Sensationalism against Truth

Ellen white says smallest gesture with purpose to shift the truth is a lie.

Both sensationalism and truth are based on perception or knowledge or an intricate pool of facts. The only difference is that one is limited and imperfectly woven, and the other is infinite and perfectly interworking together where changing that smallest fact changes the biggest picture of it.

In the limited pool of sensationalism, such perfect interconnectivity between facts is beyond imagination — there, if you change one fact, the rest remains intact, because the perceiver does not have the capacity to track changes that occur within the whole body, so instead he treats one part independently as if it can function on its own. This allows the perceiver to play with his facts, removing responsibility for changing them as his cunning will pleases and seems necessary at the moment. Each fact is made to suit the perceiver at the moment he perceived it to sustain his sense of safety, comfort, meaning and positivity. But this sense is nothing but a product of the perceiver’s imagination, as the whole perception is. But the perceiver, absorbed in himself alone, does not perceive this bigger truth and is left a slave to his own limited imagination.

The perception of truth which is formed by the infinite facts which work flawlessly together is maintained by the Perceiver. His continuous and unfaltering faithful service gives the perception and absolute validity, enabling it to be always true, without exception, for this Perceiver is infinite in nature, thus He has the power to maintain His infinite perception unadulterated — forever. But a human cannot perceive this infinite perception for his vision is always limited. He cannot maintain it for his power is bizarre. He cannot create it for he himself was created by it. He can only tap it by faith in the infinite Perceiver. And the perceiver who cannot humble himself before the great Perceiver remains slave to his own vanity, the perception of his vain thoughts, barred by it’s limits, reinforcing his false beliefs by the power of sensationalism, in the cyclical, repetitive, and futile attempts to make it appear more trustworthy — for deep down he knows he cannot be trusted; however he blurrs this knowledge by the desperate desire to be unjustly in control of the world he did not create. This unbalanced ambitions enslave him within the hyperbolic apparition of sensationalism — bloating that which is perceivable to appear infinite times stronger than its actual value in order to make up for the lack of perception of that which only God can perceive. By this we remove God from the picture, placing ourselves in His stead, becoming the authors of foolishness, for there is no truth without the Truth-Maker, and no sustaining of the infinite without the One who always is, the Great I AM.

Sensationalism gives power to feelings, truth gives power to meaning.

There is meaning in feelings, but with short expiration date. It cannot compete with the meaning of truth which has no expiration date and stays as fresh as it is now throughout all eternity.

Sensationalism, however innocently it flickers in the beginning, is always intended to distort truth — it always ends with burning houses filled with any sort of life. It is ruthless by nature. And there is a reason for this: sensationalism always lacks value in meaningfulness. It cannot stand the test of time in the long run — it cannot fill eternity with meaning, reason to live, moral weight, or incorruptible value.

There is peace in truth because the meaning is valued, while in sensationalism there is hysteria because it can never compensate for the lack of meaningful truth it harbors beneath it. Truth needs no sensational emphasis because it harbors meaning of an eternal value. The lack of meaning and truth in sensationalism forces it to fill the gap of value with excitements of the flesh rather than of the spirit.

Whenever truth is spoken with sensations that attract the body, it is never of God — that voice, letter, or picture identifying itself as truth is not the truth. Of course, truth can NEVER be expressed indifferently, because love is never indifferent — and truth is sister to love. Thus, truth always carries within it a great dose of usefully controlled enthusiasm — there are enthusiastic ways of expressing truth. But these methods come from sheer love and are inner-driven — they flow from a heart governed by the Spirit, not stirred by the flesh. Still, sometimes — due to our fallen nature — our habits may mistakenly slip to those of the flesh, if we are not watchful enough —and this is forgivable. God forgives until we learn to become fully vigilant “of the devil, who roams like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

• 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

 But purposeful sensationalism is never innocent, nor it appreciates forgiveness when offered,  for at its core lies the intent to pull souls away from God and the truth — and with that, from His love for us in His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Those who are entangled in sensationalism without knowing its devilish origin and its power and grip it holds over them are victims of deception — not deceivers. They are not the perpetrators, though they do the work of the devil. But when truth shines its light before their deceived eyes, and they still love the darkness instead, choosing deception because their works are evil, they suddenly get promoted in the devil’s kingdom, from mere innocent victims and helpless captives —frontline workers and scapegoats — to masters of crime and corruption.

• John 3:18  — He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  ¹⁹  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
  ²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
• John 7:7 — The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

In music, simple chords play out divine melody — but just what makes the melody divine? Always the meaning behind the words — the truth makes the melody divine. David’s Psalms were not recorded in chords, but in words alone. It is NEVER the chords, nor the refined sound of the finely crafted instrument designed by human hands, nor the seamless skill of the musician who plays it, nor the tonal depth, richness, and mastery of his voice, nor the gifted precision of the one who rhymes, handed down by God through ancestral bloodline and excelled through tradition, that plays forth divinity, not even the eloquence of the preacher of the Gospel itself — these are all human  qualities and can always be exceeded — but the spoken words handed by the prophetic Spirit of God’s Holiness. The context of the invisible and inaudible meaning behind those Words that promises to the soul that the Immortal One, laid His immortality open for us to share because He loves us as if each of us were His only begotten Son. 

The instruments, the chords, the skills and mastery, the rhymes and tones of voice, however exalted excelented they are, however noble ,they can never save souls by themselves, even if they originate from heaven itself and are performed by unfallen holy angels. It is the message of the gospel that saves the believing sinner, not the instruments through which it is carried. Words alone can save souls, but instruments alone cannot. Whichever way we may use the instruments, the power of the Gospel does not depend on them. It is a power of itself. A power of the Word alone. Chords cannot be “BELIEVED.” They do not carry within them a meaning or an absolute meaning. They carry subjective interpretations — they stirring what is already inside, they do not bring new information to the heart of the listener. Not new understanding. They are tools, not essence. The chords are always just a nice and gracious plus, never a must, and they are always the result of believing, not the cause of it. They are the grateful enthusiasm that comes after believing, which fuels the will to share the words that saved our lives to others.

They are one of the many channels of expressing that which is the absolute channel :the way the truth and the life. They require the absolute channel for power, and the channel doesn’t require them, for it is itself the power. It is the channel that produces chords of cheerfulness and gratitude, and these chords need no refinement for they are reflection of the perfect.

Professionalism refines that which does not immerge from the perfect, in order to make it appear perfect. It washes the pot from the outside because there is no perfection inside that reflects its purity by itself, so the purity must be faked, to create the illusion that there is an internal cleansing power. But the very act of cleaning the outside shows that they do the works by themselves, not by God, maintaining the form of faith denying the power thereof.

• Matthew 23:27 — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
• Matthew 23:25-26 — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
  ²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Professionalism never saved souls nor it was ever a product of a soul which was saved, and God never commanded it to be the means of preaching words of salvation either. If anything, He warned us against it and it has always been a stumbling block to those prone to believing. GOD CHOSE THE SIMPLE to carry out his saving message, the poor, the stepped on, the unwanted of society, the ones with ragged voices, the uneducated ones, the limb and handicapped, the children, those who cannot play the violin or know the scales of the notes, but with pure love express the power of the gospel with all they have, even with two chords or no chords. Even without speech proficiency, as Moses , who forgot the speech and was stuttering

God choose the simplest methods by simplest people so that the excellence of his power shines in the face of Jesus Christ by the light he commanded within our dark bodies made of clay.

• 2 Corinthians 4:6–9 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
  ⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
  ⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
• James 1:9–10 —Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
  ¹⁰ But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”

Proficiency in music is not condemned, it is much welcomed, but it is much better to prophesy — Paul knew nine languages and yet he preferred to speak 5 words of understanding than 1000 of unknown tongues.

• 1 Corinthians 14:19 — “19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

Paul never used his languages to brag but he humbled them, and even though he could speak them, he humiliated his speech to the understanding of the people.

• 1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

He did not allow himself to do that which is allowed to him, in order to do that which is useful for the salvation of others.

• 1 Corinthians 6:12 — “12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:23 — “23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

If his knowledge of many languages was a stumbling block for the faith of others, he restrained it. And if any knowledge he has excelled in weakens the conscience of his brother in Christ who is still ignorant of his freedoms, he sins against Christ with that knowledge.

• 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 — Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
  ² And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
  ³ But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
  ⁴ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
  ⁵ For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
  ⁶ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
  ⁷ Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
  ⁸ But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
  ⁹ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
  ¹⁰ For if any man see thee, which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
  ¹¹ And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
  ¹² But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
  ¹³ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, LEST I make my brother to offend.”

And sensationalism is a stumbling block because it shifts the focus to feelings and sensations of the body which perishes, rather than the purity of the message which is spiritual and eternal.

• James 1:9–10 —Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
  ¹⁰ But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”
• God doesn’t require feelings of ecstasy for one to believe or to prove his faith. But he bestows feelings of gratitude by tuning one’s will with His when one exhibits continuous works of faith. It is not his feelings that are the proof of faith, but the works he exists. Even though feelings are results of works, they are not proof. But works are proof of faith. So works are results of faith, feelings results of works and works are proof of faith and feelings are not a proof of works. But feelings may be a proof of long term continuous exhibition of works of faith. But feelings take time to tune, so it is tricky that one uses feelings alone to check the status of his salvation. He may use them to check to development and consistency of his works.

Angels were not called to preach the gospel, but sinners were — not those who protected Christ while on the way to Golgotha, but those who killed Christ by their wretchedness caused by their sins and nailed Him to the cross. Not those who protected Him by the grave scattering away the demons who determinately intended to keep His body forever dead, but those who, after He resurrected, did not easily believed He was yet alive and were afraid of the Roman soldiers lest the persecute their corruptible flesh. These wretched men of clay were entrusted the divine Gospel of salvation that echoes throughout the whole universe as the main subject of interest where all citizens of all worlds God created are eager to tap into its marvelous mystery throughout eternity.

• 1 Timothy 3:16 — “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
• Matthew 21:42 — “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes
• Psalm 118:23 — “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”

Without wretchedness, the gospel cannot he preached. Christ came to call sinners to repentance and the sick to healing. But the healthy, the righteous, and the wise — they need no Gospel to save them — they are amazing in their own eyes.

• Isaiah 5:21 — “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
• Proverbs 3:7 — “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
• Proverbs 26:12 — “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

What acknowledgment of one’s own wretchedness is left in professionalism? What place does it leave for divinity, when it allows man to already sit at the top?

• Revelation 3:17 — “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
• Philippians 3:12 — “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Only vanity dwells in professionalism — for professionalism is formality — and in formality, the power of God is denied. Nevertheless, all things with God must be done in order and with dignity, but the so-called human sciences and humanly exalted standards do not bring forth the humble and simple order and dignity in which the Gospel ought be spoken. For this is an inner order — an order of the soul, dignity of the believing heart — while professionalism is an external cleansing of the pot — a masked order, producing whitewashed graves.

We are called to let exterior clean by itself once we clean the insides of the pots which carry our souls and the Spirit of Him who laid His holy life to save them from the filth of decay. The power of the gospel is preached by the power which comes from within, from the truly believing heart, not by the power from without — the strongest man cannot preach the Gospel without the Sprit within him, and the weakest man can preach the most beautiful Gospel through the Spirit of Christ which enables him to do all things through His Master who strengthens him.

• Philippians 4:9–13 — “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
  ¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
  ¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
  ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
  ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The wisest man cannot, the simplest man can — God catches the wise of this world in their own craftiness, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

• 1 Corinthians 3:19 — “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

The most beautiful man in body cannot; the ugliest man in body can — for the beauty of this world is nothing compared to the beauty of the world to come. All flesh is as grass, and the flower fades. Even Christ, the Savior, the only begotten of the Father, was not given an outward beauty that we should desire Him — but that we should desire God in Him, the invisible beauty of His character.

• 1 Peter 1:24 — “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:”
• 1 Peter 3:4 — “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 — For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
  ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
  ¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• Isaiah 53:2 — “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
• Psalm 39:5 — “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”
• Proverbs 31:30 — “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
• Song of Solomon 4:7 — “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” [Spiritual beauty]

The healthiest man cannot; the sickest man can — for there is only death in the healthiest body that sins and immortality in the sickest body that is washed by the blood of the King.

• Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Revelation 1:5 — “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

The happiest man cannot, the saddest man can — for external happiness without the Spirit of God is more sorrowful than external sadness with the Spirit of God, for there is hope in sadness, but in his boastful joying there is only death.

The happiest man cannot; the saddest man can — for external happiness without the Spirit of God is more sorrowful than external sadness with the Spirit of God. There is hope in godly sorrow, but in boastful joy without God, there is only death.

• Psalm 30:5 — “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
• Ecclesiastes 7:3 — “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”
• Proverbs 14:13 — “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”
• Romans 14:17 — “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Therefore, let the rich boast in his knowledge of how poor he is without Christ, and in his readiness to give everything away for Christ, to help a brother in need; and let the poor boast in his richness in Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 —
  “²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
  ²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
  ²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
  ²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
• James 2:5 — “5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

Let the strong boast in his weakness, and the weak in his strength in Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Let the beautiful boast in his ugliness, and the ugly in his beauty in Christ.

• Isaiah 61:3 — “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

The power from without, if not restrained, stumbles the power of the Gospel which is from within. It brings forth only a form of godliness denying the power thereof.

• 2 Timothy 3:5 — “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
• Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Do not forget again: it is your current inner wretchedness and natural physical misery that preach the power of the gospel — your awareness of your true value without the Lord. Your SIMPLICITY, not your professionalism, wisdom, science, high-standard knowledge, education, social standing, or eloquence with words.

Be as simple as the dust of the earth from which you were made, if you want to shine the gospel of your Creator from within outward — for He gives the dust value by His priceless light. And the less value is seen in you, the more value is revealed of Him — therefore do not overshadow His glory with your vanity.

In your weakness, God’s power is made manifest. For His power is this: that such outcasts — low in value, low in spirit, hanging on the verge of death, dead already — have the audacity to live as if they are not only citizens of heaven, but beloved sons of the King of Heaven, the Creator of the universe, and the Father of all that dwells in it.

🌎 Where is this seen in the professional settings of this world?
They all manifest but a dull spirit masked by formalities which they call professionalism.

The gospel is not formal, but personal — it speaks to the wretched individual, to the misery of his soul, not to the appearance of his body — but to the low state of his heart and spirit.

It speaks:

• to his hopelessness, that there is hope,
• to his misery, that there is richness,
• to his sin, that there is forgiveness,
• to his cunningness, that there is a place for repentance,
• to his death, that there is life.

The most beautiful musical symphonies in the world — and even in heaven — cannot speak this when they are performed without the words of life.

• It suits a fool far better to preach the Gospel than the wise to display the most precious jewels of the world.
  • Proverbs 17:7 — “Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:27 — “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18 — “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
  • Proverbs 26:12 — “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
  • Ecclesiastes 7:5 — “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
  • Psalm 14:1 — “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
  • Proverbs 17:28 — “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
  • Proverbs 26:4 — “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
    ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
  • Proverbs 12:15 — “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

And when the message consists of words alone, without audible music — words that speak life, hope, and salvation — without eloquence even, or even with broken grammar, stumbling lips, or an untrained tongue and ear for language — where words are misplaced, misspelled, poorly pronounced, and shades of meaning pass undistinguished — it outperforms the most beautiful melodies ever composed: whether in heaven or on earth, whether by humans, by angels, or by God Himself.

For God made the symphonies of the birds and of all nature; but at the sound of His voice — which the Son of God discloses, that speaks life and love — the birds hush their singing:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

The melody of God that rings in our hearts is the meaning in His Words — the truth of His love for us.

“This song, with its melody, rhyme, and voice, is fully spoken — without any melody, rhyme, or vocal harmony — by a single verse in the Bible. And its sweet, sweet voice rings in the believer’s heart no more and no less than the message sung in this simple tunelet. The notes may fade, but the message remains forever. And the heart that clings to the message will never perish, like the words and meaning of the message, but whoever clings to the notes will fade — like the grass withers — with the music that fades:

• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• 1 John 4:9 — “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

• 1 Kings 19:11–13 — “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 
  ¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 
  ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

You see, God’s message of the gospel — that He cares for us personally as if each one of us was His only begotten Son — cannot be expressed by the phenomena of nature, let alone by melody alone, played by hands and lips made of clay — but only by His personal engagement with us: by words proceeding from His own mouth, speaking to us individually, face to face, as He spoke to Moses — and Moses did not die, but was glowing with God’s light and glory.

Music awakens feelings — which come and go, and change as melodies change. But words of truth awaken faith, trust, honesty, holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness, and patience — and these never change. They are everlasting life.

• John 6:63 — “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
• John 17:17 — “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• Proverbs 4:20–22 — “²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

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• Evangelism, p. 319 — “Those who are truly converted will be drawn by the purity and elevation of the truth, not by worldly inducements.”
• Evangelism, p. 320 — “It is better to have two or three who are truly converted to God, than to have scores who make a profession, but do not show the works of righteousness.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 162 — “We are to invite people to the gospel feast, not by appeasing their appetite for worldly amusement, but by exalting the truth of God’s Word.”
• Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 36 — “Bring men in because they are convicted by the truth, not because they are attracted by outward display, or worldly excitement.”
• Evangelism, p. 137 — “The truth should be presented with simplicity, and should be allowed to make its own impression. We are not to depend on the attractions of music, or the talent of men, to win souls.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 500 — “The world must not be introduced into the church. And married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, ‘a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’”

The instruments, the voice, the rhymes, they only carry out the words with their meaning, giving them colorful shapes, cheerfulness, rhythm, joyfulness, outter distinction, and amplify their impression stamped in the memory of the one who ALREADY believed — they don’t help in believing because the message alone draws the person or detaches him. When complex and complicated melody overshadows the words and when the words are not of a deepest meaning, but the melody makes up for the lack of doctrine, we are tricked that we glorify God and His Son when only we become emotional slaves who sing without understanding but are carried out of the emotional wave. The focus remains on the music and the words are if secondary value, and since Jesus is the word, Jesus is of secondary value. Isn’t this devilish? We cannot worship God without truth. And truth is never left for many or personal interpretations.

The instruments, the voice, and the rhymes merely transmit the words and their intended meaning. They add external color, tonal brightness, rhythm, and auditory joy, emphatic distinctiveness for sensory impact. They give shape to the message and help it register more firmly in the memory of the one who has already believed. But they do not assist in believing, because it is the message itself—its content, its truth—that either draws the listener or causes him to turn away. When complex melodies or elaborate harmonies dominate the sound and overshadow the clarity of the words—especially when the words themselves lack meaningful depth and doctrinal weight—music falsely replaces truth. In such moments, we are misled into thinking we are glorifying God and His Son, when in reality we are emotionally manipulated overcome by our senses, enslaved by feelings, singing without understanding , carried by the emotional wave that disctates the direction of the tune. We become passive responders to musical stimulation rather than active participants in worship guided by understanding in the soul. The focus restes on the sound, and the words become secondary and are blurred away. And since Jesus is the Word, He is pushed into a secondary place and our beholding of Him is blurred away. We forget to worship God in Spirit and in truth, forgetting who God is. We replace His identity with our opinions and His words of revealing Himself to us become of secondary value, which never gets the chance to be actively considered. Is this not a deception of the devil? We cannot worship God apart from truth.

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Truth is not subject to personal interpretation — it is not a container of multiple, incompatible meanings — it has but one meaning. Nor is it stretched to carry multiple interpretations of inconsistent conclusions — it allows for but ONE interpretation.

The meaning of truth is not assembled from fragments, nor is its interpretation pieced together by private, individual opinion. Each part is recognized by the others as part of the whole, and each part is public — for the meaning and interpretation of the truth to which they belong are laid out in the open. Each part is bound to the next, joined by one divine Law that governs the whole. Nothing stands alone. Each part, through another and yet another, leads to the meaning, and the meaning to the interpretation, and back again — it is in perfect circulation. Meaning flows into interpretation, and interpretation confirms meaning.

All is formed in unity, held together by the Spirit who authored it. Truth does not contradict itself, divide against itself, or speak in double tones. It stands complete, singular, and indivisible — as unshakable as the Rock from which it came.

Consent does not change its structure.

• Romans 3:4 — “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”

The truth is firm like an immovable rock — even the Rock, Jesus Christ. Having one meaning and one interpretation, it is also given only by the One Holy Spirit of the One God, through His One and Only begotten Son. It contains no other christs within. It is one of a kind, and there is nothing like it — no other beside Him.

• Isaiah 40:18 — “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?”
• Isaiah 40:25 — “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”
• Psalm 89:6 — “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?”
• 1 Samuel 2:2 — “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”
• Deuteronomy 4:35 — “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.”
• Deuteronomy 4:39 — “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
• Isaiah 46:5 — “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?”
• Exodus 15:11 — “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
• Psalm 86:8 — “There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”
• Jeremiah 10:6 — “Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
• Jeremiah 10:10 — “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king.”
• Malachi 3:6 — “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
• Revelation 1:8 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Truth is not fluid, sentimental, or democratic. It does not negotiate, adapt, or amend. Truth brings a sword, not peace. It is not reshaped to comfort emotional fragility, to pacify psychological sensitivity, or to gain the approval of public consensus. It cannot be altered, tailored, or bent to fit group agreement, emotional pressure, cultural trends, or relational tension. It does not submit to the demands of fallen feelings or the instability of the human heart.

Truth does not make alliances with collective reinterpretation, nor does it form unions, treaties, partnership, or agreements with human consensus. It does not seek harmony through compromise, or clarity through shared uncertainty. It neither merges nor adapts to man’s unstable knowledge. Truth does not bow to emotion, tradition, preference, or fear. It is not subject to dialogue with confusion.

It makes no peace treaty with to the unstable ground of human reason built on assumptions and emotional sway — with its uncertainties, wild guesses, and frail conclusions drawn from shifting thoughts and maintained by unretained focus. It does not yield to its shallow, incomplete sight limited by the dust they were made of, corrupted by the sin they were deceived into. It walks not side by side with the instability of human understanding, shaped by fleeting emotion, personal bias, or the undefined edges of (their) fallen perception — it, rather, calmly leads their way and shows eternal patience to the humbling ear.
it has no commonality to that which is, at all times, prone to error and blind to the eternal — deaf to the divine, holy, and true.

It neither merges nor collaborates with conflicting opinions — neither human thought corresponds to another, but rather, they live by consensus and compromise. The truth is set apart — holy. and fully. Not a jot or a title is yielded to harmonize with the temporal and confined.

In the sight of the truth, every human thought, opinion, belief, whim, impulse, sensation, desire, impression, instinct, intuition, emotion, and sentiment — in all their forms — is a falsehood. Empty, unstable, and erroneous — selfish and malicious.

• Genesis 8:21 — “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”

It is not diluted to human interest, social preference, psychological comfort, popular opinion, collective agreement, doctrinal compromise, theological commonness, syncretistic theology, surface-level kindness, humanistic tolerance, approval-seeking piety, cultural relevance, theological trend, doctrinal revision, denominational tradition, academic framing, or institutional policies.

Truth does not submit to trends, conform to systems, or lower itself to gain access. It stands whole and self-sufficient, indifferent to approval, unmoved by rejection, and untouched by revision.

It stands on its own—pure, unchanged, unyielding, divine. Sacred. Precious.

It does not compromise for peace. For the truth is peace. And knowing it is freedom.

Truth stands alone — absolute, undivided, final.

Truth brings enmity with the world and war with the desires and lusts and the will and the works of the flesh.

It is eternal, and cannot die. It changes not. It was, it is, and is to come. There is nothing new under the sun. All that was ever needed the truth has it very good. No one can add or subtract from it.

Truth is not interpretive; it is declarative.
Consensus does not determine truth — nor does sincerity. But full submission and acceptance of it is sincerity and honesty and righteousness — for there is none other who is righteous: they all sinned and fall short from the glory of the Truth, the Word.

Truth Is not many-sided. It does not tolerate adjustment to fit subjective meaning.

It stands on its own, regardless of approval or acceptance.

Its tone does not soften or sharpen based on one’s readiness to receive it. its value is neither diminished nor increased by emotional interpretation or reaction. It does not acclimatize to one’s insecurities — whether offended or not, it does not acculturate to their sentiments and feelings — nor it attunes to their desires, wishes, sensations, nor to opinions and private knowledge. It is a LAW of itself, and human customs and traditions — cultures and beliefs — hold no authority or power over it. It does not reason with human ambitions. It is not compassionate to disagreement — all disagreement with the truth is causeless reasoning; vanity. It, rather, offers reasons to justify its stance and invite others to leave their sandy grounds and align themselves with it. It does not befriend disagreements nor share space with contradiction.

Truth does not explore — it calls others to explore it and rest in its certainty.

Truth is never subject to personal interpretation, collective standards, or made pliable to conflicting implications. It does not entertain fantasies but condemns them. It never surrenders to assumptions but defeats them, exposing them — every time — catching it in its cunning.

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We cannot worship God without truth. And truth is made of words — not notes, chords, voices, colors, visual shapes, auditory nuances, tangible sensations, smells, tastes, emotions, or feelings. untouched by the five senses. It is invisible, intangible, and inaudible; it has no scent, no flavor, no form. It is formed of understanding and spoken in words filled with meaning colored by self-sacrificial love.

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The focus must always remain on the meaning of the words — and on the divine law that governs their utterance. Not all words obey the divine lead — many words do not belong to the Spirit and do not carry within them the invisible substance of heaven. Yet, it is by focusing on words alone that we can discern the origin of their master — the heart, its intention.

• Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
• Proverbs 18:17 — “The first to speak in his cause seems just — until his neighbor comes and examines him [his words].”
• Matthew 12:34 — “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
• Luke 6:45 — “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
• Proverbs 4:23–24 — “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
• Psalm 19:14 — “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord.”
• Proverbs 16:23 — “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.”
• Matthew 15:18 — “But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart—and these defile the person.”
• Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

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• Proverbs 18:4 — “The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”
• Proverbs 18:6 — “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.”
• Proverbs 18:7 — “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
• Proverbs 18:8 — “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”
• Proverbs 18:12 — “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”
• Proverbs 18:13 — “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
• Proverbs 18:15 — “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
• Proverbs 18:17 — “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”
• Proverbs 18:20 — “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.”
• Proverbs 18:23 — “The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.”

Even the most majestic melodies of creation, orchestrated by God Himself ^{1 ⤵} — nature sings in visible color to the eyes, in audible sound to the ears, in fragrant breath to the nose, in tangible texture to the skin, in sweet ripeness to the tongue, and in living motion through every form of creation — through the flight of birds across skies, and their rustling wings among branches and hollows; the stirring of beasts upon fields and forest floors, and the scampering of creatures through underbrush and trees, the distant howling, roaring, and whispering calls of land animals weaving through the air; the hum of insects weaving through leaves and shafts of light; the glide of fish beneath waves and over coral beds, flowing rivers, hushing lakes, and clicking tide pools; the bloom of flowers and the sway of trees in mountains and meadows, dancing in sunshine and shadow, and the slow spiral drift of autumn leaves upon still ponds; the whisper of wind across hills, plains, open seas, bushes, and crispy rocky canyons, carrying scents and stirring grasses and wildflowers; the fall of rain upon rivers, oceans, soil, leaves, and grass, feeding thirsty earth and filling hushing springs, gathering as mist and nourishing hidden roots;

• Deuteronomy 32:2 — “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.”

the dawning blaze and fading shade of the sun over all that proclaims life by its pulse, marking the passage of time through shifting seasons; the soft glow of the moon and the quiet phases that govern tides; and the slow turning of stars in silent, vast acoustic heavens, echoing through endless night and touching all creation — holding intricate harmonies no composer could script, flawless rhythms pulsing through root and wing, pitch purity untouched by human voice, sustained tones echoing through valleys, modulations that shift with light and season, polyphonic textures shaped by living instruments, blending frequencies across species — all in perfect sync, without rehearsal, and never ceasing —

• Job 38:1 — “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
  ¹² Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
  ¹³ Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
  ¹⁴ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
  ¹⁵ Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
  ¹⁶ Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
  ¹⁷ When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  ¹⁸ Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
  ¹⁹ When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
  ²⁰ And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
  ²¹ And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
  ²² Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
  ²³ That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
  ²⁴ It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
  ²⁵ And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
  ²⁶ Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
  ²⁷ Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
  ²⁸ Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
  ²⁹ Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
  ³⁰ That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
  ³¹ Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
  ³² Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
  ³³ Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
  ³⁴ By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
  ³⁵ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
  ³⁶ To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
  ³⁷ To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
  ³⁸ Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
  ³⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
  ⁴⁰ The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
  ⁴¹ Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
  ⁴² Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
  ⁴³ Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
  ⁴⁴ Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
  ⁴⁵ Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
  ⁴⁶ Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
  ⁴⁷ Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
  ⁴⁸ When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
  ⁴⁹ Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
  ⁵⁰ When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
  ⁵¹ Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”
  39:1 — “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
  ¹² Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
  ¹³ They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
  ¹⁴ Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
  ¹⁵ Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
  ¹⁶ Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
  ¹⁷ He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
  ¹⁸ The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
  ¹⁹ Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
  ²⁰ Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
  ²¹ Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
  ²² Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
  ²³ Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
  ²⁴ Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
  ²⁵ And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
  ²⁶ She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
  ²⁷ Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
  ²⁸ What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
  ²⁹ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
  ³⁰ Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
  ³¹ He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
  ³² He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
  ³³ The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
  ³⁴ He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
  ³⁵ He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
  ³⁶ Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
  ³⁷ Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
  ³⁸ She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
  ³⁹ From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
  ⁴⁰ Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”
  40:1 — “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,
  ² Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.”

— though full of wonder, ^{1 ⤴} do not declare the love that sings from the Cross in word, with still small voice: “Why have You forsaken Me? It is finished. Father, into Your hands I surrender My spirit. I know Your love. I feel forsaken — but I trust Your love more than my sensations.”

• John 19:30 — “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
• Luke 23:46 — “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
• Isaiah 53:5 — “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”
• Matthew 27:46 — “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
• Psalm 22:1–2 — My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
  ² O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.”
• 1 John 4:9–10 — “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
  ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Nature sings beauty, but it does not bleed voluntarily. It moves, but it does not surrender by freedom of choice. It lives, but it does not die for another.

In that moment, when the Creator did all that nature could not, nature did not sing its melodies. No flower bloomed for Him. No bird sang for Him. But the Word — the true Word — spoke through agony what no creation ever could: perfect trust in perfect love, even when all feeling said otherwise.

These are the WORDS that define reality. That is the voice above all sound and sensation or feeling. And that is the only melody worthy of worship.

• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

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• Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
• It doesn’t say “Whoever speaks not in pleasant tones and eloquence in words”: but whoever doesn’t follow the logic of the Law by which the testimony of God’s sacrifice is founded on.

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Jesus rebuked sensationalism on the cross and on Gethsemane and in the desert. Had He given into temptation, He would have not drank the bitter cup, nor would he had left the stones as God ordained them — because even if He had turned stones into loaves of bread, they would have still only satisfy a temporary hunger but would never nourished the soul with words of eternal trust: which can only be uttered by the immortal Spirit of mercy beyond measure.

• Matthew 4:3–4 — “And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
  ⁴ But 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.”
• Luke 22:42 — “Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.”
• Matthew 26:39 — “And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
• John 6:27 — “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.”
• Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
• Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

Divinity is beyond measure and mercy is laying this divinity on the cross for the sinning soul to find repentance.

• Philippians 2:6–8 —
  “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
  ⁷ But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
  ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
• Isaiah 55:7 — “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
• Romans 2:4 — “Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Oh mystery of divinity!

• 1 Timothy 3:16 — “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
• Romans 11:33 — “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

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Why does receiving the message because of eloquence fail? Because if they receive it for eloquence, they do not receive it for the message’s true value — not out of love for the message itself, but for the preacher’s skill. They love the preacher, not the One he represents. The preacher has no outward beauty to attract desire, only inward knowledge of God and His Word. He must count all things as loss for Christ’s sake and forsake them when preaching Him, lest these become stumbling blocks to seeking souls.