New Moon Meeting: October 2005, 3:09 EST
Let Him Eat of That Bread

Zahakiel: All right, if everyone is here we should begin. Luke, can you please open the meeting with a prayer?

Qinael: Our holy and loving Father,

We thank you for this time you have set aside for us to come together and study your word, to learn more of your character and kingdom as we draw all the more closer to it...

We thank you for your Word and for your Spirit that gives us understanding of it. We ask for your presence and wisdom on us all today that we may receive and share the blessing you have for us. In Yahshua's name we pray, amen.

Sheryl: Amen.
Clair: Amen.
Barb: Amen.
Crystle: Amen.
Zahakiel: Amen.

Zahakiel: The topic I want to look at this month is at once both very basic, and very complex. It is basic, because it is something we all already understand to an extent. It is complex, because taking full advantage of the knowledge involves some conscious choices that not everyone is prepared to make. For converted Christians, however, this knowledge will prove to be a great blessing, for we can never truly know Christ as He knows us unless we gain a knowledge of ourselves; and of course New Moons are a time especially suitable for such an examination.

I read somewhere once, something to the effect of, “How can we meet God face to face ‘til we have faces?” The principle is a Biblical one. Although men can never know themselves to the degree that Yahweh knows us, we can know who we are, so that we may stand in our integrity. Paul gives Christians some advice, and interestingly enough it is regarding communion, so it is an apt topic for today. Paul says this, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of Yahweh unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (1Corinthians 11:27, 28)

Again, in a more general case, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Yahshua the Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2Corinthians 13:5)

Notice, both those statements were made, at different times, to the Church at Corinth. From what we know of that particular congregation, it was not a model for the 144,000. There were problems of doctrine, problems of behavior, problems of outright evil, because already there were men and women entering into the fold who had never truly been instructed in the principles of righteousness. Paul, in the quotes above, addresses what the real problem is… the people did not know themselves. They did not know why they were living this life, or what was truly important. They were not motivated to do good, for their faith was not identical with the Faith of Yahshua.

Today we are going to look at motivations. Why is it that we do what we do? This topic has the potential for some deep heart-work, but it is a necessary task, if we are to stand unashamed before the Father of Spirits. I was doing some research into the history of the SDA Church recently for an article, and I came across the following quote, “What we want now is a reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation, and to build upon a different principle.” [Last Day Events, page 53]

The problem with the SDA Church today is exactly what the problem was with the Corinthian congregation. Just as the early Church had become filled with men and women who did not know either themselves or the standard of Heaven, so we read this of Adventism, “My burden is that ministers of the gospel shall preach the truth as to what constitutes true conversion. They are not to lead down into the water souls who are not converted. The church is becoming composed of men and women who have never realized how sinful sin is.” [Manuscript Releases Volume Six, page 166]

Sheryl: Nowadays people are more into themselves than God's word. I have spoke with many people that calls themselves adventist that are so into the world that they cannot see even the changes in the world.

Zahakiel: That is very true. And let this not happen to us. Let us come to realize how sinful sin is, how destructive it is… and then be earnest in seeking to know ourselves, that we may avoid all occasions for moral and spiritual error. If we wish to show the Gospel to the world, we must “begin at the foundation, and build upon a different principle,” than the world has thus far seen from Christendom. I propose that we commit to examining our motives, the reasons we have for performing our actions, and this New Moon study will give us some useful tools for that task.

First, I’d like to direct your attention to a diagram and we will refer to it several times in the study. It is found here:

Barb: I have it open here.
Sheryl: I have it.
Qinael: Open.
Crystle: Yes.
Clair: Open.
Jeanie: Opened ok.

Zahakiel: I want you to keep that window open while we have our conversation in the IM window, since I will refer to it periodically. Take a few minutes here to get familiar with the overall idea it presents, and then we will discuss what it means.

Now, worldly psychology has a set of diagrams that look somewhat similar to this. They are called “Needs hierarchies,” and are an attempt to explain human behavior based upon what they perceive to be various types of motivational factors. They are, however, incomplete. You will not find much talk of objective principles in psychology, of things that are universally “right” and “wrong.” Instead you will hear of morality and cultural norms. You will not find much practical talk of divine revelation although, for a Christian, revelation in one form or another is the very center of our experience as children of Yahweh. What I have done, essentially, is write down all the reasons I could think of for people doing things, and I mean underlying reasons, and organized them along the lines of what Scripture indicates about mankind.

The goal here is to be able to answer three questions: “Why do I do what I do?” And then, “Am I where I need to be in terms of my motives?” And finally, “If I am not there, how do I get there?”

Let’s take the stages of this spiritual “Food Pyramid” one stage at a time.

1) Principles

Principles are eternal, and deal directly with a person’s true character. In order for one’s religion to be genuine, he or she must have the experience of ordering the affairs of life after the principles of that religion, regardless of what particular faith we are describing. Christians, Adventists in particular, are told, “Walk and work in the spirit of Christ. Stand ever on guard, for temptations will come, and the Lord’s disciples are to be as true as steel to principle.” [That I May Know Him, page 128]

Zahakiel: These are ideas that form the very foundation of Christianity. The New Testament speaks in one place to men who had the ability to be leaders in the early Church, but they either failed to realize their potential or fell into some disqualifying error. We read the rebuke given them, “[We instructors] have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of Yah; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (Hebrews 5:11-13)

You see the importance of these things. Those who do not understand and abide by the principles of our faith are, regardless of how intelligent or otherwise talented, as children in the things that are truly important.

Sheryl: Amen, it is important to stay in the Word, and to be in continual prayer.

Zahakiel: The same Book speaks in another place in this manner, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1, 2)

Of course, the author does not mean “leaving” in the sense of “leaving behind.” It is in the sense of, “We need not dwell on these matters, for they are basic.” We need not lay again what is described as “the foundation,” because these things ought to have been known by the readers of that epistle already… and they certainly ought to be known by us. But then, as now, and as in the diagram, principles form the foundation.

Now, we know the principles of Christianity. Some of the doctrinal ones are given right there in Hebrews 6. In terms of the motivational ones, they are listed for us also, only under another name. They are collectively called “The Fruit of The Spirit.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Zahakiel: There is no law against these things. There are, however, lots of laws for these things. Yet at the same time, we need to be very clear when we speak of “law” as it relates to motives. Why keep the law? Paul asked the same question in Galatians 3. In fact, he answers it immediately, and so let’s look at that statement: “Wherefore then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” (Galatians 3:19) Leaving out the words “serveth” and some other useless additions by translators, we find the verse worded as above, true to the Greek original.

The law was added because sin entered our experience. There need be no “law” where everyone automatically operates by the right principles, as was the case in Heaven before the Rebellion, and as was the case for earthly creatures until the fall of Adam and Eve. But there are two things to keep in mind about this:

a) The law exists only to point out sin by telling us what is right. It does not make one obedient, or righteous, or justified. The law tells people where they have gone wrong, and point to the Savior as the solution for their condition. It is only after we see that we are guilty by the law that the need for Christ becomes apparent, therefore anyone who believes, “The law is abolished under the New Testament” is literally anomia, which is Greek for “Lawless.” John tells us, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is anomia.” (1 John 3:4) We are not under the law IF we are in Christ, for in Christ we are obedient to the law, and our actions will therefore naturally harmonize perfectly with it.

b) Laws may express the principles, but they are not equivalent to them. Now, a “legalist” is someone who cannot tell the difference. Think of the principle underlying the law as the “spirit” of that law, as the diagram shows, and this will give you an idea of what I mean.

We read this of Christ’s encounter with some of the aforementioned legalists, “And He said unto them, ‘What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.’” (Matthew 12:11, 12)

Zahakiel: Now, no faithful Sabbath-keeper is going to pick up a sheep and start walking around with it. That’s a lot of work… even in the middle of the week. However, if that sheep is in need, who will say, “I cannot do work, the sheep will have to wait until sunset”? I believe I have met some people who would say just this… or at least, would not say specifically that, because the words that condemn such a course of action exist. But they DO live by the principle being counteracted here, and this is a great error.

The principle of Sabbath is “rest.” This supercedes the “letter of the law” if we are in a situation where it would violate the principle of love, for example. If you want to know why this must be the case, think about this for a while: the spirit must come before the letter, for how else could the angels obey 10 Commandments, the transcript of the character of Yahweh, with no “father and mother,” no possessions to steal, and no marriage that adultery might even be possible?

You see the principles came first. Angels obeyed the Divine purpose naturally, because they were (and two-thirds still are) in harmony with the spirit.

We could spend all this meeting talking about just the first stage here, but we have six more to go, so if there are no questions, let’s move on. Are there any?

[Silence...]

Zahakiel: All right, I'll take that as a no :)

2) Revelations

A Revelation (not limited to the Book of that name) is the expression of the divine will in ways humanity can perceive. It is the written or otherwise revealed instruction given to mankind. Together with the principles, these two levels make up the Law and Testimony, against which every teaching must be compared. (Isaiah 8:20)

As we noted above, when they take the form of laws, precepts, or even instructions received in vision, they are expressions of principles, but secondary to the principles themselves. For example, when Christ was asked, “‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Yahshua said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Now, the first one is written down, it’s literally the “first” commandment; but the second greatest is not written down on stone. This tells us something very significant… it tells us the Messiah is concerned with the very heart of the Law, not the wording, the order, or any of that (not that these things are not important). Some people get uncomfortable when CSDAs speak in this manner; for example, when we tell them, “Read Ellen White’s writings for principle above specifics.” They want to be spoon-fed a list of “dos” and “don’ts,” and neither Christ nor we will have any of that. Remember: it is the children of faith, who live on milk, that do not have the principles – as we read in Hebrews. Love is the fulfilling of the law. When we have this principle, the law finds life in us and we are not “under” it anymore.

Of course, this is not to diminish the fact that Revelation IS given for a reason. We cannot simply say, “I am operating on principles, therefore the law means nothing to me.” No… Yahweh does not give His gifts idly. The Law exists to tell us whether or not we are working by the right set of principles, and this is key to not only having the right motives, but also performing the actions based upon them properly.

Zahakiel: If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, then there is a Highway of Destruction called the “Broad Way,” (Matthew 7:13) and many who travel thereon think they are doing Yahweh a favor. These are the ones who will ask, “Have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?” And they will hear the reply from the Judge, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22, 23)

The “works” were right, but they were not actuated by proper principles. We must have both the right principles AND the right expression of these principles, if we are going to fulfill the Law and the Testimony as individuals and as a people.

Here is another well-known, but often misunderstood, example of the principles being more important than the revelation: “And [Peter] saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.’

“But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.’” (Acts 10:11-14)

Three times this happened, and three times Peter refused. The Scriptures reveal that he was right to do so. Now, there are some people who say, “If I hear a voice from Heaven, I’m going to do it!” But how do we know when we are to do, or whether there is a deeper meaning to what we are supposed to learn, as in this case?

When a principle is going to be violated, we know we cannot act. Some may say, “Well, Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, and that violates a principle, yet Abraham was going to obey.”

Zahakiel: Well, not really :) You see, in Abraham’s mind, offering a sacrifice to Yahweh, even of a human, was not a violation of principle. That may seem hard for some to accept at first, but we have to realize a few things. First, the 10 Commandments (including “Thou shalt not kill”) were not clearly reveled yet – although as I have pointed out in Articles like “Before Sinai,” the principles of all Ten were fully known by Yah’s people. Second, the command not to “kill” is more accurately rendered, “Thou shalt not murder.” A sacrifice, particularly a willing one, would not even violate the letter of this law, really.

Of course, in our day we know that Yah does not desire this kind of sacrifice at all. “Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Yahweh require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Almighty?” (Micah 6:7) The very idea of US giving a life for HIM is a reversal of the plan of Salvation. After all, He gave HIS life for US.

In any event, the laws and instructions revealed by Revelation are the trees that make up the forest of Yah’s character. While it is possible to, as they say, “miss the forest for the trees,” if we take the idea behind the laws into account, we will not stray from the Highway of Holiness. (Isaiah 35:8) All clear?

Jeanie: Yes.
Qinael: Yes.
Clair: Yes.
Dumah: Yeah.
Crystle: Yes.
Barb: Ok.

Zahakiel: 3) Conscience

As Protestants, we believe two key ideas that govern our relationship to both human and divine laws.

a) Civil magistrates do not have the power to compel us to violate our core beliefs.

b) Church authorities do not have the power to compel us to violate our honest understanding of what Yahweh expects of us.

These two things are expressions of conscience. They are how we order our lives, and they were foundational to the formation of the system of the United States back when it was a relatively Christian nation.

As we see in the diagram, Conscience falls below the first “Break point,” which places it in the category of Conviction. For a Christian, the principles, laws and insights given to him from the Scriptures and testimonies are convictions. We are also bound by our understanding of how these are applied, which is where the conscience comes in. As Martin Luther said before the Diet of Worms, “It is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience.” [D’aubigné, History of The Reformation, p. 245] As the dictates of conscience are matters of conviction, we would say that one really couldn’t violate these and retain “the Faith of Yahshua,” for it would be to step outside the experience of Christ. These are things a convert will simply not do, for “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” (1John 3:9a)

Zahakiel: At the same time Luther, like we, makes it very clear that conscience is not the highest of motivations. He said, before the above-recorded statement, “Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture, or by the clearest reasoning, – unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, – and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the Word of God, I cannot and I will not retract… [ibid.]

Conscience is subject to Law and Testimony, though it must also be guarded from violation. We have the following to consider: “The idea is entertained by many that a man may practice anything that he conscientiously believes to be right. But the question is, Has the man a well-instructed, good conscience, or is it biased and warped by his own preconceived opinions? Conscience is not to take the place of ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ Consciences do not all harmonize and are not all inspired alike. Some consciences are dead, seared as with a hot iron. Men may be conscientiously wrong as well as conscientiously right. Paul did not believe in Jesus of Nazareth, and he hunted the Christians from city to city, verily believing that he was doing service to God.” [Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1, page 322]

Say when you've read this.

Qinael: Finished.
Barb: Done.
Crystle: Done.
Jeanie: Done.
Dumah: Done.
Clair: Done.

Zahakiel: Here's a shorter one with the same idea.

“But when the conscience is guided by human perceptions, which are not subdued and softened by the grace of Christ, the mind is in a diseased condition. Things are not seen in their true bearings. The imagination is wrought upon, and the eye of the mind sees things in a false, distorted light.” [ibid., page 323]

Paul, this same Paul used as an example above, tells us after his own conversion, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,” (Romans 14:5b) while not doing away with the supremacy of the Law and Testimony. (Romans 7:7) Conscience is the “doorway in” by which new principles and laws can be learned and internalized – therefore, while it is not of the highest order in terms of motive, it is certainly vital to our experience. Conscience is also a way by which Satan can attack us, if it is not able to recognize the voice of Yahweh in the principles and revelations. There are many who will oppose our work of spreading the Gospel, of operating by the Spirit, doing so “in good conscience.”

Here is the balance between submission to elders (1Peter 5:5) and knowing for one’s self. (Jeremiah 31:34) A trained conscience, yet only one that is trained by familiarity with the principles and revelation (and an understanding of how those two relate to each other), is equipped to see the right path.

Any questions so far?

Qinael: No.

Dumah: I have a question.

Zahakiel: Okay, go ahead.

Dumah: You said something about submission to elders, but we know that we are never asked to let others dictate conscience, so can you elaborate on that idea?

Dumah: Not sure I got what you are saying.

Zahakiel: I'm pointing out that there is a balance between being submitted to elders and knowing the truth for one's self. An elder will not "dictate" what should be believed and done, but should be knowlegeable in the principles and law in order to persuade the Church to walk in the right path.

Dumah: Ok.

Zahakiel: Ok :)

All right, moving to the next...

4) Needs

Needs represent the actual transitional point between convictions and preferences. A lot of the commandments provide for our needs, telling us of the best food, (Leviticus 11) the best type of clothing, (1Timothy 2:9) of which (food and clothing) the Scriptures indeed speak as necessities. (1Timothy 6:9, Job 23:12)

At the same time, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” (Matthew 6:25) Though they are needs, and we don’t last long without them, life is not about striving after these things, or worrying that we will not have what Yah is pleased to supply for His children.

One of the things the Sabbath is designed to teach us is what Paul came to understand, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) A part of coming into the spirit of the Sabbath is realizing that even our bodies’ needs are not the same as, or as important as, our eternal needs. Of our eternal needs we are told that the Creator “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” (2Peter 1:3) If we have the Sabbath rest, we will have confidence in the truth of this promise, and also that our physical needs will be met as long as we truly need them.

Needs, therefore, come only partly under convictions, because they may be sacrificed without the loss of one’s faith. For example, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Denying yourself your needs for the needs of another may actually fulfill the principle of love: the very foundation of our motivations. Does everyone understand this?

Crystle: Yes.
Qinael: Yes.
Clair: Yes.
Barb: Ok.

Zahakiel: A quick note here... You may notice that each level of the pyramid is subject to the one below it. This is a divine safeguard, for it protects us against being legalists, against following a warped conscience, and against considering our own needs before those of others. There is a “principle” that flows the height of the pyramid as well. You may also notice that as we’ve moved up the diagram, we are spending less and less time on the sections we consider. This is to be expected, since we are moving to less and less important factors that should motivate our actions. The next few sections should go fairly quickly.

5) Desires

Desires, naturally, are subject to needs. Even people in the world have knowledge of this on an intellectual level. If it is an ordinary desire, and not an impulse or addiction (which we will discuss next) most people will forego what is desired if their needs, consciences, etc. present a conflict. This is the first level that falls firmly in the category of Preference.

We think of them primarily as things we would prefer to have, other things being equal. They are our favorites: favorite food, favorite color curtains, and things like that. If, as with all other layers, desire is subject to the motivators below it, this may be a great benefit to the Body. Desires and Conscience are where a person’s “individuality” takes shape. As Christians, we must certainly have the same principles; this is where we are of “one Spirit.” (1Corinthians 6:17) Likewise, we must certainly agree on our understanding of doctrine, so we must be agreed on what the revelations of our Father mean. (Acts 2:42) Our consciences may be different, however, and our desires quite diverse, yet if we have a common foundation there will be no conflict.

Zahakiel: We are told to ask for the desires of our hearts and that we will receive them if they are indeed subject to the safeguard of a proper motivation. “And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1John 5:15) Again, these desires must be within the will of Yah, subject to the “bigger picture.” John points this out three verses later, while discussing the same general theme: “We know that whosoever is born of Yah sinneth not; but he that is begotten of Yah keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (verse 18) Certain desires, of course, come from the flesh, and following them would result in “sin.” These must be denied. This is where the “wicked one” seeks to influence us.

If we are in the faith, however, we will see unlawful desires (you see how here they are subject to “law”) as temptations, and we are told how to deal with that. “Submit yourselves therefore to the Almighty. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) He “toucheth us not” if we do this. Learning the difference between a temptation and a Christian desire is a very important part of the growth process, and we can be trained by becoming familiar (in practice, not just theory) with the more important motivational factors we’ve already seen.

Any questions on the subject of Desire?

Crystle: None.

Zahakiel: All right, then...

6) Impulses

Also a type of desire, impulses they are almost the same category as that which comes below it. Yet they are different in this way: they are not generally things for which we long, and plan. They are spur-of-the-moment things and, in general, actions that have this as the motive should be avoided. It is true that revelation may come to us in a flash, but we need to be very careful there; this category represents the dividing line (the second Break point) between what is permissible, if done in the Spirit of Christ, and what never falls within the Spirit of Christ.

When the Scriptures speak of impulses, the results are almost invariably bad. Let’s look at an example of this.

“And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Yahweh, and said, ‘If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” (Judges 11:30, 31) This is known, at least in Adventist circles, as “Jephthah’s rash vow.”

We see the consequences from the verses that follow. “And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; and she was his only child: beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, ‘Alas, my daughter! Thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me, for I have opened my mouth unto Yahweh, and I cannot go back.’” (verses 34, 35)

Here is the principle of the thing: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of Elohim, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before the Almighty; for Elohim is in Heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2)

Does everyone understand this idea?

Crystle: Yes.
Qinael: <nods.>
Jeanie: Yes.
Clair: Yes.

Zahakiel: All right, one more to go :)

Dumah: :)

Zahakiel: 7) Addictions

When discussing the actual food pyramid, to which I have compared this diagram, many health reformers will look at the top stage, which usually consists of meats, sugars and fats, and say, “The best move, really, is to just cut the top off the pyramid altogether.” We might say the same here. With one exception, actions motivated by addiction must always to be avoided, falling firmly beyond the “Allowable” section of the Break point. Possession, demonic influence, inability to overcome sin, all these are readily possible (likely) within this realm.

The Bible speaks of addictions, though not often using that word. In one place we read of those who are not converted, yet making a profession of faith: “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.” (2Peter 2:12-14)

Addictions are of the “natural” man. They are found in those who follow the dictates of their bodies above the promptings of the Spirit, and reveal that they are not yet “filled” with that Spirit. As Paul writes, “they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Yah: for it is not subject to the law of Yah, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Yah.” (Romans 8:5-8)

Zahakiel: If we are motivated by addiction, we cannot be “subject to the law of Yah,” and therefore much less the principles of His Kingdom. The next verses in Romans 8 describe the experience of the convert, however, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of the Almighty dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (verses 9,10)

In Christ we overcome addictions. We recall that Peter describes those who cannot cease from sin as “natural beasts,” and we read of the conversion experience thus: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17) The natural man, the one who cannot cease from sin, dies at the point of conversion. Those who say, “A Christian cannot cease from sin” should ask themselves, “What motivates me to say that?” It is not the Law and the Testimony.

Paul describes his condition before conversion (Romans 7:5) in language like this, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” (Romans 7:15) This is addiction, plain and simple. But Paul was not left in that situation. He writes, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

“I thank Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah, our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 7:24, 25; 8:1)

Dumah: He doesn't serve the mind and flesh at the same time, as some say this means, right?

Zahakiel: Right.

You have to keep going into chapter 8 without the artificial break to get the full meaning of Paul's wording there.

Even after conversion, we are in the flesh in the sense that we are still tabernacled in these bodies. Yet Paul tells us, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of the Almighty dwell in you.” We are not in the flesh in the sense that the flesh, with its unlawful desires and addictions form the motivation for our actions. The convert may examine himself to see that he is free of these things, for “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) He may rejoice that he has indeed been freed from addiction, and thus may partake of Christ wholly, “and so let him eat of that Bread.”

Now, I did speak of one exception. There is a single place in the Bible where the word “addicted” is used, and interestingly enough it is in a good sense. We read, “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” (1Corinthians 16:15, 16)

Yet even here, the word translated as “addicted” does not have the same connotations as in English. It is the Greek tasso, and it means primarily, “to set in order.” Thus, the “addiction” to the ministry of Yahweh is not a circumstance over which we have no voluntary control; it is a way we have set our lives in order. Similarly, when the Scriptures say “yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness,” (Romans 6:19) and use a word that means “slaves,” it is not a bond-service to which we are subjected, but from which we eternally benefit.

You recall this possibility allowed in the Old Testament instructions for dealing with slaves: “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. And if the servant shall plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.” (Exodus 21:2, 5, 6)

Zahakiel: This is the kind of service we are offered by Heaven, and the only kind of service acceptable to Yahweh.

We have now looked at all the factors that motivate people to perform their various actions. We have seen an order of importance in these factors, and that some fall outside the allowable range of Christian causes. Most impulses, and all addictions (as the word is now used), serve only to confirm the individual in a course of action that leads far from Heaven. To be safe, every factor that motivates us should be seen through the lens of the principles. Even those things that we easily trust, such as revelation and conscience, should be reverently questioned. If we are going to know the Father and Son, which the Scriptures equate with salvation, (John 17:3) we must make a point of asking, “What principle lies under these instructions? What does this tell me about the character of the Creator?”

The very first of the Three Angels’ Messages tells us to worship the Creator, (Revelation 14:7) and in order to do so “in spirit and in truth” we must know who He is and, to an extent, know who we are, at least in terms of this: “Why do I do what I do?”

Let me conclude with this thought: “It is the motive that gives character to our acts, stamping them with ignominy or with high moral worth. Not the great things which every eye sees and every tongue praises does God account most precious. The little duties cheerfully done, the little gifts which make no show, and which to human eyes may appear worthless, often stand highest in His sight. A heart of faith and love is dearer to God than the most costly gift.” [The Desire of Ages, page 615]

Are there any questions before we close?

Qinael: No.
Clair: None here.
Dumah: Very nice... nope.

Zahakiel: All right, let's pray, then.

Almighty and loving Father in Heaven,

We thank you for this opportunity to gather together from many places, and to study your Word in peace. We thank you for the understanding you have given us of your character, of your principles, and for their expression through divine law and revelation. We thank you for the gift of individuality, by which we can be diverse, but in harmony. And we thank you that you have set before us a way that is narrow, but straight, that we need not err in our pilgrimage to the Holy City.

Give each of us the insight to look at ourselves through your eyes, and grant us a knowledge of our true motives. Let us continue to walk in the path of sanctification in the name of your dear Son, that we may grow up into the maturity He set before us in His perfect example. We ask all these things in the name of Yahshua,

Amen.

Barb: Amen.
Dumah: Amen.
Jeanie: Yes.
Qinael: Amen.
Crystle: Amen.
Clair: Amen.