Commandment #8

Don't Steal - Commandment #8 | Kameron DeVasher

Estimated read time: 1:20

Summary

In this sermon, Kameron DeVasher explores the eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” by tracing it to a bigger biblical principle: God’s law is rooted in love, and love is expressed through selfless giving. He contrasts Christ’s generous, sacrificial character with Satan’s selfishness, arguing that all sin is ultimately selfishness. The message emphasizes that God never places people in situations where sin is necessary, even under pressure, scarcity, or persecution, because Christ provides a way of escape and strength to obey. DeVasher also connects commandment-keeping to end-time faithfulness, showing that true followers of Jesus remain loyal even under threat. He closes by applying the lesson practically through tithes, offerings, contentment, and sacrificial giving, framing them as training for heaven and a safeguard against selfishness.

Highlights

Love gives, and Jesus is the clearest example of that heavenly principle 🎁
Satan’s rebellion is presented as the original act of selfish taking 😈
John the Baptist’s call to repentance included practical contentment and fairness 💬
God’s people are never meant to be “the sport of circumstances” — grace is always available 🌿
The widows’ stories show that trust in God often begins with giving first 💵
Revelation frames the last-day faithful as commandment-keepers, even unto death 📖
Heavenly preparation starts now by practicing selfless, faithful living 🌈

Key Takeaways

God’s law is built on love, and love shows up as giving, not grasping ❤️
All sin is rooted in selfishness, while Christ’s life is the ultimate example of selfless generosity ✨
God never forces anyone into a situation where theft becomes necessary; temptation is never an excuse 🙌
The eighth commandment applies even under pressure, scarcity, or fear of loss 🛡️
Faithful tithes and sacrificial offerings train the heart to resist selfishness and live like heaven now 💒

Overview

Kameron DeVasher opens by showing that the eighth commandment is brief in wording but huge in meaning. Rather than treating stealing as only a simple rule about property, he connects it to the entire biblical story of selflessness versus selfishness. God’s character is defined by love, and love, as shown in Scripture, is revealed through giving. Christ gives Himself, while Satan’s rebellion began with the desire to take and exalt self.

The sermon then moves into practical territory. DeVasher pushes beyond obvious theft to ask whether there are ever excuses for stealing in desperate situations. His answer is no: God does not leave His people trapped so that sin becomes necessary. Drawing from Scripture and Ellen White, he argues that temptation, pressure, and hardship can be overcome through Christ’s strength. Biblical examples like John the Baptist, Paul, Daniel, and the three Hebrews reinforce the point that faithfulness is possible even when the cost is high.

In the final movement, the message turns toward preparation for heaven and the end times. DeVasher ties commandment-keeping to Revelation’s picture of the remnant and applies the eighth commandment to everyday faithfulness, especially in tithes and offerings. The widows who gave their last resources become models of trust and sacrifice. His closing appeal is that believers should begin living by heavenly principles now, learning contentment, generosity, and obedience so they are fit for the world to come.

Chapters

00:00 - 05:00: Introduction: The Eighth Commandment and the Law of Love The introduction frames the sermon as part of a larger series on the Ten Commandments, law of love and liberty, and sets up the eighth commandment as the focus of this chapter. The speaker emphasizes that only Christ can enable true obedience to God’s law and that the church must stay committed to the three angels’ messages rather than politics. The audience is welcomed to the camp meeting, and the preacher to take up commandment number eight: “Thou shalt not steal.”
05:00 - 12:30: Love Gives: God’s Character and the Principle Behind the Law The speaker frames God’s character as love and emphasizes that divine love is not merely a feeling but a principle revealed in action, especially through God sending His Son to save humanity. This section stresses the repeated biblical pattern that love gives, using examples such as Christ giving Himself, husbands loving sacrificially, and God giving His Son for the world.
12:30 - 22:00: When Need Tempts Stealing: Contentment and the Sport of Circumstances The speaker uses John the Baptist’s direct call to repentance to introduce a practical definition of repentance: bearing fruit through concrete actions, especially generosity, honesty, and restraint. He connects John’s commands to different groups—sharing clothing and food, tax collectors charging only what is required, and soldiers avoiding intimidation and greed—to show that contentment and justice are expressions of love. Paul, Hebrews, and Psalms are cited to argue that contentment is a learned Christian discipline rooted in trusting God rather than wealth or possessions.
22:00 - 31:30: Christ’s Victory Over Temptation and the Call to Stand Firm The speaker argues that temptation can make theft seem justifiable in extreme cases, but God’s people are not meant to be controlled by circumstances. Quoting Adventist writings, he emphasizes that no temptation or trial forces anyone to sin and that God always provides sufficient help to resist evil.
31:30 - 40:30: Facing Loss for Faith: Biblical Examples of Courage Under Pressure The speaker cites biblical examples—Job, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Paul—to show that true faith remains loyal to God even when life itself is threatened. He connects these examples to Revelation, emphasizing that the saints are identified by keeping God’s commandments and holding to Jesus’ testimony, even unto death.
40:30 - 49:30: Robbing God? Tithes, Offerings, and the Habit of Giving The speaker argues that regular giving is a spiritual safeguard against selfishness and a practical way to avoid “robbing God” through withholding tithes and offerings. Drawing on Malachi 3:8-10 and Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, the point is that the kingdom of God should come before even basic physical needs, with trust that God will supply what is necessary.
49:30 - 55:00: Preparing for Heaven Now: Self-Sacrifice, Commitment, and Appeal The speaker argues that faithful giving is part of a divine cycle: when believers impart tithes and offerings, God continues to provide, reducing the need for constant appeals and demonstrating trust in God rather than selfish hoarding.

Don't Steal - Commandment #8 | Kameron DeVasher Transcription

Segment 1: 00:00 - 02:30 [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Previously on Law of Love and Liberty. >> [laughter] >> Without the intervention of Christ, there is naturally conflict. >> [music] [music] >> The law is made for the unrighteous we're told. That's what it's made for. That's what it's for. Let the law do what the law is supposed to do. Let the law convict you. And let Jesus [music] save you. This is sure tonight. Prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. Now remember we're talking about well thou shalt not murder. You better believe it because we have a job to do and we're murdering people if we don't give them what God said to give them. I'm only on Jesus' side and I want to see the rest of us. I believe as a church and as a people if we're going to have an impact on the world and receive God's blessings, we got to get off of the politics and get into what God has commissioned us to do. Take an undiluted three angels messages one that would counteract the counterfeit into all the world. Hello friends. Welcome to spring camp meeting here 2019 at 3ABN. Have you all been blessed? Can you say amen? We are continuing to ride upon the wave of the power that the Lord has released in this camp meeting. It's not a cliche. We've been talking about the 10 Commandments, the law of love and liberty. And we're going to continue on that trajectory. Pastor Cameron De Vasher, the director of personal ministries director of the Michigan conference, is going to be covering uh commandment number eight, thou shalt not
Segment 2: 02:30 - 05:00 steal. Very simple but quite profound because we find in our world today that none of the commandments outside of the grace and power of Christ Jesus can be kept and he's going to divide that rightly dividing the word of truth. You shall not steal. As rendered in the New King James version, the eighth commandment of the Decalogue is the shortest at only 16 characters in four small words. Not that there's a competition but in the King James version, the prohibited action in the sixth commandment is kill instead of murder as the New King James says it. So technically in the King James version, the shortest commandment is the sixth commandment but the New King James is the eighth commandment. Either way, the point remains I've been tasked with preaching nearly an hour-long sermon on a four-word command. >> [laughter] >> Furthermore, this straightforward command employs no elements of poetry or prophecy. There are no symbols to decode. There are no characters to explore. No nuanced meanings hidden in the original language. I would love to come out and say but did you know that in Hebrew the real it means steal there too. Despite its concision however, the eighth commandment of God's moral law actually speaks to one of if not the central issue in the great controversy. Beyond that, it has incredible practical implications for our everyday lives and finally it prepares us for the closing scenes of Earth's history. There's a lot in this eighth commandment. So before we begin our study, we need to bow our heads for a word of prayer. Dear heavenly Father, I thank you so much
Segment 3: 02:30 - 05:00 for this day, for any day really is a gift from you but the Sabbath day in particular that in your holy law you set apart from the very beginning of our world for rest, for worship, for fellowship and for service in your cause. And now Lord as we come together to study your word, we would ask and expect that you would fulfill the promise given
Segment 4: 05:00 - 07:30 that you would lead us into all truth by the spirit of truth. Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to be here today to speak to each of us individually as you know we have need. We pray it in Jesus' name. Amen. If I were to ask you what single great principle is God's government built upon? What is the central trait of character that sums up in one word who and what God is? What would you say? Love. First John chapter 4 verse 7 we're all familiar. Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. But as the passage continues, you'll notice something else. It says in this the love of God was manifested toward us. That was mentioned in our Sabbath school panel this morning that love is not a feeling, it is a principle. And in some cases a beautiful theory but notice how it shifts from theory to practice in this passage. In this the love of God was manifested toward us that God has sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love. Not that we love God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God loves us, we also ought to love one another. Now notice, this love of God was manifested. That means shown, demonstrated, revealed when God sent his only begotten son into the world. The theory of God's love was put into practice when he gave himself for us. And as you read through scripture and you look at the a deeper examination of this love of God, you'll notice that there's an
Segment 5: 05:00 - 07:30 uncanny connection between loving and giving. For example, Galatians chapter 2 verse 20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Love gives. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25, husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for
Segment 6: 07:30 - 10:00 her. Love gives. John chapter 3 and verse 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Listen to this statement from the pen of inspiration. This is Desire of Ages page 21. Looking unto Jesus, we see that it is the glory of our God to give. She continues, I seek not mine own glory quoting Christ here but the glory of him that sent me. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. The great principle that is the law of life for the whole universe. All things Christ create uh Christ received from God but he took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in his ministry for all created beings, through the beloved son the Father's life flows out to all. Through the Son it returns in praise and joyous service, a tide of love to the great source of all. And thus through Christ, I love this phrase, the circuit of beneficence. Beneficence is the doing of good for others, giving yourself in service for others. There's a circuit where one takes to give and the next one receives to give again. The circuit of beneficence is complete representing the character of the great capital G giver, the law of life. Now in stark contrast with the selfless character of Christ is the selfish character of Satan. >> [clears throat] >> The very next words after the passage I just quoted says, in heaven itself this law, that is that law of selfless giving, was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking. We're all familiar with Isaiah's lamentation about the fall of Lucifer, how he fell from heaven, that son of the
Segment 7: 07:30 - 10:00 morning saying, "I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high." Fascinating comment from 1888 materials, page 1763.
Segment 8: 10:00 - 12:30 All sin is selfishness. All sin is selfishness. Satan's first sin was selfishness. He sought to grasp power. That is to take it, right? To exalt self. A species of insanity led him to seek to supersede God. And the temptation which led Adam to sin was the false statement of Satan that it was possible for him to attain something more than he already enjoyed. To take, to attain something more than he already enjoyed. Possible for him to be as God himself. Thus seeds of selfishness were sown in the human heart. Think about this. Dissatisfied, somehow she calls it a species of insanity. Please for not for one moment do you ever say, "Well, the reason Satan rebelled was because it Sister White accurately says to explain it is to excuse it. A species of insanity means he was nuts. He's crazy. He was the most highly exalted creature, yet he became dissatisfied with the place assigned him in heaven. And he sought to attain or to take what was not rightfully his. Namely the position and power of God. It was this discontent that ultimately manifested in open rebellion against God and his resulted in his expulsion from God's kingdom. Interestingly, 4,000 years later, when John the Baptist sought to prepare God's people for the first coming of Jesus, it was a reformation of this heavenly principle of contented living and selfless giving that was one of the main features of his call to repentance. For instance, go to Luke chapter 3, right
Segment 9: 10:00 - 12:30 there in your Bibles, Matthew, Mark, Luke, chapter 3, starting with the verse 7. If you've ever looked at the appeal that John the Baptist would make to those coming for baptism and conversion, he wanted to make sure it wasn't just some superficial fattish thing, some popularity contest. So, he spoke very straight to the people. Luke chapter 3, verse 7. Then he
Segment 10: 12:30 - 15:00 said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers. Well, I tell you, I read through scripture and I look at John the Baptist, I look at Jesus, I look at the apostles, and they preach straighter messages than we ever hear today. These people were coming to get baptized and he said, "No." And he started calling them names. I'm not advocating calling names. But he knew that there was something missing in their experience. It was all theory, but hadn't been put into practice. He says, "Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Verse 8. "Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. He said, "I want to get to the bottom of the problem." This is a This is a cutting message. "Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Now, notice in response to the people ask him, verse 10, saying, "What shall we do then?" He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise." Verse 12. Then tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to them said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed to you." Verse 14 14. Likewise the soldiers came to him saying, "And what shall we do?" So, he said to said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." Soldiers, be happy with your salary and don't take more through intimidation and force.
Segment 11: 12:30 - 15:00 Tax collectors, only collect what you're supposed to and don't take more than what's been apportioned for you. And if you have two things, give to those who All three examples here go back to this principle of love and this heavenly ideal. This heavenly principle of simple contentment was something the Apostle Paul developed in his life. He tells us that in Philippians chapter 4, verses 11 12, where he testifies, "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." "I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things
Segment 12: 15:00 - 17:30 I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Now, I don't know about you, but I draw great comfort from the fact that apparently even the esteemed Apostle Paul had to learn to be content in whatever state he was in. Given our sinful fallen natures, we are not naturally drawn toward the heavenly ideal of contented living. This is why time and again some of the most practical instruction for Christian living found in scripture revolves around this very theme. First Timothy chapter 6, starting with verse 6. "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts which draw which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evil, for which some have a strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Hebrews chapter 13, verses 5 and 6. "Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have. For he himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So, we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Of course, Psalm 37, verses 3 and 4. "Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart." Okay. So, clearly, we're supposed to be
Segment 13: 15:00 - 17:30 satisfied with the things we have and not take from others what is not ours. By God's grace, we should, like Paul, learn to be content in every circumstance. Got it. And if we close this message right there, all would be well. Except we're still got more time. >> [laughter] >> But I believe there's a deeper lesson to the eighth commandment. I mean, don't steal stuff you want, but don't need. Sure.
Segment 14: 17:30 - 20:00 We can all agree on that. But what about stealing stuff we do need? Is that wrong? I appreciate your yeses. Got a few minutes, let's test it out. At this point I should tell you, it it bugs me when people say, "I'm going to be honest with you." It implies that everything up until this point has been a big sham, but now we're going >> [laughter] >> So, I'm not going to say honestly, of course it should be honestly, but I'll just tell you that by far the most controversial sermons I have ever preached have been on the 10 Commandments. Though I presented topics like God's ideal of male leadership in the home and the church, the need to disregard wearing jewelry, how we're not to drink caffeine, and other such hot button issues, nothing has stirred up Seventh-day Adventist church members quite like the simple assertion that God expects us to keep all 10 Commandments all the time. You see, faithfulness to God's law is always discussed in theory, but demonstrated in practice. In the abstract, there may be unanimous agreement. Sure, we should never steal. I don't even know you and I like you a lot. We need more people in the church who We need more two-way preaching, yes. So, let me ask you this rhetorical question. Is it ever okay or even necessary to steal? Could a situation ever arise when stealing is not only acceptable, but even required? For example, is it okay or necessary to necessary to steal in order to get money to feed your family? I mean, I'm not saying go rob a bank, but I mean, just fudge your time card a little bit.
Segment 15: 17:30 - 20:00 Withholding tithes and offerings, which by the way, the Bible calls robbery against God. What if you paid a lot of money in school and and you're you're on that borderline of needing just enough grade to pass so you don't have to take the class again and waste all that hard earned money? So you just take that
Segment 16: 20:00 - 22:30 answer from the quiz next to you. How about to get life-saving medicine for a loved one? Surely when it's a literal matter of life and death, that's okay, right? Merely mentioning some of these possible scenarios reveals that we might have a problem with the eighth commandment after all. While in theory we might agree that stealing is always wrong, in practice we might be tempted to think that taking what isn't ours is okay or even necessary in certain situations. Thus, instead of holding that all theft is bad, we subtly adhere to a graduated scale of theft morality. I'm guessing many people's ethical hierarchy is a three-tier structure that goes something like this. Small, medium, and large. Small. You know, that's stealing when no one will probably ever know and no one would probably care even if they did know. This level includes such micro thefts as like, you know, pencils and candy. Come on. You really shouldn't, of course, but you know, it's not a big deal if you do. But then we step up to medium offenses. Stealing things that society deems significant and we might it might even carry civil penalties if caught. This level includes stealing someone's property like a car or cheating on your taxes, etc. And of course our response is absolutely not. Bad Christian. But we'd say it in a Jesus loves you kind of way, but still that's the moral of the story. But then there's the large issues of life. Stealing when someone's life is at stake. Again, for the money that's needed or the medicine that's needed to save a life. [snorts] I'm guessing that many people have a a more fuzzy reading of the eighth
Segment 17: 20:00 - 22:30 commandment in such circumstances. Go ahead, God will understand. After all, it's better to get forgiveness than permission. I'm still looking for that passage in scripture. Haven't seen it, right? But I mean in such a circumstance, don't don't I kind of have to steal? I it would almost be wrong not to steal, right? I mean, Satan has boxed [snorts] me into a corner and there's really no choice
Segment 18: 22:30 - 25:00 left. And I would contend that though most people in the world and perhaps even some in the church might view life through such a moral hierarchical lens, we've been given clear counsel that God's people are never to be I love this phrase the sport of circumstances. Listen to this from the Advent home page 240 Adventist home page 248. Many who do well under favorable circumstances seem to undergo a transformation of character under adversity and trial. They deteriorate in proportion to their troubles. God never designed that we should be the sport of circumstances. Patriarchs and Prophets page 331. Man was created a free moral agent. Like the inhabitants of all other worlds, he must be subjected to the test of obedience, but he is never brought into a position that yielding to evil becomes a matter of necessity. No temptation or trial is permitted to come to him which he is unable to resist. God made such ample provision that man need never have been defeated in the conflict with Satan. She continues about 100 pages later, page 421 in the same book, Patriarchs and Prophets. She says, "All who profess godliness are under the most sacred obligation to guard the spirit and to exercise self-control under the greatest provocation. God has made ample provision for his people and if they rely upon his strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpectedly assault, God has provided
Segment 19: 22:30 - 25:00 help for us and in his strength we may conquer. Think about that, friends. That very last phrase there, that key to victory in his strength we may conquer. Recognizing how intense temptation trying circumstances and even life-threatening persecution would lead some to stray, God not only told us what
Segment 20: 25:00 - 27:30 to do praise the Lord he showed us what to do. Friends, we need to look unto Jesus. Not just for theory, but for practical application of the great principles of life. Hebrews chapter 2 starting with verse 14. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same that through death he might destroy him had the power of death, that is the devil. And release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed he does not give aid to angels, but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted. Isn't it wonderful that God is not only way up on the throne, but he also came to be God with us? That he can sympathize with our circumstances. He understands the trials, the vicissitudes, the difficulties, the persecution, the opposition that we face. He knows what weakness feels like, but he's also gained the victory. Hebrews chapter 4 starting with verse 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Now, knowing that we can rely on God's strength to stand faithful even in the most vexing situations helps demystify what are often regarded as tough moral dilemmas. It is in just such times of trouble that
Segment 21: 25:00 - 27:30 the promises of the Bible can be claimed most earnestly. First Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 13 springs to mind. No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man, but God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation also can make the way of escape that you will be able to bear it. The Bible never says that you're going to live a life without temptation. Fact, the Bible says when you're tempted. It doesn't say if you're
Segment 22: 27:30 - 30:00 tempted. It says when you're tempted. But it never says when you sin. It only says if you sin. Temptation is a guarantee. But friends, even in the most difficult times, victory is possible in the strength of Christ Jesus. Thus we read in Ephesians chapter 6 starting with verse 10. Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in his power in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness in this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Simply put, Philippians chapter 4 verse 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Praise the Lord, it doesn't say I can do lots of things. It doesn't say I can do many things. I can do several things. I can do some things. It says I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me. Faith and Works page 71, we're told this. Christ took upon himself humanity for us. He clothed his divinity and divinity and humanity were combined. He showed that the law which Satan declared could not be kept. I'm tempted to preach another sermon right now, but I'm not going to do it. But I will say it's astonishing to me that even inside the church of God, the the satanic idea that God's law can't be kept is being preached week to week. Friends, scripture says otherwise. And I'll take God's word for it. He showed that the law which sin declared could not be kept could be kept. Christ took humanity to stand here in our world to show that Satan had
Segment 23: 27:30 - 30:00 lied. He took humanity and upon himself to demonstrate that with divinity and humanity combined, man could keep the law of Jehovah. Separate humanity from divinity and you can try to work your own righteousness from now till Christ comes and it will be nothing but a failure. >> All right. That's right. That's right. This is not a works righteousness, but it is a righteousness which works.
Segment 24: 30:00 - 32:30 It was this firm grip on the hand of God that provided the power for other Bible heroes to stand against the devil's schemes even when their very lives were at stake. Job testifies chapter 13 verse 15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Daniel chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us from your hand, O king, but if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods and we will not worship the gold image which you have set up." Paul gave his testimony to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4, said, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, capital D day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing." Of course, the day to which Paul referred in his closing testimony was the second coming of Jesus. This great hope of God's people is the culmination of all Bible prophecy and the focus of the last book of the Bible. And have you ever caught that in the prophecies of Revelation, commandment keeping, not merely until discomfort, but {quote} even unto death, is the consistent identifier of those who are Jesus' true followers. Revelation chapter 12, verse 11 reads, "And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to what?" The death. He goes on in verse 17 of the same
Segment 25: 30:00 - 32:30 chapter, "And the dragon was enraged with the woman who went out and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Notice there's a tie between keeping the commandments even unto death. Two chapters later, Revelation chapter 14, starting with verse 12, "Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write, blessed are those dead
Segment 26: 32:30 - 35:00 who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works follow them." Right after it says keep the commandments, it says some might die, but blessed are those who keep the faith till the very end. Revelation chapter 22, verses 14 and 15, "Blessed are those who do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city." Mhm. Two points I'd like to draw here. Number one, nowhere in the book of Revelation does it say blessed are those who know the commandments. It says blessed are those who do his commandments. Here are they who keep the commandments. So, point number one, it's more than just theory, it's got to be practice. And point number two, it doesn't just say here are those who keep the commandment singular. It's all 10. And we rightfully talk about how one particular commandment, that fourth commandment, will be the great test in the last days and that is true. But friends, what good would your Sabbath keeping do you if you're lying, stealing, cheating, and all other thing? See what I'm saying? God wants to demonstrate his power in his people that Satan's claims that you can't keep the commandments are absolutely false. And please notice in those passages we just read that the life promised to those who keep the commandments is eternal life, not temporal life. The point is you might lose your life here if you remain faithful to God. But so what? Wouldn't you rather risk losing a few days, weeks, months, or years here
Segment 27: 32:30 - 35:00 to guarantee gaining literally countless years, decades, centuries, and millennia there? I don't know where it crept into our thinking that our highest allegiance is to life
Segment 28: 35:00 - 37:30 on this earth. Friends, the Bible is repeatedly, consistently, ubiquitously clear that the life we should be seeking is that eternal life. And even if it costs us some time, money, resources, or even our existence here, it's worth it. Heaven is cheap enough. Matthew chapter 16, Jesus said it this way, "For whoever desires to save his life will what? Lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it a man to even gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in his the glory of his father with his angels and then he will reward each according to his works." As Seventh-day Adventists, we recognize the apex of Satan's warfare in the last days will be the universal enforcement of the mark of the beast, a demonstration of allegiance to him by the keeping of Sunday in the place of the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Scripture tells us plainly that there will be civil punishments for those who remain loyal to God beginning with economic penalties and ultimately moving to a death decree. Now, in that final test, if someone were to cave to Satan's economic or societal or even existential threats, would we laud them for their strategic decision-making? Would we extol their wisdom in compromising when the stakes got too high? Of course not. That's the whole point of the test is to demonstrate true fidelity. I mean, think about it. In what esteem would we hold Shadrach, Meshach, and
Segment 29: 35:00 - 37:30 Abednego if they had bowed down to Nebuchadnezzar's image when the king unveiled the fiery furnace? They were all tall and strong, but as soon as that fiery furnace was revealed, they all of a sudden had to tie their shoe. What regard would we have for Daniel had he ceased to pray for fear of the lions? What kid would want to sing, "Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone until the time of threatening and then recant your faith"?
Segment 30: 37:30 - 40:00 Nobody wants to sing that song. It's uninspiring. It's from an earthly perspective, strategic planning. It buys you a little more time and it might extend your You might even gain a few more years or decades of life here. But we We miss the purpose is that we shouldn't be satisfied with here. Have you ever thought about this that according to scripture, with the Lord, a day is like what? A thousand years. And the longest lived person who tasted death, Methuselah, lived 969 years. From heaven's perspective, he didn't even make it to one full day. We look at 969 YEARS AGO, "OH, I can't even wrap my mind around it." Someone I mean, this is 2018. If they were born almost a thousand years ago, I mean, they were born in 1018. Can you imagine that? And we look at that as saying it's almost mind-bogglingly long life. And the angels look at that and say, "He was just a baby." Satan wants to focus here when God has put eternity in our hearts, according to scripture. So, the moral of the story is simple. For heaven's sake, don't steal. Don't steal candy. Don't steal a pencil. Don't steal a wallet. Don't steal a car. Don't steal money. Don't steal medicine. Don't be swayed by selfish desires to take what isn't yours. Don't be bullied by external pressure to take what you need even if it might require the loss of life. Don't steal. Now, I just says It's easy to say, "All right, so just don't." Let's bow our heads for prayer. But did you know that the Lord helps us because we all have this natural selfish propensity within us
Segment 31: 37:30 - 40:00 to break God's law, especially when times get tough? And that he has in his infinite and estimable wisdom given us
Segment 32: 40:00 - 42:30 a beautiful spiritual practice to build within us that character of beneficence that would fit into heaven. That powerful safeguard against taking what isn't yours is the consistent practice of giving what is yours. We just mentioned it briefly earlier, but perhaps the most rampant and brazen violation of the eighth commandment amongst God's people isn't cheating the civil government or stealing from those around us. It is robbery of God. Malachi chapter 3, verse 8, "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me? But you say, 'In what way have we robbed you?' And you know the answer, in tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." Jesus spoke about the primacy of heaven first principle. Matthew chapter 6 in the sermon on the mount beginning verse 25, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. For they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. And yet I say to you that even Solomon
Segment 33: 40:00 - 42:30 in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his
Segment 34: 42:30 - 45:00 righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This principle of giving to God before even our own physical needs are met is illustrated by two stories of widows, one in the Old Testament and one in the new. Think about what Jesus is saying. He was talking about food, he's talking about drink, he's talking about clothing. He wasn't talking about even about the desires of your heart, the things that you want or you just don't have can't afford right now. He was talking about the things that make life go at all. He says if you place the kingdom of heaven and the pursuit of righteousness above even those considerations, you will have all that you need and learn to be content with what is provided. Okay? We see this. Go to 1 Kings chapter 17. First story of the in the Old Testament. The widow down to her literal last pennies. Starting with verse 8, 1 Kings chapter 17, "Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.' So he arose and went to Zarephath." This is the prophet Elijah. "And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called her and said, 'Please bring me a little water in a cup that I may drink.' And as she was going to get it, he called her and said, 'Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' So she said, 'As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin and little oil in a jar. And see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son that we may eat it
Segment 35: 42:30 - 45:00 and die.' She literally had only the little bit of food left. Verse 13, "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear. Go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me, and afterward make some for yourself and your son.'" What did God say? "Try me now in this, and see if I won't provide." Put all this faith talk into practice. The prophet of God comes along and says, "Let's test the sincerity of your faith.
Segment 36: 45:00 - 47:30 Bring me a cake first, and let's see what happens in response." And we know how the story ends. The lady lived, and so did her kids. Go to the New Testament, Mark. Chapter 12. Starting with verse 41. Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So he called his disciples to himself and said to them, "Assuredly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury, for they all put in out of their abundance. But she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Those were her last bits of livelihood, and she gave it as the Lord had instructed. Let me tell you something. If you don't notice it in the story, I'll make it plain. Notice in verse 44, all those others put in out of their abundance. They gave a lot. I would even say that they were plenty generous. But God's not looking for generosity. He's looking for sacrifice. He's not The test doesn't come when you can give. The test comes when it seems you can't give. Cuz both groups in the story gave. But the test exposed the motive. Listen to this from Review and Herald May 16, 1893. We should never forget that that we are placed on trial in this world to determine our fitness for the future life. None can enter heaven whose characters are defiled by the foul blot of
Segment 37: 45:00 - 47:30 selfishness. Therefore, God tests us here by committing to us temporal possessions
Segment 38: 47:30 - 50:00 that our use of these may show whether we can be entrusted with eternal riches." She continues. "Should all who claim to be sons and daughters of God conscientiously meet their obligation to God and their fellow man in tithes and offerings, an abundance would flow into the treasury to sustain the work of God in its different branches throughout the world. As they should impart, now notice this carefully, as they should impart, the Lord would open ways whereby they would be able continually to bestow because they were continually receiving." Remember that when we opened, there was this great heavenly principle, the circuit of beneficence? When the Lord gives, he wants to see if we will in turn give again. Or will we, out of desire for more or lack of trust that more might be coming later, hoard what we've been given? Will we exercise Satan's selfishness, or by God's grace Christ's selflessness? She continues. "Again, as they should impart, the Lord would open ways whereby they would be able to continually bestow because they were continually receiving. There would then be no occasion to make appeals for means to sustain the cause." I don't know how heavy that hits you, but wouldn't it be fantastic to go to church one day you don't have to have an offering appeal? No, make it good and stirring. Really make an emotional cry cuz we want people What if the offering appeal were an absolute flop? Would you give, too? Wouldn't it be great if they're like, "Now it's time to take up the offerings." And that's it. You don't have to be talked into it. You don't have to be emotionally pulled or lulled or have to stirring piece of
Segment 39: 47:30 - 50:00 music. You just give cuz it's what you do. If the principle of giving to the Lord his own were carried out regularly and systematically, it would be acknowledged of God, them that honored me will I honor. So, if you've ever heard me preach before, you probably heard the explanation that salvation involves more than just getting us into heaven. It also includes fitting us for the society of heaven. The reason we keep the commandments isn't to earn our way into God's
Segment 40: 50:00 - 52:30 kingdom, but to develop a character that would be happy once we get there. Let me close with two statements. Counsels for the church, page 272. The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. Christ's self-sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. That man might be saved, he gave all that he had and then gave himself. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed savior. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. This, carried out in actual benevolence and good works, is the true fruit of the Christian life. The principle of worldlings is to get, get. And thus they expect to secure happiness. But carried out in all its bearings, the fruit is misery and death. And I love this one. In Heavenly Places, page 233. In heaven, none will think of self nor seek their own pleasure. But let me pause right there. Does that mean that heaven will be unhappy? No. There's going to be plenty of pleasures in heaven. It's just not I have to find them and seek them and take them for me and fight for my own. Oh. But all, she continues, from pure, genuine love will seek the happiness of the heavenly beings around them. And then she ends with this rhetorical statement. If we wish to enjoy heavenly society in the earth made new, we must be governed by heavenly principles here. Friends, taking us to heaven is nothing for Jesus. But it's making us fit for heaven that's the purpose of this life now. To look at those great principles, the great law of love and liberty, right? And say, is this something I even want? And if it is, Lord, how can I start heaven right here?
Segment 41: 50:00 - 52:30 Let me ask you, is it your desire for heaven to start even now? How many here today would be willing to covenant, by God's strength, to not steal when you want something? Amen. How many want to covenant to say, I won't steal by God's grace even if I need something? How many here want to actively build up our defenses against the evil of
Segment 42: 52:30 - 55:00 selfishness by pledging to return to God a faithful tithe and sacrificial offerings? I don't know about you, but I want immunity for the temptations of this world and I want a preparation for that next world. And we can start right here today. Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for giving us not only the grand, overarching principles of heaven, but showing us in the life of Christ, in the word of God, the practical application of those principles even now. Lord, we know there's a test coming and it's going to be great and trying, but we want to be tested in the small things so we're prepared for the big things and someday when Jesus comes, Lord, not only we go to heaven, but be ready for heaven.