Southern Africa – Indian Ocean Division

Publishing Department
Week of Prayer 15 – 21 April 2023

Theme: Glimpses of the Great Controversy:

Reasons I will Go
SERMON 1
TITLE: The Stranger in the Garden
Key Text: Genesis 3: 1-9

KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction:
The Book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. It does not give us only the beginning of life
on earth, it also gives us the beginning of sin in humanity.
After creation, everything was very good (Gen. 1:31). God intended that mankind should
enjoy a very good environment.
Eden was a peaceful place. Adam and Eve enjoyed sweet communion with God. The couple
lived at peace with each other and with God, their Creator. The situation changed when an
intruder came in. Satan negated the couple’s happiness. He affected their relationship with
God.
The Text Highlights
1. Satan is crafty (subtle, cunning). He is not straight.
2. Obedience sustains humanity’s relationship with God.
3. Sin separates humanity from God.
4. Sin brings shame upon those who commit it.
5. God’s grace follows the sinner.

The plans of Satan have always been to distort God’s government and His relationship with
His creatures. He came to the Garden of Eden to interrupt the peaceful environment that
existed. He did not come in the form of an angel but employed the serpent as an agent.
The craftiness of Satan
1. He casts doubt on God’s word, “Did God actually say . . .?” (v 1).
2. He contradicts God’s instructions or commandments. God had said to Adam and Eve,
“In the day you will eat of it you shall surely die” (2:17). Satan said to the woman,
“You will not surely die” (3:4).
3. He creates suspicion on God’s goodness and fairness to humanity; painting a picture
that God is holding back from human beings something better. He said, “For God
knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil” (3:5).
The voice of Satan became sweeter to the ears of the woman than that of God. She
conceded to the deceit and ate the forbidden fruit. Here we see the steps that lead to the
fall of humanity:
1. Lingering around the forbidden tree (proximity to the premises of sin). Satan knows
the forbidden places where Christians should not linger around. Some people would
not have been sinners today were it not for their choice to linger around the places
of temptation.
2. Entertaining a strange conversation. Eve had never heard any animal speaking. She
had never heard a snake speaking. She had never heard anyone say anything against
the word of God. This was a strange conversation. A conversation with a snake and
against God’s clear word. Yet she entertained the talk. Some of the conversations we
 tolerate have the potential to drive us into sin. Be careful who entertains you and
the subjects they bring to the table.
3. Paying attention to the forbidden fruit. When Eve gazed at the forbidden fruit, she
began to see in the fruit what she had never seen before in the fruit. She saw that
the fruit was good for food. This was not her first time to see that tree, yet that day
she saw it to be good for food. Because of gazing intently at the tree, even when she
was not hungry, she approved the forbidden fruit for food. Forbidden things look
appetizing if we keep our eyes on them.
4. Acting in the forbidden direction. Because of her approval of the fruit, she took the
fruit, and ate it, then shared to her husband.
The act of disobedience comes in stages. It comes in bits.
After eating the fruit, surely their eyes were opened. But not according to Satan’s promise!
They never became like God! The only knowledge they gained was the knowledge of sin.
Their eyes were opened to their shame. They became uncomfortable in the presence of
God. They felt their separation from God. Sin yields shame and alienation from God.

Praise God, He came to follow man! He called upon Adam, “Where are you?” Not because
God didn’t know the geographical location of man, but the spiritual location went missing.
God’s grace searches for humanity. It locates the sinner.

Has Satan changed for any better? Not at all! He is still cunning.
Satan still creates doubt on the word of God in people’s minds. People still question God’s
clear word of instruction in Scripture today.
“Did God really say you shall not commit adultery?”
“Did God really say you shall have no other gods before me?”
“Did God really say you shall keep the Sabbath day holy?”
“Did God actually say you shall return a faithful tithe and offering?”
Even now, Satan still creates suspicion on God’s goodness; painting a picture that God is
somehow unfair. He makes us ask questions that challenge God’s authority and goodness.
Satan still opposes God’s words and clear instructions.
He has introduced the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, teaching that the dead are
not really dead. You hear people talking to the dead during funerals.
He has introduced a counterfeit day of worship, against the true Sabbath.
He has introduced strange forms of marriage: man marrying fellow man; woman marrying
fellow woman; a human being marrying a dog; a living person having a spiritual (ghost) wife
or husband.

Beware of the stranger in the Garden. His voice will sound louder and sweeter than God’s.
Beware of the stranger in your marriage.
Beware of the stranger in your choir.
Remain loyal to God’s voice. Stick to God’s word.
Stay far away from forbidden trees. Be sensitive to strange conversations!
The Reason I Will Go
• Satan is cunning.
• Many people have been taught lies. There are too many false teachings.
• The word of God is being distorted more and more.
• Sin has separated many people from their God.
 • God needs someone who will be His voice to reach out to those hiding away from
Him.

Appeal
Which forbidden places have you been going to?
Have you ever entertained a thought that God is not fair?
What kind of conversations have you been entertaining?
What forbidden fruit have you been tasting and sharing?
Don’t you realize that Satan is a Lier?
God wants your heart back to himself!

God is searching for the lost mankind today.

He is asking for mankind’s spiritual location, “Where are you?”
God wants to use you as an agent of inviting the lost back to Himself.
Who will say with me today, “I Will go!”
Sermon 2
Title: The Visitor in the 40 Days of Prayer

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of
the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee,
and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If
thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:5-8 KJV)

KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

The Great Controversy Drama Unfolded

• Right at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry we see the great conflict of ages
unfolding.
• Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness and there He fasted and prayed for
forty days.
• While Jesus was fasting and praying in the wilderness, a visitor approached Him; The
devil himself came to tempt Him. (Matt 4:3) KJV
• It was not the first time for Christ to be involved in a conflict against the devil (Rev
12:7-9) There was war in heaven Christ and His angels fought against the devil and
his angels. The devil was overpowered and cast out of heaven into the earth. The
conflict which started in heaven shifted to the earth. The devil led our first parents
into sin.(Gen 3) The conflict continues even today (Rev 12:10-11) But slowly and
surely it is gliding to the climax which will usher in the second coming of Christ and
the eventually the destruction of the devil and the wicked. (Rev 20:1-10) During the
time of Christ’s earthly ministry devil continued to oppose Christ, but he was
overpowered again by Christ (Matt 4:10,11)
• The three temptations mentioned (Matt 4:3-11) were not the only ones but they
represented the climax of the temptations and they came at the close of the forty
days when Jesus was very weak.
• The devil always attacks us at our time of greatest weakness when we are vulnerable
to temptation.
• As we approach the climax of the great controversy, everyone is involved there is no
one who is on a neutral position. At there will be two groups i.e. those who will
“stand under the bloodstained banner of Jesus Christ and those who stand under the
black banner of rebellion.” ( Ellen G. White, Manuscript 16, 1900)

As the great conflict approaches its end, the devil is intensifying his efforts against the
followers of Christ. Ellen G White outlined devises that the devil is using deceive people;
GC Chapter 32 Snares of Satan
1. He Wants to Keep People in Darkness
“The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for
nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts
to defeat the work of Christ in man’s behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold
 the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour’s mediation is ended, and
there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish.”

2. Disturbances during worship services

“The Scriptures declare that upon one occasion, when the angels of God came to
present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them (Job 1:6), not to
bow before the Eternal King, but to further his own mission against the righteous.
With the same object he is in attendance when men assemble for the worship of
God. Though hidden from sight, he is working with all diligence to control the minds
of the worshipers.”

3. He Employs all his Tactics to Disturb People when the Sermon to be Presented
“Like a skilful general he lays his plans beforehand. As he sees the messenger of God
searching the Scriptures, he takes note of the subject to be presented to the people.
Then he employs all his cunning and shrewdness so to control circumstances that the
message may not reach those whom he is deceiving on that very point. The one who
most needs the warning will be urged into some business transaction which requires
his presence, or will by some other means be prevented from hearing the words that
might prove to him a savour of life unto life.”

4. He Entices the Lord’s servants to indulgence of appetite and self-gratification

“He tempts men to the indulgence of appetite or to some other form of self-
gratification, and thus benumbs their sensibilities so that they fail to hear the very
things which they most need to learn.”

5. He Seduces God’s People to be Careless in the Study of the Scriptures and Prayer
“Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of
the scriptures will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible
device to engross the mind.”

6. He Missuses the Scriptures in order to Allure People to Follow his False Teachings
“In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practises, some will seize
upon passages of scripture separated from the context, perhaps even quoting half of
a single verse as proving their point, when the remaining portion would show the
meaning to be quite the opposite.”

7. He Excites People to Engage in the Study of the Word without Prayer

“Whenever the study of the scriptures is entered upon without prayerful, humble,
teachable spirit, the plainest and simplest as well as most difficult passages will be
wrested from their true meaning.”
8. He Instigates Christ’s Followers to Distrust the Scriptures
“The great deceiver has many agents ready to present any and every kind of error to
ensnare souls-heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and capacities of those whom he
may ruin. It is his plan to bring into the church insincere, unregenerate elements that will
encourage doubt and unbelief, and hinder all who desire to see the work of God advance
and to advance with it.”
9. He Specialises in Substituting truth with Error and False Theories
 “The position that it is of no consequence what men believe is on of Satan’s most
successful deceptions. He knows that the truth, received in the love of it, sanctifies
the soul of the receiver; therefore he is constantly seeking to substitute false
theories, fables, another gospel.”
10. He is Involved in Performing Lying Wonders and Spiritualism to Confuse People
“Among the most successful agencies of the great deceiver are the delusive
teachings and lying wonders of spiritualism. Disguised as the an angel of light, he
spreads his nets where least suspected.”

11. He Leads People to Deny the Divinity of Christ

“Another dangerous error is the doctrine that denies the deity of Christ, claiming
that He had no existence before his advent to this world. This theory is received with
favor by a large class who profess to believe the Bible; yet it directly contradicts the
plainest statements of our Saviour concerning His relationship with the father, His
divine character, and His pre-existence.”

As Christians we need to be aware of these SNARES that the devil uses to weaken
our faith and confidence in the Lord, so that we are not caught unaware. Most
importantly we need to spend more time in prayer and the study of the word of God
and even be involved in propagating the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
This will help us to overcome the devil just as Christ overcame. (Eph 6:11-18; I Pet
5:8)

The Role of Prayer, Bible study in the Great Controversy Drama

▪ Jesus is our perfect example; He lived a life of prayer (Mark 1:35) He used to work up
very early or a great while before dawn to pray. Even at a critical time when He was
facing the cross (Luke 22:44) He overcame the devil through prayer. For one to
overpower the devil he/she needs to be a man or a woman of prayer.
▪ The Lord hears and answers prayers (2Chr 7:14; Jer 33:3; Psa 6:9)
“Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the
development of Christian character.” (AA 564)

Searching the Scriptures a safeguard

▪ Jesus did not only live a life of prayer, He was also a diligent student of the Scriptures
▪ Three times he counteracted the devil’s temptation by Scripture ( Matt 4:4; 4:7; Lk
4:8)
▪ Bible study and prayer should never be separated (Psa 119:18)
▪ Search the Scriptures (John 5:39)

The Reason I Will Go

• Jesus’s life during His earthly ministry was always characterised by prayer, the study
of Scriptures and also service to God
• As followers of Christ we are called to follow the footsteps of the Master (Matt
11:29)
• There is a great need for people who will respond to God’s call like the prophet
Isaiah and say, “Here am l….” (Isa 6:8).
The call is urgent because;
 ▪ People are dying without hope and without Christ in the world.

One of the best methods of advancing the mission of Christ is to share literature that
contains the truth for this time.
-Distribution of tracts, leaflets, magazines and books
-Distributing the book of the year
-2023 and 2024 has been set aside for the unprecedented distribution of The Great
Controversy.
Appeal
As the drama of ages draws towards the end;
• We have victories to gain, we need to overcome as Christ overcame
• We have a soldier’s duty to perform, a soldier is always alert
• We should not be ignorant of the snares of the enemy, lest we are caught unaware
and be overcome by the evil one.
• We should make a decision to be under the banner of Christ and not under the
banner of the devil.
• We should be persistent in prayer, diligent in searching the scriptures and actively
involved in sharing the gospel.
Sermon 3
Title: Get Behind Me Satan
Text: Matthew 16:23

‘But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you
are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” NKJV

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me.
You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” NLT

KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction
The Gospel of Matthew is the first of the books of the New Testament and it is first of the
synoptic gospels. In chapter 16 of Matthew, Jesus begins a journey to Jerusalem from
Caesarea Philippi in the accompaniment of his disciples. The chapter can be divided into five
sections: The sign of Jonah 1-4; the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5-12; Peters
Confession 13-20; Jesus’ prediction of His death 21-26; and the return of the Son of Man 27-
28.

In the fourth section of this chapter, we see a continuation of the titanic struggle between
Christ and Satan. Satan is presented as desiring to thwart the purposes of God; but Christ
discerningly sees through the scheme of the enemy and rebukes him – thereby maintaining
course.

The Enemy at Work (v 22)

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall
not be unto thee. KJV — Matthew 16:22

The controversy between good and evil in this passage is apparent. Just as our Bible
Commentary compilers observe, Peter literally took Jesus to one side, by himself, to talk to
Him.i Unknown to the other disciples, Satan the Enemy was at work in Peter. Jesus had told
His disciples (v 21) that He had to go to Jerusalem and there suffer, be killed, and raised on
the third day. These events seem to have been pointing to the culmination of His journey
here on earth. He was born to die to redeem mankind from the grip of the enemy. Now,
Satan desired to stop this work by discouraging Jesus from dying. In fact, the insinuations of
the Enemy here mirror his temptations earlier in chapter 4.

The church must be constantly alert on the schemes of the enemy. Just as Satan through
Peter suggested that Christ could gain the crown without the cross, the Enemy is at work
today prescribing a religion that does not save. Temptations abound in the life of God’s
children.

Rebuking the Enemy (v23)

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you
are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” NKJV
Now, you remember that Peter had drawn Jesus to the side. This implies that Peter and
Jesus were somewhat distanced from the rest of the disciples. Jesus did not let him go on
and on with his demonic admonitions to draw back from the mission which His Father had
appointed and purposed for Him. In Mark’s Gospel, an element is introduced that clearly
paints the picture of what transpired. “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he
rebuked Peter . . .” (Mark 8:33). Nichol and others observe, “It seems that Christ turned
away from Peter toward the other disciples, though His words were addressed to Peter as
He did so.”ii

The Rebuke
The rebuke was direct and intentional. It was calculated and sharp. It was strong, intense,
and weighty: “Get behind me Satan”. The four words capture the gist of the matter. Christ
sees beyond Peter. He discerns the voice of the tempter. Earlier in the wilderness Jesus said
the very words (Mt. 4:8). Peter had allowed himself to become a “. . . trigger of the trap on
which bait is placed . . .” (an offence; a hindrance; a dangerous trap). Peter lost the grander
picture. He was deluded to begin to look at things from a human point of view. And in the
controversy between Christ and Satan, he became a tool of offence. Thus, Peter and the rest
of the disciples were sternly rebuked; but even more, Satan the arch enemy was unmasked,
exposed, and rebuked and Christ emerged victorious. In His mind were the lost. He came to
die. He made God’s purpose His purpose until He suffered and died and obtained salvation
for mankind.

Lessons
1. The war which began in heaven continues today. Satan is at work against us because
we are God’s treasure. Like Christ, we must be alert.
2. There’s a need to change our perspective to such an extent that we see reality from
God’s viewpoint. We must be wise and discerning.
3. We too can rebuke the Enemy. Christ has shown us the way. He overcame Satan and
by so doing set an example for us. We are more than conquerors in Jesus.
4. There are times Satan will work against our faith through those closest to us.

Take Home
To fight temptation, we need Christ. To discern the schemes of Satan we need to be
grounded in God’s word and prayer. This life of study, prayer and service will produce
resilience. The servant of the Lord declares, “As you work for God, the light will break in.
Gather up the rays of glory, and they will increase more and more.”iii We cannot share what
we do not have. By beholding Jesus more and more, we will be transformed and equipped
to become living witnesses of His saving grace.

Reason I Will Go

• Satan is busy working against God’s will, the plan of salvation.

• The tempter is disguising himself even behind the most reliable servants of God.
• The Devil must be rebuked openly. Christian witnessing is the means of rebuking
Satan.
• To awaken people to be mindful of things of God.
Appeal
In the controversy between Christ and Satan, you and I must rally behind Christ. God invites
us to resist the Devil and arise to tell the story of the love of God. Is it your desire to be
fortified by God’s word and strengthened by His Spirit to becoming witnesses of His power?
Sermon 4
Title: Deliver Yourself from the Cross
Main Text: Mark 15: 29 – 31
KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction
The cross was an instrument of torture for serious offenses. Persians invented this form of
execution. Alexander the Great and his successors used it and then the Romans, but the Romans
never used it for their citizens. Usually, a tablet hung around stating the cause of the execution,
and this was then affixed to the cross. Crucifixion took place publicly, the death was extremely
slow and agonizing. The victim of crucifixion customarily became the victim of verbal abuse.
For some reason certain people relished witnessing the agony of others and enjoyed adding to
it. Constantine ended this form of punishment.
Jesus on the Cross
Although Jesus did not deserve to die on the cross because He knew no sin, but He did so that
we (sinners) should not die. During the crucifixion of Jesus, there were criminals who were
crucified with Him. The high priests gathered to celebrate over their triumph. As they saw Jesus
hanging helplessly on His cross, He looked wholly defeated, and His enemies thought they had
won. The passers-by “hurled insults at Him.” Mark uses the verb (blasphemeo) to mean simply
“I deride,” but he may also intend an ironic contrast with the blasphemy charge leveled by the
high priest against Jesus at the conclusion of His initial interrogation (14:64). The passers-by
unknowingly challenged Him to thwart God’s will by coming down from the cross. Jesus called
Peter “Satan” when he attempted to deflect him from the course God laid for Him. The
tormentors do not realize that their taunt borders on a satanic blasphemy. This is the element
of the great controversy.
They also mocked him, “The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days”
(14:58). Seeing Jesus exhausted and strung up on a cross, makes such a boast seem laughable.
But their mockery testifies to a truth beyond their range of vision. Jesus’ death does destroy
the temple made with hands and builds a new one not made with hands. The new temple has
no ties to any geographical location. It consists of a new community of worshipers who believe
that in His death Jesus bore the sins of a jeering and murderous world and that God vindicated
him by raising Him from the dead. His death abolishes the need for any more sacrifices, and
God will soon build a temple without walls through Jesus’s resurrection. Yet they did not know.
The chief priests and the teachers of the law join the mockery by saying, “He saved others and
cannot save Himself.” These leaders admit what Peter later preached, that He went around
doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38). They could
hardly see how God could be with someone so abandoned and tormented on a cross. By their
reasoning, if He were a savior, He ought to be able to save Himself. Indeed, Jesus saved others,
the disciples amid a sea storm, the woman with a haemorrhage and many more – and truly
cannot save Himself?
Were He to save Himself, He could not save others from something more deadly than storms,
illnesses, or death. These detractors could not understand this way of looking at life. They
cannot see that His death is a ransom for many (10:45). Again, good and evil here face each
other.
Because they cannot see, they demanded a miracle. They want Him to come down from the
cross so that they can see and believe. They claim that some miraculous display of power or
miraculous escape will finally convince them. In other words, they evaluate divine power
purely in human, self-serving terms. But Jesus taught His disciples to take up the cross and not
to “come down” from one.
When we accept to become Christians, it means taking the cross and following Jesus.
When we accept to become elders, it means taking the cross and following Jesus.
When we accept to become pastors, it means taking the cross and following Jesus.
When we accept to become literature evangelists, it means taking the cross and following Jesus.
A miraculous rescue would have proven only that He was a superman, not the Messiah, the
Son of God and Jesus was not prepared to do that. From a human point of view, we may not
understand this cosmic battle, hence we need to be prayerful as soldiers of the cross to be able
to appreciate what is going on between good and evil.
There was prophetic truth in these bitter words. If Christ wanted to save others, then He could
not come down from the cross, that temptation He had rejected first in the wilderness (1:13),
then at Caesarea Philippi (8:33), and lastly in the Garden of Gethsemane (14:36). Now at the
cross. He was determined to die the shameful death of the cross.
To descend from the cross was not a physical impossibility, but it was a moral and spiritual
impossibility for the Messiah. If He did so, He would cease to be God’s Christ, treading God’s
path of Messiahship; instead, He would become a mere human Christ, and such a Christ could
never save the world.
The only path by which to save others was to refuse to save Himself: in a way totally
unexpected by them, the priests were correct. This suggestion that Christ should miraculously
come down from the cross, meant that the mission of Jesus was defeated. This indeed exposes
the cosmic battle between God and Satan. Christ chose to stay the cause to the end.
Jesus was mocked by three groups of people:
(a) The first group, the passers-by (15:29), He was condemned for “blasphemy” (14:64), yet
now is the victim of blasphemy (15:30).
(b) The second group, chief priests, and scribes “others He saved; Himself He cannot save.”
(15:1). Like the passers-by, they challenge Jesus to perform a sign (8:11) and come down from
the cross in order that we may see and believe (15:32). But these leaders would not believe
because of hardness of hearts (3:5) and they would attribute it to Beelzebul (3:22). For Jesus to
save Himself would be the very thing that would keep Him from saving others (10:45; 14:24).
(c) The third group, the two bandits crucified along with Him (15:32). Jesus is completely
alone; He has no allies, not even among those who share His fate. Unlike Luke 23: 39-43,
Mark, Mathew, and John have no account of the repentant bandit.
The devil tried to use different groups of people to detract Jesus from taking the road to the
cross. Suggesting that when we chose to serve Him, there will be people and situations created
by the enemy for us to abandon the cause of the cross.
Reason I Will Go
• Jesus endured the ridicule and humiliation for my salvation.
• Jesus restrained His divine power to come down from the cross to save humanity.
• The world must know that there is life in the cross of Jesus.
• Satan was defeated at Calvary.
Conclusion
The final scenes of the life of Jesus Christ during the passion week that happened on the cross,
reminds us that the great controversy is real. The cross exposes the Great Controversy between
Satan and Christ. If Christ came down from the cross, the salvation of human family would
have been at stake.
Thank heavens, Christ chose to stay the course. In response to what Christ did, we cannot help
but respond to “I Will Go.”
We, just like our Master did, must stay the course of the cross by taking part in the Great
Commission and go for the sake of our own salvation and the salvation of others.
We have a story to share to the dying world out there, “Jesus endured the pain of the cross for
humanity.” There is life for all who repent at Calvary.
Understanding the intensity of the great controversy between good and evil, Christ and Satan,
will help us appreciate why we need to be sincere and committed to life of prayer. No wonder
E.G. White commenting on prayer she commanded, “we must take time to pray.” (GC, p. 622).
It will be only then that we will be able to stand.
APPEAL
Would you join me today in thanking Jesus for overcoming the temptation to come down from
the cross!
Would you join me inviting others to the Jesus of the cross by becoming a soul winner!
Don’t you hear Him saying I died for your sins?
Will you not accept to be an instrument of spreading the good news of Calvary?
Sermon 5
Title: Seal and Guard the Tomb
Text: Mark 16:3-4; Matthew 28:2; Luke 24:2
KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction
When Jesus landed on this earth for the first time, He found broken hearts and bodies,
discouraged souls, sinners headed for destruction, the grave had kept swallowing people for
ages without hope that people would ever come out of it.
There was unequalled prejudice, nations were forever doomed, and corruption had reached its
climax. He then committed Himself to take the challenge and change the world for the better
and He did.
Satan did all he could to humiliate and overpower the Incarnate Jesus.
Seeing Jesus in the tomb, Satan was certain of victory over Jesus. He ensured that the tomb
was highly guarded and sealed to prevent any possibility of Jesus escaping from it.
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go make it as secure as you can.” So they
went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard (Matt. 27:65,66).
Big idea: The victory of God and the vindication of Jesus are anchored in the reality of the
resurrection. Yet the women, who symbolize faithful discipleship, struggle with inadequate
understanding and failure. We as disciples can overcome our failures only by joining the
disciples and the women in encountering the risen Lord in our “Galilee”
In God’s sovereign plan, suffering also leads to victory, and persecution to vindication. The
resurrection of Jesus concludes not just the passion events but the whole Gospel of Mark, and
it promises for God’s people that all of the failures will be overturned in Jesus.
Interpretive Insights
According to Mark 16:1, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought
spices. The same group of women who were official witnesses of the death and burial (Mark
15:40, 47) now prepare to visit the tomb. The Sabbath was “over” on Saturday at dusk, so
apparently had purchased the species on the preparation day (Luke 23:56). The women, the
only true faithful disciples (the others had deserted), are about to fail. Yet still they are
presented as the connecting link between the death and the resurrection. They will fail (vv.2,
6, and 8) but at the same time be the divinely chosen heralds of the solution to discipleship
failure: the presence of the risen Jesus. (Mark 16:7)
Note that the events of Jesus’s death are framed with two anointings (in Mark 14:3-9 and
here) of him as the royal Messiah and Suffering servant.
Key Themes of Mark 16:1-8
• Jesus Christ is vindicated in his suffering as Saviour and glorified Lord.
• Jesus has authority over life and death
• God chooses the lowly and despised to accomplish His great work.
• The believer can overcome sin only by the strength given by the risen Christ.
Glimpses of the Great Controversy: Reasons I will go.
Mark 16: 3 “And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door
of the tomb for us?”
Who will roll the stone away? There is a tremendous dramatic touch in the women’s
question, which continues the glimpses of the Great Controversy theme. The women are still
thinking on the purely earthly level, expecting nothing. They also have not been thinking
clearly, for they had seen the stone rolled over the entrance (Mark 15:46). They knew they
lacked the strength to roll it away, but in their haste they have forgotten to bring anyone along
to help. They do not realize that God has already taken care of the difficulty.
“But the Jewish leaders were unchanged by the events they had witnessed. Their hatred of
Jesus had not abated. The darkness that had mantled the earth at the crucifixion was not dense
than that which still enveloped the minds of the priests and rulers.” Desire of Ages, page, 770
Divine sabotage!
A point of touching interest concerning His humanity and divinity is worthy of our relevant
contemplation. Why was it that the Father suffered His blessed Son, now incarnate, to be
born in a stable? Why were the cattle of the field His first companions? What spiritual lessons
are we intended to learn from His being placed in a manger?
• He was laid in a manger because such was a place of sacrifice. He has come to be the
great sacrifice, laying down His life for His people that we might through His death
be made alive.
• Ellen G. White puts it this way, “At His birth the star had known Christ, and had
guided the wise to the manger where He lay. The heavenly hosts had known Him, and
had sung His praise over the plains of Bethlehem. The sea had known His voice, and
had obeyed His command. Disease and death had recognized His authority, and had
yielded to Him their prey. The sun had known Him, and at the sight of His dying
anguish, has hidden its face of light. The rocks had known Him, and shrived into
fragments at His cry. Inanimate nature had known Christ, and had borne witness to
His divinity. But the priests and rulers of Israel knew not the Son of God.” DA, page,
770.

Seal the Tomb

They had been jealous of Christ’s influence with the people when living; they were
jealous of Him even in death.
The devil feared the Saviour on the grave more than when he was alive.
Never had Christ attracted the attention of the multitude as now that He was laid in
the tomb.
“The priests gave directions for securing the sepulchre. A great stone had been placed
before the opening. Across this stone they placed cords, securing the ends to the solid
rock, and sealing them with the Roman seal. The stone could not be moved without
breaking the seal. A guard of one hundred soldiers was stationed around the sepulchre
to prevent it from being tampered with…He was sealed as securely in His tomb as if
He were to remain there all time” (DA, page, 778).

The stone had been rolled away

The women asked a question, who shall roll the stone but they continued moving even
without any answer.
Keep on moving, God will answer your prayer.
Keep on believing God will roll the stone for you
Early surprise of all surprises, the stone is rolled away.
Celebration on what God has done!!
In Him…Donkey can talk
In Him…Water flows from the rock
In Him…Manna falls from heaven
In Him…Ravens bring food for His servant
In Him…Water turns into wine
In Him…Peter finds a coin in a fish’s mouth
In Him…Lepers are cleansed and the blind see
In Him…The dead are raised back to life
In Him…There is healing balm from Gilead
In Him…The prodigal is accepted back to the fold
In Him…Sinners are forgiven through His blood
In Him, we move, we live, and we have our being
In Him…We are more than conquerors

When we walk by faith, and not by sight, all things are possible
God will overturn stones for us,
Stones of difficulties
Stones of doubt
Stones of discouragement
Stones of despair
Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible to please God…”
Have faith in God doubt does not work
Show me a child that doubt ever educated
Show me a mountain that doubt ever moved
Show me a stone that doubt ever rolled away
Show me a red sea that doubt ever divided
Show me a marriage that doubt ever restored
Show me an exam that doubt ever passed
Show me a temptation that doubt ever resisted
Show me a sickness that doubt ever healed
Show me a problem that doubt ever solved
Show me a miracle that doubt ever performed
Faith lightens every burden
Keep Going!!!The stone has been rolled away, therefore, I will go!

Reasons I Will Go
• The One who rolled away the stone from the tomb of Jesus shall open the
graves of our deceased brothers and sisters who died in Christ.
• There is nothing too hard for God!
• There’s no group of soldiers strong enough to stand in battle with Jehovah!
• There’s no stone too heavy for God to roll away!
• Death shall be destroyed!
• Satan’s schemes shall come to nothing!
• Jesus conquered death! Resurrection of the dead is real!
I will go!

Prayer request:
• Pray for the Book of the year (The Great Controversy) distribution
• Pray for more literature evangelists from your local church.
• Pray for boldness in sharing the printed page and the general preaching of the
Gospel
• Pray for other denominations’ leaders who received our books to accept the
truth.
Let us pray for the spirit on unity in our local churches.
Closing song: Near the Cross
Closing Prayer:
Sermon 6
Title: Power in the Blood
Key Text: Revelation 12:11,12
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in
them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come unto you,
having great wrath, because he knows that time is short!”

KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction
The book of Revelation reveals Jesus; therefore, it is the revelation of Jesus. It reveals who
Jesus is in the drama of salvation. At the peak of the book, is the theme of the great
controversy between Christ and Satan; Jesus being depicted as the ultimate victor over
Satan. Chapter 12 and 13 set the stage for the great climax of earth’s history. Chapter 12:11
points back to calvary as the weapon by which the saints overcome Satan. Without the
cross, humanity is eternally doomed.
The Blood of the Lamb
The concept of blood as a means of redemption is prominent in Scripture, both in the Old
and the New Testaments. We see a glimpse of the concept of the blood in the animal skin
covering that God provided to Adam and Eve, replacing the leafy aprons (Gen. 3:21). In the
Noahic and Abrahamic alters of sacrifice, we see the plan of redemption being centered
around the shedding of blood. The Exodus from Egypt to the promised land was inaugurated
by the sacrifices of the lambs without blemish (Exod. 12:21-23). The sanctuary services of
the Israelites were climaxed by the shedding of animal blood. It was hoped that after the
confession of sins upon the victim animal, the sins were washed away. The Messianic
prophetic book of Isaiah testifies in advance of the death of Jesus, dying for the sins of His
people: “Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him
stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But was pierced for our transgressions; he was
crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with
his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5,6).

Revelation 12: 11 does not refer to the blood of goats, bulls, or sheep, but to the blood of
Jesus. The author of Hebrews attests, “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling
of defiled persons with ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much
more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:13-
14).
The blood of Jesus sanctifies the sinner.
The blood of Jesus purifies from all iniquities.
The blood of Jesus purifies the conscience.
The blood of Jesus assists in doing good works for God.
There is forgiveness of sin in the blood, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified
with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22).

The blood of the Lamb is very powerful!

The blood of the Lamb overcomes Satanic forces.
The blood subdues the powers of darkness. It provides power to prevail over Satan and his
agencies.
Demons tremble in the presence of the blood of Jesus. They can’t withstand the missile
strength of Jesus’ blood. The Christians have no strength in themselves. But when covered
by the blood of Jesus, they are stronger than any army Satan has ever trained and produced.
In Christ’s blood, victory is sure. His blood never loses its power.

The Word of their Testimony

The other weapon Revelation gives for overcoming the Devil is the “word of their
testimony”. This is the testimony about Jesus. This is the evidence or report, or witness
shared by Christians about their experience with the gospel of Christ. Christians are not
dumb people. They open their mouths to tell of the saving grace of God. They testify of the
power of God to save the vilest sinner. They are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus for it is
the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).

Having been saved from our sins, we can’t keep quiet!

Having experienced the saving grace of the blood of Jesus, we can’t be silenced by anyone!
Having been to Calvary, we are ready to tell the story of the power of the blood of Jesus.
Having witnessed criminals become reliable Christians and even church leaders, we are
ready to share the good news to all. We shall fear no death.

The testimony of Jesus may also be understood to be the testimony which Christ Himself
bears through those who have the gift of prophecy (for instance, through John himself).
Christians bear the testimony of Jesus Christ. This means that Christians do not share their
own victories, but Jesus’ self-revelation while on earth and in their day-to-day experience
with Him through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Satan is not happy with believers in Christ. He persecutes those who accept the saving grace
of Calvary. He intimidates those who bear the Good News. Nevertheless, dependence on
the blood shed at the cross and continuing to give evidence of Christ’s saving grace,
paralyzes Satan’s schemes.

Reason I Will Go
• I am empowered by the blood of Jesus to face the challenges of evangelism.
• I have the evidence that Jesus’ blood washes away sins.
• I know the power that is in the blood of Jesus; Satan cannot withstand it.
• I have a testimony to share to the world.

Conclusion
Satan is real and the battle is real. The life of a Christian is under attack (Ephesians 6:12).
Many Christians have given up along the way. The Devil has silenced their voices of worship,
praise, and witnessing. Revelation 12 and 13 expose the climax of the Great Controversy.
The battle is not for human beings, but Christ’s. Jesus has given believers reliable weapons
which lead the Devil to take cover, the blood of Jesus and the word of their testimony.
There is power in the blood!
There is power in our testimony!
In the blood of Jesus, our victory is made certain!
In the blood of Jesus, we are ready to die for the Gospel!
Under the power of the blood, we shall pray for the sick and healing is certain!
Under the power of the blood, we shall preach the word and thousands shall be converted
in a day!
Under the power of the blood, prison gates shall open!
Under the power of the blood, we shall distribute the truth-filled books, and many shall
confess the name of Jesus!
Appeal
Have you experienced the dynamic power of the blood of Jesus? Will you choose to witness
for Jesus today? Won’t you testify of His marvelous works now?
Will you not share a copy of The Great Controversy to someone?
Why don’t you stand up with me now as we dedicate ourselves to the Lord?
Sermon 7
Topic: The Power Behind Tears
Text: Job 1

KEY SONGS: SDAH 294 and 336.

Introduction
The story is occurring in UZ believed to be to the east of Edom according to Jeremiah
25:20, Lamentations 4:21. This is one of the ancient stories taking place during the Patriarchal
age. Ellen G. White asserts that Moses wrote the book of Genesis and that of Job, “which
would be read with deepest interest by the people of God until the close of time.” (Signs of
the Times, Feb. 19, 1880)
Life, looked at in the face of calamities and tragedies in our world is but only “a
shattered dream.” A newlywed couple perishes in a car accident from their honeymoon.
Hurricanes, typhoons floods and cyclones and other disasters leave a trail of havoc on
people’s lives and properties. Think of the homeless, the orphans, the widowed, mentally,
and socially affected individuals, all trying to make ends meet. In a world characterized by
suffering “Tears have become our Inheritance.” Job 1 unlocks, not only the critical question
on why suffering? (Power Behind Tears) but most importantly, how to sustain faith in the face
of unbearable and unexplainable suffering.

1. Job, the Person (Job 1:1-5) Of Job God says “In the land of UZ there lived a man whose
name was Job. This man was blameless, and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.”
Job is described as a man of integrity, completeness, blamelessness, innocence like
the interior of Solomon’s temple which was overlaid with gold and silver needing
nothing else to add. (1Kings6:22) (Complete Word study Dictionary: Old Testament)
Job’s profile
• Family – 7 sons and 3 daughters for whom their father was a Priest.
• Possessions– 7000 sheep,3000 camels,500 yokes of oxen (1000 oxen), 500 donkeys
and many servants. In Job we see a rare combination of being rich and being upright,
fearing God. One would expect no suffering for a person of such accolades, yet Job
suffers. Suffering, then, is not an indicator of sin for Job.
(a)War in Heaven – A Pre- Caser of the Great Controversy on Earth
A war broke out in heaven between Christ (the one like God) and Satan (the accuser of the
brethren) (Rev 12: 7-10) Satan and his angels was defeated and cast out of heaven. From that
time the earth has become a war zone. (Rev 12:11) The war is neither between us and Satan,
nor between us and our neighbor but between God and Satan. There is no neutral ground.
Either we are on God’s side or on Satan’s side. Satan is the instigator and cause of all suffering.
(b)Job, God’s argument in the Great Controversy (1:6-18)
• Contention over Job’s Integrity (v.6-12)

God’s View of Job Satan’s Counter view of Job

• Blameless, upright, fears God, shuns • Fears God in return to favors given
evil and there is none like him on the by God (v,9)
earth. (v.6,8) • Bribed by protection and blessings
from God (v.10)
 • Remains His faithful argument • If tested by removal of possessions
against Satan even when severely Job would curse God. (v.11)
tested by Satan. (v.12)

In this first test Satan “presents himself” in the presence of God. (v.6) The force of the verb
indicates that Satan took a firm stand, asserted himself and waited for no invitation. Through
deception Satan had usurped authority from Adam and therefore claims dominion over the
earth hence his coming to this assembly. His movements are random, (roaming) suggesting
no fixed destination. (v.7) The following is worthy our attention.
• In the Great controversy Satan’s attacks are unpredictable and unexpected
• Alertness and watchfulness unto prayer is called for (1Thes 5:18)
• “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8)
• Moments of loneliness, desperation, desertion, are Satan’s prime times for
attacks. This motivates us to daily strengthen our faith by importunate prayer.
Daily Preparation for Trials to Come
“The servants of Christ are to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial for their
faith. Their preparation is to be made day by day in treasuring up their hearts the precious
truths of God’s word, in feeding upon the teachings of Christ, and through prayer
strengthening their faith, then when brought into trial, the Holy Spirit will bring to their
remembrance the very truth. God will flash the knowledge obtained by diligent searching of
the scriptures into their memory at the very time when it is needed.” (CSW 40,41)
2. Attack on everything Job had (v.13-20)
Satan wiped out Job’s possessions to prove his argument that his worship of God was
not for nothing. The Sabeans took all his oxen, donkeys and killed the servants (v.13.) Fire that
burnt all the sheep is said to be “from God” (v.16) and a sudden wind destroyed the house in
which Job’s children were and killed all of them. (v.18)
(a) No Escape for Everything
• Everything that mattered to Job (children, possessions, livestock, servants) was wiped
out. At least David escaped from Saul (1 Sam 19:10-12,27) In terms of economy Job is
left at zero. He loses everything at a time there were no priests, pastors, or the law to
guide yet his faith was formidable. All this occurs unexpectedly, unanticipated without
any prediction and suddenly. The same is happening and will happen to humanity.
• NB. A knowledge of God and his sovereignty (John17:3) gave Job’s faith staying
power. This is what all of us need as we face our great controversies. Of this
knowledge E, G. White says “The experiential knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ
whom He sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives man the mastery of
himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of
the higher powers of the mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of
heaven. It brings him into communion with the mind of the infinite and opens to him
the rich treasures of the universe.” (COL 114)
• The experience of Job pictures what humanity is going through. It shows that Satan is
the power behind all the tears in our lives. It is also a glimpse of the experience of the
remnant church during the time of the mark of the beast (Rev 13:15-17)
(b) Reason Why We Should “Go” with the Three Angels Messages
I. Go before Satan, the power behind our tears, attacks that which is precious,
rendering us bankrupt of any means to do service for God.
 II. Go, because many suffering from the assaults of Satan blame it on God.
III. Go and make people know that Satan is the Power Behind our Tears.
IV. Circulate Books that reveal light on Satan’s apostacy. “Instruction has been given me
that the important books containing the light that God has given me regarding Satan’s
apostacy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now for through them the
truth will reach many minds. Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and Revelation, and the
Great Controversy are needed now as never before. They should be widely circulated
because the truths they emphasize will open many blind eyes…. (CM 123)
3. Job’s Response (1:20, 21)
To everything Satan had done to him Job does not curse God as thought by Satan but.
• Tore his clothes and shaved his head – an act of humiliation and loss of personal
dignity.
• Worships God – acknowledges the sovereignty of God - refuting Satan’s claim of v.11)
• Utters The All-Time Dynamite in the Great Controversy “Naked I came from my
mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has
taken away: Blessed be the name of the Lord. (V.21) Job is ready to return to earth
(death) Psalm 139:15, Eccl 5:15, 12:7. Job’s response teaches us fundamental lessons
as we go through the great controversy/suffering.
I. A life well lived in Christ Jesus is not afraid of dying. This was Paul’s dynamite. “For to
me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
II. In the Great Controversy everything will be taken away hence the need to fortify our
faith with that which will never be taken away. (Luke 10:41,42)
III. We need to know that nothing acquired between birth and death – these (two great
spans of any man), will go with us when we die. Paul affirms that “For we brought
nothing into this world, and it is certain we carry nothing out.” (1Timothy 6:7)
Prayer Power In the Great Controversy
“If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.” (HP 227)
Danger of Neglect of the Family Altar
“If ever there was a time when every house should be a house of prayer it is now. Infidelity
and skepticism prevail. Iniquity abounds. Corruption flows in the vital currents of the soul and
rebellion against God breaks out in the life. Enslaved by sin, the moral powers are under the
tyranny of Satan, and unless some mighty arm is stretched out to rescue him, man goes where
the arch rebel leads the way.” (CG 517)
Reason I Will Go!
• Satan is accusing the saints.
• The world must know who is behind human suffering.
• People need the word of hope in this world of pain and sorrow.
• Prayer life must be revived in people’s homes.
• The world needs to understand the Great Controversy drama.

Conclusion/Appeal
In the great controversy, as depicted in Job 1 there is a serious contest between right and
wrong. Satan, the enemy of God and His people, causes all suffering. He (Satan) is the Power
Behind Tears (1:11,12, 2:4-7). Two clarion calls are presented to each one of us:
1. Call to vindicate God’s character (God’s call) 1:20,21, 2:10.
OR
2. Call to blame and oppose God (Satan’s call) 1:11, 2:10.
God is calling Literature evangelists and all of us to “Go” and prepare people:
• To make informed life decisions before and even during the mark of the beast, before
the close of probation (Rev 22:11).
• To fortify minds of believers upon the firm foundation of God’s word even as they go
through Satan’s well-orchestrated suffering.
• To prepare ourselves to respond to the “I Will Go initiative” (Isaiah 6:8) before
everything that belongs to us is taken away and before we are attacked and rendered
useless by Satan.
• Have you been blaming God for your misfortunes?
• You are invited today to stand firm in truth even when it pains the most. God will soon
vindicate His faithful servants.