sang Hymn 76, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.”
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Shelem Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, issued his latest challenge: Eat a plant-based diet. God gave us fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables for meat. Read Genesis 1:29. That is mankind’s original diet; and because of sin and man’s consequent susceptibility to disease, he added herbs. Read Genesis 3:18.
“You cannot improve upon God,” says Pastor Flemons. Since God created your body, He knows what will work best for it to be sustained. When God made man, He said that it is very good.
A total plant-based diet can help you reverse cancer. It can help you reverse diabetes and hypertension, says Pastor Flemons. And if you really want to be healthy, he says, “eat whole foods.” This way, “you cannot go wrong.” Listen to God, the Great Physician, and not to any man who differs.
[For more details, please listen to the recording and watch the recommended videos: “Forks Over Knives,” “What the Health,” and “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.”]
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
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Sharing and Caring Time Sis. Maria encouraged listeners with a passage from Power of Prayer, a collection of comments on prayer by Ellen G. White, Chapter 49, “Pray Wholeheartedly,” p 99.
“There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.’ ‘I have longed after Thy precepts;’ ‘I have longed for Thy salvation.’ ‘My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.’ ‘My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments.’ This is the spirit of wrestling prayer, such as was possessed by the royal psalmist.” {Pr 73.1}
“We must not only pray in Christ’s name, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Spirit ‘maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ Romans 8:26. Such prayer God delights to answer. When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.’” Ephesians 3:20. {Pr 221.3}
“God will be to us everything we will let Him be. Our languid, half-hearted prayers will not bring us returns from heaven. Oh, we need to press our petitions! Ask in faith, wait in faith, receive in faith, rejoice in hope, for everyone that seeketh findeth. Be in earnest in the matter. Seek God with all the heart. People put soul and earnestness into everything they undertake in temporal things, until their efforts are crowned with success. With intense earnestness learn the trade of seeking the rich blessings that God has promised, and with persevering, determined effort you shall have His light and His truth and His rich grace.” {Pr 114.1}
Read Jeremiah 17:9, 10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Pastor Flemons responded to questions about the timing for getting off the grid and the dangers of UV rays.
Special Prayer Please include in your prayers today Listener 1716, who made no request and Listener 3588, who asks that we all pray that God will increase our faith, that we praise God, search the Scripture, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and witness for God.
Sis. Michelle asks that God will provide her a country home and bless us all throughout the day.
Please pray for Joyce’s brother Chris (of WA) who is in ICU with a stroke.
Please pray for TORSOE’s mission and plans.
Pray for the unspoken prayer requests of each heart.
Listeners Speak!
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“I just want to thank the LORD for this broadcast. It puts me in the mind of heaven!” (9206)
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“I thank Him (GOD) for this line, this broadcast, for Sis. and Pastor, because the things I’ve been through . . . I know the LORD has placed these two in my life! . . . I just love them.” (3588)
“God bless you. You are very authentic. . . . I just want to ask God to bless your ministry. Oh, my God! I am so grateful to be a part of your family. . . . There’s not enough words to express my gratitude, because I am learning even more from your ministry.” (0608)
“I want to give God thanks . . . . We are experiencing great love and miracles. . . . Thank God for His people who make life easier! . . . I thank God for you all . . . as I learn how to live a pure life of natural remedies. I love you.” (0053)
Listen
FaceBook Worship Segment – Never Have So Many Owed So Much To So Few – The Marriages of Lot and Isaac
FaceBook Wellness Segment – I challenge you to eat a plant-based diet!
Playback: To listen by phone to former broadcasts, call (712) 770-4019. Access Code: 635270. Reference number for today’s broadcast: 1281.
TOPICS THIS WEEK – June 14 – July 20
Worship Sunday – The Marriages of Lot and Isaac: To Whom So Many Owe So Much
Wellness Sunday – Challenge: Eat a Plant-Based Diet!
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Words of Encouragement
2 Chronicles 12:1 It came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. (Also read 2 Chronicles 12 and Conflict and Courage for July 14, CC 201.)
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (Also read With God at Dawn for July 14, WGD 197.)