Last week during the election, I had an opportunity to speak with my friend and we discuss about the vote buying and the money that is always given by the politician during the election period. I told him that i don't accept anything from politician and he asked me why? I answered him by sharing a scripture in (Mathew 4: 3-4) after Jesus fasted for 40 days the tempter came to him and said, If thou be the son of God, command that these stone be made bread. in verse 4 he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
I asked him, What do you think the reason? Why Jesus rejected the offer when his fasting is already done already as the scripture stated after 40 days of fasting the tempter came? And obviously Jesus has the power to command that stones and be made bread... I said it is because it was offered by the devil and Jesus wants to show an example that everything that is offered by the devil, we cannot accept!
What are the things offered by the devil? Money that comes from gambling, money that comes from idolatry, money that comes from illegal sources or anything acquired illegally are the things offered by the devil. And to recognized this things Mormon give instruction to his son Moroni in (Moroni 7:13-17)
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do agood continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and benticeth to do cgood, and to love God, and to serve him, is dinspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is aevil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to ajudge,
that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that
ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark
night.
16 For behold, the aSpirit of Christ is given to every bman, that he may cknow
good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every
thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ,
is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know
with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do aevil,
and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may
know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner
doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one;
neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
This scripture's states that the way to Judge was given to us, that everything that enticeth to good is of God and everything enticeth and persuadeth to do evil is of the devil..... Therefore for me, money that comes from politicians is illegal in nature, Why? because it is forbidden by the law and therefore it is against the law and everything is against the law are things persuadeth men to do evil and therefore is not of God and offered by the devil and so we cannot accept...!
My friend told me that maybe it is easy for me to say it because i have no children. At the time he said that, i felt so sad for them, i know how hard life now a days. He has no permanent job and he has lots of children.
I remember after my mission, my life become so challenging. I thought after the mission i can easily continue my colleges but no. My mom and my father got separated and because of that no body can pay for my college. At that time life becomes so hard cause i didn't found job for like 1 year and my father is just a construction worker and most of the time he had no job. There are days that we have nothing to eat and at that time i started to questions what kind of life ahead of me. I felt so lose, i felt that i am nothing for i have nothing, but then i realize that i still have the best thing, that is the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The knowledge that this life is just a probationary life and is just in preparation for the endless life to come help's me to continue as long as i am in the Church. I prayed a lot and continued in faith and i was bless tremendously in life. I was married to the most wonderful woman inside the house of the Lord and vision of my future now becomes clearer and clearer. Now i realize that challenges can be overcome, we have to continue faithful in holding every good gift. We have to be strong in keeping our faith not following the enticing of the evil spirit and we see the power of God will be manifested in our lives.
In times of trial whatever it is, how hard, how painful, how discouraging it is, we have to continue in faith and lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, and we will certainly become a child of Christ. (Moroni 7:19) and in Christ there should come every good thing. (Moroni 7:25-26)
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of aangels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
The reason Miracles cease:
1. because of unbelief
2. Faith cease
3. Awful is the state of man
4. they are as though there had been no redemption made
Before during the most troubled time in my life, I did question the Lord why me? I obeyed mission rules, i perform great in my mission and i did my very best in that mission but why this things happened to me. Why others who seems very disobedient in the mission has a very good life with lots of opportunities and for there is no? But then i realize that i was wrong. Being obedient is not an assurance that we are exempted from trials and tribulation in life.... In 1Peter1:7
Alma 36:3
I remember after my mission, my life become so challenging. I thought after the mission i can easily continue my colleges but no. My mom and my father got separated and because of that no body can pay for my college. At that time life becomes so hard cause i didn't found job for like 1 year and my father is just a construction worker and most of the time he had no job. There are days that we have nothing to eat and at that time i started to questions what kind of life ahead of me. I felt so lose, i felt that i am nothing for i have nothing, but then i realize that i still have the best thing, that is the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The knowledge that this life is just a probationary life and is just in preparation for the endless life to come help's me to continue as long as i am in the Church. I prayed a lot and continued in faith and i was bless tremendously in life. I was married to the most wonderful woman inside the house of the Lord and vision of my future now becomes clearer and clearer. Now i realize that challenges can be overcome, we have to continue faithful in holding every good gift. We have to be strong in keeping our faith not following the enticing of the evil spirit and we see the power of God will be manifested in our lives.
In times of trial whatever it is, how hard, how painful, how discouraging it is, we have to continue in faith and lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, and we will certainly become a child of Christ. (Moroni 7:19) and in Christ there should come every good thing. (Moroni 7:25-26)
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of aangels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
26 And after that he came men also were asaved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the bsons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: cWhatsoever
thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith
believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
If we continue in faith the promise is that whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in the name of Christ, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
I also have speak with one of my friend and we discuss about faith and what he told me really surprise me, when he said and i caught "I'd never seen miracles" this phrase really surprises me considering that he also served a mission. He preached the gospel for two years and never experience miracles, i felt sad when i heard that, because for me everything that happens in our lives is a miracle.
I remember Mormon message to his son Moroni in (Moroni 7: 37-39)
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that amiracles
are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto
men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of
men, for it is because of bunbelief, and all is vain.
38 For
no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall
have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has
faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as
though there had been no redemption made.
39 But
behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge
that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have
not faith in him then ye are not afit to be numbered among the people of his church.
The reason Miracles cease:
1. because of unbelief
2. Faith cease
3. Awful is the state of man
4. they are as though there had been no redemption made
Before during the most troubled time in my life, I did question the Lord why me? I obeyed mission rules, i perform great in my mission and i did my very best in that mission but why this things happened to me. Why others who seems very disobedient in the mission has a very good life with lots of opportunities and for there is no? But then i realize that i was wrong. Being obedient is not an assurance that we are exempted from trials and tribulation in life.... In 1Peter1:7
7 That the atrial
of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and
glory at the bappearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet abelieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
In this scripture trial of our faith was considered more precious than gold by Peter. Yes being obedient is not an exemption of trial and tribulations for that is the reason of our existence but one thing for sure that if we have faith and if we put our trust in God, we will be supported in our trials in
Alma 38:5
5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your atrust in God even so much ye shall be bdelivered out of your trials, and your ctroubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
3 And
now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I
beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do
know that whosoever shall put their atrust in God shall be supported in their btrials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be clifted up at the last day.
This scripture is an assurance that those who put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, troubles and affliction and will be lifted up at the last day
Sometimes we claim blessing of our little obedience, and sometimes we
felt discourage if the blessing we asked didn't come at the time we want
it come.... please consider the words of Moroni as he translated the
book of Ether
6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that afaith is things which are bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no dwitness until after the etrial of your faith.
This scripture emphasized that before we receive witness there should be a trial of our faith. We cannot claim the blessing of our obedience until our faith is tested. And there is no easy way in testing our faith we have to overcome temptation, endure tribulation and continue in faith.
I know that it is true, it happens to me and blessings comes.
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