Testimony by Tom Erickson

http://www.truejesuschurch.info/data/elibrary/media/Misc04/Erickson/EricksonT_OpenHouseTestimony.mp3

Refreshing the Body and Mind on The Sabbath

(Translated from Holy Spirit Monthly—Issue 35
www.mannamagazine.com

Modern human beings lead hectic lives
and endure heavy pressure from work. If
we use weekends and holidays to exercise
or to participate in relaxing activities, we
can boost our metabolism and eliminate
stress. Such activities can also promote a
healthy lifestyle and decrease the chance
of disease.
However, rest only removes fatigue
from our body—it will not result in the
cleansing of our mind and soul. The
Sabbath has broader implications than
merely rest. Other than the reprieve given
to our body, the Sabbath also refreshes
our mind and soul.
The Sabbath is associated with
God. Only when we have an intimate
relationship with God can we allow our
lives to enjoy rest. The Sabbath requires
our return to God’s bosom. But what does
this have to do with Sabbath days? We
will examine this question according to
the Bible.
WHY DID GOD ESTABLISH THE
SABBATH?
Jesus said,
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not
man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of
Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27,
28)
Evidently, the Sabbath was instituted
for the benefit of mankind.
To Allow Man to Remember that God
Is the Creator
In six days God created heaven, earth, sea,
and all the living creatures within them.

The work of creation was complete and
He rested from His work on the seventh
day. Therefore, God blessed the seventh
day and made it holy.1
But man is forgetful. As time passes, we
fail to remember that God is the Creator.
The Lord established the Sabbath day as
everlasting evidence to mankind that God
is the Creator.2 If we can observe every
Sabbath in remembrance of His awesome
creation, then we will stay away from
idolatry and avoid trouble.
When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses
commanded the people to double the
amount of manna that they harvested on
Fridays so that they could reserve portions
of it for meals on the Sabbath. Only under
such conditions would the manna not
spoil and attract worms.
They were not supposed to gather
manna on the Sabbath because they
would not find any. Nevertheless, some
people tried to gather manna on Sabbath
days—but they were unsuccessful.3
God made the Sabbath one of the Ten
Commandments so that the Israelites
would observe this day for generations to
come.4 Anyone who violated the Sabbath
and did work on that day would be put to
death,5 but the people still refused to treat
the Sabbath as sacred.6
Through Jeremiah, God issued warnings
and said,
“But if you will not heed Me to hallow the
Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden
when entering the gates of Jerusalem on
the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in
its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of
Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”
(Jer 17:27)
Unfortunately, the Israelites were
still unwilling to listen, which led to the
Babylonian captivity.7 We should heed
this warning and observe the Sabbath to
honor our Lord the Creator.
To Allow Man to Remember God’s
Saving Grace
Because human beings easily forget
God’s salvation, the Lord instructed the
Israelites to hold holy convocations on
the Sabbath.8 In doing so, they could
remember that they had been enslaved
in Egypt and that it was God who used
His mighty hand and outstretched arm to
lead them out of Egypt.9
In New Testament times, the chosen
people also held services on the Sabbath
to honor the amazing grace of the Lord
Jesus who shed His blood to redeem us.
As human beings, we have all sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God. Even
though the wages of sin is death, we are
freely justified because of God’s grace
and salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ.
As it says in Romans 3:25, God set forth
Jesus
as a propitiation by His blood, through faith,
to demonstrate His righteousness, because
in His forbearance God had passed over the
sins that were previously committed.
We need to always remember God’s
grace, and we need to make His deeds
known to future generations. If we do
not constantly remember God’s grace,
His deeds will be quickly blotted out of
our memories because we are forgetful
creatures. Therefore, we need to make a
determination to observe the Sabbath in
remembrance of His saving grace.
Moreover, we need to instruct the next
generation to honor the Sabbath so that
our faith can be passed on and God’s
grace always remembered.
To Allow Man to Enjoy Rest in Body
and Mind
The Bible says,
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. (Isa 40:28)
God does not need rest; therefore, the
Sabbath was instituted for man so that
we can enjoy rest both physically and
mentally. We are made of flesh and often
become weary.
We also have many issues to worry
about: our children, our parents’ health,
the relationships between in-laws, and
our family’s financial situation. These can
impose a great deal of pressure on us
and prevent us from finding peace. Jesus
proclaimed,
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy
and My burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)
If our body and mind are to enjoy rest,
we need to first hand all of our difficulties
to God. We do not do any work on the
Sabbath. Such actions represent our faith
toward God and acknowledge that He
has control over everything. This reminds
us that the world is controlled by God and
not by men.
A problem might continue to persist
even when we are willing to trust and rely
on God. But because of our reliance on
God, strength can come from within us to
overcome difficulties.
Second, we need to be obedient to
God. Jesus told us that we need to take
His yoke and learn from Him, and then
we will find rest.
We can learn obedience from Jesus’
example—He entrusted Himself to God.
When He was verbally abused He did not
respond, and when He was persecuted
He did not retaliate. He obeyed wholeheartedly to the point of death,
even death on the cross.
The Lord Jesus’ complete obedience is a
wonderful example for us.10
To Allow Man to Hope for the Sabbath
in Heaven
In the Old Testament, God promised the
Israelites that they would enjoy peace.11
Further, in the New Testament, the Lord
assured those who labor and are heavy
laden that they will receive rest.12
However, due to the skepticism and
defiance of man, this promise never came
to fruition; we are not able to enjoy a truly
heavenly existence on earth.13
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He
would not afterward have spoken of another
day. There remains therefore a rest for the
people of God. For he who has entered His
rest has himself also ceased from his works
as God did from His. (Heb 4:8-10)
There is no resting place in this world.
If we can observe the Sabbath, however,
the Lord Jesus will carry our heavy burden
so that we may taste the sweetness of the
heavenly Sabbath. Therefore, if we hope
for the second coming, we will be able
to enter the heavenly kingdom to enjoy
eternal rest.
THE IMPACT OF THE SABBATH ON
MODERN LIVES
An entrepreneur in the church was once
asked to speak to a youth fellowship. He
answered, “My schedule is completely
booked for the next six months, and I
cannot make any changes.” It seems that
a prevailing idea today is that the busier
one appears to be, the more important
one is.
Though the advances in technology are
supposed to make our lives easier, they
actually seem to have increased the pace
of our work as well as the number of our
responsibilities. For instance, the advent
of cell phones and fax machines forces
people to take care of work-related issues
at home.
Overloading ourselves with work often
results in exhaustion and a bad temper that
make us difficult individuals. Furthermore,
because of long hours, job-related stress,
and irregular schedules, more and more
deaths caused by overwork are starting to
occur.
As we immerse ourselves in work,
especially when we become successful, it
is easy for us to become pompous and selfcentered.
We believe that this enterprise
or this world requires our existence and
that without our contribution they will
become bankrupt or stop functioning.
In reality, God blessed the seventh
day and made it holy. If we can stop
participating in secular work on the
Sabbath, we will realize that the world
continues on its way because it is
maintained by God’s hands, not ours.
Human beings are composed of flesh,
and we require physical nourishment to
fulfill our needs. But a major part of us is
our soul, which requires spiritual food for
satisfaction. We are often accomplished
in our career and abundant in material
possessions. Nonetheless, our soul is
parched and malnourished because we
are deficient in spiritual sustenance.
On the Sabbath, we do not need to
prove our worth through our career.
Instead, we can return to God through
services, prayers, and communion with
Him. As our prayers deepen and we
allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, we will be
able to taste the sweetness of spiritual
satisfaction, which is the heavenly beauty
that we can experience on earth.
WHAT TO DO ON THE SABBATH
The term “Sabbath” came from the
phonetic translation of the Hebrew word
sabbat, which is unclear in its origin.
Phonetic translation of the corresponding
verb is sabat, which can be defined as to
terminate, to discontinue, or to rest. The
word also implies setting apart a certain
period of time as holy. God blessed the
Sabbath and made it holy.14
A holy day is a sanctified and special
day, which should be different from other
days. This day belongs to God, and we
ought to live out this day according to His
instructions. We should allow our body to
rest and our spirit to revitalize. Moreover,
instead of focusing on worldly pleasure,
we need to live out this day in accordance
with biblical teachings.
With Respect to Careers
The Sabbath is a holy day and meant to
be kept sacred. Therefore, we should not
participate in any type of work.15 Even
harvesting crops should cease on the
Sabbath.16 If we can be mindful of our
steps on the Sabbath, stay away from
work-related activities, and refrain from
mindless chatter, we will obtain God’s
blessings.17
The Israelites disobeyed the rules of
Sabbath and were thus cursed by God
to captivity. Many years after returning
to Israel, some people took part in
commercial activities on the Sabbath.
Prophet Nehemiah rebuked the residents
of the land:

“What evil thing is this that you do, by
which you profane the Sabbath day? Did
not your fathers do thus, and did not our
God bring all this disaster on us and on this
city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by
profaning the Sabbath.” (Neh 13:17, 18)

Consequently, he proclaimed an edict
that, as soon as the gates of Jerusalem
began to cast shadows before the Sabbath
began, the gates would be closed and
locked until the end of the Sabbath day.
This was to prevent the Israelites from
violating the Sabbath again.18
In this hectic industrialized society, we
are preoccupied with our jobs. Even after
we come home, our mind is still occupied
with work-related concerns. We are
enslaved by our duties.
However, on the Sabbath, we should
suspend all of our business activities and
let go of everything that we have become
so engrossed with during the week. We
should focus on our communion with
God and pursue an abundant spirit.
With Respect to Faith
Sabbath days are to be set apart as the
holy days on which we can worship God.
In the Old Testament, God commanded
Moses to do no work on the Sabbath but
conduct holy convocations19 and make
offerings.20 In the New Testament, Jesus
entered synagogues on the Sabbath and
read the Bible.21 Paul and Barnabas also
went to synagogues on the Sabbath.
Entire towns would gather to listen to
the words of God.22 Today, we should also
turn away our foot on the Sabbath, attend
church services, and call the Sabbath
a delight and the holy days of the Lord
honorable. In doing so, God will bestow
upon us blessings and cause us to ride on
the high hills of the earth.23
In our church today, the Sabbath is
full of services of all kinds (e.g., worship
services, prayer sessions, classes for the
newly baptized). Through these meetings,
we can allow our body and mind to enjoy
a break. Some churches use the time
after service for hospital visitations. Holy
work such as this are meant to preach the
gospel and are also acts of charity that are
pleasing to the Lord.
With Respect to Family
Typically, parents spend their energy on
work, and children are preoccupied with
the television or the internet. Very rarely
do parents and children have time to
connect. On the Sabbath, both parents
and children can cease their respective
activities to spend time with one another.
Through the opportunities created by
the Sabbath, parents can listen to their
children’s thoughts and improve their
relationship.
Sabbath is also an occasion for
husbands and wives to strengthen their
bond. Through walks, conversations, and
meals, they can re-live happy memories
and reaffirm their feelings. The Sabbath
can be a day in which family members
communicate well with one another. If
everyone actively participates, wonderful
relationships can be established.
CONCLUSION
In a city filled with lights, it is difficult
to see stars at night. But in rural and
mountain areas, the sky is sprinkled with
stars. During the six days that we are
occupied, worldly obligations and worries
accumulate, and we are not able to feel
the abidance of God. On the Sabbath,
we can stop our work and attend church
services to pursue a fruitful spiritual
life. Our relationship with God will thus
become more intimate.
The Sabbath is blessed by the Lord,
and it is set apart to be holy. Through our
weekly attendance at church services, we
can commemorate God’s work of creation
and His wonderful grace of salvation.
Moreover, we can give our burdens to
God and trust in His guidance during our
prayers.
Through diligent spiritual cultivation on
this holy day, we can reach the fullness of
the Holy Spirit. We can also work on our
relationships with family members, and
visit members in the hospital so that they
can feel the love of God.
The Sabbath is only the beginning.
Through this day, we can pursue an
abundant spiritual life and maintain
an intimate relationship with our Lord
that will continue with daily cultivation.
We should trust that these spiritual
developments will be worthy of God’s
blessings, and the promise of the Sabbath
will come true.
In this life, we will obtain peace in our
body and mind, and we will one day
enter the heavenly kingdom to enjoy the
eternal Sabbath

THE EVERLASTING UNCHANGING LOVE OF GOD

PENAMPANG CHURCH, SABAH

THE EVERLASTING UNCHANGING LOVE OF GOD

Sister Jinah Duayle

Hallelujah! in the name of the Lord Jesus Ii testify. My name is Jane Jinah Buayie of the Kota Kinabalu Church. I would like to share with you my experience of the Lord’s love, mercy and grace.

Love Of Bible Reading from A Young age

In 1974, while I was studying in the Kota Kinabalu UiTM I made a friend called Whiten who was a member of the SIB Church. She originated from Ranau. We became very good friends because of our age similarity and further because we shared the same faith (SIB Church); during our leisure hours we would often read and share our views on the Holy Bible together.

Yearning To Understand the Mystery Of The Bible

One day, after lunch, I again took out my Bible to read. At that time one Bible verse seemed to become photographed into my mind. I found it very interesting. It was ICorinthians 12:4 “There are diverse gifts but one Holy Spirit.” I read and re-read it again and again but was unable to understand it. My friend was attending class, so I was unable to get her opinion on that Bible verse. I shut my eyes and made a silent prayer, asking the Lord for instruction or to give me a vision so that I would understand the meaning. Suddenly, I saw this Bible verse rolling towards me like an ocean wave. I was startled by this vision; I thought that I was too tired and therefore my eyes were playing tricks on me. I rubbed my eyes and rested for a while. Then I opened my eyes and read the Bible verse again. Oh! This time the wave was large; it seemed to roll right into my face. I hurriedly closed the Bible and rested again. Unconsciously, I fell asleep.

A Strange Dream

In my dream I was walking alone to attend service at the SIB Church. Midway, a storm broke out. Heavy rain and thunder clapped on me. Many rubber trees around me fell down. I walked faster, trying to find a shelter from the rain and storm. Suddenly, I saw a big buffalo right in front of me, with its two sharp and strong horns pointing towards me. Then it called out my name. I was very startled. How could a buffalo know my name? Why was it speaking like a human being? I was anxious and scared and ran as fast as I could. Then I climbed up one tree. Looking down from the tree the buffalo stood underneath, continuously calling out to me to go down. It was also trying to knock me with its two horns. Then the buffalo called out the name of a prophet of a religion. I called back with the name of Jesus Christ. In this way we exchanged names several times. Finally the buffalo growled terrifyingly in great anger, as if it was calling out the name of the prophet. I immediately replied loudly with the name of Jesus Christ. Then I realised that the rubber tree I was sitting on had become a very large cross. The buffalo broke and disintegrated into small pieces before my eyes. At this point, I woke up. I was sweating all over and discovered that it was 3.00 p.m. my friend was still in class. I washed and changed and went out to attend my class. I did not have the opportunity to tell anyone about the dream.

A Brilliant White Ray From Heaven

I was typing my assignment when I saw a brilliant white ray shining down from heaven on to my table. I looked upward and saw that this ray of light shone through the ceiling. It was much brighter than an electric light. I looked around me and saw all my classmates buried deeply in their assignment, completely unaware of this incident. I again looked upward and saw that the ceiling had disappeared. I saw the large sky and the ray of brilliant light shining from heaven. Then I realised that someone was calling me. It was my friend, Whiten,. Her face was shining. I asked her, “What has happened to you? Are you unwell? Your hands are very cold!” She answered, “I am very well. Let’s go back to pray.” We immediately returned to the hostel to pray. During the prayer, my body gradually warmed up and my head started to give me pain. Suddenly, I felt that a burden was lifted from my back. My body became very light and I floated in the air. I sang the hymn “Amazing Grace” again and again. I was filled with joy. All the college students came to look at us. One Bumiputra female student said, “Look! They are mad!” Even before she finished saying those words and was stepping out of the room, she fell down unconscious. All the rest students ran away on seeing this.

An Angel Protected Me From A Black Magician At Night

As I was watching the television that night, I shut my eyes for a few moments. That was when I saw a magician in black coming towards me. I quickly opened my eyes and saw three magicians. I asked them why they were disturbing me. The three of them were having a discussion among themselves. I asked them again, “Do you think I am afraid of you? Do you know who I am?” The three magicians stared at me and made to grab me. I said, “What are you waiting for? Go and die.” Once I finished speaking, the three magicians disappeared. I immediately got up to pray and then went to sleep. Early the next morning, one female cleaner come to me and said, “The female student who fainted yesterday through the magic spell have become very sick today. She seems to be dying. What power did you use?” I replied, “Nothing. It is only the grace of Jesus.” Then I told her what I saw the day before. She wondered at all that had happened and said, “Then what that Bumiputra student said was true. She said she saw an angle standing beside you.”

Felt The Emptiness and Hopelessness Of Other Church Denominations

That Sunday, I attended Church service with my friend. We met the pastor and told him all that happened. He said, “If you don’t understand what had happened, then it was not the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” His words were of no help. Conversely, they caused me greater confusion. When I returned to my village, I related the events to the Church Elders again. Their replies were even more disappointing. They told my parents that I was possessed by the devil. Greatly discouraged, I never stepped into that Church again. In 1975, I started work in a Bank. My colleague was a Basel Mission member and I joined their Church services several times. However, I could not feel anything. Later, I went to the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church and was also unimpressed. Soon after that I met my husband. He belonged to the Roman Catholic Church where we were married and attended mass often. In 1993, my younger sister, Bibiana, was baptised into the True Jesus Church and gave me a few gospel tracts issued by the Church. After reading them carefully I felt that the doctrine preached by this Church was very good. The Holy Spirit was mentioned and it was very similar to my previous experience. I tried to persuade my husband to seek the Truth in the True Jesus Church but he refused. He said that the Roman Catholic Church had a very long history and it was not necessary to change. I could only pray to God to guide me to the salvation path and to allow me to find the true Church.

God’s Grace Led Me to the True Church

In 1999, my sister was married in the True Jesus Church in Penampang. That was the first time I stepped into the True Jesus Church. I was very excited and felt so blessed that it seemed as if I was the bride that day. I was moved by the Holy Spirit during the wedding service. All that had happened to me when I was studying in the UiTM was replayed before my eyes scene after scene. I was moved to tears. I cried out in my heart, “Is not this the True Church that I had been searching for so long?” My heart seemed like a heaving wave, which could not be calmed down for a very long time. On the way home, I renewed the subject of turning to the true Church. But my husband still maintained his stand. He said, “If you want to go, go by yourself. Our kids and I shall still belong to the Roman Catholic Church.” His words were like a knife stabbed into my heart. I was both very disappointed and sad.

Revelation From God In A Vision Not To Delay

In the year 2001, my two uncles fell ill and passed away within one week of each other. On the way back, after attending their funerals in the village, a voice told me to open my eyes and look at the corpses and that people of the world were like them. I was very afraid when my thoughts switched to myself, a believer of God in word and not in fact, I was also like them. I did not have any confidence at all concerning my life. Would I be able to go into the Heavenly Kingdom in the future? Why have I not seen my husband and children pray at all? All these questions kept surfacing inside my mind. Immediately after the funeral, I requested my husband to believe in Jesus Christ in the True Church. I was determined to turn to the Truth and did not care what my husband’s response would be. But my husband kept on his delaying tactics. He said we should wait until our two sons, Jeremy and Aaron, had completed their qualifying examinations.

Turned To The True Church As Longed For

After our sone completed their examinations, I again pressed my husband. Finally, as I had long awaited, we attended the Sabbath service at the True Jesus Church in Penampang. There we met Preacher Thomas Kam and Sister Jessica and Ervina Lo. They invited me to attend the baptism sacrament on the following day (Sunday). Thereafter, the gospel sub-committee members, Brother Wong Pui Fong and Rocky carried on the work of introducing the gospel to us. Under their invitation, our whole family joined the 3-month gospel class, wherein we studied the complete gospel and the word of life of the True Church step by step. Thanks to the Lord, at last in March 2002, we accepted the baptism of the Lord’s blood to come under His Name.

Reflections

Today, my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God. Under His guidance we have been able to find the true path of our lives to enter the True Jesus Church to become God’s children. All these were not out of my own labour; it had arisen out of the love, mercy and salvation grace of the Heavenly Father. May God open the door of salvation so that all who seek Him may find Him and be able to live under His everlasting unchanging love. I hope that we would grow continuously in the Spirit and in our knowledge of God be able to repay a little of the Lord’s Grace. May all glory, thanks and praise to be our Lord Jesus.

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”(Matthew 7:8)