LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
Only Two Groups in the Last Days

Revelation 14 reveals the final division of humanity.

There are only two groups when the final crisis arrives.

On one side are those who worship the beast and receive its mark.

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark…”
— Revelation 14:9–10

On the other side stand those who remain loyal to God.

“Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
— Revelation 14:12

Some claim that the “commandments of God” mentioned here are not the Ten Commandments.

But the New Testament itself identifies God’s law using the very commandments from the Decalogue:

“I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
— Romans 7:7

And James writes:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.”
— James 2:10–11

James then calls this “the law of liberty” by which all will be judged (James 2:12).

In the last days, the issue will therefore center on loyalty to God’s commandments versus submission to the authority of the beast.

One group follows the commandments of men.

The other keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

There is no neutral ground.

Every person will stand in one of these two groups.

Which side will you stand on?

BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS # 165
Section 15- Admonitions and Warnings.

CHAPTER 165, Covetousness.

1. What warning did Christ give concerning covetousness?

"And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15.

2. What commandment forbids this sin?

"Thou shalt not covet." Ex. 20:17. Covetous: "Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (especially money); avaricious."- Webster.

3. What showed this principle to have been strong in the rich man who already had abundance?

"And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Luke 12:18,19.

4. What did God say to him?

"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Verse 20.

5. What application of this parable did the Saviour make?

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Verse 21.

6. What does Paul call covetousness?

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Col. 3:5.

NOTE.- "Do not wade far out into the dangerous sea of this world's comfort. Take the good that God provides you, but say of it, 'It passeth away;' for indeed it is but a temporary supply for a temporary need. Never suffer your goods to become your god."- Spurgeon.

7. What do these sins bring upon mankind?

"For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." Verse 6.

8. What double service did Christ say is impossible?

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:13.

9. Of what sin were the Pharisees guilty?

"And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him." Verse 14.

10. What reply did Christ make?

"And He said unto them, Ye, are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Verse 15.

11. How does the Lord regard the covetous?

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth." Ps. 10:3.

12. What did this sin lead Achan to do?

"When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold, . . . I coveted them, and took them." Joshua 7:21.

13. What did covetousness lead Judas to do?

"And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray Him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him." Mark 14:10,11.

14. Why are the last days to be perilous?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers." 2 Tim. 3:1,2.

15. What parable did Christ give to correct the false idea of the Pharisees that wealth was a sign of special favor with God?

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16: 19-31.

16. What did He point out as one of the dangers of the possession of wealth?

"And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! . . . Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23,24.

NOTE.- And how hard it is for those who have riches not to trust in them!

17. As a rule, what class generally accept the gospel?

"Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" James 2:5.

18. How difficult did Christ say it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God?

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Mark 10:25.

NOTE.- If Christ here referred to a small, low gate in the walls of Jerusalem, called "The Needle's Eye," as is thought by some, the force of the statement still remains; for, before a camel could pass through this gate, it was necessary that he should be relieved of his burden, and get down on his knees and creep through.

19. Why was the rich young man desiring salvation, unwilling to sell what he had and give alms, as Christ told him to do?

"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." Matt. 19:16.

20. What is the love of money declared to be?

"For the love of money is the root of all evil." 1 Tim. 6:10.

21. What evils befall those who are determined to be rich?

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Verse 9.

22. Who gives man the power to get wealth?

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth." Deut. 8:18.

23. How may all, rich and poor, honor God?

"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase." Prov. 3:9.

24. What caution is given concerning riches?

"If riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Ps. 62:10.

25. Can riches be retained to men's hurt?

"There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." Eccl. 5:13.

26. What charge is given to the rich?

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. 6:17-19.

27. What makes rich without adding sorrow?

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it." Prov. 10:22.

28. How are true riches obtained?

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life." Prov. 22:4

29. How did Moses esteem the reproach of Christ?

"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Heb. 11:26.

30. What two classes of rich men are mentioned in the Bible?

"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." Prov. 13:7.

NOTE.- In Luke 12:16-20 is an example of the first class; in Acts 4:34-37 are examples of the second.

31. What solemn warning is addressed to the rich who, in the last days, have heaped up treasure, and oppressed the poor?

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." James 5:1-5.

32. Will silver or gold be able to deliver in the day of wrath?

"Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath." Zeph. 1:18. See also Prov. 11:4.

33. What will the rich men do with their money then?

"They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity." Eze. 7:19.

NOTES.- When the steamer "Central America," with nearly six hundred passengers aboard, was wrecked off Cape Hatteras, Sept. 12, 1857, in a fearful storm, many of the passengers who were returning miners from the gold-mines of California, divested themselves of their treasure belts and scattered the gold upon the cabin floors, telling those to take it who would, lest its weight about their persons should carry them to their death. "Full purses, containing in some instances thousands of dollars, lay around untouched. Carpetbags were opened, and the shining metal was poured out on the floor with the prodigality of death's despair. One of the passengers opened a bag and dashed about the cabin twenty thousand dollars in gold-dust, and told him who wanted to gratify his greed for gold to take it. But it was passed by untouched, as the veriest dross."- "Our first Century," pages 642,643.

When the steamship "Arctic" was lost from a collision in mid-ocean, Sept. 20, 1854, one passenger offered thirty thousand pounds sterling, or one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, if the life-boats would put back to save him. They turned to do so, but he sank before they reached him.- Id., page 614.

34. As stewards of God's gifts, what are we told to do?

"And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Luke 16:9. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10.IS NOT the way to heavenly gain

Through earthly grief and loss? Rest must be won by toil and pain;

The crown repays the cross.

HENRY F. LYTE.

I would like to thank God for using the Bible Reading for the Home Circle to bless millions of souls. To the author and original producer, (though in truth and reality it's God's).

Though He had no sin, Jesus Christ chose to bear ours. On the cross, the innocent stood in for the guilty so we could be forgiven, restored, and reconciled to God.

He took what we deserved so we could receive what He freely gives.

#TheSinlessOne #JesusSacrifice #TheCross #GraceAndMercy #FaithInChrist #Redeemed

Popular Bible Quotations Day 62 March 3
From HNIV Rainbow SB
Psalm 75:6-7 NIV Starting Place SB Zondervan 2019 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges; He brings one down, he exalts another.
Psalm 75:6-7 HNKJV Reader's Reference 2016 For exaltation comes neither from the east. Nor from the west nor from the south.
But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
Psalm 75:6-7 KJV 1611 World Pub For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
But God is the judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psalm 75:6-7 NICB 2021 No one from the east or the west or the desert can judge you.
God is the judge. He judges one person as guilty and another as innocent.
Psalm 75:6-7 The Scriptures Institute For Scripture Research 2009 Edition For exaltations are neither from the east, Nor from the west nor from the wilderness.
But Elohim is the Judge--He puts down one, And exalts another.
Psalm 75:6-7 NNET Thinline Edition 2019 For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness.
For God is the judge. He brings one down and exalts another.

Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Author: Will Helton

This verse is one of the clearest and most tender pictures of the gospel in all of Scripture. It tells the truth about us, but it also reveals the mercy of God. Isaiah says we are like sheep. Sheep are not known for wisdom, direction, or strength. They wander. They drift. They get lost without even realizing how far they have gone. That is the condition of the human heart apart from God. We stray in our thoughts, in our desires, in our choices, and in our pride. Sometimes we wander openly, and sometimes we do it quietly. But the truth remains the same: every one of us has turned to his own way.

That is what makes sin so serious. Sin is not only doing wrong things. It is choosing our own path over God’s path. It is trusting ourselves more than trusting Him. It is walking away from the Shepherd and believing we can guide our own lives. The verse does not say only a few have gone astray. It says all. No one is excluded. No one can stand before God and say, “I never wandered.” We all need mercy.

But this verse does not end with our failure. It leads us straight to the heart of redemption: “and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” This is the beauty of Christ. Jesus did not merely watch us wander. He came after us. He stepped into our broken world, carried our sorrow, took our guilt, and bore the burden that should have fallen on us. The punishment we deserved was placed on Him. The sin that belonged to us was laid upon Him. He became the innocent sacrifice for guilty people. What an amazing love that is.

Think about that for a moment. The holy Son of God took upon Himself the weight of human rebellion, shame, and sin. He stood in our place. He bore what we could never bear. He paid what we could never pay. He took our wandering and answered it with grace. He took our guilt and answered it with mercy. He took our lost condition and answered it with salvation.

This means there is hope for every person who feels far from God. Maybe you feel like one of those scattered sheep. Maybe your life has taken turns you never meant to take. Maybe you carry regret, sorrow, or the ache of knowing you have gone your own way. Isaiah 53:6 says your story does not have to end in wandering. The Shepherd has come. Jesus Christ is still calling the lost, still gathering the broken, still redeeming those who will turn to Him.

It also means we must stop defending our wandering. We must stop pretending we are fine without God. Real healing begins when we admit we have gone astray and that we need a Savior. The good news is that when we come to Christ in repentance and faith, we are not met with rejection. We are met with grace. The One who carried our iniquity is able to forgive, restore, and lead us home.

So this verse calls us to humility, gratitude, and worship. Humility, because we all have wandered. Gratitude, because Christ took our place. Worship, because only a love this deep could save souls this lost. Jesus is not only the suffering Savior; He is the faithful Shepherd who rescues wandering sheep and brings them back into the fold of God’s love.

Today, do not keep walking your own road. Do not remain in the dust of confusion, guilt, or distance from God. Look to Jesus. Trust the One upon whom the Lord laid the iniquity of us all. In Him there is forgiveness. In Him there is peace. In Him there is restoration. And in Him, the wandering soul finally finds its way home.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

thank You for Your holy Word and for the truth of Isaiah 53:6. Thank You for showing us both our need and Your mercy. We confess that we have gone astray like sheep. We have chosen our own way, trusted ourselves, and wandered from Your will. Forgive us, Lord, for our sin, our pride, and our disobedience.

Thank You for Jesus, our Savior and Shepherd. Thank You that You laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Thank You that He took our burden, our guilt, and our punishment upon Himself so that we could be forgiven and brought near to You. We praise You for such amazing grace and such undeserved love.

Lord, draw back every wandering heart. Gather those who are lost, weary, broken, and burdened. Bring peace to the soul that feels far from You. Restore those who have drifted. Lead us in Your ways and help us not to follow our own path, but to trust You fully. Teach us to walk in humility, obedience, and gratitude.

Jesus, be our Shepherd. Guide us when we are weak, correct us when we wander, and hold us close in Your mercy. Let our lives reflect the wonder of Your salvation. May we never forget the price You paid to bring us home.

We love You, we thank You, and we place our trust in You today.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

STORACALS OF PROPHECY # 15
Hello friends, family, and my brothers, and sisters in Christ.

This is Brother Johnny Gass.

Welcome to Bible study.

Study to show thyself to approved unto God, a Workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Please share these lessons with everyone you know for the expansion of the kingdom of God.

A Heavenly Model.

Never before had the Lord manifested such mighty signs and wonders as when He delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Plague after plague fell upon the Pharaoh's kingdom until he was forced to release his captives. Then the Lord parted the Red Sea and led the young nation to freedom, while drowning their pursuing enemies behind them. After entering the wilderness, God surprised many of His people by leading them south in the opposite direction of the Promised Land. The Lord knew that before they would be prepared to receive their inheritance, they must be organized and taught to trust Him. As they journeyed to Mount Sinai, God supplied their every need. When they became hungry, God fed them with bread from heaven. When they became thirsty, the Lord brought water cascading from a boulder. When suddenly attacked from behind by an enemy, they were given a miraculous victory. Finally, the Israelites camped at the base of the holy mountain. There God did something He has not done before or since. He spoke, in the hearing of a whole nation, His covenant, the Ten Commandments. After the Lord audibly spoke His law, He called Moses up Mount Sinai to receive a transcript written in stone. But God also gave him something else. While on the mountain with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, Moses received detailed instructions to build a beautiful, portable temple for God. It would be a small model of His actual dwelling place in heaven. This unique structure was to serve as a three-dimensional object lesson to the whole world of God's plan to save us from sin.

1. What did God ask Moses to build, and why?

Exodus 25:8. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may ____ among them.

Answer : ____________________

2. What did God expect His people to learn from the sanctuary and its services?

Psalms 77:13. Thy ____, O God, is in the sanctuary.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God's way, or plan, of salvation was revealed in the earthly sanctuary. Everything in the sanctuary, or connected with its services, was a symbol of something Jesus would do in saving us. We cannot fully comprehend the plan of salvation until we understand the sanctuary and its services. It was a huge, 3-D object lesson explaining the process of salvation.

3. Where did Moses obtain the blueprints for the sanctuary?

Exodus 25:40. And look that thou make them after their ________, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The sanctuary blueprints, with full specifications for its construction, were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai (Hebrews 8:5). This was to be a microcosm of God's genuine sanctuary in heaven.

The first sanctuary, or tabernacle, was an elegant, tent-type structure (15 feet by 45 feet, based on an 18-inch cubit). There the supernatural presence of God dwelt and special services were conducted. The walls were made of upright acacia wood boards set in silver sockets and overlaid with gold (Exodus 26:15-19, 29). The roof was made of four layers of coverings--linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins (verses 1, 7, 14). It had two rooms: the holy place (15 feet by 30 feet), and the most holy place (15 feet by 15 feet.). Refer often to the above diagram as you review this lesson.

4. What furniture was in the courtyard?

Exodus 29:18. And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the ______: it is a burnt offering unto the Lord.

Exodus 30:18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, ... and thou shalt put water therein.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: : The altar of burnt offerings (Exodus 27:1-8) is where animals were sacrificed. It was located in the courtyard just outside the entrance of the sanctuary. This altar represented the cross of Christ. The sacrificial animal represented Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice (John 1:29). The laver (Exodus 30:17-21; 38:8) was a large wash basin of brass located between the entrance of the sanctuary and the altar of burnt offerings. There priests washed their hands and feet before entering the sanctuary or offering a sacrifice. The water represented baptism, cleansing from sin, and the new birth.

5. What three items of furniture were in the holy place?

Numbers 4:7. And upon the table of __________ they shall spread a cloth of blue, ... and the continual bread shall be thereon.

Numbers 8:2 When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

Exodus 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The table of shewbread (Exodus 25:23-30) represented Jesus, the living bread (John 6:51). The seven-branch candlestick (Exodus 25:31-40) represented Jesus, the light of the world (John 9:5; 1:9). The lamps of oil symbolized the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:1-6; Revelation 4:5). The altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-8) represented the prayers of God's people (Hebrews 5:7).

6. What special article was in the most holy place?

Exodus 26:34. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the _____ of the testimony in the most holy place.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The only object in the most holy place (Exodus 25:10-22) was the ark of the testimony, a chest of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Atop the chest were two angels made of solid gold. The cover of the ark was called the mercy seat (Exodus 25:17-22), where God's presence dwelt. This spot symbolized God's throne in heaven, which is likewise located between two angels (Psalms 80:1, Isaiah 6:1, 2).

7. What was inside the ark?

Exodus 25:21. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the _______ that I shall give thee.

Deuteronomy 10:4, 5 And he Bwambale Gilbert wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments. ... And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded me.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God wrote His covenant with His own finger on two tables of stone, and they were placed inside the ark. The mercy seat was above them, which signified that as long as God's people confessed and forsook their sins (Proverbs 28:13), mercy would be extended to them through the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat by the priest (Leviticus 16:15, 16). That blood represented the blood shed by Jesus to bring all people forgiveness and cleansing (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22).

8. Why did animals need to be sacrificed in the Old Testament sanctuary services?

Hebrews 9:22. Without shedding of _____ is no remission [forgiveness].

Matthew 26:28 For this is my __________ of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Sacrificing animals was necessary to help people understand that without the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, there could be no forgiveness of sin. The shocking truth is that the punishment for sin is death. Since all of us have sinned, we should all die--and we would have died, except that Jesus gave His perfect life by dying in our behalf to pay for our sins. The sinner brought his own sacrificial animal and slew it with his own hand (Leviticus 1:4, 5). It was bloody and shocking, impressing people with the solemn truth that sin caused Jesus' death. Thus, they looked forward to the cross for salvation, while we look back to the cross for salvation. There is no other source of salvation.

9. When animals were sacrificed for sin, what happened to the sin?

Leviticus 1:4, 5. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make __________ for him. And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: When the sinner placed his hands on the head of the animal and confessed his sins, the sins were symbolically transferred from the sinner to it. Thus, the animal became guilty and had to pay the death penalty. This represented Jesus bearing our sins.

10. When a sacrificial animal was offered for the entire congregation, what happened to the sin?

Leviticus 4:17. The priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and ______ it seven times before the Lord, even before the vail.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The priest sprinkled some of the blood before the veil inside the sanctuary, thus symbolically transferring the sin from the people to the sanctuary. When Jesus ascended to heaven after His death, He offered His blood (as did the high priest of old) to show that our sins are forgiven when confessed in Jesus' name (1 John 1:9).

11. What two sanctuary symbols does Jesus fulfill for us?

1 Corinthians 5:7. Christ our ________ is sacrificed for us.

Hebrews 4:14 We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Jesus serves as the sacrifice for our sins and as our heavenly high priest, thus accomplishing two miraculous things for us. The first is a complete life change called the new birth, with all the sins of the past forgiven (John 3:3-6; Romans 3:25). The second is power to live right in the present and future (Titus 2:14; Philippians 2:13). These two things make a person righteous, which means a right relationship exists between that person and God. There is no way for a person to become righteous by works (his own efforts), because righteousness comes from grace that only Jesus can supply (Acts 4:12). This is righteousness by faith, which is the only true form of righteousness.

12. What six wonderful promises does the Bible give us about the righteousness offered us by Jesus?

1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to ______ us from all unrighteousness.

A. He will cover our past sins and count us guiltless (Isaiah 44:22; 1 John 1:9).
B. Jesus promises to restore us to God's image (Romans 8:29).
C. Jesus gives us the desire and power to do God's will. (Philippians 2:13).
D. Jesus will help us to do only the things that please God (Hebrews 13:20, 21; 1 John 3:22).
E. He removes our death sentence by giving us credit for His sinless life and atoning death (2 Corinthians 5:21).
F. Jesus assumes responsibility for helping to keep us faithful until He returns (Philippians 1:6; Jude 24).

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Jesus is ready to fulfill all of these glorious promises in your life. Are you ready? Kneel down now and ask Him to take control of your life. He will not fail you.

13. Does a person have any role to play in becoming righteous?

Matthew 7:21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ____ the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Yes, our role is to turn our hearts and will over to Jesus and permit Him to rule. We must trust Him with full control of our lives. Many believe that Jesus will take all who merely profess His name to heaven, regardless of their conduct. But this deadly belief is not true (Matthew 7:14).

14. What happened on the day of atonement?

Leviticus 16:30. For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to _______ you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The day of atonement was a solemn day of judgment that took place in Israel once each year (Leviticus 23:27). Every sin had to be confessed and forsaken. Those who refused were on that very day cut off forever from the camp of Israel (verse 29). On that day, two goats were selected. One was the Lord's goat and the other was the scapegoat, which represented Satan (Leviticus 16:7, 8). The Lord's goat was slain and offered for the sins of the people (verse 9). Its blood was taken into the most holy place and sprinkled upon and before the mercy seat (verse 14).

Only on this special judgment day did the high priest enter the most holy place. The sprinkled blood (representing Jesus' sacrifice) was accepted by God, and the confessed sins of the people were transferred from the sanctuary to the high priest.

He then transferred these confessed sins to the scapegoat, which was led into the wilderness and abandoned (verses 16, 20, 22). In this manner, the sanctuary was symbolically cleansed from the sins of the people, which had been transferred there by the sprinkled blood all throughout the previous year.

15. Did the old day of atonement foreshadow a cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary?

Hebrews 9:23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the ________ things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Yes! That day's services pointed to the blotting out of sin by Jesus, our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. He is there to mediate for His people and stands ready to blot out the sins of all who will exercise faith in His shed blood. The ancient day of atonement, like modern Israel's Yom Kippur, foreshadowed the final atonement to be made for planet Earth. The final atonement leads to the final judgment, which will forever settle the sin question in the life of every individual. Our next lesson shows how God set the date for the heavenly judgment to begin. Exciting!

16. Are you willing to place your life fully in Jesus' hands so He can work the miracles needed to make you righteous?

Answer : ____________________

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 15TH 2026

THEME: REVERSING DEATH

MEMORISE: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of.flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrews 2:14

READ: Luke 7:11-17
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

MESSAGE
Yesterday, I discussed how God is able to suspend or reverse natural laws to perform miracles. The Almighty God can sometimes override some laws with superior laws. For example, if a magistrate pronounces a person guilty in a magistrates' court, and that person appeals to a high court, a judge can rule that the magistrate erred in his or her judgement and annul it. God is the supreme authority in heaven and on earth, and He can override any natural law, including the law of death.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
John 11:43-44

In the Scripture above, Lazarus had been buried for four days, and according to the law of death, he must have started to rot and stink. However, Jesus applied a higher law - the law of resurrection and life - to override the law of death and decomposition by saying, "Lazarus, come forth!" Immediately He gave that command, the one who had been dead for four days came back to life. The Almighty God is able to reverse the power and effect of death.

When a person dies and begins to decompose, that person's blood becomes blackish, and his or her skin begins to decay. For Lazarus to have been raised from the dead, it meant that his decaying flesh and blood, which must have become blackish, had to be restored to their normal states. The law of resurrection and life overrode the law of death and decomposition. I pray that the law of resurrection and life will overrule and nullify anything death might have set in motion in your life, family, and business, in Jesus' name.

In today's Bible reading, a widow lost her only son to death. She had earlier lost her husband, and now, her only son lay lifeless and was about to be buried. She was in a sorrowful state, but when the Resurrection and the Life appeared on the scene, He turned her mourning into joy. She, who must have been an object of pity in the town because of her losses, became a celebrity because of her miracle. Beloved, I pray for you today that my Daddy will turn every dead situation that has affected your life negatively into a cause for celebration, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT
The law of death loses its power when the Resurrection and Life is on the scene.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 16-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN NOW IS HERE
1 The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!

Refrain
Sweetest note in seraph song;
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung:
Jesus, blessed Jesus!

2 Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
The veil ’twixt you and God is riven,
Redemption wrought by Jesus.

3 All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.

4 His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The precious name of Jesus!



‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, Wednesday 15th April, 2026-
REVERSING DEATH
‎
‎PRAYER POINTS
‎✓Father, i worship You, for death could not hold You captive. You rose on the third day to defeat the sting of death and power of the grave.
‎
‎✓Father, thank You for coming in the flesh and the blood, so that through Your death, You had destroyed him that had the power of death which is the devil.
‎
‎✓Father, You are the Almighty, the supreme authority in heaven and on earth, please override every natural law and let my miracles appear, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please let the law of resurrection and life override the law of death over every member of my family, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please reverse the power and effect of death over every works of my hands, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please override every negative experience in my life, and let their be restoration of normalcy over every aspect of my life and endeavours, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please let the law of resurrection and life overrule and nullify anything death might have set in motion in my life, family and business, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Resurrection and Life, please appear in the sorrowful state of all Your children, and turn mourning into joy unlimited, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please visit me today and reverse everything that had turned me to an object of pity, and make me a celebrity by the miracles You will do in my life, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please turn every dead situation that has affected my life negatively into a cause for celebrations, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
‎Please, reverse every natural law and suspend every natural principle hindering the fulfillment of all Your promises for him.. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name.
‎
‎✓Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points beyond measure, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus name.
‎
‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎✓Your Personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎✓..In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14;

STORACALS OF PROPHECY # 14
Hello friends, family, and my brothers, and sisters in Christ.

This is Brother Johnny Gass.

Welcome to Bible study.

Study to show thyself to approved unto God, a Workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Please share these lessons with everyone you know for the expansion of the kingdom of God.7

The Mark of Cain.

Adam and Eve's first two sons differed vastly in their personalities and behavior. Cain longed to farm and build, while Abel loved to roam the hills and meadows with his flocks. After sin entered this new world because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, God established a sacrificial system and explained that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin (Hebrews 9:22). He told them that these sacrifices pointed forward to the time when Jesus would become a man and die as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Abel faithfully brought a young lamb as a sacrifice for his sins, but Cain thought it was unnecessary to obey God's command so precisely. He considered the sacrificial system to be messy and reasoned that as long as he brought an offering and worshiped God, the details wouldn't matter. So he brought an offering of his own works, some produce from the field. Cain watched with jealous anger as fire came down from heaven and consumed Abel's sacrifice but left his own offering untouched. The Lord lovingly urged Cain to humble himself and obey, but Cain stubbornly persisted in his rebellion. Abel also tried to gently reason with his older brother, but Cain flew into a rage. By the time he regained his senses, Abel's bloody body lay still at his feet. God pronounced a curse upon Cain, and when Cain complained about his sentence, the Lord placed a mark upon him lest future generations take revenge for this first homicide. The book of Revelation tells us that, in the last days, there will again be a battle between Christians regarding how and when to worship. Soon everyone will be identified either by the seal of God or the mark of the beast.

1. Who will be protected through the seven last plagues?

Revelation 7:3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have _________ the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Those who receive God's seal in their foreheads will be protected during the plagues (Psalms 91:7-11).

2. What is this "seal" the righteous have in their foreheads?

Isaiah 8:16. Bind up the testimony; seal the ____ among my disciples.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God's seal is found in His law. A seal is what makes a document official, and it normally contains three characteristics: Name, Office, and Territory. An example would be "Cyrus king of Persia" in Ezra 1:1.

3. Which of the Ten Commandments contains all the elements of a seal?

Exodus 20:11. For in six days the ______ ______ heaven and earth, the sea, and ___ that in them is. (three word answer)

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The fourth commandment is the only one that contains all three elements of a seal: (1) "The Lord"--His name, (2) "made"--His office as Creator, (3) "heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is"--His territory.

4. What has God given as a special sign of His power?

Ezekiel 20:12. I gave them my ________, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

Ezekiel 20:20 Hallow my __________; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 31:13 Verily my __________ ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God clearly states that He gave the Sabbath as a sign of His power to create and sanctify. It is His seal, or mark of authority. The words "seal," "sign," "mark," and "token" are used interchangeably throughout the Bible (compare Genesis 17:11 with Romans 4:11 and Revelation 7:3 with Ezekiel 9:4).

5. What does the second beast of Revelation 13 force all to receive?

Revelation 13:16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a _____ in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Answer : ____________________

6. What is the mark of the beast?

Acts 5:29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to _____ God rather than _____. (two word answer)

Choosing to obey the laws of the papacy (Sunday) rather than the laws of God (Sabbath) will leave you with the mark of beast.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

What is sin?

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: We identified the first beast of Revelation 13 in Lesson 13. What is its mark of power and authority? The best way to discover its mark of authority is to ask the papacy directly. Notice the following section from a Catholic catechism:

"Q. Which is the Sabbath day?

"A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.

"Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

"A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."1

Here is another statement from a catechism:

"Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?

"A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her--she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority."2

So the papacy is saying that its mark of power and authority is making Sunday a holy day--a change that virtually the entire Christian world accepts. (See supplement entitled "What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?")

1Peter Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co., 1957 edition), p 50.

2Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism (New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, third American edition, revised, n.d.), p. 174.

7. Is either the mark of the beast or the seal of God visible?

Hebrews 10:16. Saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their ______ will I write them.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth.

Isaiah 59:6, 7 Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. ... Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Neither the mark of the beast nor the seal of God is outwardly visible. The forehead represents the mind, and the hand is a symbol of work. "On the hand" and "between the eyes" are consistent symbols in Scripture for a person's thoughts and actions (Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18).

A person will receive the mark of the beast in his forehead by choosing to believe that Sunday is a holy day in spite of Bible truth. A person will be marked in the right hand by working on God's Sabbath or by outwardly keeping Sunday laws for convenient reasons--such as a job, family, etc. Although the sign is invisible to men, God will know who has which mark (2 Timothy 2:19). In a sense, each person will mark himself. If I respect and regard God's holy Sabbath, He will mark me as His own. If I regard the beast's false Sabbath, He will mark me as belonging to the beast.

8. How does Jesus determine if we are His servants?

Romans 6:16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to __________, his servants ye are to whom ye _____.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Answer : ____________________

9. Does anyone have the mark of the beast now?

Revelation 13:17. No man might ____ or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: No person has the mark now. When it becomes a forced issue, only those who have received the mark of the beast will be able to buy or sell. At that time, people who keep God's holy Sabbath will do so at the risk of their lives (Revelation 13:15), and those who choose to profane His holy day and officially cast their votes by placing the laws of men above the Law of God will be marked as belonging to Antichrist. All who are loyal to Jesus and His holy day will receive Jesus' glorious seal, thus making them His forever. Those who try to remain neutral will be counted for Antichrist (Matthew 12:30).

10. What two things does the Antichrist power attempt to change?

Daniel 7:25. He shall ... think to change times and _____.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Daniel 7 reveals an Old Testament description of the Antichrist power. It clearly predicts that the beast would attempt to change both God's laws and times. The papacy has tried to change God's laws by: (1) omitting the second commandment against veneration of images, (2) shortening the fourth commandment from 94 words to just eight in order to avoid mentioning which day is the Sabbath, and (3) dividing the tenth commandment into two commandments. The papacy attempted to change God's times by: (1) teaching people to recognize the first day of the week as the Sabbath instead of the seventh day, and (2) adopting the pagan Roman practice of beginning each day at midnight instead of sundown. God's timing for the Sabbath is from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 23:32). No mortal should ever dare to tamper with God's sacred law or times (Matthew 5:18).

11. What was God's criticism of His ancient priests, or pastors?

Malachi 2:8, 9. Ye have caused many to stumble at the law. ... Ye have not kept my ways, but have been _______ in the law.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God is still hurt when His pastors are partial to eight or nine commandments and cause many to stumble over His command to keep the Sabbath holy. Virtually all churches admit in their official writings that there is no Scripture support for Sunday sacredness. Tragically, both Protestantism and Catholicism stand guilty before the judgment bar of God for throwing out the Bible Sabbath! God Himself gave the Sabbath as a sign, or mark, of His power to create and His power to sanctify and save (Exodus 31:17; Ezekiel 20:12). Dare any man tamper with this sacred sign, which represents the great God of heaven and all that He stands for?

12. How did God's ancient leaders regard the great things of His law?

Hosea 8:12. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a _______ thing.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Times have not changed. God has placed the Sabbath, His great sign, in the middle of His law and begins that commandment with the word "remember." Yet many people today feel that keeping His seventh-day Sabbath is a strange thing.

13. What specific, solemn rebuke did God give to religious leaders regarding His holy Sabbath?

Ezekiel 22:8. Thou hast ______ mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane ... and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God pointedly rebukes religious leaders who say that the Sabbath doesn't matter and who claim "Thus saith the Lord" when it is not true.

14. What specific sin does God command His leaders to denounce?

Isaiah 58:1, 13, 14. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and ______ my people their transgression. ... If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honourable; ... Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God charges spiritual leaders to call Sabbath-breaking a sin and to insist that His people keep His Sabbath day holy. As with the disciples of old, our only safety is in obeying God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

15. When you decide to accept Jesus and fully follow Him, what happens?

Matthew 11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find _____ unto your souls.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Glorious rest and peace enter your heart at conversion. The Sabbath, which means "rest," is a symbol of the rest and peace that comes from the new birth (Hebrews 4:1-10). Those who are truly born again will keep the Sabbath as a blessed sign of that rest (notice verses 4, 9, 10). There is no joy like the joy that comes to a converted person who keeps God's Sabbath holy.

16. Before you can say "no" to the mark of the beast, you must say "yes" to the seal of God. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart for an answer. Will you decide now to move under His glorious Sabbath banner as evidence that you have accepted Him as your Creator and Saviour?

Answer : ____________________

Supplemental Study

What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?

Protestants have repeatedly asked the papacy, "How could you dare to change God's law?" But the question posed to Protestants by the Catholic church is even more penetrating.

Here it is officially: "You will tell me that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, but that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday. Changed! but by whom? Who has authority to change an express commandment of Almighty God? When God has spoken and said, Thou shalt keep holy the seventh day, who shall dare to say, Nay, thou mayest work and do all manner of worldly business on the seventh day but thou shalt keep holy the first day in its stead?

This is a most important question, which I know not how you can answer. You are a Protestant, and you profess to go by the Bible and the Bible only and yet in so important a matter as the observance of one day in seven as a holy day, you go against the plain letter of the Bible, and put another day in the place of that day which the Bible has commanded. The command to keep holy the seventh day is one of the ten commandments you believe that the other nine are still binding who gave you authority to tamper with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own principles, if you really follow the Bible and the Bible only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of the New Testament in which this fourth commandment is expressly altered."1

1Library of Christian Doctrine: Why Don't You Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day? (London: Burns and Oates, Ltd.), pp. 3, 4.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

CONFLICT AND COURAGE.
April 14th, 2026

No Excuse for Sinning.

Numbers 20:1-13
They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account; for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke words that were rash. Psalm 106:32, 33, R.S.V. CC 110.1
Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin might do among the people, He could not remit its punishment.... CC 110.2
God had forgiven the people greater transgressions, but He could not deal with sin in the leaders as in those who were led. He had honored Moses above every other man upon the earth.... The fact that Moses had enjoyed so great light and knowledge made his sin more grievous. Past faithfulness will not atone for one wrong act. The greater the light and privileges granted to man, the greater is his responsibility, the more aggravated his failure, and the heavier his punishment. CC 110.3
Moses was not guilty of a great crime, as men would view the matter.... But if God dealt so severely with this sin in His most faithful and honored servant, He will not excuse it in others.... All who profess godliness are under the most sacred obligation to guard the spirit, and to exercise self-control under the greatest provocation. The burdens placed upon Moses were very great; few men will ever be so severely tried as he was; yet this was not allowed to excuse his sin. God has made ample provision for His people; and if they rely upon His strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer.19 CC 110.4

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```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

SATURDAY 11TH APRIL, 2026```

*POWER OF TRUE REPENTANCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽‍🏽‍🏽

```TEXT:EZRA 10:16-30```

```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass" (EZRA 10:18, 19).*_

*The Rwandan reconciliation process following the 1994 genocide is a well-documented story. After those tragic events, leaders in Rwanda stepped up to promote national repentance and healing. Initiatives like the Ganaca courts and public apologies encouraged citizens to face their past, seek forgiveness, and rebuild trust. This repentance was crucial for healing the nation, fostering unity, and paving the way for progress.*

*Today's text parallels Israel's leaders, who were also working towards restitution. It highlights Ezra's reform efforts, showcasing a list of individuals who had married foreign wives and were now dedicated to making amends. The first group mentioned included the descendants of Joshua, the high priest who played a vital role in rebuilding the temple. Despite his strong leadership, his descendants married pagan women, setting a poor example for others. This underscores the importance of penitence, starting with leaders and extending through all levels of the Church and society. Ezra's focus on spiritual leaders emphasises the seriousness of their sins, reminding us that even respected figures can fall if they are not watchful.*

*The Levites, who supported the priests and the singers, who were essential to worship, were also caught up in these offences, showing the widespread nature of sin. If we are not careful, sin can spread within the family, the Church, and the community. However, true revival begins when leaders take responsibility for their actions, humbly model contrition, and inspire others to follow suit.*

*Finally, restitution, as demonstrated in this account, is more than sorrowing for wrongdoing - it requires a sincere change of heart, a commitment to obedience, and concrete efforts for genuine contrition. In this narrative, the offenders' willingness to correct their wrongs reflects God's expectation that we make amends after repentance. This process gives us a clear conscience before God and man. It also restores trust and unity among the brethren, showing transformation. Do a personal check: Is there any area in which you need to repent or make restitution?*

✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Revivals and reformations often begin with genuine repentance.*_

```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *PSALMS 68-71*


Power Of True Repentance
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