Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Rays of Hope: Living to Make a Difference

When Christopher R. Mwashinga, Jr who pastored us when I was a student asked for my postal address little did I know what gift he intended to send. Of course I had a hunch it would be a spiritual book. But I had no idea it would be a book he has written. It thus came as a blessed surprise yesterday when I received a book entitled Rays of Hope: Living to Make a Difference.

It has just been published by Maximum Hope Books in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

The book is dedicated to all "Adventist university and college students in Tanzania whom" Pastor Mwashinga was "privileged to serve for over a dozen years". Its epigraph, written in three languages, is categorical about who deserves all the honors and all the glories:

Soli Dei Gloria

Utukufu kwa Mungu Pekee

To God Alone be the Glory

In the preface to the book Pastor Mwashinga thus sums up the the four-fold goal of what primarily constitutes the chapters of the book:

[W]elcoming new Adventist students to university life, encouraging and inspiring faithfulness to God and His Word, challenging them to settle for nothing less than the best, and finally challenging them to give back to the communities, the church, and the world at best.

I, for one, has always remembered at least one of the four over the years - to settle for nothing less than the best and hopefully and prayerfully this book will help me really focus on giving back to the communities, the church, and the world at best.

The chapters are thus beautifully titlted respectively:

1. Another Ray of Hope

2. Living One Day at a Time

3. Cheer Up Adventist Students

4. Focusing on Christian Service

5. Welcome to the Hill

6. Back to the Bible

7. Charge to Students

8. Enduring the Cross

Interestingly, the book concludes with a poem 'Saved by Christ Alone' from Pastor Mwashinga's other book entitled Beaches of Golden Sands: Inspirational Poems. At the risk of pre-empting your readership quest I thus present its last stanza below and urge you to get hold of the book and bask in the Rays of Hope coming from the Holy One who was really Living to Make a Difference when He walked and died on planet earth to save you and me:

I am a sinner saved by Christ alone,

Now I enjoy full and free salvation

For it is grace alone, through faith alone,

That has given me eternal redemption.

Alleluia I shout, for free salvation!

Photo 1: Lars Justinen

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

THE MESSENGER AND THE MESSAGE

The Messenger And The Message

By Elia Wankyo

For a period of time, I have thought of putting in writing the following as the basic General Bible Guidelines regarding the spiritual messengers and messages we encounter in our journey of faith as we travel expectantly to the soon coming Kingdom of God. I first learned some of the guidelines in my Bible and Theology classes, others I have learned through my personal studies, research and observations. I write them here for the first time in brief, with prayer, and, hope that they will be a blessing to the readers, including myself and others as well.

1) To the Law and to the Testimony: Isaiah 8:19,20
Is the messenger and the message in harmony with the Ten Commandments as written by God Himself and given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18; 32: 15,15;34:1,2,4,,5,28,29) and recorded by Moses in Exodus 20:1-17?

What is the messenger(s) and messages relationship with other laws and commands given by God in the Bible?

Also we should consider The revealed Testimony of God in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. 2 Peter 1:16,19-20;Revelation 12:17;14:12;19:10

2)Uplifting Jesus Christ: 1 John 4:1-8.
What is the view of the messenger and the message in regard to Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ as the Second person of the Godhead, the Divine Son of God (monogenei in Greek--The Only One, The Unique One. John 3:16), the only Saviour.(John 14:6;20:31; Acts 4:12)

Unity and Oneness with God the Father (God the Father and God the Son are inseparable. Jesus said, "You believe in God, believe also in Me" Read John 14:1,11). There are people and religions in this world that have tried and continue to try to separate God the Father and Jesus Christ. In the great controversy between Christ and Satan, which side do we, or the messenger and his message, stand?

3) By Their Fruits, you Shall Know Them: Mathew 7:20; Galatians 5:22,23.
Does the life of the messenger reflect the progressive in-working of the Holy Spirit according to the revealed Word of God? Is the message in harmony with the Bible? What is the result of the message? Does the message of the messenger lead people to or away from God? Does the messenger and the message reflect the love of God?

Although we are not perfect and cannot be in and of ourselves, our lives as believers and followers of Christ should reveal that God is allowed to continuously work in and through us and a dedication for spiritual growth to accomplish His will and make us ready to enter the Kingdom when Jesus returns.

4) Fulfillment of the Prophetic Word: Deuteronomy 18:20-22.
God warns us against a prophet who mixes truth and error. Also new messages are not to contradict the already revealed Word of God. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 The Bible prophecies have 100% fulfillment accuracy, with the knowledge that some prophecies are conditionally given by God. Some time ago, during our consecration service as Theology Students, Elder Earl E. Cleveland remarked in his sermon saying, "We do not expect another prophet after Ellen G. White, enough has been written to lead any man or woman to the Kingdom of God."

5)Relevance of the Message: 1 Corinthians 14:40.
Is the need for the particular message exist? God has a plan for His people in different ages and time throughout human history. For example, in the last days, God has a particular plan for His people in the Remnant Church who live in the Time of the End, just before the close of Earth's History..

God's end-time people have to carry the Three Angels Messages (Revelation 14 and 18) to the world. Anything or anyone that try to bring messages to divert God's people from this solemn task is OUT OF ORDER and is not relevant to our time and age. Another example regarding relevance, is time-setting. In Revelation 10:6, the heavenly messenger gave a solemn message that, by interpretation, said after the end of the longest prophetic period in 1844, "there should be time no longer." This means any other message that tries to set prophetic time regarding last day events is OUT OF ORDER and is not relevant to us.

When Ellen G. White was in Australia, a young man came to her house claiming he had a special message from God. After the young man related to Ellen that he had been shown that the heavenly probation had closed and that Ellen and her family should leave and return quickly to America, Ellen rebuked the young man saying his message was not from God. Ellen said God at His own time will reveal His will to her regarding her work away from her homeland. (Last Day Events, by E. G. White)

6)Oneness and Unity in the Body of Christ: John 17:19-21; 1 Corinthians 12:11,12; 14:12,25.
Does the messenger and the messages contribute to the oneness and unity in the Church as the spiritual body of Christ? One of the major characteristics of cult leaders is their concerted effort to pull followers from the group and try to isolate them. By creating division and isolation, the cultic-minded leaders know they can control and manipulate their followers. The other technique is depriving followers the ability and freedom to think and reason for themselves. They may hold all night meetings so the people's minds get tired and therefore absorb anything, including errors and falsehood.

God is a reasoning God. Some religions do not believe God is a reasoning God. Without naming them here, such religions control their followers and deny them the ability to think and reason for themselves. (Wafuasi wa dini hizo wanakuwa wanapokea MAPOKEO/TRADITIONS na hawarusiwi kufikiria kama mambo hayo ni kweli au sio kweli). God created us in His own image and this includes the ability to think and reason while depending on the revealed Word of God, His wisdom, guidance and help. Genesis 1:26,27. God Himself invites us to "come now, and let us reason together" with Him. Isaiah 1:18.

David Koresh, of the former Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, isolated his group from their families and friends and from everyone else in the world. He made them totally dependent on him for all their needs, including spiritual and mental and Bible interpretations. He controlled their minds and isolated them. He taught his followers that everyone outside their group was evil and bent to hurt them.Those who did not leave his group on time, sadly lost their lives with him in the compound fire .

Jim Jones was another leader who led thousands of his followers away from California to the jungles of Guyana in the late 1970s. He separated his followers from their family members and from their churches and society. Only few people escaped on time from Jim Jones in Guyana before the whole group died from what was reported and video taped as a combination of mass suicide and murders.

Here I offer a silent prayer to God asking Him to help and protect us all against the delusions brought by the devil and his spiritual agents in a concerted effort to mislead, control, isolate and manipulate human minds against the revealed Word of God.

7)Finally, the Worship and Reverence Test: Revelation 4:9-11
Does the messenger worship and show reverence to God? Does the message lead others to worship the God of heaven, the Creator of heaven and earth? Who is given reverence--God or man or objects/things? Who is the focus of worship and reverence--God or man or objects (idols)?

In Revelation 4 and 5, John was allowed to see the worship scenes in heaven.The living creatures gave glory and honour and thanks to God who sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever. the 24 elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne and worshipped Him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created. Rev. 4:9-11. True worship and reverence is and should be, only toward God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

May God bless and help us all.

*Text: Elia Wankyo
*Photo: Lars Justinen

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Babu of Loliondo & Basics of Biblical Healing

Dear Friends,

I have just been to Loliondo. Out of that trip I have written three articles for secular newspapers. They can be accessed at
http://udadisi.blogspot.com/. At the moment I am thinking of writing an article that is only focused on a Biblical analysis of what is happening in Loliondo. But in the meantime it may be a good idea to read the following responses as presented by my fellow Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Christians - Brother JN and Brother NL respectively.
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A quick one, why do you think or why didn't you ask Babu as to why he does not associate his "Kikombe" openly with Jesus Christ rather than through inferences of the "Word" that for those who do not truly know the Word as in John 1:1-4 will never acknowledge the healing as from Christ who is the Word and the Creator of all trees! Au Babu anaogopa kuharibu soko kwa vile kutumia neno Mungu is very politically correct kuliko Yesu which is very specific of a particular God.

Nashukuru kwa insight hiyo ambayo inakubaliana na commentary za Mama White kuhusu Matthew 7:21-23:

" A number of false prophets and religions today are getting people healed but their deceived followers never get to know the true source of their healing. Without exception they do not lift up Christ the Messiah, they deny the new birth, the bodily death and resurrection of Christ, the priesthood of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, God's ten commandments and the 7th day sabbath which acknowledges Christ as the creator of the whole universe; hence they hide the essentials of the gospel that saves eternally and gives them temporal cure!"

The devil backs up such version of the "gospel" by providing true physical healing by taking away what he has planted in the first place, as he is the author of sickness and diseases, and at the same time convinces our minds that it's only God who can remove diseases and sickness and hence healing must always come from God!

Jamani shetani anatibu na kuponya magonjwa! Na ambaye haamini hilo ajiulize kwa nini Yesu alisema kuwa waliponya, kutabiri na kufukuza pepo kwa jina la Yesu ingawa Yesu mwenyewe hawatambui. Sasa kama Yesu amekukana kuwa si wake, je wewe ni wa nani? Kupona kwa kikombe siyo hoja na pia siyo issue ya kubishania uwezo wa Mungu kwa vile neno la Mungu liko wazi kuhusu uwezo wake na pia miujiza ya Yesu haikuwa na ubishi na kwa kila muujiza watu walizidi kumtukuza Mungu. Je, ni nani anayetamkwa kwenye ndimi za watu sasa hivi kuhusu tiba ya Babu? Babu mwenyewe ana kigugumizi kumtaja Yesu Kristo waziwazi kwamba ndiye Neno ndani ya kikombe, badala yake anatumia neno Mungu ambaye kila mmoja anaye wake!

The bottom line is this.

Does God heal sickness? YES

Does the devil heal sickness? YES

Is healing a criteria of God's power NO! Not always

The following text are so clear as to what is happening at Loliondo.

Isaiah 5:20-21; 30:1-3
Proverbs 14:12-14
Mathew 24:24-25
2Corinthians 11:13-15
Ephesians 4:14-15
Colossians 2:8

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Provision for Gospel Medical Missionary Work

The way in which Christ worked was to preach the word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way; for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God's servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought. {MM 14.2}

For this reason the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing combined with the teaching of the word. Sanitariums are to be established, and with these institutions are to be connected workers who will carry forward genuine medical missionary work. Thus a guarding influence is thrown around those who come to the sanitariums for treatment. MM 14.3; MM 14.2; 2SM 54.2; LDE 169.

This is the provision the Lord has made whereby gospel medical missionary work is to be done for many souls. These institutions are to be established out of the cities, and in them educational work is to be intelligently carried forward.--Letter 53, 1904. {MM 14.4}

Miracles Not a Sure Evidence of God's Favor

The time is at hand when Satan will work miracles to confirm minds in the belief that he is God. All the people of God are now 15

to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel's message. All the pleasant pictures, all the miracles wrought, will be presented in order that, if possible, the very elect shall be deceived. The only hope for anyone is to hold fast the evidences that have confirmed the truth in righteousness. Let these be proclaimed over and over again, until the close of this earth's history.--R.H., Aug. 9, 1906. {MM 14.5}

When Christ Refused to Work Miracles

The scene of Christ's temptation was to be a lesson for all His followers. When the enemies of Christ, by the instigation of Satan, request them to show some miracle, they should answer them as meekly as the Son of God answered Satan, "It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." If they will not be convinced by inspired testimony, a manifestation of God's power would not benefit them. God's wondrous works are not manifested to gratify the curiosity of any. Christ, the Son of God, refused to give Satan any proof of His power. He made no effort to remove Satan's "if" by showing a miracle. {MM 15.1}

The disciples of Christ will be brought into similar positions. Unbelievers will require them to do some miracle, if they believe God's special power is in the church and that they are the chosen people of God. Unbelievers who are afflicted with infirmities will require them to work a miracle upon them, if God is with them. Christ's followers should imitate the example of their Lord. Jesus, with His divine power, did not do any mighty works for Satan's diversion. Neither can the servants of Christ. They should refer the unbelieving to the written, inspired testimony for evidence of their being the loyal people of God and heirs of salvation.--4SG 150, 151. {MM 15.2}

Miracles Prove Nothing

Go to God for yourselves, pray for divine enlightenment, that you may know that you do know what is truth, that when the wonderful miracle-working power shall be displayed, and the enemy shall come as an angel of light, you may distinguish between the genuine work of God and the imitative work of the powers of darkness.--3SM 389 (1888). {LDE 169.1}

The way in which Christ worked was to preach the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way, [MIRACLES WILL ACCOMPANY THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S PEOPLE UNDER THE LOUD CRY (SEE CHAPTER 14), BUT THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE SIGNIFICANCE THEY DID IN CHRIST'S DAY. THE PERFORMING OF MIRACLES WILL NO LONGER BE A PROOF OF DIVINE ENDORSEMENT.] for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God's servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought.--2SM 54 (1904). {LDE 169.2}

God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought.--9T 16 (1909). {LDE 169.3}

Miracles Cannot Supersede the Bible

If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse 170

their neglect of the law of God and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.--2SM 50, 51 (1885). {LDE 169.4}

The Bible will never be superseded by miraculous manifestations. The truth must be studied, it must be searched for as hidden treasure. Wonderful illuminations will not be given aside from the Word or to take the place of it. Cling to the Word, receive the engrafted Word which will make men wise unto salvation.--2SM 48 (1894). {LDE 170.1}

The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.--GC 593 (1911). {LDE 170.2}

The Deception Is Almost Universal

There is now need of earnest, working men and women who will seek for the salvation of souls, for Satan as a powerful general has taken the field, and in this last remnant of time he is working through all conceivable methods to close the door against light that God would have come to His people. He is sweeping the whole world into his ranks, and the few who are faithful to God's requirements are the only ones 171

who can ever withstand him, and even these he is trying to overcome.--3SM 389 (1889). {LDE 170.3}

The forms of the dead will appear, through the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our people that right among us some will turn away from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of. {LDE 171.1}

A marvelous work shall take place. Ministers, lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these falsehoods to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves deceivers, united with the deceived. A spiritual drunkenness will take possession of them.--UL 317 (1905). {LDE 171.2} .
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Regards,

Brother CC

Friday, March 4, 2011

INTRODUCING 'FAMILY DIALOGUE' WEBSITE

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Dear friends and colleagues,

....

I am thankful and delighted to inform you that the new website intended to address different family issues we all care about, was recently launched. You are welcome to visit the website and pass on the news to all your friends, family and acquaintances. You can click on the link below or type in your web browser the following address: www.familydialogue.net.

The website allows you to share your comments privately or publicly. In the days ahead, I will look forward to hear from all of you on how we can improve the content and how you can be part of these initiatives. Several Christian professionals are behind this project and you will hear from a number of them from time to time through their articles and response to some of your questions. Please take time to get familiar with the pages and send us your comments, questions, and suggestions. Family dialogue forum reflect my keen interest and conviction that our individual growth or fall begins at home. Our families need to be cherished, nourished, and protected.

In the book The Adventist Home, my favorite writer pens down these words, “The restoration and uplifting of humanity begins in the home. The work of parents underlies every other. Society is composed of families and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are "the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23); and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depends upon home influences,” (White, 1952, p.349).

In the year 2011, I want to partner with God and you in fostering family dialogue that gives God a proper place in our individual hearts and our families. I am convinced that if we are willing to involve God in our family matters whether big or small, our homes will not look the same again. We need to spend time cultivating Christian love and principles in our families and our relationships. In closing, I would like to join Paul in his prayer, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God”. (Philippians 1:9-11). Finally brothers and sisters, “May (God) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” Psalm 20:4.


With Love from the Migombo family.

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Source: wasafiriwadventista@yahoogroups.com