Whakatane Seventh Day Adventist Church

05/05/2026

WAS THE SABBATH ONLY FOR THE JEWS?

If the Sabbath was only for the Jews because it was given in the commandments, then what about marriage?

Marriage was also instituted at Creation in the Garden of Eden.
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife...”
— Genesis 2:24

Yet no one says marriage was only for the Jews.

The Sabbath was also instituted at Creation, in the Garden of Eden.
“God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.”
— Genesis 2:3

This was before Abraham.
Before Moses.
Before Israel.
Before there was ever a Jew.

So why is marriage still for mankind, but the Sabbath is only for the Israelites?

Jesus said:
“The sabbath was made for man.”
— Mark 2:27

Not just for the Jews.
For man.

If we accept marriage as a Creation institution for all humanity, then we cannot honestly dismiss the Sabbath as only Jewish when it was created at the same time by the same God. Both were included in the 10 commandments and both instituted in the Garden of Eden.

The issue is not Jewish tradition.

The issue is whether we accept what God blessed and sanctified from the beginning.

02/05/2026

Who is the Spirit of Truth according to Ellen White?​

“Jesus comes to you as the Spirit of Truth; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow His way.” – Manuscript 8c, par. 14, July 26, 1891; Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, p 337.1

“The Spirit of Truth is the only effectual teacher of divine truth; those who are taught of Him have entered the school of Christ. How much God esteem the race, that He gave His Son to die for them, and appoints His Spirit to be man’s teacher and continual guide.” – Signs of the Times, October 24, 1906

Christ was about to depart to his home in the heavenly courts; but he assured his disciples that he would send them the Comforter, who would abide with them forever. To the guidance of this Comforter, all may implicitly trust. He is the Spirit of truth; but this truth the world can neither see nor receive. - Review & Herald, October 26, 1897, par.

8“We cannot be with Christ in person, as were His first disciples, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and through this power we too can bear witness for the Saviour. ( John 16:13 quoted)”– Manuscript 30, June 18, 1900“

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Christ was about to depart to His home in the heavenly courts. But He assured His disciples that He would send them another Comforter, who would abide with them forever. To the guidance of this Comforter all who believe in Christ may implicitly trust. He is the Spirit of Truth, but this truth the world can neither discern nor receive. – Manuscript 41, April 29, 1897, par. 33

“The Holy Spirit is constantly at work, teaching, reminding, testifying, coming to the soul as a divine comforter, convincing of sin as an appointed judge and guide. Christ was the spirit of truth.” - Southern Watchman, Oct. 25, 1898

"To the guidance of this Comforter all who believe in Christ was implicitly trust. He is the Spirit of Truth, but this truth the world can neither discern nor receive." - Manuscript Releases 12, p. 260.1

Who is the Spirit of truth According to Scripture?

Here are some ways Scripture reveals Christ is the Spirit of truth.

John 14:16, 26; 15:26 reveals the Comforter is the Spirit of truth and the Comforter is Christ. Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

John 14:18.The Spirit of truth only speaks what the Father tells Him to do, and we find this is Christ that God the Father is speaking to.The Spirit of truth is also to show us things to come, which Revelation 1:1 tells us is Jesus Christ which is once again revealed to Him (Jesus) by His Father.

John 14:6 says Jesus is the truth and by His Spirit He is the Spirit of truth.

“JESUS saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life:”

John 14:17 Jesus tells the disciples that the world cannot see the Spirit of truth, nor can they receive it because they don't see it, and they don't know it. But they know him (the Spirit of truth), "for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Who was dwelling with them? JESUS! And he was telling them that he would be in them thru the Spirit of truth.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when HE, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, is come, he will guide you into all truth: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME.”

Note that the above verse says the Spirit of truth is a “HE” and that “HE” is “Christ” Himself by His Holy Spirit. Christ is a “HE” even if it is by HIS Spirit!

Note also in John 16:13 above that the Spirit of truth (Christ) does not SPEAK OF HIMSELF but speaks what He hears from ‘someone else’.

In the verses below we find that the ‘someone else’ is His FATHER.

JESUS DOES NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF but WHAT THE FATHER INSTRUCTS HIM TO SAY. And that remains the same when Christ returns as our Comforter and the Spirit of truth. Even by His Spirit, HE DOES NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF but speaks WHAT HE HEARS FROM HIS FATHER. That is what He shall speak.

John 12:49

“FOR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF; but the FATHER which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”

John 14:10

“The words that I speak unto you I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: but the FATHER that dwelleth in me,”John 14:24

“He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and THE WORD WHICH YOU HEAR IS NOT MINE, but the FATHER'S which sent me.”John 8:28

“When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF; but as my FATHER has taught me, I speak these things.”

So when Jesus was on Earth, He did not SPEAK OF HIMSELF but what the Father told Him to speak. And when Jesus returned by His Spirit as the Spirit of truth, nothing changes. Jesus by His Spirit does not SPEAK OF HIMSELF but what the Father has shown Him.

The Spirit of truth is also to SHOW US WHAT THINGS ARE TO COME which we find in Revelation 1:1 is also Christ.

Just as the words He speaks are from His Father, so are the things to come that He is to show us. And hence we find all Scripture lines up without any contradiction or inconsistencies as truth always does. No pun intended.

Revelation 1:1

“The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.”Here, we see that this Revelation of Jesus, WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD. Everything originates from God, as he is the source from which everything comes from.

27/02/2026

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12/02/2026

"A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it"? -[Reflecting Christ 311.2].

We need not say: The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. Already they have come. We need now the sword of the Lord to cut to the very soul and marrow of fleshly lusts, appetites, and passions. -[RC 311.3].

Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:39). Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men (Genesis 7:4,10-12.... -[LDE 230.3].

While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).—[LDE 230.4].

Minds that have been given up to loose thought need to change. “Girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance: but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16, A.R.V.). The thoughts must be centered upon God. Now is the time to put forth earnest effort to overcome the natural tendencies of the carnal heart. -[RC 311.4]

Our efforts, our self-denial, our perseverance, must be proportionate to the infinite value of the object of which we are in pursuit. Only by overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life. -[RC 311.5]...

Man’s great danger is in being self-deceived, indulging self-sufficiency, and thus separating from God, the source of his strength. Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral death.... -[RC 311.6].

In order to receive help from Christ, we must realize our need. We must have a true knowledge of ourselves. It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. Only as we see our utter helplessness and renounce all self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power. -[RC 311.7].

12/02/2026

15/01/2026

None but Jesus whom God The Father sent

15/01/2026

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH’S INCREASING POWER

This Week - Monday Jan. 12, Archbishop Coakley met with President Trump. It is very important for Christians to be aware of what is developing and understand the SPIRITUAL WAR which is being openly displayed. The Trump Administration has more Roman Catholics than ever before in US history. It is reported that over 40% of Trump’s top officials are Roman Catholic. J.D. Vance, Vice President and Marco Rubio, Secretary of State are seen as the leading potential candidates to become President in 2028 and both are Roman Catholic. The U.S. Supreme Court has 6 Roman Catholics out of 9 judges. 67% of the Supreme Court is Roman Catholic while they make up only 22% of the US Population according to Gallup. In Oklahoma Catholics are only 8-10%.
(https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/391649/religion-supreme-court-justices.aspx)

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” (Great Controversy, p. 445).

20/12/2025

*"TIMES ARE NO MORE, THIS TRUELY IS THE LAST DAY GRANTED US"*

*We should WATCH and WORK and PRAY as though this were the last day that would be granted us.—[Testimonies for the Church 5:200 (1882)]* .

*Our only safety is in doing our work for each day as it comes, WORKING, WATCHING, WAITING, EVERY MOMENT relying on the strength of Him who was dead and who is alive again, who lives forevermore.—[Letter 66, 1894]*.

Make no calculation for months or years; these are not yours. ONE BRIEF DAY IS GIVEN YOU. As if it were your last on earth, work during its hours for the Master. Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as His providence shall indicate.—[Testimonies for the Church 7:44 (1902)].[LDE 77.1-3].

If ever there was a time when every house should be a house of prayer, it is now. Infidelity and skepticism prevail. Iniquity abounds. Corruption flows in the vital currents of the soul, and rebellion against God breaks out in the life. -[Testimonies for the Church vol 7, 42.1].

*This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.-[Romans 13:11].*

20/12/2025

*Probation Will End Suddenly, Unexpectedly,*
When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided.... Probation closes; Christ’s intercessions cease in heaven. This time finally comes suddenly upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by obeying the truth are found sleeping.—[Testimonies for the Church 2:191 (1868)].

*When probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly—at a time when we are least expecting it. But we can have a clean record in heaven today, and know that God accepts us.—[The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:989 (1906)].*

When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven....

*While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).—The Great Controversy, 490, 491 (1911). [LDE 229,230]*.

*"The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.*

04/10/2025

When obstacles are too big, you will be tempted to be discouraged, but stay in peace, and ensure your trust in God is strong. Just as God came through for the Israelites, God is going to carry you all the way on 'Eagles Wings'. Not chicken wings, goose wings or pigeons' wings...Eagles Wings. Hear the blessed Word of the Lord from Brother Trevor Gray.

25/08/2025

Thank you, Pastor Dwayne, for the blessing of God's Word. This sermon is entitled"Who did Jesus die for?. Apologies for the technical difficulties with this video.