WEBVTT
00:00.000 --> 00:03.603
Good-sounding religious axioms arise from time to time
00:03.670 --> 00:06.039
and become the rage for many.
00:06.106 --> 00:09.943
But how many actually live by these good sounding sayings?
00:10.009 --> 00:12.946
One of the recent often
repeated religious themes
00:13.012 --> 00:15.382
is "Faith Over Fear."
00:15.448 --> 00:18.518
It's everywhere: books,
Internet sermons,
00:18.585 --> 00:22.288
video shorts, and articles repeat this mantra directly
00:22.355 --> 00:24.023
or with slight variations.
00:24.090 --> 00:26.960
Whole clothing lines
are lettered with it.
00:27.026 --> 00:29.496
You see plaques, trinkets,
and crosses displaying
00:29.562 --> 00:31.398
these three words.
00:31.464 --> 00:36.035
Yes, "Faith Over Fear" is
everywhere, especially since
00:36.102 --> 00:39.973
the pandemic, but are people living what they proclaim?
00:40.039 --> 00:42.842
I'll answer that question
on today's program,
00:42.909 --> 00:45.011
and I'll also be offering
you a resource--
00:45.078 --> 00:47.747
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
00:47.814 --> 00:50.483
that will challenge you;
and I dare say that
00:50.550 --> 00:54.354
most of you watching this
program will fail the test
00:54.421 --> 00:56.689
of putting faith over fear.
00:56.756 --> 00:59.659
Now, is that a
challenge or not?
00:59.726 --> 01:01.194
You don't believe me?
01:01.261 --> 01:04.130
Stay tuned and be sure
to have writing material
01:04.197 --> 01:07.333
available to take down
our contact information.
01:07.400 --> 01:10.670
I'll be back in five seconds
to see what takes precedence
01:10.737 --> 01:15.408
in your life--faith in God,
or fear of men.
01:15.475 --> 01:22.048
♪
01:22.115 --> 01:25.418
A warm welcome to all of
you from all of us here
01:25.485 --> 01:27.086
at Tomorrow's World.
01:27.153 --> 01:31.191
The mantra "Faith Over Fear"
is everywhere--from
01:31.257 --> 01:32.892
t-shirts to crosses.
01:32.959 --> 01:36.296
However, when it comes to
obedience to God, the fear
01:36.362 --> 01:38.932
of men often takes precedence.
01:38.998 --> 01:41.901
The Bible is filled with
examples of people giving
01:41.968 --> 01:46.339
in to fear, but also of
those who overcame fear.
01:46.406 --> 01:50.810
We think of David defeating the giant Goliath, of Daniel in
01:50.877 --> 01:54.447
the lion's den, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
01:54.514 --> 01:56.983
defying king Nebuchadnezzar.
01:57.050 --> 01:59.953
Then there was Queen Esther,
who put her life on the line
02:00.019 --> 02:01.654
to save her people.
02:01.721 --> 02:06.226
All these stories give us a lift in courage, if only in mind,
02:06.292 --> 02:08.828
and if only temporarily.
02:08.895 --> 02:12.465
Few, if any of us, will
ever face a literal giant,
02:12.532 --> 02:16.569
but it's a common metaphor
to face Goliath-like trials.
02:16.636 --> 02:20.440
Most often these trials are presented in terms of a serious
02:20.507 --> 02:24.544
illness, the loss of a loved one, or being turned down
02:24.611 --> 02:26.179
for your dream job.
02:26.246 --> 02:30.583
Yes, it's true that faith
can help us carry on.
02:30.650 --> 02:33.419
It's good to overcome our
fears when faced with such
02:33.486 --> 02:37.090
trials, but this is where
I have a problem with the
02:37.156 --> 02:39.459
Faith Over Fear fad.
02:39.526 --> 02:43.329
We're subject to many trials
in life whether we endure them
02:43.396 --> 02:45.164
with faith or fear.
02:45.231 --> 02:48.835
Somehow we come out on the
other side in due time,
02:48.902 --> 02:52.105
but the greatest necessity
for exercising faith over
02:52.171 --> 02:55.842
fear has less to do with
sickness and death than with
02:55.909 --> 02:59.345
obedience to God, and I'll
make that abundantly clear
02:59.412 --> 03:01.314
by the end of this program.
03:01.381 --> 03:05.685
Hebrews 11:6 tells us
the following...
03:05.752 --> 03:08.922
"But without faith it is
impossible to please Him,
03:08.988 --> 03:12.191
for he who comes to God
must believe that He is,
03:12.258 --> 03:17.196
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
03:17.263 --> 03:19.866
There's a difference between
a trial of sickness, which we
03:19.933 --> 03:23.937
endure--whether in faith
or in fear--and that which
03:24.003 --> 03:28.241
comes upon us requiring us
to make a moral decision.
03:28.308 --> 03:31.177
Examples requiring moral
decisions are found in
03:31.244 --> 03:32.545
the book of Daniel.
03:32.612 --> 03:35.582
There we read of three young
men who were faced with a
03:35.648 --> 03:38.618
life and death decision.
03:38.685 --> 03:42.322
Chaldean King Nebuchadnezzar
set up a giant image and
03:42.388 --> 03:45.825
commanded all people to bow
down to it whenever the band
03:45.892 --> 03:47.193
began to play.
03:47.260 --> 03:51.464
This was, of course, a violation of God's Ten Commandments.
03:51.531 --> 03:54.734
When the king was informed
that three young Jewish men
03:54.801 --> 03:59.072
refused to bow before his idol, he gave them a second chance
03:59.138 --> 04:00.440
with an ultimatum.
04:00.506 --> 04:04.677
Notice it in Daniel 3:15...
04:04.744 --> 04:07.947
"Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of
04:08.014 --> 04:12.719
the horn, flute, harp, lyre,
and psaltery, in symphony with
04:12.785 --> 04:16.556
all kinds of music, and you
fall down and worship the image
04:16.623 --> 04:19.025
which I have made, good!
04:19.092 --> 04:22.829
But if you do not worship,
you shall be cast immediately
04:22.895 --> 04:25.865
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
04:25.932 --> 04:29.902
And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"
04:29.969 --> 04:33.806
This was life or death
right then and there.
04:33.873 --> 04:37.276
It would've been easy to reason that they could physically
04:37.343 --> 04:41.614
bow down to save their lives,
but not mentally worship it.
04:41.681 --> 04:42.949
Think about it.
04:43.016 --> 04:46.352
They didn't know the end
of the story as we do,
04:46.419 --> 04:51.290
yet they gave this bold response--verses 16-18...
04:51.357 --> 04:55.995
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king,
04:56.062 --> 04:59.465
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have
no need to answer you
04:59.532 --> 05:00.500
in this matter.
05:00.566 --> 05:03.803
If that is the case,
our God whom we serve is
05:03.870 --> 05:06.973
able to deliver us from
the burning fiery furnace,
05:07.040 --> 05:10.677
and He will deliver us
from your hand, O king.
05:10.743 --> 05:15.548
But if not, let it be known
to you, O king, that we do not
05:15.615 --> 05:19.318
serve your gods, nor will
we worship the gold image
05:19.385 --> 05:21.020
which you have set up."
05:21.087 --> 05:23.690
Another prime example of
someone having to make a
05:23.756 --> 05:29.495
decision between obeying God
or man, is found in Daniel 6.
05:29.562 --> 05:32.532
Here we read of how the
enemies of Daniel set him
05:32.598 --> 05:36.369
up with a decree forbidding
the worship of the true God.
05:36.436 --> 05:39.305
Daniel could have reasoned
that he could worship God
05:39.372 --> 05:43.342
silently on his bed at night, but he did not give into
05:43.409 --> 05:44.711
such reasoning.
05:44.777 --> 05:47.947
Instead, we read
in Daniel 6...
05:48.014 --> 05:50.516
"Now when Daniel knew that
the writing was signed,
05:50.583 --> 05:51.851
he went home.
05:51.918 --> 05:54.454
And in his upper room,
with his windows open toward
05:54.520 --> 05:58.958
Jerusalem, he knelt down on
his knees three times that day,
05:59.025 --> 06:02.962
and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his
06:03.029 --> 06:05.431
custom since early days."
06:05.498 --> 06:09.202
This is what led Daniel to be thrown into a den of lions.
06:09.268 --> 06:11.537
And, if you are at all
familiar with the Bible,
06:11.604 --> 06:14.040
you know that God protected him.
06:14.107 --> 06:18.111
People profess wanting to
obey God, but when push
06:18.177 --> 06:21.948
comes to shove, they most
often put their fear of man
06:22.014 --> 06:24.083
over their fear of God.
06:24.150 --> 06:27.153
We'll explore more of that
later in this program,
06:27.220 --> 06:29.455
but I want to give you a
chance to take down our
06:29.522 --> 06:32.625
contact information to
receive a free copy of
06:32.692 --> 06:35.862
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
06:35.928 --> 06:38.231
Think about it
dear friends.
06:38.297 --> 06:41.434
Consider the varying customs
and doctrines found in
06:41.501 --> 06:43.102
professing Christianity.
06:43.169 --> 06:46.572
Some bow down before images
of what they erroneously
06:46.639 --> 06:48.608
think Christ looks like.
06:48.674 --> 06:52.445
Others pray to Mary and/or
various so-called saints,
06:52.512 --> 06:55.214
thinking of them as
intermediaries between
06:55.281 --> 06:57.016
themselves and Christ.
06:57.083 --> 07:00.052
Some believe faith
negates obedience.
07:00.119 --> 07:03.289
Others practice infant
baptism while still
07:03.356 --> 07:06.692
others only baptize
teens and adults.
07:06.759 --> 07:09.996
Some observe the seventh-day Sabbath--while others the
07:10.062 --> 07:11.564
first day of the week.
07:11.631 --> 07:14.467
Is God working everywhere?
07:14.534 --> 07:17.403
Does He bend to our every whim?
07:17.470 --> 07:20.940
With the multitude of
denominations extant today,
07:21.007 --> 07:25.478
is it not important to
know where God is working?
07:25.545 --> 07:28.114
This booklet--Where Is God's True Church Today?--
07:28.181 --> 07:32.485
will challenge you as to
whether you fear God or man.
07:32.552 --> 07:35.721
If you truly want to be among the courageous few to follow
07:35.788 --> 07:38.958
in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, pick up the phone
07:39.025 --> 07:42.562
and call our toll-free
number to receive a copy of
07:42.628 --> 07:45.531
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
07:45.598 --> 07:52.171
Or you can order a copy by
going to TWTV.org/Today.
07:52.238 --> 07:55.274
Everything we offer is
given away free of charge,
07:55.341 --> 07:58.077
as it has already been
paid for by members of the
07:58.144 --> 08:01.647
Living Church of God, and
our co-workers and donors.
08:01.714 --> 08:06.652
Set aside your fear--pick up
the phone or go to our website.
08:06.719 --> 08:10.623
And stay with me as we'll
look at two examples of
08:10.690 --> 08:14.794
those who acted on fear
rather than faith.
08:14.861 --> 08:15.862
♪
08:15.928 --> 08:17.230
This clear and
straight-forward resource
08:17.296 --> 08:20.032
will help you understand
this vital truth--
08:20.099 --> 08:22.635
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
08:22.702 --> 08:23.803
Call now!
08:23.870 --> 08:27.406
Or go to...
08:27.473 --> 08:31.043
♪
08:31.110 --> 08:34.814
The expression, "Faith Over Fear" is inscribed on plaques,
08:34.881 --> 08:36.649
crosses, and t-shirts.
08:36.716 --> 08:40.386
On today's program I am
challenging whether people
08:40.453 --> 08:44.524
who profess these words truly live by this popular mantra.
08:44.590 --> 08:47.793
Before the break I said
we'll look at two examples
08:47.860 --> 08:51.864
of those who acted on
fear rather than faith.
08:51.931 --> 08:56.068
The first is found in
1 Kings 12, where we read
08:56.135 --> 08:58.604
of the split in the
nation of Israel.
08:58.671 --> 09:02.174
When Solomon's son Rehoboam refused to lighten the heavy
09:02.241 --> 09:05.912
tax burden imposed by his father, the northern ten
09:05.978 --> 09:09.315
tribes rebelled, creating
two separate nations:
09:09.382 --> 09:12.752
the house of Judah (that is,
the Jews and Benjamites)
09:12.818 --> 09:14.954
and the house of Israel.
09:15.021 --> 09:19.592
The northern house of Israel chose Jeroboam as their king.
09:19.659 --> 09:22.361
But instead of putting
his faith in God,
09:22.428 --> 09:30.536
Jeroboam feared the people-- notice it in 1 Kings 12:26-28...
09:30.603 --> 09:34.040
"And Jeroboam said in his
heart, "Now the kingdom
09:34.106 --> 09:37.710
may return to the house of David: If these people go
09:37.777 --> 09:40.313
up to offer sacrifices in
the house of the LORD at
09:40.379 --> 09:43.749
Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to
09:43.816 --> 09:47.119
their lord, Rehoboam king
of Judah, and they will
09:47.186 --> 09:50.856
kill me and go back to
Rehoboam king of Judah."
09:50.923 --> 09:55.094
Therefore the king asked
advice, made two calves
09:55.161 --> 09:57.530
of gold, and said
to the people,
09:57.596 --> 10:00.333
"It is too much for you
to go up to Jerusalem.
10:00.399 --> 10:03.903
Here are your gods,
O Israel, which brought
10:03.970 --> 10:05.905
you up from the
land of Egypt!"
10:05.972 --> 10:10.309
Jeroboam's two golden calf idols were strategically set up--
10:10.376 --> 10:14.480
one in the north and the other in the south as closer locations
10:14.547 --> 10:17.850
to worship than going all
the way to Jerusalem.
10:17.917 --> 10:21.087
But he had to make another
change, a change in the
10:21.153 --> 10:23.856
very manner of worship.
10:23.923 --> 10:27.660
We read of that in
verses 32-33...
10:27.727 --> 10:31.230
"Jeroboam ordained a feast
on the fifteenth day of
10:31.297 --> 10:34.467
the eighth month, like the
feast that was in Judah,
10:34.533 --> 10:37.236
and offered sacrifices
on the altar.
10:37.303 --> 10:40.406
So he did at Bethel,
sacrificing to the
10:40.473 --> 10:42.208
calves that he had made.
10:42.274 --> 10:45.411
And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places
10:45.478 --> 10:46.779
which he had made.
10:46.846 --> 10:50.282
So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at
10:50.349 --> 10:54.320
Bethel on the fifteenth
day of the eighth month
10:54.387 --> 10:57.723
[as opposed to the Feast of Tabernacles a month earlier],
10:57.790 --> 11:01.260
in the month which he had devised in his own heart.
11:01.327 --> 11:04.263
And he ordained a feast
for the children of Israel,
11:04.330 --> 11:09.035
and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense."
11:09.101 --> 11:11.404
Notice where he got this idea.
11:11.470 --> 11:14.473
It was not from God,
but it was an idea
11:14.540 --> 11:16.642
"devised in his own heart."
11:16.709 --> 11:20.780
His fear of man, rather than faith in God, led the northern
11:20.846 --> 11:23.983
ten tribes of the house of Israel down a path from which
11:24.050 --> 11:29.188
they never recovered: eventually leading to national slavery.
11:29.255 --> 11:33.225
It's a huge mistake to follow one's heart rather than God
11:33.292 --> 11:37.329
when it comes to which days
are holy and which are not.
11:37.396 --> 11:40.132
Only God can make time holy.
11:40.199 --> 11:43.002
When God brought Israel
into the promised land,
11:43.069 --> 11:46.338
He warned them not to inquire
after the quaint customs the
11:46.405 --> 11:49.809
inhabitants of the land dreamed up to worship their gods.
11:49.875 --> 11:53.979
Deuteronomy 12:30-32...
11:54.046 --> 11:56.782
"...do not inquire after
their gods, saying,
11:56.849 --> 11:59.251
"How did these nations
serve their gods?
11:59.318 --> 12:01.487
I also will do likewise."
12:01.554 --> 12:05.491
You shall not worship the
LORD your God in that way;
12:05.558 --> 12:08.794
for every abomination to
the LORD which He hates
12:08.861 --> 12:12.031
they have done to their
gods; for they burn even
12:12.098 --> 12:15.568
their sons and daughters
in the fire to their gods.
12:15.634 --> 12:19.405
Whatever I command you,
be careful to observe it;
12:19.472 --> 12:23.509
you shall not add to it
nor take away from it."
12:23.576 --> 12:27.279
The example of an ancient king may seem too far removed from
12:27.346 --> 12:31.250
your day-to-day life, so let's bring this closer to home.
12:31.317 --> 12:35.454
The second example, which is
the account of Adam and Eve,
12:35.521 --> 12:37.823
is more than a bedtime story.
12:37.890 --> 12:41.427
One lesson we may draw from
it is that Adam was more
12:41.494 --> 12:44.530
interested in pleasing his
wife than pleasing God.
12:44.597 --> 12:48.134
We're told in
1 Timothy 2:14 that...
12:48.200 --> 12:50.469
"...Adam was not deceived..."
12:50.536 --> 12:55.040
Yes, Adam knew better, so why did he partake of the fruit?
12:55.107 --> 12:58.410
We're not told how Eve enticed him into that disastrous
12:58.477 --> 13:02.715
decision--whether through her feminine wiles or whether
13:02.781 --> 13:06.585
there would be no peace until
he gave in--but what is
13:06.652 --> 13:09.889
certain is that he was more
interested in pleasing
13:09.955 --> 13:12.691
his wife than pleasing God.
13:12.758 --> 13:16.929
It's easy to say Faith Over Fear, but is your faith in
13:16.996 --> 13:20.633
God greater than your fear
of upsetting your mate?
13:20.699 --> 13:24.904
Jesus tells us in Luke 14, beginning in verse 26...
13:24.970 --> 13:28.374
"If anyone comes to Me and
does not hate [in other words,
13:28.440 --> 13:33.045
meaning love to a lesser degree by comparison] his father and
13:33.112 --> 13:37.550
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes,
13:37.616 --> 13:41.620
and his own life also,
he cannot be My disciple.
13:41.687 --> 13:46.392
So likewise, whoever of you
does not forsake all that
13:46.458 --> 13:49.628
he has cannot be My disciple."
13:49.695 --> 13:54.066
Dear friends, do you understand the gravity of Jesus' words?
13:54.133 --> 13:57.203
Who is most important
in your life?
13:57.269 --> 13:59.138
Who do you love the most?
13:59.205 --> 14:02.808
Do you have faith in God,
or do you fear your mate,
14:02.875 --> 14:05.744
your family, your associates?
14:05.811 --> 14:09.281
Few people are willing to
leave their comfort zone to
14:09.348 --> 14:11.283
fully obey their Creator.
14:11.350 --> 14:14.954
And I'll prove that claim to
you shortly, but let me remind
14:15.020 --> 14:18.724
you of a resource that will challenge you to put your
14:18.791 --> 14:20.626
faith over fear.
14:20.693 --> 14:23.295
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
14:23.362 --> 14:27.299
explains the faith and teachings of Jesus and His apostles.
14:27.366 --> 14:31.237
I know it's shocking to hear, but the Christianity of today
14:31.303 --> 14:34.607
has little in common
with that of Christ and
14:34.673 --> 14:36.642
first century Christianity.
14:36.709 --> 14:40.679
As highly respected historian, Professor Rufus Jones wrote:
14:40.746 --> 14:45.451
"If by any chance Christ Himself had been taken by His later
14:45.517 --> 14:49.355
followers as the model and pattern of the new way,
14:49.421 --> 14:54.026
and a serious attempt had been made to set up His life and
14:54.093 --> 14:56.895
teaching as the standard
and norm for the Church,
14:56.962 --> 15:00.432
Christianity would have been something vastly different
15:00.499 --> 15:02.067
from what it became.
15:02.134 --> 15:05.170
What we may properly call "Galilean Christianity"
15:05.237 --> 15:08.974
had a short life, though there have been notable attempts
15:09.041 --> 15:12.311
to revive it and make it live again, and here and there
15:12.378 --> 15:15.147
spiritual prophets have
insisted that anything else
15:15.214 --> 15:18.617
than this simple Galilean
religion is "heresy";
15:18.684 --> 15:21.654
but the main line of historic development has taken a
15:21.720 --> 15:26.492
different course and has marked the emphasis very differently."
15:26.558 --> 15:29.595
How true that is,
and our resource--
15:29.662 --> 15:31.597
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
15:31.664 --> 15:35.401
gives easy-to-understand
biblical and historic proofs.
15:35.467 --> 15:38.804
If you're courageous enough
to face this truth,
15:38.871 --> 15:42.841
order your free copy of Where
Is God's True Church Today?
15:42.908 --> 15:46.145
Just pick up the phone and
call the toll-free number
15:46.211 --> 15:52.418
shown on your screen,
or go to TWTV.org/Today.
15:52.484 --> 15:55.921
And after this short break,
I'll be back to prove to you
15:55.988 --> 16:00.492
that people who promote Faith Over Fear, too often fear to
16:00.559 --> 16:03.529
step out in faith to obey God.
16:03.595 --> 16:04.396
♪
16:04.463 --> 16:11.270
For today's free
offer call...
16:11.337 --> 16:16.642
Or go to...
16:16.709 --> 16:19.545
This clear and straight-
forward resource will
16:19.611 --> 16:21.814
help you understand
this vital truth--
16:21.880 --> 16:25.117
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
16:25.184 --> 16:27.086
If you're calling
for the first time,
16:27.152 --> 16:30.022
you will also receive a
free annual subscription to
16:30.089 --> 16:31.957
Tomorrow's World magazine.
16:32.024 --> 16:35.594
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
16:35.661 --> 16:38.230
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
16:38.297 --> 16:42.234
your world from a
biblical perspective.
16:42.301 --> 16:45.137
Call today and join
millions around the world
16:45.204 --> 16:47.706
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
16:47.773 --> 16:53.011
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
16:53.078 --> 16:54.513
Call now!
16:54.580 --> 16:57.983
Or go to...
16:58.050 --> 17:03.989
♪
17:04.056 --> 17:07.926
This Tomorrow's World program
is about Faith and Fear.
17:07.993 --> 17:11.530
Prior to the break I said
I will prove to you that
17:11.597 --> 17:14.199
while people profess
Faith Over Fear--
17:14.266 --> 17:19.037
most people fear to step
out on faith to obey God.
17:19.104 --> 17:23.208
As we saw earlier in this
program, three men who did put
17:23.275 --> 17:27.546
Faith Over Fear were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego for
17:27.613 --> 17:31.517
refusing to bow down to king Nebuchadnezzar's golden image.
17:31.583 --> 17:34.119
Another was Daniel,
who was thrown into a
17:34.186 --> 17:36.221
den of hungry lions.
17:36.288 --> 17:40.225
While it is unlikely you
will face a literal fiery
17:40.292 --> 17:43.662
furnace or den of lions,
other difficult decisions
17:43.729 --> 17:46.031
have already come your way.
17:46.098 --> 17:50.035
For example, have you ever
asked yourself these questions:
17:50.102 --> 17:53.705
Why is the most sacred holiday in modern Christianity
17:53.772 --> 17:57.810
named after a pagan fertility
goddess and celebrated with
17:57.876 --> 18:01.713
fertility symbols--
eggs, and rabbits?
18:01.780 --> 18:05.083
Why is the birth of Jesus
celebrated on the birthday
18:05.150 --> 18:07.953
of the sun god Mithra?
18:08.020 --> 18:12.791
Why does professing Christianity observe these days which are
18:12.858 --> 18:15.127
nowhere found in the Bible?
18:15.194 --> 18:18.797
And why does modern Christianity reject the days that Jesus,
18:18.864 --> 18:23.268
His apostles, and His first century followers kept?
18:23.335 --> 18:26.972
Why do churches observe the first day of the week--Sunday--
18:27.039 --> 18:29.908
when God commanded us to
keep holy the seventh day
18:29.975 --> 18:33.912
of the week--Friday sunset
to Saturday sunset.
18:33.979 --> 18:37.382
Now, here are three faulty justifications professing
18:37.449 --> 18:40.352
Christians use to get around these contradictions
18:40.419 --> 18:41.553
of Scripture:
18:41.620 --> 18:44.156
Faulty Justification #1:
18:44.223 --> 18:48.827
The Sabbath and biblical Holy Days were for the Jews only.
18:48.894 --> 18:51.663
But not according to Jesus.
18:51.730 --> 18:55.334
In response to the Pharisees trying to impose their man-made,
18:55.400 --> 18:59.605
overly restrictive traditions, on Jesus and His disciples,
18:59.671 --> 19:04.276
we read in Mark the second chapter beginning in verse 27...
19:04.343 --> 19:07.913
And He said to them,
"The Sabbath was made for man,
19:07.980 --> 19:10.315
and not man for the Sabbath.
19:10.382 --> 19:14.353
Therefore the Son of Man
is also Lord of the Sabbath."
19:14.419 --> 19:18.056
Note that Jesus is Lord of
the Sabbath and He is not
19:18.123 --> 19:21.660
Lord over something
that does not exist.
19:21.727 --> 19:25.531
And when was the day that
He is Lord of made holy?
19:25.597 --> 19:30.102
Genesis 2:2-3...
19:30.168 --> 19:32.871
"And on the seventh day
God ended His work which
19:32.938 --> 19:36.375
He had done, and He rested
on the seventh day from all
19:36.441 --> 19:38.143
His work which He had done.
19:38.210 --> 19:41.580
Then God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it
19:41.647 --> 19:45.017
[in other words, He set
it apart as being holy],
19:45.083 --> 19:47.686
because in it He rested
from all His work which
19:47.753 --> 19:50.122
God had created and made."
19:50.188 --> 19:52.858
We see from this that
the Sabbath was made at
19:52.925 --> 19:57.996
creation for man--long
before there was a Jew.
19:58.063 --> 20:01.266
Therefore, the justification that the Sabbath was made only
20:01.333 --> 20:04.636
for the Jews is patently false.
20:04.703 --> 20:07.339
And regarding the annual
Holy Days and Festivals
20:07.406 --> 20:10.475
for worship that are
found in the Bible,
20:10.542 --> 20:13.545
Paul reminded the Gentile
church at Corinth of the
20:13.612 --> 20:17.082
significance of Passover
and then commanded them to
20:17.149 --> 20:19.651
keep the Days of Unleavened Bread, which immediately
20:19.718 --> 20:26.525
follow Passover--
1 Corinthians 5:7-8...
20:26.592 --> 20:30.395
"For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
20:30.462 --> 20:35.100
Therefore let us keep the
feast, not with old leaven,
20:35.167 --> 20:38.170
nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with
20:38.236 --> 20:41.807
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
20:41.873 --> 20:44.476
A second faulty
justification is that:
20:44.543 --> 20:49.147
The Ten Commandments
were replaced by grace.
20:49.214 --> 20:52.451
Now this is a huge subject,
so let's cut to the chase.
20:52.517 --> 20:55.087
Go down the list of
the Ten Commandments.
20:55.153 --> 20:58.357
Which ones do we
not need to keep?
20:58.423 --> 21:02.027
Is it okay to: Have another
god before the true God?
21:02.094 --> 21:05.364
To use idols in the
worship of God?
21:05.430 --> 21:08.200
To use God's name frivolously?
21:08.266 --> 21:09.868
To dishonor parents?
21:09.935 --> 21:14.006
To kill, commit adultery,
steal, bear false witness,
21:14.072 --> 21:16.842
and covet what belongs
to your neighbor?
21:16.908 --> 21:20.345
No, dear friends, those who proclaim the commandments
21:20.412 --> 21:23.849
are done away only have a problem with one of the ten--
21:23.915 --> 21:26.251
the Sabbath command.
21:26.318 --> 21:29.821
Now it's true that some also reason around the one about
21:29.888 --> 21:33.158
idols, but they don't find
fault with the others.
21:33.225 --> 21:34.726
Now think about this.
21:34.793 --> 21:37.529
In other words,
"God, you did okay.
21:37.596 --> 21:39.731
You got nine out
of ten correct."
21:39.798 --> 21:42.367
Or in some cases,
eight out of ten.
21:42.434 --> 21:44.703
How foolish is that?
21:44.770 --> 21:48.407
Then there is:
Faulty Justification #3:
21:48.473 --> 21:51.443
It does not matter which
days we observe as long
21:51.510 --> 21:53.645
as we do so for Jesus.
21:53.712 --> 21:57.049
So dear friends, where is
that found in Scripture?
21:57.115 --> 22:01.086
And why not simply keep
the days that Jesus kept?
22:01.153 --> 22:04.823
The fact is that professing Christians choose to keep days
22:04.890 --> 22:08.293
made up in the imagination
of their own hearts,
22:08.360 --> 22:10.896
just as Jeroboam did.
22:10.962 --> 22:13.465
Now let me remind you of
that passage that we read
22:13.532 --> 22:19.237
earlier in this program--
1 Kings 12:33...
22:19.304 --> 22:23.275
"So he [that is, king Jeroboam,] made offerings on the altar
22:23.341 --> 22:26.945
which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth
22:27.012 --> 22:31.817
month, in the month which he
had devised in his own heart."
22:31.883 --> 22:35.087
Read the books of 1st and
2nd Kings and see how
22:35.153 --> 22:36.655
that turned out.
22:36.722 --> 22:40.525
So why don't people simply
obey God and observe the days
22:40.592 --> 22:44.896
He chose rather than the days that Emperor Constantine and
22:44.963 --> 22:47.566
arrogant, rebellious men chose?
22:47.632 --> 22:49.568
And that brings me to you.
22:49.634 --> 22:52.370
Do you have the
faith to obey God?
22:52.437 --> 22:56.241
Or do you fear men:
your boss, your friends,
22:56.308 --> 22:58.744
your neighbors,
or your family?
22:58.810 --> 23:01.046
Look at yourself in the mirror.
23:01.113 --> 23:05.117
Ask yourself that question,
and be honest with yourself.
23:05.183 --> 23:08.453
Our resource--Where Is
God's True Church Today?
23:08.520 --> 23:12.290
explains how you can identify the Church Jesus built.
23:12.357 --> 23:15.327
The late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith asked these
23:15.393 --> 23:17.262
thought-provoking questions:
23:17.329 --> 23:20.999
"If Jesus of Nazareth were
to return to the earth today,
23:21.066 --> 23:25.604
would He recognize the religion that is using His name?
23:25.670 --> 23:27.539
Would He be shocked
to find that....
23:27.606 --> 23:30.675
His professed followers
believe doctrines totally
23:30.742 --> 23:34.546
contrary to what He taught, observe different days of
23:34.613 --> 23:38.784
worship and different customs, and--most importantly--have a
23:38.850 --> 23:42.387
totally different concept
of God and of His purpose
23:42.454 --> 23:45.690
than Jesus and the
original Apostles did?"
23:45.757 --> 23:47.826
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
23:47.893 --> 23:49.961
challenges false assumptions.
23:50.028 --> 23:54.132
Anyone can profess faith
over fear, but when it
23:54.199 --> 23:58.103
comes to obeying God, few
live up to that profession.
23:58.170 --> 24:04.776
So go to the phone or
TWTV.org/Today to order
24:04.843 --> 24:08.814
this free resource, and when
I return after a short break,
24:08.880 --> 24:12.918
I'll explain why people follow non-biblical doctrines over
24:12.984 --> 24:15.120
many clear biblical commands.
24:15.187 --> 24:16.188
♪
24:16.254 --> 24:17.923
This clear and
straight-forward resource
24:17.989 --> 24:20.659
will help you understand
this vital truth--
24:20.725 --> 24:23.528
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
24:23.595 --> 24:24.429
Call now!
24:24.496 --> 24:28.266
Or go to...
24:28.333 --> 24:31.636
♪
24:31.703 --> 24:34.606
On this Tomorrow's World
program I'm addressing
24:34.673 --> 24:36.408
faith and fear.
24:36.474 --> 24:39.377
Before the break, I said
that I would explain why
24:39.444 --> 24:43.014
people follow non-biblical
doctrines over many clear
24:43.081 --> 24:44.649
biblical commands.
24:44.716 --> 24:47.686
This is shown by a study
of the Bible, but it's
24:47.752 --> 24:49.788
also a fact of history.
24:49.855 --> 24:53.892
Highly respected historians, such as Jesse Lyman Hurlbut,
24:53.959 --> 24:58.330
explain the transition away
from original Christianity:
24:58.396 --> 25:03.001
"The services of worship increased in splendor, but
25:03.068 --> 25:07.305
were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times.
25:07.372 --> 25:10.942
The forms and ceremonies
of paganism gradually crept
25:11.009 --> 25:12.310
into the worship.
25:12.377 --> 25:16.181
Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with
25:16.248 --> 25:18.617
change of name and of worship.
25:18.683 --> 25:23.989
About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear
25:24.055 --> 25:28.693
in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession
25:28.760 --> 25:31.997
revered, adored, and worshiped.
25:32.063 --> 25:36.434
The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship
25:36.501 --> 25:41.740
of Venus and Diana; the Lord's Supper became a sacrifice in
25:41.806 --> 25:45.243
place of a memorial; and
the elder evolved from a
25:45.310 --> 25:47.545
preacher into a priest."
25:47.612 --> 25:50.448
That's a small glimpse
into what happened,
25:50.515 --> 25:53.818
but why do people today,
who can read the Bible and
25:53.885 --> 25:56.554
read history, go along with it?
25:56.621 --> 26:00.292
Why do they go along with
pagan traditions masquerading
26:00.358 --> 26:02.360
as Christianity?
26:02.427 --> 26:04.429
The answer is simple.
26:04.496 --> 26:08.800
They fear family, friends,
fellow workers, and neighbors
26:08.867 --> 26:10.535
rather than God.
26:10.602 --> 26:14.940
They fear being ostracized
by those closest to them.
26:15.006 --> 26:18.476
Men or women who know it's
wrong to follow a non-biblical
26:18.543 --> 26:22.280
tradition, are afraid to make waves in their household
26:22.347 --> 26:25.684
if their mate has not come
to the same conviction.
26:25.750 --> 26:28.787
They may be afraid of losing
their job over keeping
26:28.853 --> 26:30.622
the Biblical Sabbath.
26:30.689 --> 26:34.759
Teens who know it is wrong to vape or use drugs, go along
26:34.826 --> 26:38.797
with their peers lest they be looked down upon and belittled.
26:38.863 --> 26:43.535
In other words, faith over fear sounds good until you are
26:43.601 --> 26:47.505
confronted by an unpleasant choice between obeying God
26:47.572 --> 26:51.343
or going own the path
of least resistance.
26:51.409 --> 26:54.579
You know Halloween is a
bizarre and weird custom
26:54.646 --> 26:58.416
with pagan roots, but are
afraid to make waves.
26:58.483 --> 27:00.952
Pleasing friends and
neighbors is easier than
27:01.019 --> 27:03.088
stepping out in faith.
27:03.154 --> 27:06.891
You know Christmas is a
fraud with pagan origins,
27:06.958 --> 27:09.594
but skipping the Christmas
party may jeopardize
27:09.661 --> 27:11.629
a future promotion.
27:11.696 --> 27:14.766
And who is willing to stir
up the wrath of your wife
27:14.833 --> 27:15.934
or husband?
27:16.001 --> 27:17.936
The answer is simple.
27:18.003 --> 27:21.740
Faith over fear sounds good until it comes down to
27:21.806 --> 27:24.542
obedience to God.
27:24.609 --> 27:28.713
If you truly do want to find where Christ is working today,
27:28.780 --> 27:33.485
it's time to set aside your
fear and step out in faith.
27:33.551 --> 27:36.187
The Living Church of God
has congregations in many
27:36.254 --> 27:39.090
countries around the world
and our ministers are here
27:39.157 --> 27:43.461
to serve you, but we only
go where we are invited.
27:43.528 --> 27:47.465
So, if you'd like to learn more about the Church Jesus built,
27:47.532 --> 27:51.903
let us know by calling, writing, or going to our website.
27:51.970 --> 27:54.739
And don't forget to
order your copy of
27:54.806 --> 27:57.609
Where Is God's
True Church Today?
27:57.675 --> 28:00.145
And be sure to join us next time, as Wallace Smith,
28:00.211 --> 28:04.682
Rod McNair, and I explain the good news of Tomorrow's World;
28:04.749 --> 28:08.753
and the truth, comfort, and
hope it can bring to you
28:08.820 --> 28:09.921
and your family.
28:09.988 --> 28:10.789
♪
28:10.855 --> 28:17.028
For today's free
offer call...
28:17.095 --> 28:20.965
Or go to...
28:21.032 --> 28:23.101
The preceding program
is produced by the
28:23.168 --> 28:24.402
Living Church of God.