Importance of Perseverance: Every year prior to the Holy Days, Satan stirs up trials to discourage God’s people. However, we are admonished to endure to the end to be in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). Endurance requires perseverance. When Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to never, never, never quit, he was echoing biblical advice. When Joshua took over after Moses, God said “Be strong and of good courage”: trust and obey Him and don’t be afraid—and you will succeed and prosper (Joshua 1:5–9). Paul told Christians they must gain control of every thought, resist temptation, and finish the race to win the reward in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 10:5). The Apostle Peter advised early Christians they needed to develop courage, self-control, and perseverance to obtain the precious promises of God (2 Peter 1:4–8). John wrote that only overcomers who persist in their mission will receive a reward in the Kingdom (Revelation 3:7–13). When trials come, let’s remember this important advice to persevere in our calling so we can reign with Jesus Christ in His coming Kingdom.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
Advancing ages for most current LCG members, Doug is beginning to understand what effect "They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” This is a normal observation since the LCG members have been brought up with way too many assurances that "it won't be long now".
ReplyDeleteIt's hard when shortly, soon and quickly go long. It wears on ones faith if that is the promise, which it should not be of course. It means all will have to face the fact that they all will die just like everyone else before them, "not having received the promises".
It was a hard transition in the first century and remains one to this day.
Very good.
DeleteThey should resist the temptation to attend LCG sabbath services!
ReplyDeleteWhile I attended services, several members in our congregation of about 200, died middle aged from cancer, accidents and other undisclosed reasons. For these people, Christ has returned. There's no guarantee that anyone of us will be alive next week.
ReplyDeleteDoug’s message is a perfect example of how dangerous he is and how abusive Armstrongite proof-texting is. The scriptures Doug quoted are holy and should be contemplated. However, Doug arranged a few scriptures out of their context, with the purpose of scaring, bullying, and indoctrinating the people to stay within his church.
ReplyDeleteIn his message, Doug did not mention the assurance that God will complete the work he started in you (Philippians 1:6) because Doug doesn’t want the people to rest in Jesus. Doug needs the people to be fearful and trying to earn their own salvation – otherwise, the people won’t remain enslaved to the Armstrongite gospel.
The eighth chapter of Romans shows us that the Holy Spirit is the way to putting to death the sinful nature and we have full assurance that not only does God love us, nothing can separate us from that love.
As evidenced by Romans 8, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify us, hold us, remind us that we are loved, remind us we belong to God, and remind us nothing can separate us from God.
The ministry of Doug Winnail and all Armstrongites is the opposite of the work of the Holy Spirit. Who would you rather follow?