"We Must Obey God"

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

"We Must Obey God"

Today's Text: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

The Message:      In most of the religious controversies, the foundation of the trouble is that self is striving for the supremacy. About what? About matters that are not vital points at all, and that are regarded as such only because people have given importance to them. See Matthew 12:31-37; Mark 14:56; Luke 5:21; Matthew 9:3.      But let us follow the history of the men whom the Jewish priests and rulers thought so dangerous because they were bringing in new and strange teaching on almost every theological subject. The command given by the Holy Spirit, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of life," was obeyed by the apostles....      If the priests and rulers had dared act out their own feelings toward the apostles, there would have been a different record, for the angel of God was a watcher on that occasion, to magnify His name if any violence had been offered to His servants.      "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? ... Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.... And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."      Then the Holy Spirit moved upon Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a doctor of the law, who had a reputation among all the people. His advice was "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed."      Yet the attributes of Satan so controlled their minds that notwithstanding the wonderful miracles that had been wrought in healing the sick and in releasing God's servants from prison, the priests and rulers were so filled with prejudice and hatred they could hardly be restrained. "When they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."-Letter 38, 1896.

Commentary: My friend, the religious leaders in the early years of the church, charged the disciples of Christ not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus.  They did all in their power to stop the truth from reaching the people.  This caused a great divide within the church, but though they did all in their power to stop it, they could not for they were fighting against God. The situation in the church today is in fact the same as it was then.  The leaders of the church have strayed far from the truth and have led the people to worship the false god of Babylon.  By the churches adoption of the trinity, which is the foundation of all of the doctrines of the Catholic Church, the SDA church has come into harmony with the Mother of Harlots, and the rest of her daughters in the Protestant world.  This is evident in how they react to the message of the One true God. Though the church at this time cannot bring physical harm upon the believers because of the laws of the land, they are fighting against it with the same veracity as they did in times past.  Those who teach Jesus as the literal and natural Son of God, who was truly begotten of the Father, are ridiculed, derided, and quickly disfellowed from the church.  They are branded as under the delusion of Satan, and the congregation is warned not to listen to them lest they be beguiled.  But as Gamaliel advised the church leaders in the times past, so too are the efforts of these men in vain, for the Spirit of Truth will prevail. The truth of the Bible is that "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16), "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11, 12).  In order for God to give us His Son, He had to have a son to give.  If the Son of God is not truly a son, then the Father is not truly a father, and is a liar, for He said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). The gift of God is to give us life, and that life is in His Son, for Jesus said "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" (John 5:25, 26).  The trinity destroys the whole of the gospel by denying that Jesus is the literal Son of God.  Of this the apostle John foretold "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22). My friend, the sad thing is that as the leaders of the church in the time of the Apostles had adopted false doctrines, so too has the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church today adopted the false doctrine of the trinity.  And as they persecuted the apostles and disciples of Christ in their day, so too are the leaders of the church today persecuting those who believe the truth about God. The trinity is the reason why the church is in the Laodicean condition, and unless we are zealous in our repentance, He will spew us from His mouth. May your eyes be opened as Saul's eyes were opened on the road to Damascus. God bless,

Video of the Week "Receive Ye the Holy Ghost" w/Dr. Allen Davis Dr. Allen Davis presents a message based upon John 20:22.  The video was corrupted, but the message is clear.  My you be blessed by it.