Apr 19, 2023 Learning What the Bible Says

They’re fanatical cults. That’s why we must not study the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventists or the Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the Pastor. He was discussing doctrinal teachings with Elias who was visiting a protestant church in Papua New Guinea. Elias maybe didn’t realize it at the time, but he was searching for something more in his spiritual life.

Elias whose home was in Indonesia, would travel sometimes to Papua for his work. He got to learn a little bit about Seventh-day Adventists since one of his coworkers, Samson, was an Adventist.

Why do you go to church on Saturday? Elias asked. It seemed strange to him since all the other denominations he could think of went to church on Sunday.

Simple, explained Samson, Jesus went to church on Sabbath, which is Saturday in the Bible. I want to follow Jesus’ example.

Elias became curious. This didn’t sound cult-ish or fanatical. But he kept his thoughts and curiosity in his heart.

When Elias returned home to Northern Toraja, he wanted to talk with his wife, but decided against it. She worked with another Christian denomination, and he didn’t want to cause any possible strife. Instead, Elias prayed silently for God’s direction.

Some time passed and Elias forgot his prayers and questions, when one day Johnny, a QHM gospel worker, visited his home. Elias was surprised, and they had a great time talking about different denominations and doctrines. When Elias found out the gospel worker was a Seventh-day Adventist, he asked if they could study the Bible with him and continue their conversations.

After this, Elias studied the Bible with Johnny and was simply amazed. Johnny led their first study using only the Bible, and Elias’ heart was deeply stirred. He had never heard such Biblical explanations before on worship, faith and the immutability of God’s Word. That Bible study with Johnny was a turning point in Elias’ mind, even though they lost touch since Elias had to return to work in Papua.

More time passed, and Elias was surprised when one afternoon a church member from the local Seventh-day Adventist Church visited his home. They invited Elias and his family to the revival meetings at the church in the nearby village of Angin-angin.

Elias decided to go, and his wife joined him some evenings. Elias was very interested by the discussion about the history of how some people worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. The messages convinced him that the Adventist church’s teachings came from the Bible. He enjoyed talking with the speaker and church members afterwards too. Elias faithfully attended the whole seriesÑbut when the call was made to be baptized, Elias refused to come forward.

After all the guests left the church, Elias approached his friend Johnny, the QHM gospel worker.

I want to be baptized. But I didn’t stand up at the call because I don’t want my wife to know, shared Elias, looking down. My wife works for another Christian denomination, and she actually forbade me to be baptized. But, she hasn’t come to all the meetings, and she’s never heard these truths before. Please, let me be baptized without telling her, and afterwards I’ll talk with her.

Praise God! Elais was one of 84 precious souls who were baptized in Luwu Tana Toraja, Indonesia during these meetings. He has grown in God’s Word and feels closer to Jesus like never before.

But please pray for these new believers and especially Elias, as they share with their family. Pray that God would give them wisdom and kindness as they share these precious end-time truths.

When I found Your words, I devoured them; Your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart, Because I bear Your name, LORD, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

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