God’s Counter-Insurgency

A Ministry of the
Victoria Seventh-day Adventist Church
1860 Mountain View Ave.
Loma Linda, Ca 92354

When God finished creating the world and its cosmic community,
He said that it was “very good.” He gave Adam dominion over the earth but the “serpent,” by deception took that dominion and the battle between good and evil began on this planet. God had a counter-insurgency plan in place that began to be implemented immediately with
promises of a Deliverer to come. At the appropriate time that Deliverer, baby Jesus, came. He lived a perfect life but died the sinner’s death

Crucified Savior

“The wages of sin is death (not eternal burning) but the gift of God is eternal life.” Jesus experienced the agony of being separated from God because “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Living Lord

But death could not hold him so on the third day he came back to life, a fact established by the testimony of many reliable witnesses. He is our “Living Lord.”

Servant of All

Jesus is God. By him all things were created! He is King of kings, Lord of lords! Yet he gave up all of his rights to become, “Servant of All.” He demonstrated that to overcome evil we must die to self, giving up our rights, and trusting God to provide for us just what we need.

Let this Mind

What is the source of strife in our homes? Does not strife occur when we demand our rights?  So if we want peace in our homes we must let the mind of Jesus be in us.

Receiving Grace

Mercy is when God withholds from us what we deserve. Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. This is beautifully illustrated by the story of the Prodigal Son. He had done nothing to earn his Father’s acceptance and neither can we earn God’s forgiving embrace.

Living Grace

When we have received that grace and understood its true value, we cannot withhold mercy and grace from another.

Buried With Him

When believers in Jesus are baptized by immersion they symbolically die with Christ and then rise to a new life. They have confessed their sins and have been reconciled to God. They are a “New Creation” given the message of reconciliation to take to the world.

A New Creation

Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” Seeing that God loves you so much that Jesus willingly took your guilt and penalty, dying in your place, how do you show your love for Him?

Love for God

1. No one else will take first place in your life.  Who do you talk about?  Your favorite movie or sports star?
2. Nothing else will take first place in your life.  What does – car, house, big screen?  What is it?
3. Your conversation will reveal great respect for God who is always present.
4. You will reserve the Sabbath for Him.  Do you meet with Him on the day of His choosing?

Love for Neighbors

Your neighbors are those your life touches especially those in need. Luke 10:25-37 How do you love them?

1. You will respect and care for your parents.
2. You will respect life that is uniquely human doing nothing that will reduce the quality of life of others or yourself.
3. You will respect the sanctity of sexual relationships even in your thoughts.
4. You will respect the ownership rights of others.
5. You will respect the right of others to trust you – in both verbal and non-verbal communications.
6. You will respect God’s promise to provide for you just what you need so that envy, greed and covetousness will not mar your relationships with your neighbors.

I Will Return

Jesus died, was buried and rose on the third day. Then during the next 40 days he appeared to his people teaching them from the scriptures why he had to die and instructing them on their mission. He told them that he was going back to the Father where he would always be “on call.” But he also told them that he would return. So it was that as the disciples watched him ascend into heaven that two angels told them that he would return in the same way they saw him go into heaven.

He Is Coming Again


This is no secret event since Revelation 1:7 (NIV) says, “Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.”

 “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.  Amen.  Come Lord Jesus.”       Revelation 22:20 (NIV)

This is to invite you to accept God’s love and saving grace and out of love for Him be a full-time Disciple of Jesus, keeping all of his commandments not allowing the attractions of this world to keep you from following Him in loving service to others.

Please join me in His service.
       Paul McMillan   +1 (909) 835-3918