August

2022

CAMPMEETING
ADULT AND
YOUTH LESSONS
THEME:
The Loud Cry

Central Zimbabwe Conference

of Seventh-day Adventists
TABLE OF
CONTENTS

Theme Song ii

Time Table iii

Families in the Last Days 1

Families in the Last Days (Youths) 14

Stewardship and Restoration 20

Last Day Events 30

Adventist Health 48

Our Authors 60

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 i

THEME SONG
Christ in Song 295 - Sound The Battle Cry,

Sound the battle cry,

See! The foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high
for the Lord;
Gird your armor on,
Stand firm every one,
Rest your cause upon His holy word.

CHORUS
Rouse, then, soldiers! Rally round the banner!
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward, shout aloud Hosanna!
Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.

Strong to meet the foe,

Marching on we go,
While our cause we know must prevail;
Shield and banner bright,
Gleaming in the light,
Battling for the right,
we ne'er can fail.

O Thou God of all

Hear us while we call,
Help us one and all,
by Thy grace;
When the battle's done,
And the victory won,
May we wear the crown before Thy face.

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 ii

TIME TABLE

Time Event

530am Morning Manna

8am Morning Lessons

11am Divine Service

2pm Afternoon Lessons

630pm Evening Service

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 iii

 PRESIDENT'S
REMARKS
Our Theme this year is: The Loud Cry.May
this theme challenge us to be involved in
mission and labour in God’s vineyard
wherever we are. E G White says... The
remnant people of God must be a
converted people. The presentation of this
message is to result in the conversion and
sanctification of souls. We are to feel the
power of the Spirit of God in this
movement. This is a wonderful, definite
message; it means everything to the
receiver, and it is to be proclaimed with a
loud cry. We must have a true, abiding faith
that this message will go forth with
increasing importance till the close of time.
(Counsels on Diet 36.5)
There is something for everyone to do.
Every soul that believes the truth is to
stand in his lot and place. Let’s Go and
labour for the master. Our theme is inviting
us to participate in mission and proclaim
the three angels message.
About these meetings E G White says-It
has been shown that our camp-meetings
are to increase in interest and success. As
we approach nearer to the end, l have seen
that in these meetings there will be less
preaching and more bible study. There will
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
be little groups all over the ground with
their bibles in their hands and different
ones leading out in a free, conservational
study of the scriptures. (Testimonies
volume 6 page 87 paragraph 4). I
encourage you to spent much time in bible
studies-How best can I be involved and
support mission. The Loud cry is all about
sharing the good news.
Thursday is set aside for prayer and fasting.
Mathew 11:28-Come to me, all you who are weary
and burdened and l will give you rest.
l pray that we receive rest from God
through the prayer and fasting programme.
Let's pray for our conference - the success
of the Loud Cry and All Judah initiatives,
conference re-alignment, we have projects
which must be finished - Ngqamu
Conference centre, the boarding schools
and finishing the conference offices. Let’s
prepare for the camp-meeting offering to
be collected on Sabbath.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17,Three times a year all man
shall appear before the Lord your God at the place
he will choose, at the feast of unleavened bread, the
feast of weeks and the feast of Tabernacles. No man
should appear before the Lord empty-handed.
God bless you during this year’s camp
meeting
With Warm Christian regards
Maranatha
TC Rukuni
(CZC President)
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
INTRODUCTION

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of
the fathers to the children, and the heart of
the children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5-6
According to a research carried out in
2018, 87% of all marriages in Luxembourg
end in divorce, India has the lowest
divorce rate in the world and researchers
estimate that 41% 0f all first marriages in
the World end in divorce and 8.60% of

second marriages end in divorce.[2] Let’s

We are living in the last days of earth’s
take note of the fact that these are
history, the great controversy between
recorded cases. If we add the unrecorded
good and evil is approaching its climax. In
cases and the cases of those who might
this war between good and evil, it is
be staying together physically for the sake
important for the church to know that the
of convenience but emotionally
family is and will play a very important role
disconnected and divorced the statistics
in this catastrophe. Society is composed
that we have as official records might just
of families, and is what the heads of
be a very small piece of a large iceberg.
families make it. Out of the heart are “the
issues of life”; and the heart of the
It is therefore true that we live in a “times
community, of the church, and of the
of broken and malfunctioning families”. As
nation is the household. The wellbeing of
in the days of Noah, people seem to have
society, the success of the church, the
been marrying for any kind of reason and
prosperity of the nation, depend upon
divorcing again for any kind of a reason.
home influences.”[1]
The enemy of righteousness seem to be
having an upper hand and more control
The Family, being the “heart of the
of families. This year’s camp lesson seeks
community, of the church, and of the
to awaken the remnant church to some of
nation” is paramount. We thank God that
the neglected basic pillars that make
according to the book of Malachi, one of
strong resilient Christian families. To be
God’s greater appeals and focus, before
specific we will look at 5 pillars namely:
Jesus’s second coming is going to be on
Commitment. Faithfulness, Conflict
the family.
Management, Communication and
Spiritual Growth.
As the church tries by all means to find its
feet amidst the raging battle to control
the families, it is important to note that the
current state of the family is not that good.

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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
Monday
Commitment
One of the basic needs that people look
for in a relationship is commitment. When
family members neglect this need,
loneliness and feelings of worthlessness
will creep in and this will always end in
tears. Commitment in family relationships
is defined as trusting, respecting,
accepting- putting the family first. This
involves “investing time and energy in
family activities and not letting your work
or other priorities take too much time
away from family interaction.”[3]
Commitment through handing
down a Legacy
The nobler the aims, the higher the
mental and spiritual endowments, and the
better developed the physical powers of
the parents, the better will be the life
equipment they give their children. In
cultivating that which is best in
themselves, parents are exerting an
influence to mould society and to uplift
future generations.[4]
It is important to know that “Children learn
what they live.”[5] Whether we like it or
not, whether intentional or unintentional
there is no time in our lives when we stop
influencing our children and those around
us. We need to know that as long as we
live there is someone learning something
from us. As long as we interact we are
handing down some legacy of some sort
to our children. That being the case, the
idea of doing everything that we can to
make sure that we are committed enough
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
to hand down a good legacy is of
paramount importance.
There are however different legacies that
we can commit to hand down as
inheritance to our children and below are
some examples.
The legacy of a good and exemplary
Christian life and devotion to God
Legacy and example of working hard
(Dirty hands as evidence of clean
money)
Honesty
Kindness to the poor and vulnerable
Besides the above, one specific issue on
inheritance and legacy is the issue of
wealth. The bible says that
“A good person leaves an inheritance for their
children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is
stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22.
As Christians waiting for the soon coming
of Jesus we need to make it our
commitment that we don't make our
children inherit, mediocrity, confusion and
abject poverty.
As we live and interact in the family, it is
imperative for parents to realise that there
is a work that they cannot surrender to
anyone. In whatever we do there is some
kind of legacy that we are handing down
to our children. There is therefore a need
to be careful because “The physical and
mental condition of the parents is
perpetuated in their offspring.”[6] The
responsibility of making sure that as we
live there are enough provisions for the
family and a well laid up plan of action of
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
what should be done after we are gone is
upon the parents.
Commitment in Storms of Life.
In life, when we go through storms, we all
need the support and comfort of those
close to us. In his book, Surviving the Loss
of a loved one, and writing on what needs
to be done when someone is going
through the storms of losing someone
close, Reg Brown says: “During this time it
is important for you to be in the company
of someone who knows what you are
going through and can help provide for
your needs”[7]
The thought of how we need the support
of family when we face pain and suffering
is also explained by Roberto Badenas,
who says that: “For many of the patients,
what most connects them to life is family,
and especially their children; for others, a
mission that they feel compelled to
complete…”[8] There is therefore no
greater pain than the pain of being left
alone in the cold right at that point when
you most need your own. It is painful to be
left to yourself at your most vulnerable
moment
Family is sometimes about being together
in the face of a storm. Relationships
normally thrive on trust and connection to
one another. When you cannot count on
each other in the family, when you are not
sure of whether or not your own can stand
with you through life’s difficult moments it
will become very difficult to build strong
bonds. This truth is best illustrated in the
story of Uriah
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
In it he wrote, Put Uriah out in front where the
fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so
that he will be struck down and die 16 And it
came to pass, when Joab observed the city,
that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he
knew that valiant men [were]. 17 And the men
of the city went out, and fought with Joab:
and there fell [some] of the people of the
servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died
also. 2 Samuel 11:15-17
The story of Uriah and his men under the
command of Joab is one that best
illustrates the pain and dreadful
consequences that one can be exposed
to when the people you call your own
choose to betray you. When the people
you would have trusted with your life, the
people you have trusted that they would
always cover your back decide to
withdraw from you, the results are always
not good.
Uriah went into war trusting his men
whom he had fought alongside in many
successful battles. Because of that trust,
he dared the places with the fiercest
fighting, trusting that his men were with
him in battle. At the height of this bloody
battle, right in combat, Uriah’s ‘trusted’
comrades withdrew from him, exposed
him and he was killed.
In the family, the following can be areas in
life where, as Christian families we need to
stand close to each other and support
one another.
In times of sickness or the diagnosis
of a dreadful disease
The loss of someone close
When faced with failure
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
The loss of a job, or problems at work
When a family member is
misunderstood by the extended
family
Commitment through Availability.
Sometimes a poor available parent is
better than a rich unavailable one. parents
who are not there when their children
need them. One of the principles that
family members have neglected is being
there for each other. It seems as if people
are no longer committed to creating time
for their families. By just being available
for each other, we learn a lot from one
another, we know each other better and
draw closer to each other.
The story of Eli and his children is a good
example of the need to be committed to
the family through availability, and know
what will be taking place in the family. The
Bible says
“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that
his sons did unto all Israel; and how they
lay with the women that assembled [at]
the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. 1Sam 2:22.
doing his work, taking care of our own
It is important to note that the bible is
clear to say that Eli “heard all that his sons
did unto all Israel.” Eli did not notice what
his sons were involved in, he was rather
told by others. The fact that God on
1Samuel 2:29 blames Eli and the Creator’s
reason being that Eli honoured his “sons
above”, Him is good enough to suggest
that Eli was not well versed with what his
children were involved in. We really need
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
to be available for the family. It is also
possible for family members to be very
committed to their work and even to the
work of God at the expense of the Family
and their own health. Moses is a very
good example. The Bible says that,
the next day Moses took his seat to serve as
judge for the people, and they stood around
him from morning till evening. Exodus 18:13.
Moses hardly had time for anything else
except being judge for the people as well
as inquire for the people the will of God.
This went on and on under the careful
observance of his father-in law Jethro.
Moses’ father-in law cautioned him and
said,
“What you are doing is not good, you and
these people who come to you will only wear
yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you;
you cannot handle it alone.” Exodus 18:17-18.
The following can be gleaned from the
story of Moses and his father-in law
Jethro
Let’s be careful when we think that we
are serving God at the expense of our
God given roles.
As much as God is interested in us
is also his work. 1Timothy 5:8
When you die, the precious things
that your family will remember you for
are not the houses that you built or
the toys that you bought your
children but the tender moments that
you spend quality time with them.
The precious moments that you spent
together, the times that you as an
individual, not your money, were
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
available to the family cannot be
compared to anything.
That visit at school, the closeness
when your spouse is sick, the
cheering when your child plays for
their team in sports, on a price giving
day or school play, availability on
important days such as anniversaries
and birthdays will be treasured by
your family more than anything else.
No wonder why Jesus refused when
Legion begged to follow him after that
great encounter.
“Jesus would not let him, but said, “Go home
to your own people and tell them how much
the Lord has done for you, and how he has
had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19.
Legion obeyed and he went to his own
family, his own people and gave his
testimony first to them. When he did that,
the last part of verse 20 on the same
chapter says that, “All the people (of
Decapolis) were amazed".
Sometimes if we want the gospel to go to
the people with the dignity and power
that it deserves, if we want it to have
meaning to those we seek to convert, let’s
go home first to our family, testify first to
our own and win them to the lord then
plan for all ‘Decapolis’ surely the people in
Decapolis will also be amazed and
converted.
The biggest problem that we have today
are people who still believe that they can
neglect their families and still be friends of
Christ. They want Decapolis to be amazed
with their testimony while their own
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
families are languishing in abuse and
abandonment. We live in the days of
uncommitted and absent parents.
Children suffer most in such
environments where they lack parental
instruction and have to rely on the media
for life’s basics. Jesus is saying to us Go
home first, be available, be a testimony to
your own first and then to the whole of
Decapolis.
Tuesday
Faithfulness to the Marriage
Covenant.
Faithful, Safe from Adultery
But a man who commits adultery has no
sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
Proverbs 6:32
According to Chengetai Misheck
Matondo. In his book, The Remnant
Slaves on the Valley of Shittim “the
question as to why married people cheat
on each other…. has perplexed
innumerable minds in the history of
humanity and no answers have come to
many. Cheating has become a terrible
pandemic which has affected people of
all classes, races, ethnicities, religions and
churches. No class of people on earth
have been spared”[9]
Cheating and adultery have also
destroyed a lot of families and those
who have lived under it because of
different reasons have endured
untold emotional pain.
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
Most people have fallen into adultery
when they were misled by the enemy
of souls into thinking that adultery
starts when one engages in the act
yet the act is a physical expression of
what the devil would have started in
other areas prior to the act
Below are some of the sings that you are
on the road to adultery
You share deep personal secrets with
that person and your spouse doesn't
know about the real depth of
openness that you have with him or
her.
You terribly miss that person when
you are not with them or when 
you
are not communicating with them 

You feel jealous when that person
gives attention to another person of 

the opposite sex 
 God. Galatians 5v19- 21:
You count that person as a best friend
Joseph. You are in deep trouble. You are
on the enemy’s ground.
Another thing you do; You flood the Lord’s
alter with tears. You weep and wail because
he no longer looks with favor on your
offerings or accepts them with pleasure from
your hands. Yet you ask, Why? It is because
the Lord is the witness between you and the
wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful
to her, though she is your partner, the wife of
your marriage covenant. Malachi 2:13-14
Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are [these]; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying,
murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also
told [you] in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of

or special friend 


You naturally turn to that person

always for advice when you are in 


Wednesday

trouble 


You sometimes think that you would Conflict Management

have been happier had you 
married
that person 
 The use of the right ways as well as
You enjoy that person’s company timeous resolution to conflict is one of the
more than your spouse’s company 
 neglected pillars that has caused untold
You sometimes engage in sexually suffering in families. Conflict is defined as
suggestive conversation with him 
or a serious disagreement or argument,
her 
 typically a protracted one. Because
You delete your social media chats people come from different backgrounds,
with that person so that your 
spouse disagreements in marriage is inevitable. In
doesn't see them 
 the family, siblings also go through serious
You cannot spend a day or two days disagreements and they look up to their
without communicating with that 
 parents to resolve their disputes.
person.
When you see these ten
signs creeping in gradually, flee like

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 6

FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
Is it ok to fight?
Fighting in the context of this lesson
refers to disagreeing, differing in opinion,
disputing or arguing. Some people believe
it is wrong and unchristian to argue or
disagree, others believe that they actually
never do have a fight. However, a lot of
studies on marriage and the family
confirm that:
those who refuse to acknowledge the
need to fight will suffer from displaced
anger in forms such as hostility,
emotional instability, depression and
related health problems.
Usually families that fight together,
stay together, provided they know
how to fight.
Fighting among people who really
care about each other does not have
to be destructive. It can be a highly
constructive experience!
Those who withdraw do not care
about one another enough to risk the
status quo
Fighting is ok, if methods and styles
are correct.
Common responses to Conflict
and Anger
Suppression
You recognize you are angry, but
don’t know what to do
You consistently try to control it
instead of letting it out
Anger boils and seethes inside, but it
is hidden from others
Only in few cases is this a wise thing
to do
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Expression
A person tells exactly how he/she
feels, regardless of how much it might
hurt others
Such people may resort to sharp
words, violent shouting, or threats.
When the episode of venting is over,
they feel better, but not so with the
person they just dumped on.
Many rarely, or never apologize after
expressing anger inappropriately
This leaves emotional scars on other
family members
Repression
One refuses to acknowledge that they
are angry
Many people do this for religious
reasons. They believe it is sinful for
one to be angry
In order to live in with their beliefs,
they deny all responses to anger
Pretending you are not angry solves
nothing, but prepares the way for an
eruption later
Of all responses to anger, repression
causes the most problems
Dangers of reacting to Conflict
and Anger inappropriately
Suppressing, inappropriately expressing
and repressing or denying anger
are all destructive and immature methods
of handling anger; yet many people know
no other method. When anger is denied
or mishandled, it will come out indirectly.
The refusal to deal with the presence of
anger constructively can create some
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
major health problems: ulcers, Accommodating approach
headaches, anxiety attacks and
depression, to name a few. Remember,
when you cut out one feeling, you cut out
all feelings. If you turn off anger, you will
turn off love, happiness, joy and sexual
feelings.
Best Approach to Anger and
Conflict
Paul describes processed anger when he Compromise approach
says,
“when angry, do not sin and be sure to stop
being angry before the end of the day.” (Eph.
4:26).
According to this verse, you will be aware
Conflict Resolution
you are angry, but you will be in control of
your temper and not allow it to get out of
Before the Resolution
hand. Healthy anger fires us up to fight for
truth rather than allowing us to remain
indifferent.
Common Responses to Conflict.
Competitive approach
Objective is to win at whatever cost
Conflict is viewed as open war
There is high concern for self and low
concern for others among
During the Resolution
competitors
Avoidance approach
When conflict surfaces, they withdraw
and refrain from saying anything
They avert all desires, theirs and those
of others
This fighting style becomes a deadly
threat to intimacy and eventually can
kill a marriage
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Peace at any cost is the goal of
accommodators
So highly motivated toward peace
that they neglect their own needs to
satisfy others
Opposite of competition
May engage in conflict, but in the
end, will always give in for the sake of
peace
Concern for self and others
Assert themselves kindly but
moderate their demands so both
parties achieve a certain degree of
mutual satisfaction
Schedule the best time
Select the best location – neutrality is
key
Setting the agenda
Set time limits 15 – 60”, flexibility
important
Establish ground rules
Stay on the subject, until you resolve
it
Stick to previously laid ground rules
Sit facing each other
Focus on a specific objective
List in writing, all possible solutions
Evaluate the solutions – narrow to a
few
Choose the most acceptable solution
– negotiation and compromise
needed here
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
Implement the solution
Hang in there!
After Resolving
Be patient with others, change
doesn't happen overnight. Don’t
expect too much too soon.
Old habits take time to break
Pray for patience
Reestablish touch – melts many
hostilities
Talk about something good in your
relationship
Feelings of peace and
accomplishment are the cherished
fruits of conflict resolution
Thursday
Communication
stopped everything and attended to this
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went
through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and
into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There
some people brought to him a man who was
deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged
him to place his hand on the man.
Mark 7:31-32
One of the most serious problems in
families and a prime causes of divorce lies
in the inability or reluctance of family
members to communicate. Many
families/couples know that they are not
communicating as good as they should,
but do not know any better. A lot of
relationships therefore have been
sacrificed on the altar of
miscommunication as well as the inability
to communicate.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
The Gospel according to Mark records a
very interesting scenario of a man who
could not hear anything and could hardly
communicate. The bible records some
people who were so concerned about this
man. They brought the man to Jesus so
that he could lay His hands on him. Jesus
attended to this man and did not send
this particular deaf man away. The need
for this man to be able to listen and hear
when others speak as well as to
communicate fluently with others was so
important to the people who brought this
man and also to Jesus.
The need to hear and communicate well
became first priority to the friends of this
deaf man to the extent that it became
paramount that they leave everything and
find time to bring the man to Jesus. On
the other hand Jesus Himself also
man.
It is therefore important, as families as well
spouses, that we:
Work at talking. Make time to talk and
create things to talk about.
Maintain daily talk time
Try to walk talk
Communicate using car talk
Play different games together
Make the most of mealtimes
Speaking gracefully to your spouse and
other family members.
“Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how
you ought to answer each one.” (Col. 4:6)
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
“So get rid of all evil behaviour. Be
done with all deceit, hypocrisy, and all
unkind speech.” I Pet. 2:1
“If anyone considers himself religious,
and yet does not keep a tight reign on
his tongue, he deceives himself and
his religion is worthless.” James 1:26;
Listening to the ones you love.
My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow
to speak and slow to get angry. James 1:19.
Quick to listen
Speaking is always complemented with
listening. Is there was no one who would
listen to us we would not talk. The bible
admonishes us to be quick to listen. I want
to believe that God here teaches us a
very important lesson. He is saying to us, if
there should be an area of
communication that should be our
favourite, it must be listening. We should
be more interested in listening than in
speaking.
Slow to speak
I think God gave us two ears and one
mouth so that we could listen twice as
much as we would want to speak. Many
people want to be heard by they are very
impatient when is come to listening to
others. They complain that their spouses
or children don't just understand them but
they have never cared enough to take
time to understand those same people.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
God is asking us to be slow to speak,
meaning that take your time and listen
more.
Slow to get Angry
Usually anger is brewed in trying to make
some sense out of what the other person
is trying to say. Anger flares up as we try
to understand the other person. As others
try to communicate with us, in their
winding up and taking time to get to their
point, as they try to put themselves
across, some words and non-verbal cues
are understood, misunderstood as well as
misconstrued until we can’t hold our
horses anymore and hell breaks loose.
As we communicate with our loved ones,
lets bear in mind that as fallen human
beings some stammer, others are rude,
and there people who will interject,
interrupt and not listen to us attentively if
w then are quick to be angry we will live a
very lonely life. Let’s always make is our
moral duty to harness our anger.
Poor Listening Habits
Interrupting
Lack of eye contact
The bored listener
The selective listener
The Defensive listener
The Insensitive listener
Good Listening Habits
Maintain good eye contact
Pay attention to body language
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
Sit attentively
Act interested in what you are about
to hear
Appropriate phrases to show you are
listening
Ask well-phrased questions
Never interrupt
Listen a little longer
He who He who answers before listening that
is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13.
watches over the city, the guards stand watch
Communication is very important in the
family. It is through it that we understand
each other and as we listen to each other
we empathise and are drawn to one
another. We therefore have to view
communication with the respect that God
gives is who
Long ago… spoke many times and in many
ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2
And now in these final days, he has spoken to
us through his Son. God promised everything
to the Son as an inheritance, and through the
Son he created the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2.
As far as communication is concerned
God would always find a way to be
connected to his children.
Friday
Spiritual Growth
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your
strength. These commandments that I give
you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress
them on your children. Talk about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the
road, when you lie down and when you get
up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
“The most important gift we can give our
children is the desire to love God and to
follow and serve him.”[10] True Happiness
and Joy in marriage have their roots in
making God central to the relationship.
The Bible clearly puts this truth across
when God through Solomon says
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the
builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord
in vain. Psalm 127:1.
Notice here that the good book does not
say Unless the Lord builds the house, that
house will never be built. The bible also
does not say that, unless the Lord
watches over the city the guards will
never be able to watch over the city. It
actually puts across the fact that the
builders can actually build the house
without the Lord and that the guards can
actually stand in their positions, armed
and watch over the city BUT in vain.
It is therefore possible to have a family,
and have children, live a life that seems
very normal but if we do all that without
the help of the Lord, we will do that in
vain. This actually mean that the we will
never attain the joy that we expect from
all these endeavours.
A lot has been done by parents for their
children, and the children have also
sacrificed a lot for their parents. We know
of parents who have toiled all their lives
just to make sure that their children
attend the best of private schools, wear
descent clothes and have good food on
the table. The only challenge is that same
11
FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
sacrifice has not been found in bringing
the same children to God. The family alter
has been brought down, it is in ruins and
addiction to media gadgets and worldly
amusement has taken root in many
families.
Guidelines for great family
worships
As parents have your own meaningful
devotions in which you are filled
spiritually
Make the family worships simple, you
can use an age-appropriate
devotional book
When you contribute to the calendar
of events of your church think about
your children
Plan ahead for worship time
Use worship times to impress good
moral values on your children.
Devote yourself to worship times,
make them important and memorable,
include practical illustrations, crafts,
stories and even physical activities
Use everyday things/events that
might have happened to you and your
children to teach practical lessons
about God.
Don't mix worship times with
disciplinary issues or criticism or for
score settling, make worship times
positive, fun, brief, happy, loving and
interesting
Last but not least, when it comes to
family worship timing is very
important. Don't schedule it too late
into the evening when everyone is
exhausted and sleepy
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Pray for your marriage
Find convenient time for both of you
and talk to your partner about the
cares and concerns you each have for
the day or week ahead. Hold hands
and pray for each other.
Make it plain to your partner that you
will be praying for them in your own
private devotional times.
If your partner doesn’t want to pray
don't force them you can still pray
alone for your marriage.
Pray for your Children.
Never forget that our children are also
going through very difficult times in the
great controversy between good and evil.
We know for a fact that
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and
bitterness to her that bare him. Proverbs
17:25.
We need to always be vigilant because
the devil knows this verse and therefore,
he seeks to destroy any moral fibre in our
children as well as use every opportunity
to make them slaves to his vices. The
enemy knows that he will definitely gain
access to the parents by making their
children his subjects. He knows that he
will cause a lot of “grief” to many fathers
and “bitterness” to a lot of mothers.
Let’s therefore pray for our children that:
God takes control of their lives
All that which is planned by the devil
in their lives be put into confusion and
disarray
12
FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS
They discover means to be friends Bibliography
with God
God grant them health, and that they 1.Ellen G White. Adventist Home pg The
be safe from bad company, drugs, and Stanbrough Press Limited. Alma Park,
have the wisdom to make right Granthsm, England. pg15.
choices.
They be safe in their schools and
2.https://child.unl.edu
colleges.
They be blessed with good 3.https://child.unl.edu
relationships
4.Ellen G White. Adventist Home.
Stanbrough Press. London. pg 172.
Conclusion
5.Phil McGraw. Family First. Free Press.
In these last days, it has become evident New York, Pg 64.
that the devil has fought tirelessly in the
family frontier. The reason being that he 6.Ellen G White. Adventist Home. The
knows that if he can destroy families and Stanbrough Press Limited. Alma Park,
marriages he would have polluted and Granthsm, England.pg 172.
corrupted the pivotal fabric that hold,
7. Reg Brown. Surviving the loss of a loved
communities, nations and finally the whole
one. Autumn House. Alma Park, Grantham,
world together. Most impotently the Lincolnshire, England. Pg56.
enemy knows that when families are
broken, he would have deeply wounded 8.Roberto Badenas. Facing Suffering.
the apple of God’s eye, His Church. Editorial Safeliz, La Mina, Madrid Spain. Pg
However, as believers it is important to 67
know that God is more than willing to help
any family that come to him in faith. 9.Chengetai Misheck Matondo
“Because of his great love for us God, who chenge2300@gmail.com
is rich in mercy, (the one who) made us
10.Karen Holford. The Family Book. The
alive with Christ even when we were dead
Stanborough Press Limited. Alma Park,
in transgression,” Ephesians 2:4 will watch Granthsm, England. Pg 69
over our children and marriages. Let’s not
neglect the wisdom that he has given us
to help us build strong resilient families
that will stand the test of the last day’s
rapid events and leave the rest to Him
who is able to keep us from falling.

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 13

FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)
INTRODUCTION
There are two key-terms in this lesson.
The first is the expression Last Days and
the second is Marriage. In the New
Testament, the expression ‘last days’ is
found 5 number of times (Acts 2:17; 2
Tim. 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:3;
2 Peter 3:3). The expression
predominantly refers to events after the
Cross relating to the end of the world.
Meanwhile, defining such things as
marriage as become so complex in our
world today. In this lesson, marriage is
understood as “a public, lawfully binding
lifelong commitment of a man and a
woman to each other and between the
couple and God (Mark 10:2-9; Rom.
7:2).”[1] The elements of this definition are
going to be explored in the course of this
lesson.
Both experience and studies show that
most young people look forward to
settling marriage one day. Most young
people will get married when they have
found the right partner. At the same time,
however, statistics also show that many
marriages are ending in divorce than ever
before. Actual numbers vary from nation
to nation and between communities
within the same national boundaries.
In the light of the fact just mentioned
above, how best can marriage be an
enjoyable experience under the Last Days
experience? This lesson seeks to provide
important principles found in God’s Word
that guide on how marriages should be,
according to the divine plan. The lesson
fosters a discussion on the meaning the
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS)
expression ‘last days.’ Having looked at
that, consideration turns to the fact of
marriage as of divine origin. The fact of
the growing undermining of marriage
through attacks on principles of
permanency, monogamy and
heterosexuality is explored.
Monday
Last Days Conditions
The Bible has much to say about
conditions of the world in the last days. In
response to His disciples’ enquiry (Matt.
24:3), Jesus tells them about conditions
that will prevail in our world just before
the end of the world (Matt. 24:4-51).
There are socio-political conditions (vv.6-
7a), environmental conditions and natural
disasters (v.7b). Moreover, there are also a
spiritual climate characterized by
deceptions (vv. 11, 24) and loss of faith (vv.
10, 12; cf. 2 Tim. 4:1). On a more positive
note, however, there is also global
proclamation if the true Gospel as it is in
Jesus (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 14:6-12).
More directly suited for our topic this
week is Jesus’ statement that
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at
the coming of the Son of Man,” (Matt. 24:37,
NIV).
Along with eating and drinking, the
people of Noah’s generation were
“marrying and giving in marriage,” (Matt.
24:38, NIV). This could mean that the
people in Noah’s time were complacent
[1] The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual
(2015), 155.
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)
and indifferent to all of heaven’s warnings
and appeals. They continued with
business as usual in unusual
circumstances. Another interpretation of
the mention of marriage in this context
suggests that there was something wrong
about how it was being done in the last
days of the Antediluvian world. They were
doing it in their own way, contrary to
God’s will. They were marrying to divorce
and divorcing to marry again, with neither
regard to God’s expectations nor
consideration of the social implications of
their actions.
Discussion:
Paul writes of “terrible times in the last
days.” May you read 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Based on this passage, what are the
characteristics of people in the last days?
Discuss with your class how the
characteristics mentioned by Paul here
relate to marriage and family life?
Tuesday
Happy Families Put God First
One of the most important things for
anyone to acknowledge about marriage is
that it is God’s invention. It is God who
said that
“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will
make for him a helper suitable for him,” (Gen.
2:18; 20b – 24).
knew there would be an Eve. When Eve
Since marriage is God’s initiative, it is best
entered into on His terms and conditions.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS)
Manufacturers of products normally
provide, together with their products,
users’ manuals. The manuals are not
meant to frustrate the users, but rather to
teach them the correct use of the
product and also the best operating
conditions for the same. All this is meant
to enhance or optimize user experience
while minimizing the risk of loss through
damage. Unfortunately, however, most
people seem impatient with manuals. Few
seem to study them before operating
their machines. Some only look for the
manuals they once ignored after they run
into challenges.
After God created marriage, he also
provided a user’s manual for the same in
the form of the Bible. While the Bible is
not primarily a handbook on marriage and
family, it does contain countless principles
on marriage and family. It also has multiple
cases of people in various marriage and
family conditions. Sadly though, many
people seem to ignore the Bible and its
invaluable principles for marriage and
family the same way manuals are
overlooked.
Looking back to the Genesis account of
how the first marriage in this world was
instituted, one can come out with any
number of observations and insights. One
of those is how God comes first in Adam
and Eve’s marriage. Have you ever
noticed that when God created Adam
(Gen. 2:7), Eve was not there? Adam had
a relationship with God, before he ever
was created, Adam was in deep sleep
(Gen. 2:21-22). So then, just like Adam
15
FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)
before her, Eve too had time with God
before she ever met Adam. For both
Adam and Eve, God came first in a literal
and personal manner. Because God was
first, Adam knew how to treat Eve with
affection and dignity (Gen. 2:23).
Discussion:
In your view, what is coming first in many
marriages today and how is it affecting
marriages? What should be done to fix
that? How can the principle of putting
God first in marriages be applied in
marriage and family today?
Wednesday
Marriage is Permanent
One of the sad things about marriages in
much of our world today is how widely
and rapidly they are falling apart. In more
and more places, divorces are granted for
any reason. Even for no reason! It is widely
acknowledged that the country that leads
the world in divorce rates is the U.S.A.
Many other countries are following closely
behind. In Zimbabwe, there are special
courts that have been put in place to
speedy up the processing of divorce
cases. While on the one hand some are
registering their marriages with the
government, on the other, there are those
seeking the termination of theirs.
Marriage, however, according to God’s
design, is supposed to be permanent (see
Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19:8).
Regardless of God plan for marriage to be
permanent, the sad reality of our lives is
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS)
that marriages do break. It is important to
take some time to consider some of the
leading causes of divorce that have been
identified by sociologists. May you discuss
as a class how and why these identified
causes should contribute to high divorce
rates.
Why and
Cause
How
1 Communication
2 Sex
3 Money
4 Children
5 In - laws
Besides the causes listed in the table
above, there are also reasons why
marriages break down. What are some of
the other causes that you can think of?
Discuss with your class.
Have you ever noticed that many young
people seem to spend far more effort,
time and other resources in preparing for
the wedding than for the marriage itself?
It is good to have a beautiful wedding.
The only sad part is when one has an
awesome wedding and an awful marriage.
Premarital counselling does not seem to
be taken as seriously as it ought to. All of
the leading causes of divorce given above
constitute the leading topics covered in
pre-marital counselling sessions. Making
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)
strong marriages that stand the test of
time rakes more than just some
sentimentalism. It takes knowledge and
understanding of the dynamics of
marriage and family life. Many may be
tempted to think they already have all it
takes to have a lasting marriage and a
successful family. Not a few end up
disillusioned and disappointed after a few
years of marriage. They end up thinking
they are not compatible with each other
and break the marriage in the hope of
starting over again, but better this time.
Studies repeatedly show, however, that
subsequent marriages have an even
higher break-up rate than the first ones.
Discussion:
What are some of the effects of divorce
on: (a) The people directly involved; (b)
Relatives; (c) The Church; (d) Society?
Thursday
Marriage is Monogamous
Marriage as designed by God is meant for
two people only to enter into it. Adam and
Eve, the first couple is an example for all
(Gen. 2:2:4). Moreover, Malachi argues
that God intentionally made just one wife
for Adam, though he still had the breath to
create many more (Mal. 2:15). This ideal of
one husband and one wife in marriage is
also upheld in the New Testament
teachings by Paul and Peter.
One of the pillars of marriage that is under
severe attack is the pillar of monogamy.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS)
We live in a world in which marriage vows
mean next to nothing for many people.
They say them as a formality, just to fulfill
legal requirements, but in reality, have no
intention of keeping them. One cannot
help but be reminded of the Israelites
who responded to God’s words to them
by chorusing that they would do all the
things that the Lord had said (Exod.
19:8a). Not long after, however, they broke
the covenant, even while Moses was still
up on the mountain receiving the
commandments. They made and
worshipped the Golden Calf (Exod. 32).
This could be a metaphor for the state of
many marriages today.
Polygamy (many marriages) is one of the
main ways through which violation of the
principle of monogamy occurs in many
societies around the world. There are at
least three forms of polygamy that takes
many forms such as polyandry (one wife
many husbands) polygene (one husband
and many wives), these two are the main
forms of polygamy. There is, however, also
consecutive polygamy, predominant in
Western Societies where people marry,
divorce and marry again having multiple
partners, not simultaneously, but over the
course of time.
There is an apparent scourge of infidelity
in many marriages in our world today.
Extra-marital affairs seem to be reaching
new levels.
Discuss:
How and why is the principle of
monogamy being flagrantly violated
today? What are the effects of violating
this principle?
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)
Friday
Marriage is Heterosexual
There is growing accommodation of
same-sex marriages in the world today
than there were in past generations.
Owing to the growing social acceptance
and advocacy for the same, many young
people will have to make their decisions
for marriage in this context. In generations
past, it was unthinkable that this would
ever be a subject for discussion among
believers. Those days are now behind us.
The question of same-sex marriage is now
a legitimate concern because of societal
trends today as well as advocacy groups
that are imploring the Church to accept
this lifestyle. In some countries, young
children are being taught about this family
alternative. The media is full of
suggestions and models of same-sex
marriages. There are pressure groups in
institutions of higher learning and whole
organizations dedicated to this cause on a
global scale. Many resources are poured
into this cause.
Discussion:
In your view, what factors are contributing
to the increase in the acceptance of
same-sex marriage, even in some
Churches?
Contrary to what some people would have
us believe, the Bible makes it clear that
God’s ideal for marriage is between a man
and a woman (Gen. 1:27; cf. Eph. 5:21ff; 1
Peter 3:1). All references to marriage
presuppose heterosexuality. On the other
hand, same-sex marriages are outlawed
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS)
(Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor.
6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:10). Every young person
should note that “homosexual and lesbian
practices are among the pervasions of
God’s original plan and illustrate the
brokenness of humanity.”[2] It is
important to note that, for whatever
reason, there are people who may
genuinely feel attracted to the those of
the same sex. It is beyond the scope of
this lessons to attempt a discussion on
why some people may have such
inclinations. Suffice it to say that God
loves and accepts all people, regardless
of sexual orientation. Feeling sexually
attracted to a person of the same sex
does not in and of itself constitute sin. It is
acting upon such feelings that does.
Discussion:
What are the effects of same-sex
practices? How best would you help a
friend struggling with same-sex
attractions?
Summary
Young people contemplating marriage in
these last days have to contend with
forces militating against marriage and
family. There is growing pervasion of the
sacred institution of marriage. This
pervasion is coming in the form of
undermining the central pillars of
marriage, permanency, monogamy and
heterosexuality. There is increasing
normalization and acceptance of divorce,
multiple sexual partners and same-sex
unions. These trends do not only affect
people out there, but also those within
the Church. Education, media and
[2] Church Manual, 145.
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FAMILIES IN THE LAST DAYS (YOUTHS)

focused advocacy and pressure groups are some of the ways through which conformity to
these practices and trends is being fostered. Growing numbers, even within Christianity are
succumbing to the pressure. As such then, every young person needs to be grounded in the
word of God and a lamb for their feet and a light for their path (Ps. 119:105). In spite of all the
brokenness, happy and healthy marriages are still possible in these last days. God’s way for
families is still the best way.

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 (YOUTHS) 19

STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
THE CASE STUDY OF ENTERING INTO THE MIND
OF NON-TITHERS
Revelation 12:17
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her
see, which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
[AKJV]
Monday
Introduction:
For a long time, Christians have looked at
this passage with a prophetic eye without
thinking of its implication from a
stewardship perspective and how spiritual
growth has been impinged. In this lesson,
we will look at stewardship in its originality,
focusing on God’s original intent for
mankind and how the fall marred man’s
inheritance, leading to the death of Christ
on the cross. The study will delve into the
role of stewardship, and in particular, tithe,
and how it grows the Christian’s faith and
how it helps man to maintain Christ like
attitude in life and an appreciation of the
fact that the cosmic conflict between
good and evil is the battle to control the
heart of man.
Since this is the intent of the devil, the
lesson will show that non responsive to
stewardship matters, especially tithing
practice, is a deep-seated rebellion
against God, and leads to philosophical
worldviews that obliterate the whole
essence of God. The conclusion,
therefore, will be that it is IMPOSSIBLE to
lead a Christian life without the practice of
stewardship principles. In so doing, when
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
we enter into the mind of a non-tither, we
will see clearly that the cosmic conflict is
real.
Reckless Spending Or Careful
Investment Of Life
Everyday is an opportunity to live. We may
die once, but every other day is a day to
live. How do you want to live as God’s
stewards in these last days? The reckless
spending of life has more devastating
results than ruined finances. A RUINED
LIFE NOW OR IN THE FUTURE IS A HIGH
PRICE TO PAY FOR FAILING TO
PROPERLY INVEST IN LIFE.
Different Notion of Time
We behave the way we do because of the
different notions of time we espouse. The
below work cultural view of time affect our
response to life and Christians must have
a Christian view of understanding:
JEWS: time is linear; it has an origin
and an end. [They maximize the time
they have while alive]
GREEKS: Time is cyclical and Greeks
glorify the past- it has no proper value
& cannot be measured.
SLAM: God predestines Time. It’s
unnecessary for man to do anything.
AFRICA: Time has no future and man
lives in omnipresent past. The future
doesn’t exist [Education? Education
for the future is not valued. Africans
are poor not because of white
supremacy, but because we have
chosen not to invest in values that
promulgate progress]
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
BIBLE: Ps 90:12, Eccl 3:1, Prov. 16:3
[Commit your ways to God: time must
be used productively].
NT Time [Kairos: God’s time in man’s
time, Kronos: beginning & end, Aion:
eternity].
We must make a choice to invest faithfully
in things that will bring the greatest for
others and ourselves.
“See, I set before you today life and
prosperity, death and destruction. For I
command you today love your God, to walk in
obedience to him, and to keep his commands,
decrees and laws; then you will live and
increase, and the Lord your God will bless
you...” [Deut. 30:15, 16, 19-20]
“Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live and that you may love the
Lord, your God, listen to his voice and hold
fast to him. For the Lord is your life.” [Deut.
30:15, 16, 19-20]
Key Issues for Life in the Passage
1. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD- [This is
a command from God]
2. KEEP HIS COMMANDS- [Another
imperative]
3. RESULTS: - LIVE AND INCREASE!
[Blessings of the normal order]
4. THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU [Bonus
Blessings]
5. Listen to God’s voice [The case of
Abraham in Genesis 12:1-5]
GOD CALLED A MAN WHO WAS
ALREADY COMFORTABLE TO BLESS HIM
MORE BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING. LET
US READ GENESIS 12:1-5.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
True life is receiving what God gives and
there is nothing to be desired but what
He has given. Unfortunately since the
entrance of sin, humanity has struggled to
take what it did not receive and trust itself
instead of depending on God.
Adam and Eve were given everything,
except the fruit of “the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.” [Because of
the desire to be like God, man wanted the
glory that was God’s, honour that was
God’s alone; as a result, cacophony
characterized the planet]. Whenever men
crave and claim what God has not given,
the result has been evil and death.
Tuesday
Principles of Living Life
Abundantly
1. Appreciate to be content with, and be
grateful for what God has given: Life
for mankind began with rest. Nothing
can be added to what God has done.
What He has done is sufficient and
good. But man has violated the
principle of restful living in body and
Spirit. Humans need spiritual rest, the
weekly rest, and the nightly rest. If
these needs are not honoured, they
will recklessly spend your lives.
[Problems develop of Biological years
and chronological years]. People must
invest in restful living as provided in
the Bible. He gave us the Sabbath
and the night in that investment.
2. The Harmonious Connection with the
Creator above us, and creatures
beside us and creation below us: “It is
not good that man should be alone; I
21
STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
will make him a helper comparable to him”
(Gen. 2:18). God laid down in the heart of
man a desire for something more- the
desire for companionship with someone
who was his equal. Over time because of
living in the jungle for survival, we have
tended to become overly materialistic or
overly religious to the neglect of fellow
humans. We cannot live fulfilled lives
without an intimate loving relationship
with the CREATOR above us, the
CREATURES beside us, and CREATION
below us. Worship becomes meaningful
and filled with harmony.
3. Activities in harmony with what we
were created for: At Creation, humans
were appointed to be reflections of
God as they ruled over the creation in
the image of the Creator. Though they
could never add to God’s creation,
they were “to tend and keep it”.
Through this activity they themselves
would be blessed and stay healthy.
Since the entrance of sin, man has
exploited and abused creation rather
than care for it. Romans 8:22 “For we
know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now.” Physical inactivity
has become the order of the day in
the whole world, and production,
national production, has been
affected. Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God
took man and put him in the garden of
Eden to work it and to keep it.” God
DID NOT plant man; He planted a
garden and put man there to work it
out. Genesis 2; 28 [Be fruitful, multiply,
fill the earth and subdue it & have
dominion] Man is the master of his
circumstances. Inactivity is a leading
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
cause of lifestyle illnesses, and lack of
purpose and meaning. Begin to happen
God’s way. Ex 20:9 “Six days…
4. Nourish ourselves with real food,
not artificial man-made substitutes:
For man to live abundant life, God
provided what he must eat [There
should be no struggles]. Man was to
live off fruits of trees in the garden.
Unfortunately today when one eats
fruits, then he is sick. Genesis 2:16
“And the LORD God commanded the
man, “You are free to eat any from any
tree…” AFTER the fall, they would also
eat food from the ground and plants
of the field. To Adam he said,
“Because you listened to your wife
and ate fruit from the tree about
which I commanded you, ‘You must
not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground
because of you; through painful toil
you will eat food from it all the days of
your life. (Gen. 3:17, 18). Then, after the
Flood, people were allowed to eat
animals. (Gen. 9:3), but we know that
a balanced plant-based diet is the
most healthful. With the
supplementation of essential
nutrients such as B12, life could still
be meaningful and health well taken
care of. Unfortunately, humankind has
desired to eat what was not allowed
or intended. When we go contrary to
what we were created for, what the
animals were created for, and what
nature was created for, then creation
is subjected to pain and death. We
are so much attached to meat diet
because we have killed our taste buds
for fruits and vegetables. Have you
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
seen the faces of people when eating
fruits how they cringe as if it's poison? Yet
that’s where life is!
So the carefully and faithfully invested life
is one in which God is allowed to be the
centre and in which man receives
graciously what God has abundantly
provided. On this premise hinges man’s
response to stewardship life, so we get
deeper into the study now.
Wednesday
Restoration and Stewardship in
the Light of Last Day Events
Restoration has two dimensions:
restoration of the image of God, and
restoration of dominion of man. The most
sweeping theme of the Bible is the theme
of the great controversy between Christ
and Satan. It begins with a perfect
creation of the earth and the defection of
Lucifer with one third of the angelic host.
It continues with the fall of Adam and Eve.
With the loss of the image of God and the
epidemic of sin, comes the revelation of a
plan that the Godhead had from before
the creation of the world, a plan to restore
humanity to the image of God.
We read in Genesis 1:26 that man was
created in the image of God after His
likeness, and Ellen White says something
definitive to help us understand what this
image is all about;
“If Adam, at his creation, had not been
endowed with twenty times as much vital
force as men now have, the race, with their
present habits of living in violation of natural
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law, would have become extinct.” [3T 138, 139]
"When Adam came from the Creator's hand,
he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual
nature, a likeness to his Maker. 'God created
man in His own image,' and it was His purpose
that the longer man lived, the more fully he
should reveal this image – the more fully
reflect the glory of the Creator. All his
faculties were capable of development; their
capacity and vigor were continually to
increase.” [Education, page 15:1.]
The longer man lived, the more fully he
should reveal the character of God- holy,
righteous, generosity etc. His faculty was
to develop, capacity and vigor to increase
(contrary to what is happening: as we
grow we lose focus, intellect, and vigor-
and are prone to disease, the death is the
inevitable result).
“As Adam came forth from the hand of his
Creator, he was of noble height and of
beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice
as tall as men now living upon the earth, and
as well proportioned.” [Spiritual Gifts Vol3, 34]
That noble height man has was for
administering dominion over all creation
including the ginormous and gigantic
creatures that are no longer in existence
and the vital force, which was 20 times in
Adam and Eve was for the purposes of
longevity.
“Obedience, perfect and perpetual, was the
condition of eternal happiness. On this
condition he was to have access to the tree
of life.” [PP 49:2]
God provided man with all things he
needed in his environment so that true
allegiance is rendered to God alone.
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
(Sometimes we sin- stealing because of
lack, but Adam lacked nothing to
misbehave, thus leading us to believe that
his sin was beyond lacking). It was to be
like God the Creator. It was anarchy,
insurrection, rebellion and treason- to be
like God- Owners, not stewards.
kingdom of darkness.
“To restore in man the image of his Maker, to
bring him back to the perfection in which he
was created, to promote the development of
body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose
in his creation might be realized – this was to
be the work of redemption. This is the object
of education, the great object of life.” [Educ
15, 16]
The question of how man is to be restored
to the original position is where
stewardship comes in. Therefore,
stewardship is the doctrine of restoration
and redemption, so I seek your attention
to conceptualize what is coming next.
Thursday
The Diagram Of Restoration From
The Kingdom To The Kingdom
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live
in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Adam, created in the image of God, chose
to sin. With that one act, he moved the
human race out of the kingdom of God,
and we suffered the consequences of his
act. Those consequences include four
aspects or dimensions of sin, which must
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be resolved:
We are born with a sinful nature—a
natural bent to evil.
We are born in a condition of
separation from God.
We are born under the controlling
power or dominion of sin—in the
The above three factors lead to our
own sinful acts. Jesus has to solve all
four of these problems with sin.
Jesus chose to identify himself with us for
eternity. He experienced all four
dimensions of sin.
He came in “the likeness of sinful
flesh” (Rom. 8:3). Without the
“tendency to evil” he took a nature
weakened by thousands of years of
sin.
On the cross, He experienced
separation from God (Mark 15:34).
In dying, he experienced the kingdom
of darkness.
He took our sins upon himself.
With His death on the cross, Jesus moved
the human race from the kingdom of
darkness into the kingdom of light (Col.
1:13). This gift is available to all humanity
(Rom. 5:12-19). It becomes effective for
the individual the moment the gift is
accepted (1 John 5:11-13). The problem of
separation from God and the controlling
power are resolved. There is a new Lord
(Rom 6:1-14).
Yet the problem of the sinful nature with
its sinful acts will not be resolved until the
second coming (1 Cor. 15:53-54). But
there is even more good news- God gives
us his righteous character (2 Pet. 1:4) and
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
his good works (Eph. 2:10). In and
through Jesus Christ, the problem of sin is
solved. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MANY
THINGS HAPPEN IN THE BELIEVER:
We are forgiven (1 John 1:9).
We are crucified with Christ (Gal.
2:20).
We are dead to sin (Rom. 6:11).
We are free from the control of sin
(Rom. 6:14).
We are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
We are seated with God in heavenly
places (Eph. 2:6).
We have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
We have power (2 Pet. 1:3-4).
We are moved from death to life
(John 5:24).
We are given the fullness of God
(Eph. 3:16-19).
We begin to respond to God’s
goodness through faithfulness
If your faithful tithing is based on your
being a church member, having a good
life, having a good job or anything other
than the fact that you have moved from
death to life through Jesus Christ, that
faithfulness is salvation by works.
True stewardship is a response to
restoration that we are children of the
light, not darkness & are growing towards
Christ (Phototropism: growing towards
light: then we can coin “Christotropism”,
as towards Christ= Christ-like!
True stewardship is a response of love
from a heart filled with gratitude.
FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP IS AS A RESULT
OF JOY FOR SALVATION GOD HAS
WROUGHT IN US THROUGH JESUS.
NON-CHRISTIANS CANNOT TITHE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT MOVED
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FROM DEATH TO LIFE. [If you cannot
tithe, you are struggling with issues of
non- Christians.
Giving Must Come From A
Personal Walk With God
Only those who have this daily walk with
God will thrive the Church as God
actuates them in them.
Friday
Entering Into The Mind Of Non-
Tithers
Out of what we have covered so far, we
can now ask, “What is happening in the
mind of non-tithers?” What makes them
behave the way they behave?
It was elder McElhaney in 1936, talking
about Adventists, who remarked, “Our
greatest danger today is the attitude
taken by so many of our people of
accepting, with apparent satisfaction their
present low spiritual condition and not
being very concerned about it.”
Non- tithers have a different mindset that
is not needed in the last days. Paul states,
“Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5)
What is this mind, which was in Christ that
should be espoused? It's the mind of love,
sacrifice, surrender, and goodwill for His
people, care, concern and other virtues.
Unfortunately Satan is on a hunting spree
to confound and confuse God’s people to
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
have a slying mind, a mind bent towards
evil. He means business to make sure
God’s people do not make it to the
Promised Land. Look at what Satan has
done as seen in Early Writings [pages
152.3]
“I was shown Satan as he once was, a happy,
exalted angel. Then I was shown him as he
now is. He still bears a kingly form. His features
are still noble, for he is an angel fallen. But the
expression of his countenance is full of
anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate,
mischief, deceit and every evil. That brow
which was once so noble, I particularly
noticed. His forehead commenced from his
eyes to recede. I saw that he had so long bent
himself to evil that every good quality was
debased, and every evil trait developed.
His eyes were cunning, sly, and showed great
penetration.”
“His frame was large, but the flesh hung
loosely about his hands and face.
As I beheld him, his chin was resting upon his
left hand. He appeared to be in deep thought.
A smile was upon his countenance, which
made me tremble, it was so full of evil and
satanic slyness. This smile is the one he wears
just before he makes sure of his victim, and as
he fastens the victim in his snare, this smile
grows horrible.”
“I saw that Satan carries out his plan so well.
As the servants of God appoint meetings,
Satan with his angels is on the ground to
hinder the work. He leads some in one way
and some in another, always taking advantage
of evil traits in the brethren and sisters,
exciting and stirring up their natural
besetments.” (p. 267)
away from God. People who practice such
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The mind that Satan has corrupted must
be transformed. Why is the mind vital that
it needs transformation? The Great
Controversy between good and evil takes
place in the mind and so it needs
transformation;
1. God’s ultimate gift in the creation of
man is the mind.
2. It controls all of life.
3. The mind is where habits are formed.
4. The relationship with God takes place
in the mind.
5. It is in the mind where sin and the
battle with sin takes place.
God asks us to love Him with our
minds (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke
10:27).
God calls for a living sacrifice and a
transformed mind (Rom. 12:1-2).
Transformed into His glory (2 Cor.
3:18).
We can have the mind of Christ (1
Cor. 2:16).
Many times, people want to survive in this
life and in their bid to make it in life, God
calls them to come to Him. “For without
Me you can do nothing” (John 15: 5).
Unfortunately, man has chosen to survive
using means and ways that are NOT
godly. These means of survival
demonstrate what man wants; it is the
rejection of stewardship, rejection of God,
a desire to load upon ourselves the
prerogatives of God. Satanism, corruption,
immorality, unfaithfulness, crime and now
politics have become means of survival
are church members and you wonder why
stewardship is failing?
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
Non-tithers are in three categories
philosophically according to the
worldview they have come espouse in a
bid to survive without God. The three
categories are Epicureanism, stoicism and
naturalism.
Epicureanism:
States that human beings must enjoy life
while it lasts and while they live. It is a
materialistic view. This view encourages
people to acquire as much wealth as they
can and spend it on self (Luke 12: 13-21).
It calls for people to enjoy life such that if
death should come, they will have
enjoyed after all. People in need should
not look for help, but rather work hard on
their own. How does Epicureanism work
with stewardship? Epicureanism does not
work well with stewardship (helping others
and the cause of God is against this view.
Stewardship promotes sharing ideas,
resources and services to make the
environment better. If the Church is filled
with believers that ascribe to
Epicureanism, then forget about the
financial and spiritual growth of the
church.
Stoicism:
States that the world is ruled by fate and
you cannot do anything to change the
situation. It states that humanity is
destined to be in pain. The poor are
destined to be poor and to suffer and no
one should endeavour to do anything is
the philosophy of stoicism. Human pain
and lack of means happens as the will of
God to that individual as one’s destiny.
Since poverty is the destiny of the poor,
helping them is a wastage of time and
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means. This philosophy puts God in a bad
light and is akin to stewardship. Through
Stoicism, others argue that Africa is
cursed, so why trouble yourself with hard
work? Africa is not cursed, we have a
problem with out mindset and attitude to
work as Africans. Christian Stewardship
teaches us never to accept poverty and
pain as the will of God for us. Christian
Stewardship encourages us to regard it as
a moral duty to alleviate pain, suffering
and poverty of others. Stewardship does
not sit well with stoicism as work is not
promoted and valued.
Naturalism:
This view puts nature in the place of God
and that everything evolves as nature
directs. Therefore anything that avoids
pain is right and whatever maximizes
pleasure is right and must be preserved.
In nature you see the principle of the
survival of the fittest. That there’s no such
a thing as supernatural power of God at
play, no miracles can happen apart from
what nature dictates. If God cannot
breakthrough in our existential reality,
intervene and answer our prayers, then
He does not exist. In this case, a Christian
call to make sacrifices, which will cause
pain to the giver will not be popular. The
call to deny self, pick up the cross and
follow Jesus in the way of suffering
cannot be esteemed [see Mark 8:34].
Naturalism does not support stewardship
at all and if members espouse this
philosophy consciously or sub-
consciously then Christianity is of no
value because by nature, Christianity is
the religion of sacrifice in practice and
historically.
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STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION
Thus when you enter into the mind of
non-tithers, what is obtainable is
selfishness as the mother of all sins.
“No person can give without conversion;
stewardship cannot thrive where giving is not,
therefore, you cannot be a Christian without
being a steward” (Victor Banda, 2022).
Other nuances in non- tithers are the
following;
Idolatry: its him and him alone the
source of wealth and hard work- God
does not exist to a non-tither.
Jesus and his sacrificial death for
others is non- existent.
No miracles because everything
happens by nature, hard work and
fate.
A non- tither cannot be a steward and
cannot be a Christian because
Christianity is a religion of sacrifice
historically and in practice.
You don't give because you have money;
you give because you have a personal
walk with God. So stewardship is about a
serious personal walk with God.
Malachi 3:8
“Will man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.
But ye say, ‘Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings…”
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Obviously this appeal sounds like it is for
money, and one may question if money is
really the issue, or is there something far
more significant in this text?
If money is the real issue, then our
robbing God is likened to taking a DROP
from an ocean, a CLOUD from the sky,
and a DOLLAR from a billionaire. Does in
make sense for God to even tell us that
“Ye are cursed with a curse” for robbing
Him of these insignificant amounts?
How much money have you been robbed
as an individual and you have not even
cursed the thief? Why is God creating a
mountain out of a molehill? Does this
make you think big or sink deep?
My humble submission is that the
“robbery” referred to in the passage
MUST NOT be primarily money, but
something of more significance. What
then, is the real issue?
It is the refusal to recognize God’s
ownership
It symbolized anarchy, rebellion and
insurrection on the part of the
Christian.
The ‘robbery’ in Malachi 3;8 is the
withholding of the honour and
reverence due to God;
It is an act of open defiance against
the creator. Putting it succinctly,
when tithe is withheld, it is NOT the
money the real issue, just like the tree
was not the real reason as to why we
are dying today; the issue is beyond
the fruit. The real is anarchy, rebellion
and insurrection.
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Counsels on Stewardship, 22.1
“We should never forget that we are placed
on trial in this world, to determine our fitness
for the future life. None can enter heaven
whose characters are defiled by the foul blot
of selfishness.
“Therefore, God tests us here, by committing
to us temporal possessions, that our use of
these may show whether we can be entrusted
with eternal riches.”
only by manifesting love to God and to our
fellow men.
Christ will not permit one selfish person to
enter the courts of heaven. No covetous
person can pass through the pearly gates; for
all covetousness is idolatry.--R. & H., July 11,
1899. {CS, 26.2}.
We should understand that stewardship
in general and tithe in particular is part of

the great controversy between good and

“The tree of knowledge had been made a test
of their obedience and their love to God. The
Lord had seen fit to lay upon them but one
prohibition as to the use of all that was in the
garden; but if they should disregard His will in
this particular, they would incur the guilt of
transgression.
Satan was not to follow them with continual
temptations; he could have access to them
only at the forbidden tree. {PP 53.3}
Conclusion:
evil as it borders on who is to be
worshipped between God and Satan. It
can be stated here and now that
Benevolence and Selfishness are
stepbrothers; they have the same mother
(the heart) but different fathers, God or
Satan. SELFISHNESS AND
BENEVOLENCE ARE DEADLY ENEMIES.
Exercise one and the other dies. Which
one will you exercise today?

In the same way, Satan may not have

access to us via other sins because he
knows we are well able to overcome, but
on the forbidden fruit of tithe, he may
have access to us because he knows
man’s claims on what belongs to God is so
high. It is within our powers, and through
Jesus Christ to overcome this urge from
the enemy. We must follow the selfless
example of Jesus Christ in order to enter
the mansions of glory. Anything less than
following Him spells doom. Ellen White The battle to control the heart of man is
says, the battle of the ages between good and
“Christ is our example. He gave His life as a evil.
sacrifice for us, and He asks us to give our
lives as a sacrifice for others. Thus we may
cast out the selfishness, which Satan is
constantly striving to implant in our hearts.
This selfishness is death to all piety, and can
be overcome

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LAST DAY EVENTS
Monday
The reform movement within the
SDA church
I. Our need for reform. Joel 2:1-2, 12-17.
God has already shown His remnant
church that there must be a though
reform beginning with her professed
members:
“A revival of true godliness among us is the
greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To
seek this should be our first work. (ChS 41.4)
“God’s people will not endure the test unless
there is a revival and a reformation.” (7T 285)
does not follow that all revivals are to
“Before the final visitation of God’s
judgements upon the earth there will be
among the people of the Lord such a revival
of primitive godliness as has not been
witnessed since apostolic times.”(GC 464)
arise professing to have some new
II. Characters of the reform
It should be observed that for every
genuine thing of God, Satan has put
against it a counterfeit
A. Satanic counterfeits of reform both
in the world and inside the church of
God.
1. In the World.
“The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work
(reformation in the church); and before the time
for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor
to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit for it. In
those churches which he can bring under his
deceptive power he will make it appear that God’s
special blessing is poured out; there will be
manifest what is thought to be a great religious
interest. Multitudes will exalt that God is working
marvelously for them, when the work is that of
another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will
seek to extend his influence over the Christian
world. (GC 464)
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2. In the Church
a)Discord and Strife- “In every
revival he (Satan) is ready to bring in
those who are unsanctified in heart
and unbalanced in mind….” (GC 396)
b)Fanaticism- “When the Lord works
through human instrumentalities,
when men are moved with power from
on high, Satan leads his agents to cry,
‘Fanaticism!’ and to warn people not
to go to extremes. Let all be careful
how they rise this cry; for though
there is counterfeit coin, this does not
lower the value of that which is
genuine. Because there are spurious
revivals and spurious conversations, it
be held in suspicion. Let us not show
the contempt manifest by the
Pharisees when they said, ‘This man
received sinners’ (Lk 15;2). “ (GW 170)
c)New light- “Men and women will
light or some new revelation whose
tendency is to unsettle faith in the old
landmarks.Their doctrines will not
bear the test of God’s Word, yet souls
will be deceived.” (5T 295).
Our already established landmarks as the
Seventh-day Adventist church are: the
sanctuary, the Sabbath, the three angel’s
messages, the non-immortality of the soul
(CW 30).These certainly lead to a genuine
kind of reform
B. Characteristics of genuine reform:
1. Spirit of prayer
2. Sincere conversion
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LAST DAY EVENTS
3. Self-denying missionary work
4. Praise and thanksgiving
“In visions of the night, representations
passed before me of a great reformatory
movement among God’s people. Many were
praising God. The sick were healed, and other
miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession
was seen, even as was manifested before the
great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and
thousands were seen visiting families and
opening before them the Word of God. Hearts
were convicted by the power of the Holy
spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was
manifest. On every side, doors were thrown
open to the proclamation of the truth. The
world seemed to be lightened with the
heavenly influence. Great blessings were
received by the true and humble people of
God. I heard voices of thanks giving and
praise, and there seemed to be a reformation
such as we witnessed in 1844. “(9T 126)
following:
III.The Heart of the Reformation
A Message to Laodicea. Rev 3:14-15. To
whom does this apply?
The names of the seven churches are
symbolic of the church in different
periods of the Christian Era. (AA 585).
The message to the Laodicean church is
applicable to all who have had great light
and many opportunities, and yet have not
appreciated them. There are a large
number of professing Christians who do
not really follow Jesus.(FLB 306).
The warning for the last church also must
be proclaimed to all who claim to be
Christians. The Laodicean message, like a
sharp, two-edged sword, must go to all
the churches (6T 77)
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“The Laodicean message applies to the
people of God who profess to believe present
truth. The greater part are lukewarm
professors, having a name but no zeal…. The
term ‘lukewarm is applicable to this class.
They profess to love the truth, yet are
deficient in Christian fervor and devotion…”
(4T 87-88)
“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had
seen and was shown that it would be caused
by the straight testimony called forth by the
counsel of the True Witness to the
Laodiceans. This will have its effects upon the
heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt
the standard and pour forth the straight truth.
Some will not bear this straight testimony.
They will rise up against it, and this is what will
cause a shaking among God’s people.” (EW
270)
Luke warmness is comprised of the
1. Deficiency/Lack of fervor and
devotion
2. Only half converted
3. Not dedicated in service
4. Work of grace in the heart is lacking
“It would be more pleasing to the Lord if
lukewarm professors of religion had never
named His name. They are a continual weight
to those who would be faithful followers of
Jesus.They are a stumbling block to
unbelievers.” (IT 188)
Revelation 3:16
“The figure of spewing out of His mouth
means that He cannot offer up your prayers
or your expressions of love to God. He cannot
endorse your teaching of His word or your
spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present
your religious exercises with the request that
grace be given you.” (6T 408)
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LAST DAY EVENTS
“The message to the Laodiceans is applicable
to Seventh-day Adventists who have had
great light and have not walked in the light. It
is those who have made profession, but have
not kept in step with their Leader, that will be
spewed out of His mouth unless they repent.”
(2SM 66)
Revelation 3:19
Repentance implies:
1. Recognition of sin
2. Sorrow for sin
3. Desire to forsake sin
“I was shown that the testimony to the
Laodiceans applies to God’s people at the
present time, and the reason it has not
accomplished a greater work is because of
the hardness of their hearts. But God has
given the message time to do its work.The
heart must be purified from sins which have
so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message
will do its work. When it was first presented, it
led to close examination of heart. Sins were
confessed, and the people of God were
stirred everywhere….It is designed to rouse
the people of God., to discover to them their
backslidings, and lead to zealous repentance,
that they may be favored with the presence
of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the
third angel.” (IT 186)
IV. An Effective Remedy
Revelation 3:18
1. Against poverty – gold – love and faith
2. Against nakedness – white robe –
righteousness of Christ
3. Against blindness – eye slave –
wisdom and grace
Love: - this is the guiding principle in the
Christian life.
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“the gold mentioned by Christ. The True
Witness.Which all must have. Has been shown
to be faith and love combined, where love
takes the precedence of faith….” 2T 36-37
Faith: - this is the hand which clasps
God’s power and makes His promises
ours.
V. Justification by Faith
Read Job 25:4, The condition of
“Laodicea.” Revelation 3:17
The righteousness of which God
approves – Romans 1:17
The Two Conditions:
1. Repentance, surrender of self.
2. Acceptance of His gift by faith.
Romans 3:28
“What is justification by Faith? It is the work of
God in laying the glory of man in the dust,
and doing for man that which it is not in his
power to do for himself.” (TM 456)
The Types of Righteousness:
There are two types of righteousness and
these are the imputed righteousness and
imparted righteousness.
“The righteous by which we are justified is
imputed; the righteous by which we are
sanctified is imparted. The first is our tittle to
heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.”
(MYP 35)
A. The Righteousness of Christ by
which we are Justified:( imputed
righteousness)
It is imputed to us, that is, credited,
granted freely without our earning it.
It provides our right to heaven.
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It justifies us, that is, by it we are
reckoned righteous in God’s sight.
We receive it entirely by faith
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:24;
Romans 5:1.
Faith involves repentance, confession
and the acceptance of Christ.
B. The Righteousness of Christ which
we are sanctified:(Imparted
Righteousness)
It is imparted in a gradual, invisible
process of Christian growth.
It provides our fitness, or preparation,
for heaven.
It sanctifies us, or changes us into
saints, transforming our characters.
It, also, is received by means of faith.
Imparted sanctification or righteousness
“When it is in the heart to obey God, when
efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts
this disposition and effort as man’s best
service, and He makes up for the deficiency
with His own divine merit.” (SM 328)
The secret of victory
“Higher than the highest human thought can
reach is God’s ideal for His children.
Godliness – godlikeness – is the goal to be
reached. Before the student there is opened
a path of continual progress. He has an object
to achieve, a standard to attain, that includes
everything good and pure, and noble.”(Ed 18)
prayerfully seek for reform. Children of
A Message of Reformation
“Christ has given us no assurance that to
attain perfection of character is an easy
matter. A noble, all-around character is not
inherited. It does no come to us by accident.
A noble character is earned by individual
effort through the merited and grace of
Christ….It is formed by hard, stern
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
battle with self. Conflict after conflict must be
waged against hereditary tendencies. We
shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and
allow not one unfavorable trait to remain
uncorrected.” (COL 331)
The pathway to Victory
1. Renounce self
2. Surrender fully to Christ
3. Depend on Him moment by moment
4. By faith believe victory is yours
“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a
new power takes possession of the new heart.
A change is wrought which man can never
accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural
work, bringing a supernatural element into
human nature. The soul that is yielded to
Christ becomes His own fortress, which He
holds in a revolted world…..A soul thus kept
possession by the heavenly agencies is
impregnable to the assaults of Satan.” (DA
324)
Summary
It is both true and necessary that there be
a thorough revival and reformation within
the church of God. The testimony of our
month to month tithe trends, the clearly
manifest church politics within the ranks,
clear signs of hatred among our professed
members, and the remarkable high rate of
divorce especially among church
members, just to mention but a few is a
clear indication that we need to
God, with united prayer, victory is sure
certain.
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Tuesday
The Latter Rain
The Bible says of the Holy Spirit in
Joel 2:23, ‘Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath
given you the former rain moderately, and he
will cause to come down for you the rain, the
former rain, and the latter rain in the first
month’. KJV
Our study will therefore focus only on the
latter rain, which is the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit upon God’s faithful children
towards the end of time. This will
strengthen God’s church to do more than
what happened during the time of the
Pentecost.
I. The Work of the Holy Spirit:
1. To convince of sin, of justice, and of
judgement, John 16:8
2. To direct the mind to the diligent
study of God’s Word, guiding it into all
truth.John 14:26; 16:13
3. To bring to remembrance in moments
of necessity or emergency truths or
Bible passages already studied. John
14:26; Mark 13:11
4. To intercede for us before the Father
when we pray. Romans 8:26
5. To give us proof or internal assurance
that we are children of God. Romans
8:16
6. To enable the children of God to
proclaim the gospel with success and
power. Acts 1:8
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II.The Descriptions of the Latter rain
(Joel 2:23, 28-31; Hos 6:3)
“Under the figure of the early and the latter
rain, that falls in Eastern lands at
seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets
foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in
extraordinary measure upon God’s church.
The outpouring of the spirit in the days of the
apostles was the beginning of the early, or
former, rain, and glorious was the result. To
the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to
abide with the true church. (AA54-55)
III. The Purpose of the latter rain
“At that time the ‘latter rain,’ or refreshing
from the presence of the Lord, will come, to
give power to the loud voice of the third
angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the
period when the seven last plagues shall be
poured out.” (EW 86)
“The work will be similar to that of the Day of
Pentecost. As the ‘former rain’ was given, in
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the
opening of the gospel, to cause the
upspringing of the precious seed, so the
‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the
ripening of the harvest.” (GC 611)
IV. The Importance and Necessity
The latter rain is especially needed to
ripen the harvest.
V. The Promise and Willingness of God
“…If all were willing, all would be filled with the
Spirit...The Lord is more willing to give the
Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than
parents are to give good gifts to their
children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit
every worker should offer his petition to God.”
(AA 50)
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“The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the
church is looked forward to as in the future;
but is the privilege of the church to have it
now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We
must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow
it.” (Ev 701)
VI. Conditions for Receiving the Latter
Rain
These can be classified into two
categories –(The General Conditions and
Specific Conditions)
A. General Conditions:
1. These promises are to be claimed by
faith.
2. They are given according to our
desire and consent.
3. They follow a revival of primitive
godliness.
4. We must daily advance in
exemplification of active Christian
virtues ad be in the right attitude to
receive the latter rain.
B. Specific Conditions:
1. To feel the need of the Spirit and to
pray for his presence.
“The great outpouring of the Spirit of God,
which lightens the whole earth with His glory,
will not come until we have an enlightened
people, that know by experience what it
means to be laborers together with
God.When we have entire, wholehearted
consecration to the service of Christ, God will
recognize the fact by an outpouring of His
Spirit without measure; but this will not be
while the largest portion of the church are not
laborers with God.” (ChS 253)
hasten from place to place to proclaim the
“As you pray, believe, trust in God. It is the
time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give
largely of His Spirit. Be fervent in prayer, and
watch in the Spirit.” (TM 512)
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2. We must first experience the early rain
3. We must be ready to be willingly used
and guided by the Spirit. Philippians 2:13
4. We need to eliminate all dissensions
and misunderstandings. Acts 2:1
5. Surrender of self.
“There is no limit to usefulness of the one
who, putting self aside, makes room for the
working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and
lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” (ChS
254)
“…Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is
Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it
for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weal,
un-Christlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise
me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where
the rich current of Thy love can flow through
my soul...” (COL 159-160)
This must be our prayer.
VII.Results of the Latter Rain
1. Great power and glory attend closing
work.
2. Revives and strengthens the church.
3. The bonds binding people will be
broken, and they step out to obey the
truth.
4. Some leading men will accept the
truth.
5. Whole world enlightened
6. Work similar to the Day of Pentecost.
7. The message is proclaimed by
thousands of voices.
8. Miracles are wrought and the sick are
healed.
“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up
and shining with holy consecration, will
message from heaven. By thousands of
voices, all over the earth, the warning will be
given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will
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be healed, and signs and wonders will follow
the believers.” (GC 611-612)
9. The latter rain is more abundant that
the early rain.
Having clearly outlined the purpose,
importance, conditions as well as most of
the results of the latter rain, it can be
concluded that,
“These scenes are to be repeated, and with
greater power. The out pouring of the Holy
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was the former
rain, but the latter rain will be more abundant.”
(COL 121)
was to be covered with the covering of the
Almighty.” (EW 43)
Wednesday
B. What is the Seal of God?
The Sealing & Shaking
The Sealing
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Revelation 7:1-4
“Just as soon as the people of are sealed in
their foreheads – it is not any seal or mark that
can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both
intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot
be moved – just as soon as God’s people are
sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will
come.Indeed, it has begun already; the
judgements of God are now upon the land, to
give us warning, that we may know what is
coming. (4BC 1161)
“While one class, by accepting the sign of
submission to earthly powers, receive the
mark of the beast, the other, choosing the
token of allegiance to divine authority, receive
the seal of God.” (GC 605)
A. The sealing accomplishes the
following objectives:
1. It fixes in the life of God’s people the
principles of God’s Law.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
2. It makes faithfully Sabbath observance
possible
3. It prepares them to pass unharmed
through the time of trouble.
4. It preserves them from the final
destruction.
“Satan is now using every device in this
sealing time to keep the minds of God’s
people from the present truth and to cause
them to waver. I saw a covering that God was
drawing over His people to protect them in
the time of trouble; and every soul that was
decided on the truth and wad pure in heart
1. The Instrument that is used for
stamping a mark
2. The mark itself
“The fourth commandment is the only one of
all the ten in which are found both the name
and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one
that shows by whose authority that law is
given. Thus it contains the seal of God affixed
to His law as evidence of its authenticity and
binding force.” (PP 307)
The mark of the sealing is Christ-like
character.
“Those who are distrustful of self, who are
humbling themselves before God and
purifying their souls by obeying the truth –
these are receiving the heavenly mold and
preparing for the seal of God in their
foreheads. When the decree goes forth and
the stamp is impressed, their character will
remain pure and spotless for eternity.” (5T
216)
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C. When shall the sealing take place?:
Time and Duration
“The sealing time is very short, and will soon
be over. Now is the time, while the four angels
are holding the four winds, to make our calling
and election sure.”(EW 58).
“When this time of trouble comes, every case
is decided; there is no longer probation, no
longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of
the living God is upon His people.” (5T 213)
D. Conditions in order for one to be
sealed:
1. “Jesus is in His holy temple and will
now accept sacrifices, our prayers,
and our confessions of faults and sins
and will pardon all the transgressions
of Israel, that they may be blotted out
before He leaves the sanctuary.When
Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they
who are holy and righteous will be
holy and righteous still; for all their
sins will then be blotted out, and they
will be sealed with the seal of the
living God. But those that are unjust
and filthy will be unjust and filthy still.”
(EW 48)
2. “Many hear the invitation of mercy,
are tested and proved; but few are
sealed with the seal of the living God.
Few will humble themselves as a little
child, that they may enter the
kingdom of heaven.” (5T 50)
“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God
will never be placed upon the forehead of an
impure man or woman. It will never be placed
upon the ambitious, world-loving man or
woman. It will never be placed upon the
forehead of men or women of false tongues
or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal
must be without spot before God –
candidates for heaven.” (5T 216)
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
The Shaking
I. The Promise (Amos 9:9, Luke 22:31-
32)
“God is sifting His people. He will have a clean
and holy church. We cannot read the heart of
man. But the Lord has provided means to
keep the church pure.”(IT 99)
II. The Causes
A. Careless and Indifference;
Revelation 3:16
“The careless and indifferent, who did not join
with those who prized victory and salvation
enough to perseveringly plead and agonize
for it, did not obtain it, and they were left
behind in darkness, and their places were
immediately filled by others taking hold of the
truth and coming into the ranks...”(EW 271)
B. Persecution because of the
enforcement of the Sunday laws
2 Timothy 3:12
“As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the
Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust
into prison, some will be exiled, some will be
treated as slaves…. As the storm approaches,
a large class who have professed faith in the
third angel’s message, but have not been
sanctified through obedience to the truth,
abandon their position and join the ranks of
the opposition.” (GC 608)
“the members of the church will individually
be tested and proved. They will be placed in
circumstances where they will be forced to
bear witness for the truth. Many will be called
to speak before councils and in courts of
justice, perhaps separately and alone. The
experience which would have helped them in
this emergency they have neglected to
obtain, and their souls are burdened with
remorse for wasted opportunities and
neglected privileges.” (5T 463)
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C. The Rejection of the Laodicean
Message; Revelation 3:16
“… Some will not bear this straight testimony.
They will rise up against it, and this is what will
cause a shaking among God’s people… I saw
that the testimony of the True Witness has
not been half heeded. The solemn testimony
upon which the destiny of the church hangs
has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely
disregarded. This testimony must work deep
repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it
and be purified.” (EW210)
D. Superficial knowledge that causes
many to be deceived by false
doctrines.
“God’s Spirit has illuminated every page of
Holy Writ, but there are those upon whom it
makes little impression, because it is
imperfectly understood. When the shaking
comes, by the introduction false theories,
these surface readers, anchored nowhere, re
like shifting sand.” (TM 112)
III. The Time of the Shaking
“The mighty shaking has commenced and will
go on, and all will be shaken out who are not
willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for
the truth and to sacrifice for God and His
cause.” (EW 50)
IV. Directions on how to avoid Falling
1 Corinthians 10:12; Romans 8:35-39
“...Evil angels crowded around, pressing
darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from
their view, that their eyes might be drawn to
the darkness that surrounded them, and thus
they be led to distrust God and murmur
against Him. Their only safety was in keeping
their eyes directed upward.” (EW 269)
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
V. The church will never fall: It’s the
Sinners who will be sifted out
Satan will work his miracles to deceive, he will
set up his power as supreme. The church may
appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It
remains, while the sinners in Zion will be
shifted out – the chaff separated from the
precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but
nevertheless it must take place. None but
those who have been overcoming by the
blood of the Lamb and the word of their
testimony will be found with the loyal and
true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile
in their mouths. We must be devested of our
self-righteousness and arrayed in the
righteousness of Christ.” (2SM 380)
Thursday
Finishing God’s Work-The Loud
Cry
I. The Loud Cry (Revelation 14:6-10)
“Here is shown the nature of the work of the
people of God.They have a message of so
great importance that they are represented
as flying in the presentation of it to the
world.They are holding in their hands the
bread of life for a famishing world. The love of
Christ constraineth them. This is the last
message. There are no more to follow, no
more invitations of mercy to be given after
this message shall have done its work.”(5T
206-207)
“…This work can be accomplished only by the
whole church acting their part under the
guidance and in the power of God.” (8T 47)
Revelation 18;1-4; Romans 9:28
“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud
cry of the third angel has already begun in
the revelation of the righteousness of Christ,
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LAST DAY EVENTS
the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the
beginning of the light of the angel whose
glory shall fill the whole earth.For it is the work
or everyone to whom the message of warning
has come, to lift up Jesus, to present Him to
the world as revealed in types, as shadowed
in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of
the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given
to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles
wrought for the sons of men. Search the
Scriptures; for they are they that testify of
Him.” (1SM 363)
II. A Special Time for a More Clear and
Direct Message
A special time: Revelation 18:1-2,4
“This scripture points forward to a time when
the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as
made by the second angel of Revelation 14
(verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional
mention of the corruptions which have been
entering the various organizations that
constitute Babylon, since that message was
first given, in the summer of 1844.” (GC 603)
The Message will arouse persecution.
“While many of our rulers are active agents of
Satan, God also has His agents among the
leading men of the nation.The enemy moves
upon his servants to propose measurements
that would greatly impede the work of God;
but statesmen who fear the Lord are
influence by holy angels to oppose such
propositions with unanswerable arguments.
Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful
current of evil. The opposition of the enemies
of truth will be restrained that the third angel’s
message may do its work. When the final
warning shall be given, it will arrest the
attention of these leading men through whom
the Lord is now working, and some of them
will accept it. And will stand with the people
of God through the time of trouble.” (GC 610-
611)
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Temporary Consternation and Dismay
“The same trials have been experienced by
men of God in ages past. Wycliffe, Huss,
Luther, Tyndale, Baxter, Wesley, urged that all
doctrines be brought to the test of the Bible
and declared that they would renounce
everything which it condemned. Against
these men persecution raged with relentless
fury; yet they ceased not to declare the truth.”
(GC 608-609)
The Message will be proclaimed with
faith and power
“The contest grows closer and sharper, but
their faith and courage rise with the
emergency.Their testimony is: ‘We dare not
tamper with God’s Word, dividing His holy law;
calling one portion essential and another
nonessential, to gain the favor of the world.
The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us.
Christ has conquered the powers of earth;
and shall we be afraid of a world already
conquered?’’’ (GC 610)
III. A Rapid And Miraculous Work
“The great work of the gospel is not to close
with less manifestation of the power of God
than make its opening.The prophecies which
were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former
rain at the opening of the gospel are again to
be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close.” (GC
611-612)
IV. Benefits of the Controversy
“The efforts made to retard the progress of
truth will serve to extend it. The excellence of
truth is more clearly seen from very
successive point from which it may be
viewed. Error requires disguise and
concealment. It clothes itself in angel robes,
and every manifestation of its real character
lessens its chance of success.”(5T 454)
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LAST DAY EVENTS
V. Satan’s Opposition to the Loud Cry
“Satan employs every possible device to
prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of
the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his
deceptions.At every revival of God’s work the
prince of evil is aroused to more intense
activity; he is now putting forth his utmost
efforts for a final struggle against Christ and
His follower.The last great delusion is soon to
open before us.” (GC 593)
VI. False Religious Revivals. (1 Timothy
4:1)
“Before the final visitation of God’s
judgements upon the earth there will be
among the people of the Lord such a revival
of primitive godliness as has not been
witnessed since apostolic time...Many, both of
ministers and the people, will gladly accept
those great truths which God has caused to
be proclaimed at this time to prepare a
people for the Lord’s second coming.The
enemy of souls desires to hinder this work;
and before the time for such a movement
shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by
introducing a counterfeit...” (GC464)
VII. Two conditions Necessary for
Finishing God’s Work
1. Sanctification – Joshua 3:5;
Zechariah 4:6
2. Activity – Mark 16:15; Mathew 20:4
A Call
Our mission as a church is the
proclamation of the three angel’s
message. That is the reason for the
existence of this church. All departments
of the church are there for this cause, and
our prayer is that we remain focused on
mission. We cannot afford to be a church
and spend a month without winning a
single soul for the master. Small groups
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
must do their appointed work. Let us pray
that the missionary spirit is manifested in
all of us.
Friday
Lifestyle and Activities of the
Remnant during the last days
Introduction:
We have had so many lessons in the past
that dealt with some events of the last
day. Today however, we will be focusing
more on some of the recommended
activities for Church members during
these last days. It must first be realized
that we must know as a people that we
are now living on borrowed time, for very
soon Jesus will surely come. Psalms
90:12 which says, ‘So teach us to number
our days, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom.’ must be our daily song.
Below are some of the activities and
lifestyles (as derived mainly from the book,
The Last Day Events Chapter 6) which
must characterize the remnant Church
members:
I. A Spirit of Service and Self-Sacrifice
"Long has God waited for the spirit of service
to take possession of the whole church so
that everyone shall be working for Him
according to his ability. When the members of
the church of God do their appointed work in
the needy fields at home and abroad, in
fulfillment of the gospel commission, the
whole world will soon be warned, and the
Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power
and great glory."— LDE 75.1
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"Christ commits to His followers an individual
work—a work that cannot be done by proxy.
Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of
the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to
committees or organized charities. Individual
responsibility, individual effort, personal
sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel."—
The Ministry of Healing, 147 (1905). LDE 76.1
2. “Occupy Till I Come”
Christ says, “Occupy till I come” [Luke
19:13].
It may be but a few years until our life's history
shall close, but we must occupy till then. —
The Review and Herald, April 21, 1896. LDE
76.2
Christ would have everyone educate himself
to calmly contemplate His second appearing.
All are to search the Word of God daily, but
not neglect present duties.—Letter 28, 1897.
LDE 76.3
Christ declared that when He comes some of
His waiting people will be engaged in
business transactions. Some will be sowing in
the field, others reaping and gathering in the
harvest, and others grinding at the mill. It is
not God's will that His elect shall abandon
life's duties and responsibilities and give
themselves up to idle contemplation, living in
a religious dream.—Manuscript 26, 1901. LDE
76.4
Crowd all the good works you possibly can
into this life.—Testimonies for the Church
5:488.
Judges 7:5-We must not stop doing our
duties but we must be watchful, and never
forget that Jesus is coming very soon.
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3. Living As If Each Day Were Our
Last Day
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). LDE 77.1
Each morning consecrate yourselves and
your children to God for that day. 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 77.3
4. Conscientious Sabbath
Observance
[See “The Observance of the Sabbath,” in
Testimonies for the Church 6:349-368.]
"Our heavenly Father desires through the
observance of the Sabbath to preserve
among men a knowledge of Himself. He
desires that the Sabbath shall direct our
minds to Him as the true and living God, and
that through knowing Him we may have life
and peace".— LDE 77.4
All through the week we are to have the
Sabbath in mind and be making preparation
to keep it according to the commandment.
We are not merely to observe the Sabbath as
a legal matter. We are to understand its
spiritual bearing upon all the transactions of
life... LDE 77.5
When the Sabbath is thus remembered, the
temporal will not be allowed to encroach
upon the spiritual. No duty pertaining to the
six working days will be left for the Sabbath.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:353, 354 (1900).
LDE 78.1
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5. Faithfulness in Returning Tithes
and Offerings
The Lord now calls upon Seventh-day
Adventists in every locality to consecrate
themselves to Him and to do their very best,
according to their circumstances, to assist in
His work. By their liberality in making gifts and
offerings, He desires them to reveal their
appreciation of His blessings and their
gratitude for His mercy.—Testimonies for the
Church 9:132 (1909).
Dying charity is a poor substitute for living
benevolence.. LDE 79.1
The wants of the cause will continually
increase as we near the close of time.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:156 (1882). LDE
79.2
We are placed on trial in this world, to
determine our fitness for the future life. None
can enter heaven whose characters are
defiled by the foul blot of selfishness.
Therefore, God tests us here, by committing
to us temporal possessions, that our use of
these may show whether we can be entrusted
with eternal riches.—Counsels on
Stewardship, 22 (1893). LDE 79.3
Take note that the work will grow
towards the end, hence our
faithfulness in tithe and offerings will
make a difference. Mission to Cities as
well as to rural areas will be
conducted, Pastors' houses built, new
districts and fields will be opened, new
churches and conferences will be
opened hence members must be
faithful in tithe and offerings.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
6.Establishment of New Church
Institutions
Some may say,
“If the Lord is coming soon, what need is
there to establish schools, sanitariums, and
food factories? What need is there for our
young people to learn trades?” LDE 79.4
It is the Lord's design that we shall constantly
improve the talents He has given us. We
cannot do this unless we use them. The
prospect of Christ's soon coming should not
lead us to idleness. Instead, it should lead us
to do all we possibly can to bless and benefit
humanity.—Medical Ministry 268 (1902). LDE
79.5
"A great work must be done all through the
world, and let no one conclude that because
the end is near there is no need of special
effort to build up the various institutions as
the cause shall demand... When the Lord shall
bid us make no further effort to build
meetinghouses and establish schools,
sanitariums, and publishing institutions, it will
be time for us to fold our hands and let the
Lord close up the work, but now is our
opportunity to show our zeal for God and our
love for humanity".—Testimonies for the
Church 6:440 (1900). LDE 80.1
As a conference we have projects that
need support. These include but not
limited to Masivamele and Gatawa clinics,
Chada and Chavarove new schools, Save
Boarding School in Chiredzi and the
upgrading of Mundondo into a boarding
school. Our prayer therefore is that in
every district there be an Adventist
institution like a clinic, school, vocational
training centres and all this work must be
done during these last days.
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LAST DAY EVENTS
7. God's People Value Their Health
The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the
third angel's message and is just as closely
connected with it as are the arm and hand
with the human body.—Testimonies For The
Church 1:486 (1867). LDE 80.4
True temperance teaches us to dispense
entirely with everything hurtful and to use
judiciously that which is healthful.—Patriarchs
and Prophets, 562 (1890). LDE 81.2
Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest,
exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in
divine power—these are the true remedies.—
The Ministry of Healing, 127 (1905). LDE 81.3
Whatever injures the health not only lessens
physical vigor but tends to weaken the mental
and moral powers. Indulgence in any
unhealthful practice makes it more difficult for
one to discriminate between right and wrong
and hence more difficult to resist evil.—The
Ministry of Healing, 128 (1905). LDE 81.4
The truth must be taught in our churches
that we as Adventists should embrace
lacto-ovo diet as the best for our health
nutrition. While there are extremists in
matters of health reform we must not also
be extreme in not teaching it as a church.
8. Return to the Original Diet
God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to
His original design—that man should subsist
upon the natural products of the earth.
Among those who are waiting for the coming
of the Lord meat eating will eventually be
done away; flesh will cease to form a part of
their diet. We should ever keep this end in
view and endeavor to work steadily toward it.
—Counsels on Health, 450 (1890). LDE 81.5
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Greater reforms should be seen among the
people who claim to be looking for the soon
appearing of Christ. Health reform is to do
among our people a work which it has not yet
done.—The Review and Herald, May 27, 1902.
LDE 82.1
In these last days we must endeavour to
work towards returning our original diet of
fruits, and traditional meals. This must fill
our tables.
9. Time for Fasting and Prayer
Now and onward till the close of time the
people of God should be more earnest, more
wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom,
but in the wisdom of their Leader. They
should set aside days for fasting and prayer.
Entire abstinence from food may not be
required, but they should eat sparingly of the
most simple food.—Counsels on Diet and
Foods, 188, 189 (1904). LDE 82.2
10. Family Worship
Evening and morning join with your children
in God's worship, reading His Word and
singing His praise. Teach them to repeat
God's law.—Evangelism, 499 (1904). LDE 83.4
Let the seasons of family worship be short
and spirited. Do not let your children or any
member of your family dread them because
of their tediousness or lack of interest. When
a long chapter is read and explained and a
long prayer offered, this precious service
becomes wearisome, and it is a relief when it
is over... LDE 84.1
A family that prays together stays
together. The devil is attacking families as
expressed by many divorce cases
befalling the church today, hence family
worship will unite the family and
strengthen them against the evil.
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LAST DAY EVENTS
11. Recreation That Christ Approves
It is the privilege and duty of Christians to
seek to refresh their spirits and invigorate
their bodies by innocent recreation, with the
purpose of using their physical and mental
powers to the glory of God.—Messages to
Young People, 364 (1871). LDE 85.4
Our gatherings should be so conducted, and
we should so conduct ourselves, that when
we return to our homes we can have a
conscience void of offense toward God and
man, a consciousness that we have not
wounded or injured in any manner those with
whom we have been associated or had an
injurious influence over them.... LDE 86.1
Our ceremonial occasions in the form of
weddings, social gatherings such as
birthdays parties must be different from
those of the secular world. Families must
also have ample and quality recreational
times, to rest awhile.
12. Television and the Theatre
Among the most dangerous resorts for
pleasure is the theatre. Instead of being a
school of morality and virtue, as is so often
claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality.
Vicious habits and sinful propensities are
strengthened and confirmed by these
entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures,
expressions, and attitudes, deprave the
imagination and debase the morals. LDE 87.2
The only safe amusements are such as will not
banish serious and religious thoughts. The
only safe places of resort are those to which
we can take Jesus with us.—. LDE 88.1
The Lord must help us not to allow TV
and social media to take most of our time
and mould our children. It is rather God
through His word and prayer who must
help us mould our children.
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13. Dress and Adornments
I beg of our people to walk carefully and
circumspectly before God. Follow the
customs in dress so far as they conform to
health principles. Let our sisters dress plainly,
as many do, having the dress of good, durable
material, appropriate for this age, and let not
the dress question fill the mind. Our sisters
should dress with simplicity. They should
clothe themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety. Give to the
world a living illustration of the inward
adorning of the grace of God.—. LDE 88.4
The outside appearance is an index to the
heart.— . LDE 89.1
We must be careful in these last days in
the manner in which we dress. Miniskirts,
tight clothing, painting our nails etc, these
worldly practices are becoming common
even in the church.
14. The Need for Publications
The first and second messages were given in
1843 and 1844, and we are now under the
proclamation of the third, but all three of the
messages are still to be proclaimed.... These
messages we are to give to the world in
publications, in discourses, showing in the line
of prophetic history the things that have been
and the things that will be.—). LDE 89.3
Unvarnished truth must be spoken in leaflets
and pamphlets, and these must be scattered
like the leaves of autumn.—Testimonies for
the Church 9:230 (1897). LDE 89.4
Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and the
Revelation, and The Great Controversy are
needed now as never before. They should be
widely circulated because the truths they
emphasize will open many blind eyes.—. LDE
89.
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LAST DAY EVENTS
The issue of the book of the year must be Men and women will arise professing to have
taken seriously and every person must some new light or some new revelation whose
distribute literature to his or her tendency is to unsettle faith in the old
landmarks. Their doctrines will not bear the
neighbours.
test of God's Word, yet souls will be deceived.
False reports will be circulated, and some will
15. Beware of Side Issues
be taken in this snare.... We cannot be too
God has not passed His people by and
watchful against every form of error, for Satan
chosen one solitary man here and another
is constantly seeking to draw men from the
there as the only ones worthy to be entrusted
truth.—Testimonies for the Church 5:293, 295,
with His truth. He does not give one man new
296 (1885). LDE 91.4
light contrary to the established faith of the
body. In every reform men have arisen making
We must make it appear essential to be
this claim.... Let none be self-confident, as
united, not that we are to require others to
though God had given them special light
come to our ideas, but if all are seeking the
above their brethren.... LDE 90.6
meekness and lowliness of Christ they will
have the mind of Christ. Then there will be
One accepts some new and original idea
unity of spirit.—Letter 15, 1892. LDE 92.1
which does not seem to conflict with the
truth. He ... dwells upon it until it seems to him
I urge those who claim to believe the truth to
to be clothed with beauty and importance, for
walk in unity with their brethren. Do not seek
Satan has power to give this false appearance.
to give to the world occasion to say that we
At last it becomes the all-absorbing theme,
are extremists, that we are disunited, that one
the one great point around which everything
teaches one thing, and one another. Avoid
centres, and the truth is uprooted from the
dissension.—Testimonies to Ministers and
heart.... LDE 91.1
Gospel Workers, 57 (1893). LDE 92.2

I warn you to beware of these side issues,

17. How to Meet Critics
whose tendency is to divert the mind from the
Those who have departed from the faith will
truth. Error is never harmless. It never
come to our congregations to divert our
sanctifies, but always brings confusion and
attention from the work that God would have
dissension.—Testimonies for the Church 5:291,
done. You cannot afford to turn your ears
292 (1885). LDE 91.2
from the truth to fables. Do not stop to try to
convert the one who is speaking words of
16. Emphasize Unity, Not Differences
reproach against your work, but let it be seen
There are a thousand temptations in disguise
that you are inspired by the Spirit of Jesus
prepared for those who have the light of truth,
Christ, and angels of God will put into your
and the only safety for any of us is in receiving
lips words that will reach the hearts of the
no new doctrine, no new interpretation of the
opposers. If these men persist in pressing
Scriptures, without first submitting it to
their way in, those who are of a sensible mind
brethren of experience. Lay it before them in
in the congregation will understand that yours
a humble, teachable spirit, with earnest
is the higher standard. So speak that it will be
prayer, and if they see no light in it, yield to
known that Jesus Christ is speaking through
their judgment, for “in the multitude of
you.—Testimonies for the Church 9:148, 149
counsellors there is safety”.... LDE 91.3
(1909). LDE 92.3

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 45

LAST DAY EVENTS
18. Exalt the Word of God
If we work to create an excitement of feeling, we shall have all we want, and more than we can
possibly know how to manage. Calmly and clearly “Preach the Word.” We must not regard it as our
work to create an excitement. The Holy Spirit of God alone can create a healthy enthusiasm. Let God
work, and let the human agent walk softly before Him, watching, waiting, praying, looking unto Jesus
every moment, led and controlled by the precious Spirit, which is light and life.—Selected Messages
2:16, 17 (1894). LDE 93.1.

We must go to the people with the solid Word of God, and when they receive that Word, the Holy
Spirit may come, but it always comes, as I have stated before, in a way that commends itself to the
judgment of the people. In our speaking, our singing, and in all our spiritual exercises, we are to reveal
that calmness and dignity and godly fear that actuates every true child of God. — Selected Messages
2:43 (1908). LDE 93.2

It is through the Word—not feeling, not excitement—that we want to influence the people to obey the
truth. On the platform of God's Word we can stand with safety. 3SM 375

Summary
My prayer is that as we see the eschatological events taking place, we must seek God’s
mercies each day so that we are ready for His coming. The way we live ought to be a living
testimony that we are heavenward bound. God bless you to be faithful in all faculties of life.

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 47

ADVENTIST HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
As Seventh-day Adventists, our lifestyle
should be characterised by health
principles. The focus of this material is to
help us maintain and improve our health
for our benefit.
Monday
Why Does The Adventist Church
Promote Healthy Living?
Adventists have a long tradition of
promoting healthy living. Their desire is to
follow Christ’s example of ministering to
people’s health needs by teaching
healthy-living classes, and by providing
health and medical services through
doctors’ clinics, hospitals, and health
centres worldwide. Many groups refer to
Adventists as an example of the benefits
of healthy living. In a Newsweek article, “11
Habits to Live to 100,” author Deborah
Kotz lists the key principles of achieving a
healthy, long life, and one of the
recommendations is “Live like a Seventh-
day Adventist.” Kotz writes: “Seventh-day
Adventists have an average life
expectancy of 89, about a decade
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longer than the average American. One of
the basic tenets of the religion is that it’s
important to cherish the body that’s on
loan from God, which means no smoking,
alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets.
Followers typically get plenty of exercise,
are vegetarian, and make family and
community a focus.”A healthy lifestyle
allows us to be more effective
messengers for Christ.
God wants everyone to be healthy—
physically and emotionally, as well as
spiritually! We read in
3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that you may
prosper in all things and be in health, just as
your soul prospers".
And how wonderful that in the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy, God has given
clear instructions on how to live
healthfully—showing us what is best to
eat, to drink, how to care for our bodies,
and much more. These divine instructions,
given long ago, have proven effective in
bringing better health to many, and have
been verified by numerous scientific
studies. Let’s briefly review some of these
important life-giving principles.
As Adventists, we believe that eating a
plant-based diet filled with legumes, nuts,
whole grains and fresh produce provides
a sturdy foundation for good health. Many
scientific studies have verified the
benefits of eating a plant-based diet.
Living a healthy, balanced life—physically,
mentally, and spiritually—is a wonderful
way to allow the love of Jesus to shine
through us as we follow His example in
being a blessing to the world.
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
Friends, Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that
He came that we might have life, and that
we might have it more abundantly. He
invites us to enjoy living that more
abundant life through His grace and
power today!
The very first chapter of the beautiful
book, The Ministry of Healing, opens with
these words: "Our Lord Jesus Christ came
to this world as the unwearied servant of
man's necessity. He 'took our infirmities,
and bare our sicknesses,' that He might
minister to every need of humanity. . . .
The burden of disease and wretchedness
and sin He came to remove. It was His
mission to bring to men complete
restoration; He came to give them health
and peace and perfection of character"
(p. 17).
When we think of health, it's important to
remember that God created us as
wholistic beings--mind, body, and spirit
are interrelated, and how we treat one
affects all of the others. To have a clear
mind, for example, helps us to have a
healthy body. This is why we are told to
stay away from harmful substances such
as alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and
caffeine.
The food that we put into our bodies has a
tremendous impact on our overall health,
and the Bible encourages a balanced
plant-based diet consisting of grains,
fruits, nuts, vegetables and legumes.
There are many studies confirming that a
plant-based diet is far healthier and safer
than eating meat.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
Here are just a few results of those
studies:
Vegetarians had 24 percent less risk
of dying from coronary heart disease
as compared to non-vegetarians.
A study in Japan showed that women
who eat meat daily are 8 1/2 times
more likely to develop breast cancer
than those who rarely or never eat
meat.
Studies in England and Germany
showed that vegetarians were about
40 percent less likely to develop
cancer compared to meat eaters.
Those who ate "white meat,"
particularly chicken, have
approximately 3 times the risk of
getting colon cancer compared to
vegetarians.
No wonder Ellen White wrote more
than 100 years ago that "Many die of
diseases wholly due to meat eating,
while the real cause is not suspected
by themselves or by others" (The
Ministry of Healing, p. 315).
Tuesday
Adventists And Healthy Living.
One of the things that Seventh-day
Adventists are known for is their high
regard for healthful living. A health
ministry department is even an integral
part of the world church’s organizational
structure.
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
What’s the Secret of Adventist
Healthy Living?
8 Health Principles
We believe our bodies are the temples of
the Holy Spirit and should be well cared
for (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). We also trust
that it’s God’s will for them to be in good
health. That as Christians, we shouldn’t
only strive toward spiritual wellness, but
also toward physical and mental well-
being (3 John 1:2). In many ways, all three
types of health can go hand in hand.
As an introduction to the way Adventists
look at complete wellness, this lesson will
go over eight primary principles that form
a foundation for healthful living. These
principles fuelled the Adventist church’s
major health endeavours, such as the
establishment of sanitariums, several
wellness centres, and the development of
our global hospital system.
To make these principles easy to
remember and apply, Weimar Institute
came up with the NEWSTART acronym,
which stands for:
N – Nutrition
E – Exercise
W -Water
S – Sunlight
T – Temperance (or self-control)
A – Air
R – Rest
T – Trust in Divine Power
Let’s take a look at each of these
principles, and how we can apply them
practically in daily life. We’ll also see the
benefits many have gained as they’ve
applied them.
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Nutrition that supports complete
wellness
Adventists strive to maintain a simple diet,
taken in its most natural form. Their diet is
mainly plant-based, restricting or
moderating animal products. You’ll likely
find that most Adventists you meet are
vegetarian or vegan.
In addition to reducing the amount of
animal products in the diet, the focus also
has to be on complete nutrition. It’s not
only about what foods are avoided, but
what foods are included. Our bodies need
the right amount of nutrients from healthy
food sources, and in the right
combinations.
So, why do Adventists stick to a mainly
plant-based or vegetarian diet? For one,
we’ve found the diet that God gave to
Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
before the Fall is the ideal source of
nutrition for man.
God gave Adam and Eve “every herb that
yields seed (nuts and grains) which is on the
face of all the earth, and every tree whose
fruit yields seed (fruits).” He told them that’s
what was meant to “be for food” for them
(Genesis 1:29, NKJV).
And after the Fall, He also gave them “the
herb of the field” (vegetables) in addition
to the previous diet (Genesis 3:18,
NKJV).
It’s only after the Flood that God gave
men the go ahead to use animal products
as food. And even then, He clearly
instructed them not to eat flesh with the
blood or animal fat still in it (Genesis
7:3,4; 9:4; Leviticus 7:22-27).
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
He also outlined which animals were
considered clean and could be eaten.
And they were forbidden from eating
other animals that were outlined as
unclean (Leviticus 11).
And this same principle applies even
today. Modern research is now showing
that those who stick to the original diet
without animal products live longer. This is
what informs our choices when it comes
to diet.
We believe a diet made of mainly whole
grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables is
sufficient to provide the body with all the
necessary nutrients and keep it healthy.
Avoiding animal products completely is
considered a vegan diet. Others choose
to eat a few animal products, such as dairy
and eggs, but still avoid eating the meat of
animals. This is considered a vegetarian
diet.
And as mentioned earlier, research has
shown that following this diet has paid off
toward long-term health.
Their secret?
They mainly live on a Biblical diet made of
nuts, fruits, grains, and vegetables.
The study shows that 95% of all people
who lived to be at 100 ate a plant-based
diet that was rich in beans, legumes, and
whole grains.
The Adventist Health Study
(AHS)
This is an ongoing long-term medical
research conducted to determine the
links between diet, disease, and lifestyle.
The study’s participants were more than
96,000 Adventists from every state in the
United States and Canada.
The AHS-2 found that Adventists who
maintained a vegetarian diet recorded
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lower risk of obesity, high blood pressure,
colon cancer, and high blood sugar
compared to non-vegetarians.
And all these chronic diseases are known
to be huge risk factors for heart disease
and early death.
That explains why on average, vegetarian
Adventists lived 1.5–2.4 years longer than
non-vegetarian Adventists.
It’s characterized by wholeness and
health and promotes vegetarianism and
eating kosher foods, as well as avoiding
meats that the Bible deems to be
“unclean.”
What is the Seventh-day
Adventist diet?
Members of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church have promoted variations of the
Seventh-day Adventist diet since the
church’s inception in 1863. They believe
that their bodies are holy temples and
should be fed the healthiest foods
The dietary pattern is based on the
biblical Book of Leviticus. It emphasizes
whole plant foods, such as legumes, fruits,
vegetables, nuts, and grains, and
discourages the consumption of animal
products as much as possible
There are several variations of this diet.
Approximately 40% of Adventists follow a
plant-based diet.
Some Adventists are vegan, excluding all
animal products from their diets. Others
follow vegetarian diets that include eggs,
low-fat dairy, and fish. Others choose to
eat certain meats and additional animal
products. The Seventh-day Adventist diet
discourages using products that the Bible
considers “unclean,” like alcohol, tobacco,
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
and drugs. Some Adventists also avoid
refined foods, sweeteners, and caffeine.
Some Seventh-day Adventists eat ‘clean’
meats
Seventh-day Adventists who eat meat
distinguish between “clean” and “unclean”
types, as defined by the biblical Book of
Leviticus.
Pork, rabbit, and shellfish are considered
“unclean” and thus banned by Adventists.
However, some Adventists choose to eat
certain “clean” meats, such as fish, poultry,
and red meats other than pork, as well as
other animal products like eggs and low-
fat dairy
“Clean” meats are generally considered to
be the same as kosher meats. Kosher
meat must be slaughtered and prepared
in a way that makes it “fit for consumption”
according to Jewish dietary laws
The Seventh-day Adventist diet was
created by the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. It’s typically a plant-based diet
that discourages eating most animal
products, as well as foods, beverages, and
substances deemed to be “unclean” in
the Bible.
Health benefits
The Seventh-day Adventist diet has many
proven health benefits, especially when
you follow a more plant-centric version.
May decrease disease risk and
improve health
Seventh-day Adventists have been the
subject of many studies on health. One of
the most well-known is The Adventist
Health Study (AHS-2), which involved
more than 96,000 Adventists and looked
for links between diet, disease, and
lifestyle.
The AHS-2 found that those who followed
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a vegetarian diet had a significantly lower
risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and
high blood sugar — all of which are strong
risk factors for heart disease and early
death
Additionally, Adventists who followed
vegetarian diets were found to have a
decreased risk of colon cancer, compared
with non-vegetarians
May support healthy weight loss and
maintenance
Research shows that whole foods and
plant-based diets that include little to no
animal products help support a healthy
weight compared with diets that include
more animal products
A study including over 60,000 adults who
participated in the AHS-2 found that
those who followed a vegan diet had the
lowest body mass index (BMI), compared
with vegetarians and meat eaters.
Average BMI was higher among those
who ate more animal products
Additionally, a review of 12 studies
including 1,151 people found that those
who were assigned a vegetarian diet lost
much more weight than those assigned a
non-vegetarian diet. Those assigned a
vegan diet experienced the most weight
loss
May increase lifespan
Blue zones are areas around the world in
which the population is known to live
longer than average. Many people who
live in blue zones live to be at least 100
years old
The blue zones include Okinawa, Japan;
Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; and Nicoya
Peninsula, Costa Rica. The fifth-known
blue zone is Loma Linda, California, which
is home to a large number of Seventh-day
Adventists
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
The long lifespan of blue zone
populations is thought to be related to
lifestyle factors, such as being active,
resting regularly, and eating a nutritious
diet rich in plant foods.
Research on the blue zones found that
95% of people who lived to be at least 100
ate a plant-based diet that was rich in
beans and whole grains. What’s more, it
was shown that the Loma Linda
Adventists outlive other Americans by
about a decade.
Additionally, studies have found that
vegetarian Adventists live 1.5–2.4 years
longer than non-vegetarian Adventists, on
average
What’s more, a large body of evidence
demonstrates that diets based on whole
plant foods can help prevent early death,
largely due to their ability to reduce your
risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity,
and certain cancers
Many Adventists eat a vegetarian diet and
have been found to live significantly
longer than the average person — often to
more than 100 years old. Plant-based
diets are well known to lower your risk for
early death from disease.
Although the Seventh-day Adventist diet
has many health benefits, it’s important to
make sure the foods you eat meet your
nutrient needs.
People who follow plant-based diets that
entirely exclude animal products are at a
higher risk of nutrient deficiency for
vitamins D and B12, omega-3 fats, iron,
iodine, zinc, and calcium.
As such, the Adventist church recognizes
the importance of eating a wide variety of
nutrient-rich foods and including an
adequate source of vitamin B12. Good
sources include B12-fortified non-dairy
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
milks, cereals, nutritional yeast, or a B12
supplement
If you are following a strict plant-based
diet, you may want to consider taking a
multivitamin, or individual vitamin and
mineral supplements to meet your
nutrient needs.
Regardless, eating a wide variety of
nutritious, whole plant foods is important.
Foods such as dark leafy greens, tofu,
iodized salt, sea vegetables, legumes,
nuts, seeds, and fortified grains and plant
milks are packed with many of the
nutrients mentioned above
The Seventh-day Adventist diet has many
health benefits, but special attention
should be paid to your intake of nutrients
like vitamins D and B12, omega-3 fats, iron,
iodine, zinc, and calcium if you’re
following a strictly plant-based version of
the diet.
Foods to eat
The Seventh-day Adventist diet is
primarily plant based, meaning that it
encourages eating plant foods and
restricting or eliminating animal products.
Some of the foods eaten on the Seventh-
day Adventist diet include:
Fruits: bananas, apples, oranges,
grapes, berries, peaches, pineapple,
mango
Vegetables: dark leafy greens,
broccoli, bell peppers, sweet
potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips
Nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews,
walnuts, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds,
sesame seeds, chia seeds, hemp
seeds, flax seeds
Legumes: beans, lentils, peanuts, peas
Grains: quinoa, rice, amaranth, barley,
oats
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ADVENTIST HEALTH
Plant-based proteins: tofu, tempeh,
edamame, seitan
Eggs: optional, and should be eaten in
moderation
Low-fat dairy: optional, may include
low-fat dairy products like cheese,
butter, milk, and ice cream, and
should be eaten in moderation
“Clean” meats and fish: optional,
includes salmon, beef, or chicken, and
should be eaten in moderation
The Seventh-day Adventist diet promotes
a wide variety of whole plant foods,
including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts,
seeds, and grains. If eggs, meat, or dairy
products are incorporated, they should be
low-fat versions and consumed in
moderation.
Wednesday
The Proven Health Benefits Of
The Adventist Lifestyle.
The healthfulness of Seventh-day
Adventists has long been known, thanks
to a series of global investigations by
Loma Linda University.
The long-running Adventist Health Study,
which began in 2002 and
is funded by the National Institutes of
Health, focuses on nutrition, lifestyle and
disease among Adventists in North
America.
The research shows positive results for
those who exercise, adhere to a
vegetarian diet, and avoid alcohol and
tobacco. Vegetarian Adventists have a
lower risk of heart disease, certain
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
cancers, diabetes, metabolic syndrome,
high cholesterol and blood pressure. They
also have a healthier body mass index.
“Adventists are no different than other
people, but many of them have a different
lifestyle that seems to be effective” in
keeping them healthy,” said Dr. Synnove
Knutsen, a Loma Linda University
professor and an investigator for the
health study.
“The Adventists get the same diseases,
but they tend to get them later. They have
a longer life without the chronic diseases,”
she said.
Can you pick a Seventh-day Adventist
out of a crowd? Or would you know when
you passed one on the street?
Maybe not, but there are distinctive
characteristics of Adventists all around
the world. It all stems from their conviction
to reflect the character of Christ in every
aspect of their lives.
Whole-person health—Caring for the
body as a “temple” and a “living sacrifice”
If you’ve ever read about Adventists in the
news, you might have heard about the
“Blue Zones” longevity research by
National Geographic, where they studied
locations around the world where people
lived the longest. Along with groups from
Japan and Italy, researchers studied a
sampling of Adventists in the Loma Linda,
California area who rank among the
longest-living people in the world. You’ll
find several interesting conclusions about
what’s behind the higher life-expectancy
for Adventists.
The research revealed how many facets
of healthful living contributed to the
longevity of this group of Adventists.
53
ADVENTIST HEALTH
Among them were:
Regularly set-aside time to rest,
recharge, and reconnect. The seventh
day of each week, the biblical
Sabbath, is celebrated by Adventists
“Or do you not know that your body is a
temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom
you have from God? You are not your own, for
you were bought with a price. So glorify God
in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

as it is in the Bible. They take this day

This is why many Adventists follow a
off from work and other cares of life to
plant-based diet, abstain from alcohol,
spend time with God, appreciating the
tobacco, and mind-altering drugs, and
world He created for us.
encourage regular exercise and sufficient
Maintaining optimal health through
rest.
diet and exercise. Adventists have
But how did this emphasis on health
made significant contributions to
begin? In the late 1800s, when the
health reform in the United States
denomination was in its organizational
since the 1800s, all so we can live
years, the health situation in the US was
healthier lives each day and be better
not favourable. There wasn’t much
able to serve God and others. Many
scientific information available about
Adventists stick to a vegetarian diet
handling food and water, or about the
and abstain from alcohol and tobacco
treatment of disease. Many of the
use.
practices in farming, medicine and food
An active faith community. Adventists
distribution were based on traditions and
often spend time together in both
handed-down methods, mostly focused
small and large groups. They work
on the industrial or production side of
toward shared causes, worship in
things.
church, study the Bible, or gather to
But with the above truths in the Bible
socialize.
plain as day, encouraging us to care for
How did Adventists become so focused
our bodies as gifts from our Creator, early
on health and well-being? It began early
Adventists thought surely there must be
on in their history when they began to
things everyone can do to take better
recognize how personal health can be a
care of our bodies and minds.
powerful expression of faith. It also
Ellen G. White, a key pioneer in
upholds what the Bible says about how
Adventism, played a significant part in
we should regard our bodies and minds.
learning and publishing valuable
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
information about personal care,
mercies of God, to present your bodies as
advocating how the healthier we live, the
a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to
more able we are to handle life’s
God, which is your spiritual worship.
responsibilities and serve our Creator.
If you can imagine, one of the beliefs of
Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
the time was that outside air was harmful
by testing you may discern what is the will of and, especially if it was cold, caused
God, what is good and acceptable and illness. It was common for homes,
perfect” (Romans 12:1, 2, ESV). workplaces, even hospitals to discourage

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 54

ADVENTIST HEALTH
the circulation of fresh air. White
purported, however, that “fresh air purifies
the blood, refreshes the body, and helps
make it strong and healthy” and living in
“ill-ventilated rooms weakens the system.”
This small thing alone was revolutionary
compared to the common practices of her
time.
Just as fresh air is a natural blessing of
this world God created for us, Adventists
found, in their pursuits of medical
knowledge, that optimum health is found
by utilizing the simplest forms of nature.
Today this is summarized by the acronym
NEWSTART: Nutrition, Exercise, Water,
Sunlight, Temperance (balance,
moderation), Air, Rest, and Trust in God.
of behaviour, Adventists encourage one
another to live as positive examples of
God’s love and care.
Thursday
The Keys To A Long Healthy Life.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11 (NKJV)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1
Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)

Early in the Old Testament, God had to

I. These simple statements have been
teach the Israelites (who had just been
guiding principles for more than 150 years
freed from years of slavery and dirty,
among Adventists. More specifically,
primitive living) how to prepare food
Adventists encourage the following
properly and have good hygiene.1
principles for healthy eating:
Similarly, Adventists played a role in health
Choose primarily whole-grain breads
reform in the late 19th Century. In 1866,
and cereals instead of white bread,
Adventists established the Western
white rice, and foods made from
Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek,
refined grains. Examples of whole-
Michigan, also known as Battle Creek
grain foods include steel cut oats,
Sanitarium. Not only were illnesses
granola, whole-wheat bread, brown
treated, but patients also received
rice, whole-grain pasta, and quinoa.
education for how to live cleaner,
Eat legumes often, including lentils,
healthier lives. These types of sanitariums
beans, split peas, soy, tofu, and
spread across the country, which later
hummus.
became the Adventist Health System of
Include nuts and seeds frequently
hospitals, clinics, and health care
(typically daily) in the diet. Walnuts,
education programs.
almonds, sunflower seeds, flax meal,
peanuts, almond butter, and peanut
As far as individual health and wellness is
butter are a few of the many options.
concerned, the Adventist church
Eat a healthful breakfast every day,
recognizes the autonomy of each
and keep evening meals moderate in
individual and their God-given power of
calories.
choice. Rather than mandating standards

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 55

ADVENTIST HEALTH
Use dairy foods (whole milk, cheese,
ice cream, butter) moderately. Many
individuals opt for soymilk (preferably
fortified with calcium and B12).
Limit sugar, soft drinks, and sweets.
Enjoy nature’s sweets, such as berries,
pineapple, peaches, tangerines, and
dates. Instead of sugar-sweetened
drinks, choose pure fruit juices, such
as grape juice, orange juice, or
sparkling cider.
Limit salt and high-sodium foods.
While this may be a new concept for
many, it’s an increasingly popular one
for those interested in optimum
nutrition.
These foods , prepared in as simple and
natural a manner as possible, are the most
healthful and nourishing.” In 1
Corinthians 10:31 (NLT), Paul offers a
broad perspective: “So whether you eat or
drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God.”
II. We were meant to move. Being
physically active is an important part of
health and can include a variety of
activities, such as brisk walking, biking,
swimming, jogging, active sports, strength
training, and gardening and yard work.
Also, instead of sitting for prolonged
amounts of time, take frequent breaks to
walk or stretch. The following statement
on physical activity has given guidance to
the church for more than 100 years:
“When the weather will permit, all who can
possibly do so ought to walk in the open
air every day, summer and winter.” While
this concept has been recommended for
all members, it is has become more valued
and adopted with time.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
III. Tobacco, alcohol, and recreational
drugs harm health. Adventists feel it is
a Christian duty to avoid those things that
clearly destroy health (such as smoking)
or things that adversely influence the
mind or cloud judgment (such as drugs or
alcohol). High caffeine use is also
discouraged, as it can be addictive and
damaging to health. For example, instead
of using caffeinated energy drinks as a
stimulant, a healthier option is a good
night’s sleep or a healthy meal.
IV. Moderation is key. Moderation
involves avoiding things that are harmful
and being sensible in things that are
good. In other words, don’t overdo it or go
to extremes. Work a healthy amount of
hours, but don’t be a workaholic. Take
time for recreation, but don’t
spend all your time playing. Eat good
foods, but in healthy portions. Be active,
but don’t overdo it. Don’t sit too much,
don’t watch too much TV, and don’t
spend too much time playing computer
games. Moderation keeps life in balance.
V. Wellness requires rest. To be
productive and to enjoy good physical
and mental health, everyone needs
periods of rest and relaxation, as well as
an adequate amount of sleep (at least
seven to eight hours each night for adults,
and more for children). A life of rest also
involves taking at least one day off a week
to rest and recuperate. Adventists believe
in celebrating a 24-hour Sabbath every
week, in which you set aside normal work
duties and devote a restful day to family
activities, worship, and time in the
beautiful natural world God has given
56
ADVENTIST HEALTH
everyone to enjoy.
“When the weather will permit, all who can
possibly do so ought to walk in the open air
every day, summer and winter.”
Counsels on Health, 52
and optimistic, spending time in prayer
and meditation, volunteering in the
community, developing good
relationships, strengthening family life,
showing compassion, and demonstrating
love and forgiveness.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all

things and
be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 Friday
John 1:2 (NKJV)

Keys To A Long Healthy Life
VI. A healthy environment is a key Continued.
ingredient for good health. Some of the
best ways to prevent disease are simple:
VIII. Regular medical care helps
wash your hands, keep your body and
protect health. Even when it seems you’ve
clothes clean, keep kitchen and food
done everything right, it’s still possible to
preparation areas clean and free of germs,
break an arm, get an infection, or develop
and maintain a clean, sanitary living area.
a chronic health problem. Getting regular
Also, it is essential to have
medical care, including exams and
uncontaminated drinking water and
preventive checks, is an important aspect
proper sanitation and disposal of waste.
of healthy living. This also includes regular
Adventists emphasize water as the best
dental check-ups and teeth cleanings,
beverage option, rather than sugar
along with daily brushing and flossing. Of
sweetened drinks. Sunshine is also
course, not all Adventists reach all of
beneficial to health, but take it in
these high objectives, but most are
moderate doses to avoid skin cancer.
committed to living a healthy life. They
Helping keep our environment clean and
also strive to encourage and support
unpolluted, including the air we breathe, is
others on this journey, maintaining a non-
an essential component of good health
judgmental attitude that allows individuals
for all.
to choose, learn, and adopt healthier
living practices as God leads them.
VII. Health involves the whole person.
Adventists believe that physical,
Because most Adventists choose a
mental, social, and spiritual dimensions of
healthier lifestyle than the general public,
life must all work together in a balanced
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has
way to achieve optimum health. Thus, it is
funded research on the health habits of
important to develop healthy habits not
Adventists. Additionally, Loma Linda
just for your body, but also for your mind
University is currently conducting
and spirit. Whole-person health includes
Adventist Health Study-2, a second large
habits such as limiting stress, developing
health study of
good coping strategies, being hopeful

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 57

ADVENTIST HEALTH
Adventists funded by NIH, which includes
more than 90,000 members throughout
North America.
Earlier studies have found that Adventists
as a group have less heart disease, lower
rates of many cancers, and live
significantly longer than the general
population. The first Adventist Health
Study revealed a number of significant
findings:
Adventist women lived on average 4.4
years longer, and Adventist men 7.3
years longer, than their non-Adventist
neighbours.
Researchers found five lifestyle
behaviours among Adventists that
increased longevity by up to 10 years:
not smoking, eating a plant-based
diet, eating nuts most days of the
week, getting regular physical activity,
and maintaining a healthy body
weight. Adventist Health Study-2 has
already observed additional health
advantages of a primarily plant-based
diet. Compared to non-vegetarians,
Adventist vegetarians have:
Less obesity (they weighed on
average about 30 pounds less than
non-vegetarians).
Less diabetes (about a 55 percent
lower rate).
Less hypertension (a 42 percent lower
rate).
Lower cholesterol levels (about a 55
percent lower rate).
Less cancer (about half the rate for
colon cancer).
Less heart disease (a 30-50 percent
lower rate for heart attacks).
Lower total mortality (a 12 percent
lower risk of death from any cause
based on the latest research).
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
IX. Regular medical care helps protect
health. Even when it seems you’ve
done everything right, it’s still possible to
break an arm, get an infection, or develop
a chronic health problem. Getting regular
medical care, including exams and
preventive checks, is an important aspect
of healthy living. This also includes regular
dental check-ups and teeth cleanings,
along with daily brushing and flossing. Of
course, not all Adventists reach all of
these high objectives, but most are
committed to living. a healthy life. They
also strive to encourage and support
others on this journey, maintaining a non-
judgmental attitude that allows individuals
to choose, learn, and adopt healthier
living practices as God leads them.
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; Marvellous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.” Psalm
139:14 (NKJV)
Physical and spiritual balance.
Seventh-day Adventists also believe that
striving for physical and spiritual balance
leads to wellness, with nature playing a
significant role in the process. Sunlight,
fresh air and clean, pure water are all
important factors to living the healthiest
life possible.
Aside from the gym, make time for family
excursions outdoors. From camping trips
to a simple walk around the block after
dinner, choose activities that get
everyone outside.
When you factor in Adventists’ steadfast
belief in regular physical exercise and a
deep sense of purpose in life, it’s no
wonder that Loma Linda, California, a city
58
ADVENTIST HEALTH
that boasts one of the highest Seventh-
day Adventist populations, is a Blue Zone
and may be one of the healthiest
communities in the United States—
possibly even the world. Now that’s some
food for thought.
Summary
Seventh-day Adventists' "Eight
Laws of Health"
1. Eat nutritiously (many choose a plant-
based diet).
2. Exercise regularly and often to
improve your body, mind and spirit.
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. Spend time in sunlight.
5. Practice temperance: Use good things
moderately; avoid bad things.
6. Breathe in pure air, and do it properly.
7. Rest well, remembering that the best
rest follows labor.
8. Trust in divine power as you make
choices and seek inner peace.
"If you have a light bulb and you run
electricity through it, you produce light,"
LeMert says. When physical well-being
and religious faith come together "in the
image of God," a person has the power to
think more clearly and act in better ways.
LeMert is quick to point out that not all
Adventists follow the eight laws to the
letter. Some church members eat meat or
dairy products and eggs, for example. Not
all of them exercise every day or avoid
smoking or alcohol.
Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022
And while he and other Adventists believe
the eight laws are based in Scripture, they
are not pre-requisites for salvation, he
adds.
"They're recommendations, promoted in
Scripture, not as entrees into heaven but
to make us more healthy, productive and
useful," James G. Foster says. It's not easy,
he adds, for a life-long Adventist to
separate his faith from his healthy habits.
Recent research has looked at the
connection between good health and
spiritual attitudes. Studies suggest that
people who attend religious services
regularly and feel supported by like-
minded communities say they are
happier.
As we have looked into the lessons many
people admire what we have. May God
continue to enable each one of us to
reach this higher standard as we look
forward to the soon coming Saviour. May
we be healthy so that we can be effective
instruments in the hand of God.
References
www.askanadventistfriend.com
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/plant-based-
diets-are-best-or-are-they-2019103118122
https://adventisthealthstudy.org/studies/AHS-2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC26
77008/?tool=pubmed
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/50-super-
healthy-foods
https://www.bluezones.com/exploration/loma-
linda-california/
https://www.adventisthealth.org/
59
Our Authors

Pastor Takura Carlos Rukuni

Last Day Events

Pastor Watson Mbiriri

Families in the Last Days (Youths)

Pastor Francis Mbira

Families in the Last Days (Adults)

Pastor Victor Banda

Stewardship and Restoration

Pastor Jealous Charumbira

Adventist Health

Central Zimbabwe Conference Campmeeting 2022 60

Central Zimbabwe Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists
924 corner Windsor Road & 7th Street Extension,
Windsor Park.
Gweru, Zimbabwe
+263 8677 004575
www.czc.adventist.org
email: infor@czc.adventist.org