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Devotionals

TRUST wholly in the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

September 30, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TRUST wholly in the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

“His grace is SUFFICIENT for all our trials, and although they are GREATER NOW than ever before, yet if we trust WHOLLY in God, we can overcome every temptation, and through His grace come off as VICTORIOUS [daily, one day at a time].” (E. G. White, God’s Amazing Grace, p. 59).

Let all encourage one another to overcome as Jesus overcame and be part of the saints identified in Revelation as “they that overcome the beast and image” “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

DAILY BATTLES, DAILY VICTORIES

September 29, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DAILY BATTLES, DAILY VICTORIES

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 15:57.

“Victories are not gained by ceremonies or display, but by simple obedience to the highest General, the Lord God of heaven. He who trusts [and obeys] this Leader [the ‘great I Am,’ ‘the Lord of hosts,’ ‘the mighty God and Prince of peace,’ ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah,’ ‘the King of kings and Lord of lords’] will never know defeat!

Here’s the thing. “The largest share of the annoyances of life, it’s DAILY corroding cares, it’s heartaches, it’s irritations, is a result of TEMPER uncontrolled. [intemperance, the opposite of temperance, one of the ‘fruits of the Spirit’].

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Devotionals

OUR MARCHING ORDERS: FORWARD AND UPWARD

September 28, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUR MARCHING ORDERS: FORWARD AND UPWARD

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward [not backward].”

Exo. 14:15, A.V.

In any journey, undertaking, enterprise or mission, failure to move forward is actually falling backward. In spiritual matters, it is backsliding. In nature, if a plant is not growing, it is dying.

“The history of the children of Israel is written for the instruction and admonition of all Christians. When the Israelites were overtaken by dangers and difficulties, and their way seemed hedged up [just like right now], THEIR FAITH [in God and in His word] FORSOOK THEM, and they murmured against the leader whom God had appointed for them.

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Devotionals

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

September 27, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

Whenever mortal sinners like you and me approach the subject of the Incarnation of Christ, we are warned to “take off your shoes from your feet for the ground in which you are standing is holy ground.” We would do well to take heed! Let all remember that “spiritual things can only be discerned spiritually.” The carnal mind disqualifies itself “for it is at enmity against God’s law.”

Now, please read Hebrews 2: 5-8 first. Then consider these:

“Christ is presented here as being ‘lower than the angels,’ though ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ He is shown to be VERY MAN, as truly as in the first chapter He is shown to be VERY GOD. His humanity enables Him to be the kind of High Priest [merciful and all-powerful Intercessor, Mediator, Advocate] men need.

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Devotionals

OUR YOUTH AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

September 25, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUR YOUTH AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

“And [take] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Eph. 6:17

Jesus was particularly emphatic regarding the treatment of, welfare, and salvation of the tender, receptive and yes, vulnerability of the children and youth during His three and half year ministry on earth. He declared some of His  strongest words of rebuke and warnings ever against those in authority who would mislead and/or become stumbling blocks to the youngest members of His spiritual kingdom in earth! They are both literally and spiritually the helpless lambs of His flock!

“God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His Word! A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the VOICE OF GOD speaking to the soul [the whole, living, rational person].

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Devotionals

THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS

September 24, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

Eph. 6:17, A.V.

“For the Word of God is living (quick, KJV) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division (‘dividing asunder,’ KJV) of the soul and the spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:12.

“God has provided abundant means for successful warfare against the evil that is in the world. The BIBLE is the armory where we may equip for the struggle. Our loins must be girt about with truth. Our breastplate must be righteousness. The shield of faith must be in our hand, the helmet of salvation on our brow; and with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, we are to CUT our way through the obstruction and and entanglements of sin.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 502.

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Devotionals

THE HELMET OF SALVATION FOR THE MIND

September 22, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’ S DESK:

THE HELMET OF SALVATION FOR THE MIND

“And the helmet of salvation.”

Eph. 6:17.

All that Goliath carelessly did was to move his heavy helmet, exposing his massive forehead: little David spotted that slight opening, swung his slingshot that he mastered using against wild beasts as he protected his flock. The smooth stone projectile found hit bullseye on Goliath’s forehead and tide of the war turned in victory for Israel’s army against the superior forces of their Philistine enemies. That’s how vulnerable even the strongest man is if his forehead, his mind is unprotected with the helmet of salvation in the daily battlefield of life.

“God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to MEDITATE on His love and mercy, to STUDY His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption.

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Devotionals

MANY MORE NEGLECT THAN REJECT YET THE FINAL RESULT IS THE SAME

September 21, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MANY MORE NEGLECT THAN REJECT YET THE FINAL RESULT IS THE SAME

“How shall we escape, if we neglect?”

Heb. 1: 3, KJV.

“This question is so framed as to demand the answer, ‘We shall not escape.’ The danger here pointed out is not of rejecting Christ and the [true] gospel. But we are persuaded that many more neglect than reject. And it is against neglect that the apostle warns!

“Comparatively FEW definitely and finally reject God’s offer of eternal life [through the divine plan of salvation as taught in great detail by the sanctuary doctrine]. Most men intend at some time [procrastinate, put off for a ‘more convenient time’] to attend to their religious duties. But they DELAY and NEGLECT; and before they are aware of it, ‘the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and they are not saved.’(Jer. 8:20). It is always dangerous to neglect, for ‘now is the accepted time!’ [‘Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.’].