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Worship: For Heaven’s Sake Pastor Flemons shared the history of the occult. He described how it came to be accepted within the Christian church. As pagans were welcomed into the early church, much of their paganistic beliefs were mixed with Christianity and embraced. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, discussed depression in the church as an outgrowth of disobedience and unholy music. (Read more below.)
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
Special Prayer was offered for a live call-in listener: Earl of Bermuda. Pray that God’s will be done in sickness and health, including mental illness, which is so rampant now.
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TOPICS THIS WEEK – March 5-11.
Worship Sunday -Saul Rejected; Monday – The Anointing of David; Tuesday – David and Goliath; Wednesday – David a Fugitive; Thursday – The Magnanimity of David; Friday – The Death of Saul; Saturday, the Sabbath – Ancient and Modern Sorcery
[All topics per Patriarchs and Prophets (PP) by Ellen G. White, available at this link: http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp.]
Wellness Sunday – Saturday, the Sabbath – Anatomy and Physiology of the Reproductive System
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Words of Encouragement
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
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For Heaven’s Sake…
“Nearly all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a belief in communion with the dead. Those who practiced the arts of necromancy claimed to have intercourse with departed spirits, and to obtain through them a knowledge of future events. This custom of consulting the dead is referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘When they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?’ Isaiah 8:19.PP 684.1
“This same belief in communion with the dead formed the cornerstone of heathen idolatry. The gods of the heathen were believed to be the deified spirits of departed heroes. Thus the religion of the heathen was a worship of the dead. … Speaking of the same apostasy of the Israelites, he [that is, David, the psalmist] says, ‘They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead’ (Psalm 106:28); that is, sacrifices that had been offered to the dead.PP 684.2
“Modern spiritualism and the forms of ancient witchcraft and idol worship—all having communion with the dead as their vital principle—are founded upon that first lie by which Satan beguiled Eve in Eden: ‘Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, … ye shall be as gods.’ Genesis 3:4, 5. Alike based upon falsehood and perpetuating the same, they are alike from the father of lies.PP 685.2
“The Hebrews were expressly forbidden to engage in any manner in pretended communion with the dead. God closed this door effectually when He said: ‘The dead know not anything…. Neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.’ Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. ‘His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.’ Psalm 146:4. And the Lord declared to Israel: ‘The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.’ Leviticus 20:6.PP 685.3
“The ‘familiar spirits’ were not the spirits of the dead, but evil angels, the messengers of Satan. Ancient idolatry, which, as we have seen, comprises both worship of the dead and pretended communion with them, is declared by the Bible to have been demon worship. … In their supposed worship of dead men they were in reality worshiping demons.PP 685.4
“Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the second advent of Christ. Speaking of Christ’s second coming, he declares that it is ‘after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:9. And Peter, describing the dangers to which the church was to be exposed in the last days, says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers, ‘who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them…. And many shall follow their pernicious ways.’ 2 Peter 2:1, 2. Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist teachers. They refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. … PP 686.1
“Spiritualism declares that there is no death, no sin, no judgment, no retribution; that ‘men are unfallen demigods;’ that desire is the highest law; and that man is accountable only to himself. The barriers that God has erected to guard truth, purity, and reverence are broken down, and many are thus emboldened in sin. Does not such teaching suggest an origin similar to that of demon worship?PP 688.1
(This study is based on chapter 67, “Ancient and Modern Sorcery,” in Patriarchs and Prophets (PP), by Ellen G. White, available at this link: http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp.)
For Health’s Sake…
The life and death of Saul is a perfect example of how low an estate one can fall. Saul had been anointed of God. The Holy Spirit had for a time guided him, and he had been victorious. He even prophesied under the control of the Holy Spirit. But his love for self-glory and his impatience led him to go against direct commands of God.
He belittled sin, which led to repeated sin. Eventually, as the sinfulness of the sin would become apparent, he would become depressed and feel hopeless. In the end, Saul became involved in witchcraft and eventually committed suicide on the battlefield.
Today, like Saul, too many Christians unfortunately experience depression, mental illness, and finally suicide. Listening to wrong music styles and stress combine with belittling sin and the commands of God are a deadly mix. The depression, mental illness, and suicides that can follow can be avoided.
First, rely on God. Read and obey the word of God and trust in His love and power. It brings peace to the heart and mind.
Eat healthy. Avoid sugary foods especially, as they lead to depression. Instead, eat whole grains, fruits, and nuts. Never overeat. That leads to depression. If necessary, use healing herbs like kava kava, which increases seratonin.
Get fresh air. Endorphins in the air help guard against depression.
Get good rest. Get to bed on time. It is best to go to bed by 9:30 p.m. Staying up late naturally depresses the mind.
Exercise at least five days of the week. Exercising in the fresh air is best.
Use self-control in everything. Abstain from all harmful things. Do in moderation those things that are good. Stimulants, including chocolates, lead to depression.
Drink plenty of water, especially when you feel depressed.
Get into the sunlight. It will manufacture vitamin D in your skin, which helps balance hormones, which wards against depression. Hormonal imbalance leads to depression.
By never giving up on living these biblical wellness principles and giving to others, you will be strengthened against depression and mental disease and eventual suicide. As a result of your REFRESHING Way lifestyle, God will be honored, and you will have a peace that passes understanding.
(The article Pastor Flemons mentioned is available at this link: https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2017-03-09/in-the-us-local-church-helps-drag-mental-illness-out-of-the-closet/.)
Special Announcement: You are encouraged to visit the website SaveLivesNow.org to see the property Times of Refreshing is claiming in faith as our new headquarters to save lives and train lifesavers.