General Conference
Multimedia Department
A MOMENT OF PRAYER…
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF SO MUCH SUFFERING?
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Natural disasters, armed conflicts, the growing number of illnesses, social differences, these things in many people produce worry and anguish. They become prisoners to their fears, and sorrows.
These are the questions that haunt most people but only �the Author of life can give us the answers.
MAN’S ORIGIN
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
GOD
IS THE
LORD
God is Lord and He existed before anything was created. By Him were all things created.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
But what does the Bible mean, when referring to the plural term “Let us make” , in Genesis 1:26?
How was �man created?
Ecclesiastes 7:29
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”
PERFECT
PATH OF JUSTICE
Man received four gifts from his Creator:
PATH OF JUSTICE
What was the only condition given for maintaining �on that path?
PERFECT
Genesis 2:16-17
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
The law of God was placed in the hearts of men from the beginning.
PATH OF JUSTICE
PERFECT
BUT…
Man decided to obey another Lord. Satan, �the prince of darkness, who seduced them.
Genesis 3:1-5
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
Did God create the devil?
What was Satan in the beginning?
Ezekiel 28:13-17
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”
Ezekiel 28:13-17
“By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”
PERFECT
PATH OF JUSTICE
THE FALL
What did man become when he allowed Satan to defeat him?
2 Peter 2:19
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”
FALL
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
What inheritance have we received and what is man’s current state?
Romans 5:12
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Is there a perfect or entirely righteous person �in this world?
Romans 3:10-12
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
What consequences will all human beings confront?
Romans 3:23; 6:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
FALL
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
RETURN
?
IS THERE A WAY OUT?
What is the saving bridge that is capable in reaching across the existent gap between the path of death and the path of life?
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
What does God want the sinner to do?
Ezekiel 33:11
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Only through whom can we be saved?
Acts 4:11-12
“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
What solution has God provided?
John 10:7.9
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
PATH OF SIN AND DEATH
Jesus
Is the door
What does Jesus �invite us to do?
Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
What is the only bridge between life and dead?
Jesus said, �“I am the way the truth and the life…
John 14:6
I am the way…
ENCOURAGING PROMISES
What does God give to those who sincerely believe in Jesus?
1 John 5:11-13
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; �that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of �the Son of God.”
Does Jesus reject anyone who comes to Him seeking salvation?
John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
CONCLUSION
What must we do to be called children of God and receive salvation?
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior �of your life.
Ephesians 1:7
God is anxious to save us, but we must make the choice.
Dear friend, �on what path do you find yourself? There are only two: �Life and death; salvation or damnation; the way of Jesus Christ or the way of sin.
By accepting Jesus, we become acquainted with Him and His law, for He is our Lord.
We will obey Him out of love, and because of what He has done for us, we will strive to live with Him daily.
The purpose of His death was to bring us from this valley of suffering and pain, and to give us inheritance of eternal life.
This is good news. Don’t you think?
Would you like to now accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life?
If so, this is the time to let God know through a prayer.
The next topic: �"Four Steps to Enjoy Peace and Live Happily."
The greatest desire of man is to enjoy peace and happiness, yet searches through false springs. However having peace does not mean to be free from problems but to know how �to face them. The Bible shows us the key in this search and presents �4 simple steps that have given inner peace and joy to many. This can become a beautiful spiritual experience for you as well!
GOD BLESS YOU!
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