Evangelist's Address

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 5, 1 July 1942, Page 5

Evangelist's Address

Last Sunday night. Evangelist Burnside continued his much-appre-ciated lectures on Bible Truth, taking as his subject "Divine Healing — Can We Detect the False from the True".' As we approach nearer and nearer to tlie Time of the End, deceptions will become moie and niOiC frequent, the Evangelist declared. Iu Matt. 24:24 Christ says very ueciifefltely that false prophets would arise displaying such marvellous .signs and wonders that if possible even the very elect will be deceived. 2 Cor. 11:13-15 says that such false prophets will work under the guise of religion —-will actually give themselves out to be apostles oL' Christ Himself and as "ministers of righteousness." No wonder that Christ warns over and over again concerning the cunning and devil-inspired deceptions and counterfeit miracles of the last days when the devil will thus actually work as "an angel ol light Although God can pertorm miracles in healing disease, Tie in His wisdom, expects His children to intelligently follow out the Laws ol Hygiene, Science, and Medicine. The Laws are seven in number, all of which are found in the Divinelyinspired wisdom of the Old Testament: — (1) Obedience to the Moral Ten-Commandment Law of God as the first requisite for good health. .(Ex. 15:26). (2) Laws of Sanitation (Ex. 29:14, Deut. 23: 12-14.). (3) Sterilization. (Num. 3 1:22-23). (4) Quarantine. (".Num. a: 1-4). (o) Laws on Diet (Deut. 24). Hi) Exercise. (Examples and precepts throughout the Book of Moses.). (7) Rest. (Ex. 20:8-12;. The Medical Science today is appreciating more and more these health laws of the Bible and as they by the use of these laws, are bringing health to thousands, God certainly blesses the medical work as it performs its noble service lor siufering humanity. The Evangelist referred ot one Christian body, that of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination, who are treating hundreds of thousands of patients yearly in some ol the most modern and weni-equipped hospitals and sanitariums in the woild as well as in the humble jungle dispensaries of heathen lands, in these hospitals and dispensaries thousands of noble Christian doctors and nurses glorify the God of Heaven by endeavouring to heal the ravages ol mind and body as well, as that of the soul. The evangelist read various extracts from the Old Testa-

jnent showing that God had appoint-

Ed Levites as the "physicians" and doctors of Ancient Israel and they, as they studied into the science ol Jiealthl'ul living, were enabled to be of physical benefit as well as ol' spiritual benefit to mankind. So closely did Israel, undei* the tuition of their Levite-physicians. keep to the unequalled health laws oi the Bible that at one stage Ps. 10 5:37 tells us that there was '"'not one feeble person among their tribes." We find that in the New Testament one of the twelve apostles was a doctor. Paul in Col. 4:14 referred to this noble character as "uike, the beloved physician." We also find that Paul in his journey:-; among the Gentiles (who did not .follow the Health Laws of Israel,;, found it expedient to have thi« Christian doctor ever with him. Often when man's extremity has been reached God can and often does miraculously heal the afflicted. The Evangelist quoted many illustrations amongst the commandment-keeping Christians where God in a wonderful manner has raised the sick. God however in His'infinite wisdom, does not always heal our afflictions as is seen in 2 Cor 12:8-10 and 2 Tim 4: 20. The - great and acid test of wfeether a movement is of God or not is found in Isa. 8:20, "To the Law and the Testimony, it' they speak not according to this word; it is because there 'is no light in them" Only by following "the Law and the Testimony" will we be able to escape the deceptive "signs and wonders" of the last days as prophecied will come in Matt. 24, to deceive, . if possible, ~ even the very elect. By making "the Law and Testimony" our only guide and the acid test of all religion we will be able eventually, if faithful, to meet Christ in fulness and truth and preparedness when He comes in glorious Majesty and Power to claim His Own.