Month: September 2020

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Devotionals

THE SHIELD OF GENUINE FAITH

September 20, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SHIELD OF GENUINE FAITH

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked [Satan].”

Eph. 6:16, KJV.

“Satan watches his opportunity to seize the precious graces when we are unguarded, and we shall have a severe conflict with the powers of darkness to RETAIN them, or to REGAIN a heavenly grace, If through lack of watchfulness, we lose it.

“But it is the privilege of [genuine] Christians to OBTAIN strength from God to hold every precious gift. Fervent and effectual prayer will be regarded in heaven. When the servants of Christ take the shield of faith for their defense, and the sword of the Spirit for war, there is danger in the ENEMY’S camp!

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Devotionals

SELF-EXAMINATION: ANTIDOTE TO DRIFTING AWAY SPIRITUALLY

September 18, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

SELF-EXAMINATION: ANTIDOTE TO DRIFTING AWAY SPIRITUALLY

“Lest at any time we let them slip (drift away from).”

Heb. 2:1, KJV.

“For every one who falls into great sin, there are then who are drifting. Even when one seems to leap suddenly into sin, it is often the case that he has  PREVIOUSLY been drifting, UNNOTICED by others, and perhaps by himself. Most open sin BEGINS by slowly drifting. Therefore, let all beware!

“Float past, ‘drift away,’ ‘slip away.’ These are different renderings, and all of them significant. We are told that we OUGHT to give the more earnest heed, that is, we MUST, we OWE it, it is IMPERATIVE. We are to be watchful lest we float past, or drift away from the MOORINGS of the Word of God!

“In view of this danger, it behooves  each one to EXAMINE HIMSELF, lest he be drifting without being aware of his peril:(1) carelessness in prayer (2) discontinuance of family worship (3) absence from church services (4) lukewarmness in spiritual of church activities (5) neglect of Bible study of private devotion (6) avoidance of the ordinances of the Lord’s house (7) remissness in tithes and offerings—these and many other signs should be carefully watched. Our ATTITUDE towards them indicates if and how fast we are drifting! The apostle’s admonition against drifting is as applicable today [right now] as when it was written.” – M. L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, p. 82.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Cor. 13:5, NKJV.

David prayed: “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” Ps. 26:2. See also Ps. 139: 23, 24. 
God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

BEAUTIFUL FEET SHOD WITH GOSPEL OF PEACE

September 17, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

BEAUTIFUL FEET SHOD WITH GOSPEL OF PEACE

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

Eph. 6:15, KJV.

Paul  wrote further: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good tidings of things!” Rom. 10: 15, NKJV (See verses 14-16).

“We are living in the midst of an ‘epidemic of crime,’ at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. Everyday brings its heart-sickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering, of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Everyday testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. Who can doubt that Satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?

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Devotionals

LEST WE DRIFT AWAY

September 16, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

LEST WE DRIFT AWAY

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we drift away.” Heb. 2:1, NKJV. (The KJV says, “lest at any time we should let them slip.”)

“Lest at any time we should let them slip,’ or more literally, ‘lest we be floated past them,’ or ‘drift away from them.’

“The picture is that of a boat being carried along with the current, the occupants unaware of the fact that they are drifting. Before they realize it they are nearing the cataract, far pat the OLD LANDMARKS, and danger is at hand, and possibly, destruction.

“Drifting is one of the easiest and pleasantest means of locomotion, but it is also a most treacherous one. NO EFFORT IS NEEDED TO DRIFT, and as one glides down the river toward sure death, the FEELING is that of well-being with contentment with accompanying delightful DROWSINESS. The downward movement is hardly perceptible, for as the boat moves down the river it seems to remain MOTIONLESS. The water moves with the boat and APPEARANCES ARE DECEITFUL. Unless one awakens in time, the danger is very real.

“This was the condition of the church to which the author [Paul] was writing. They were drifting SPIRITUALLY, and did not sense their danger. Slowly they were nearing the precipice, and soon it would be too late.” M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 81, 82.

The global deterioration at every level and endeavor of human society is God’s “voice” warning mankind that earth’s probation is soon to close! Soon it will be too late for those who have persistently resisted heaven’s invitation to repent of and turn away from their sins! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.” Sow seeds of righteousness, reap the fruits of righteousness! God bless all, NMF.  

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Devotionals

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: OUR BREASTPLATE OF SAFETY IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES

September 15, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: OUR BREASTPLATE OF SAFETY IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

Eph. 6:4, NKJV.

“We must put on EVERY piece of the armor [verses 13-18], and then, stand firm. [this is the order]. The Lord [Commander-in-chief of the army of His spiritual kingdom on earth, the true church] has HONORED us by CHOOSING us [the ‘chosen ones’] as His soldiers. Let us fight bravely for Him, maintaining the right in every transaction [of life]. Put on as your breastplate that DIVINELY PROTECTED RIGHTEOUSNESS which is the PRIVILEGE of all to wear. THIS WILL PROTECT YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

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Devotionals

CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE

September 14, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE

Please find time to prayerfully and unhurriedly read verses 1-18 of Hebrews chapter 2. Here are the first 4 verses(emphasis mine):

“Therefore we must give the MOST EARNEST HEED, to the things we have heard, LEST WE DRIFT AWAY. For if the word spoken through angels, proved steadfast, and every TRANSGRESSION AND DISOBEDIENCE received a just reward, HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God AlSO bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”

Heb. 2:1-4, NKJV.

SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER: “This chapter opens with a warning against INDIFFERENCE. It is the first of many admonition scattered throughout the book, which evince the author’s [apostle Paul] anxiety for the SPIRITUAL WELFARE of his readers. From the nature of the exhortations we learn that, unlike the Corinthians, the DANGERS threatening them were NOT MORAL DELINQUENCY but a GRADUAL DRIFTING AWAY from the things they had heard, COUPLED WITH a lack of desire to apply themselves to a SERIOUS study of the Word.

“The larger part of the chapter is devoted to a discussion of the HUMANITY of Christ. In the first chapter the author brought indisputable proof of the DEITY of Christ. In the second chapter he shows that it is NEEDFUL for Christ to BECOME A MAN IF He is to be a merciful and faithful High Priest.

“How else could He deal gently with the weak and erring? He MUST be TEMPTED IN ALL POINTS LIKE AS WE ARE for it is only by passing through the EXPERIENCE to which [all] men are subject that He can succor [save, deliver, empower] those who are weak!

“This section contains a warning against the SUBTLE SINS of apathy and carelessness. Paul was greatly concerned about the SPIRITUAL condition of the people. There were TROUBLOUS TIMES AHEAD for the church. Persecution would soon break out anew; in a very few years the Roman armies would take the city, the Temple would be destroyed, and the Christians would be compelled to flee for their lives.

“Despite this, THE CHURCH WAS NOT FULLY AWAKE. They were ADRIFT with no anchor. Their condition was critical, and MOST SERIOUS OF ALL, they did not sense their danger!” (Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, 79, 80).

This is same condition we are facing today! The very signs taking place right now in America and the world are already announcing, in trumpet tones, that we entering the prophesied early time of trouble! Are we adrift or are our hearts and minds firmly anchored in the Rock, Christ Jesus and His Word—“It is Written,” “unto the law and the prophets,” “to the law and the testimony.”  Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH: OUR SAFEGUARD AGAINST LYING AND LIARS

September 13, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH: OUR SAFEGUARD AGAINST LYING AND LIARS

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.”

Eph. 6:14, KJV.

“There is absolutely no safeguard against evil but truth. No man can stand firm for right in whose heart the truth does not abide. Thee is only one power that can make and keep us steadfast—the power of God, imparted to us by the GRACE of Christ.

“There are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to EXPLAIN their belief, they will be surprised to see how CONFUSED are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.

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THE BATTLEFIELD WHERE CHRIST’S KINGDOM OF GRACE IS BEING SET UP AGAINST THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD

September 11, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE BATTLEFIELD WHERE CHRIST’S KINGDOM OF GRACE IS BEING SET UP AGAINST THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against SPIRITUAL wickedness in high places.”

Eph. 6:12, KJV.

“The FALLEN WORLD is the battlefield for the greatest conflict the heavenly universe and the earthly powers have ever witnessed. It was appointed as THEATER on which would be fought out the grand struggle [AKA ‘the great controversy’] between good and evil, between heaven and hell.

“Every human being acts a part in this conflict. No one can stand on neutral ground. Men must either accept or reject the world’s Redeemer. All are witnesses, EITHER for or against Christ. Christ calls upon those who stand under His banner to ENGAGE in the conflict with Him as FAITHFUL soldiers, that they may inherit the crown [that is called] eternal life.

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