Month: August 2021

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 31

CHRIST UPLIFTED: BEHOLD THE ‘SON OF MAN’- NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 14)

“Art thou a master in Israel, and knoweth not these things,” Jesus asked Nicodemus. Surely one entrusted with the RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION of the people should NOT BE IGNORANT of truths so important. His words conveyed the lesson that instead of feeling IRRITATED of hearing the plain words of truth, Nicodemus should have had a VERY HUMBLE OPINION OF HIMSELF, BECAUSE OF HIS SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE.

“Yet Christ spoke with such solemn dignity, and both LOOK and TONE expressed such earnest love, that Nicodemus was NOT OFFENDED as he realized his humiliating condition.

“But as Jesus explained that His mission on earth was to establish a SPIRITUAL instead of a temporal KINGDOM, His hearer was troubled. Seeing this, Jesus added, ‘If I have told you of EARTHLY things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of HEAVENLY things?’ [John 3: 12].

If Nicodemus could not receive Christ’s teachings, ILLUSTRATING THE WORK OF GRACE upon the heart, how would he comprehend the NATURE OF HIS GLORIOUS HEAVENLY KINGDOM? Not discerning the nature of Christ’s work on EARTH, he could not understand His work in HEAVEN.” – The Desire of Ages, p. 173, New Edition, 13th printing, April, 1950, PPA.

Let all remember God’s prophet warned centuries earlier: “My people [not the heathen of pagan] are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me; seeing thou hast forgotten the LAW of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6, KJV.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 30

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’- NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 13)

“Art thou a master of Israel, and knoweth not these things?” John 3: 10, KJV.

Indeed! Not because one was “born in the faith,” a “third generation of Christian believers,” considers himself as part of the “chosen,” or even of the “very elect,” or even master’s degree, a doctorate, or even be a highly-esteemed, professor emeritus of theology, is absolute proof that he is spiritual, a “new man in Christ Jesus.” He can very well be a religious scholar par excellence who has not yet experienced being truly born again, baptized of water and the Holy Spirit.

“Such was Nicodemus until that momentous one-soul audience he had with Jesus one late evening two thousand years ago at Olivet. The twin baptisms of water and the Holy Spirit, divinely designed to be spiritually joined-at-the hips and kept that way, is a vital aspect of the divine plan of redemption, and thus:

“It is impossible for finite minds to comprehend the work of redemption. It’s MYSTERY exceeds human knowledge; YET he who passes from death to life realizes that it is a divine REALITY.

“The beginning of redemption we may KNOW HERE through personal experience. It’s RESULTS reach through the ETERNAL AGES.

“While Jesus was speaking [to Nicodemus] some gleams of truth penetrated the ruler’s mind. The softening, subduing influence [divine grace] of the Holy Spirit impressed his heart. Yet he did not [yet] fully understand the Savior’s words. He was not so much impressed by the NECESSITY of the new birth as by the MANNER of its accomplishment. He said wonderingly, ‘How can these things be?’ [John 3: 9].- The Desire of Ages, E. G. White, p. 173, New Edition, 13th printing, Apr., 1950.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 27

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’- NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 12)

Here’s more spiritual insights as to why God who created all things, both animate and inanimate, chose to use the inanimate, invisible wind and it’s remarkable power with it’s visible and palpable effects as one of the four symbols of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead.

God’s servant and messenger wrote: “While the wind is itself INVISIBLE [to the naked eye], it produces effects that are SEEN AND FELT.

“So the work of the Holy Spirit upon the soul [the whole living person, mind, heart, body and all its faculties] and will reveal itself in EVERY ACT of him who has felt its SAVING POWER.

When the Spirit of God takes possession of the HEART, it transforms the LIFE. [What happens?] Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced, love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the joy of heaven.

“No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, of beholds the light that descend from the courts above [of the ‘holy places’ of the heavenly sanctuary where God dwells and is enthroned]. The BLESSING comes when by FAITH the soul SURRENDERS itself to God. Then the power which no human eye can see CREATES a new being in the image of God [the ‘new man,’ ‘creature,’ ‘creation in Christ Jesus’ Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3: 9, 10].” – “The Desire of Ages,” E. G. White, p. 173, PPA.

(To be continued). God bless, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 26

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’ -NOT THE MAN OF SIN’! (Part 11)

“The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: SO IS EVERYONE BORN OF THE SPIRIT.” John 3: 8, KJV.

In spite of Jesus’ initial clear explanation of the meaning the baptism of water and the Spirit, with emphasis on the latter, let’s resume quoting from the Desire of Ages :

“Nicodemus was still perplexed, and Jesus used the WIND to illustrate His meaning. [John 3:8 quoted]. The wind is HEARD among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is INVISIBLE, and NO MAN KNOWS from where it comes or where it goes. SO WITH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE HEART. It can NO MORE BE EXPLAINED than the movements of the wind.

“A person may NOT be able to tell the EXACT time and place, or to TRACE all the circumstances in the PROCESS OF CONVERSION; but this does not prove him unconverted. By an AGENCY as UNSEEN as the wind, CHRIST is constantly working upon the heart.
Little by little, perhaps UNCONSCIOUSLY to the receiver, impressions are made that TEND TO DRAW THE SOUL TO CHRIST [the Son of God/Son of man, not the ‘man of sin’]. How?

“These may be received by MEDITATING upon Him [not on anyone or anything else] through READING the Scriptures, or through HEARING the word from the living preacher. [lend your ears, stay focused, shut out all worldly thoughts, preconceived ideas, unsanctified feelings and attitudes such as fault-finding, jealousy, self-justifying, etc.].

“Suddenly, as the Holy Spirit comes with more direct appeal [to the conscience], the soul GLADLY SURRENDERS TO JESUS [the Son of man!]. By many this is called SUDDEN CONVERSION: but it is the RESULT OF LONG WOOING by the Spirit of God—-a patient, protracted process.” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 172, PPA, Apr, 1950.

In a genuine conversion, for there are more bogus and counterfeits, there is no “sudden conversions,” as those enforced by fear, persecution, and death as one of the ignominious modus operandi of the Romish church during the Dark Ages.

All true conversion is a sanctified result of a patient, protracted process of the work and power of the Holy Spirit—-and continues in spiritual growth of character perfection during a lifetime of the converted Christian, enabled by the empowering GRACE of God in Christ imparted by the Holy Spirit!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 25

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’- NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 10)

Have you been born again by experiencing the Biblical spiritual rebirth through the “fraternal” twin baptisms? Yes they are fraternal not identical for one is by water and the other is of the Holy Spirit but they are inseparable.

One without the other is insufficient as it is incomplete for, “what God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” What do they comprehend in the light of the divine plan to completely redeem mankind, fallen because of sin, “the transgression of God’s law”?

“Surprised out of his self-possession, Nicodemus answered Jesus, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ LIKE MANY OTHERS WHEN CUTTING TRUTH IS BROUGHT HOME TO THE CONSCIENCE, he revealed the fact that ‘the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.’ for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them.’
There is in him NOTHING that responds to spiritual things; ‘for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.’. [.1 Cor. 2: 14, see vs 9-16].

“But the Savior DID NOT MEET ARGUMENT WITH ARGUMENT. Raising His hand with silent, quiet dignity, He PRESSED THE TRUTH HOME with greater assurance, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus knew that Christ here referred to WATER BAPTISM [by immersion, never ‘sprinkling’] and the RENEWING OF THE HEART by the Spirit of God. He was CONVINCED that he was in the presence of the One whom John the Baptist had foretold.”

“Jesus continued: ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ [John 3: 6]. By nature the heart is evil, and ‘who can bring a clean thing of an unclean? not one.’ Job 14: 4.

“No HUMAN INVENTION [including any and all devisings by churches, grand Church councils and their decretals, denominations and their alliances and confederacies, or self-proclaimed “holy men” or “holy women,” mortals all with corruptible flesh] can find a REMEDY for a SINNING SOUL.”

NOTE: the soul is the living, rational whole person made up of ‘body, heart, spirit, strength,” thus, the living soul. The Bible never ever speaks of a “dead soul.” ]. For ‘the carnal mind is ENMITY against God; for it is NOT subject to the LAW of God, neither indeed can be.’ Rom. 8: 7. ‘Out of the HEART proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, fake witness. blasphemies.’ Matt. 15: 19.

THE FOUNTAIN OF THE HEART MUST BE PURIFIED BEFORE THE STREAMS CAN BE MADE PURE. He who is trying to reach heaven by his OWN good works [with an unrenewed, carnal heart] is attempting an IMPOSSIBILITY. There is no safety for one who has merely a LEGAL RELIGION; a FORM OF GODLINESS.

“The Christians’s life is NOT A MODIFICATION OR IMPROVEMENT of the old, but TRANSFORMATION OF NATURE. There is a DEATH to SELF and SIN, and a NEW LIFE altogether. This CHANGE can be brought about ONLY by the effectual working of the HOLY SPiRIT.” (All emphasis and words in brackets mine). From “The Desire of Ages” by E.G. White, pp. 171, 172, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., April, 1950.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 24

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’ – NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 9)

We quote from the inspired writer, my favorite non fiction author of Bible truth:

“Nicodemus had heard the preaching of JOHN THE BAPTIST concerning REPENTANCE and BAPTISM, and pointing the people to One who should BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT [see Matt. 3: 11, 12].

He [Nicodemus] had felt that there was a LACK OF SPIRITUALITY AMONG THE JEWS [although they were rigorously ‘religious’], that to a great degree, they were controlled by BIGOTRY and WORLDLY AMBITION. He had hoped for a BETTER state of things at the Messiah’s coming.

“Yet the heart-searching message of the Baptist had FAILED TO WORK IN HIM CONVICTION OF SIN. He was a STRICT Pharisee, and prided himself in his GOOD WORKS. He was widely esteemed for his BENEVOLENCE and his LIBERALITY IN SUSTAINING THE TEMPLE SERVICE, and he FELT SECURE of the favor of God [!]. He was startled with the thought of a KINGDOM TOO PURE FOR HIM TO ‘SEE’ in his present state!

“The figure of the NEW BIRTH, which Jesus had used, was NOT wholly unfamiliar to Nicodemus. [Why? How?] Converts from heathenism to the faith of Israel were often compared to ‘children just born.’ Therefore he must have perceived that the words of Christ were not to be taken in a LITERAL sense.

“But by virtue of his BIRTH [literal, physical] as an Israelite, he regarded himself as SURE of a place in the kingdom of God [as he understood it then]. He FELT that he needed NO change. Hence his SURPRISE on the Savior’s words. He was IRRITATED by their close application to himself. The PRIDE of the Pharisee was struggling against the HONEST DESIRE of the seeker after truth. [Note that!].

He wondered that Christ should speak to him as He did, not RESPECTING his position as ruler in Israel.” – The Desire of Ages, E. G. White, p. 171, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., Mt. View, CA, New Edition, 13th printing, Apr., 1950.

How many have and will lose eternal life because of pride! The Creator humbled Himself and condescended to partake eternally of the “likeness of sinful flesh” and condemned, not condoned sin in our human nature. Instead of uplifting Himself, He uplifted the Father! How about us professed Christians today?

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 23

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’-NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 8)

First, petition in prayer for the Holy Spirit, following Jesus’ clear instructions in Luke 11: 1-13. The issue of cleansing and purification that baptism is is designed to accomplish, is already addressed here. Let’s read together John 3: 22-30, KJV (emphasis mine):

“v 22 After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Jesus did not personally perform any baptisms but through His disciples. See John 4: 1, 2).

v 23 And John [the Baptist] was also baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was MUCH WATER there [immersion requires this; sprinkling does not]: and they came, and were baptized.

v 24. For John was not yet cast into prison. [see Matt. 14: 1-12].

v 25 Then there arose a QUESTION between John’s disciples and the Jews about PURIFYING.

v 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness [‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’], behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.

v 27 John answered and said, A MAN can receive nothing except it be given Him from HEAVEN.

v 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am NOT the Christ, but that I am SENT BEFORE HIM. [the prophesied messenger, forerunner who would prepare/pave the way for Christ’s public ministry].

v 29 He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom: but the FRIEND of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth Him, REJOICETH GREATLY because of the BRIDEGROOM’S [not the bride’s] VOICE.; THIS MY JOY THEREFORE IS FULFILLED.

v 30. He [the Bridegroom] must INCREASE, but I must DECREASE. (Read verses 31-36).

John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus by water immersion in order “that all righteousness might be fulfilled,” as His forerunner and the mortal who was prophesied to baptize the Messiah, uplifted the Son of man, declaring to the Jews, Christ’s disciples, and to the world, HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE!

All who are truly preparing their characters and preparing the way as the “three angels” of Rev. 14: 6-13 for the Son of man’s imminent glorious Second Advent, will “uplift the Son of man” who is the “only-begotten Son of God,” by “magnifying His law,” the transcript of His character——particularly the Sabbath of creation of the Creator, “the Lord of the Sabbath,” not the “man of sin,” the Lord of the Sun Day!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 20

CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’ – NOT THE ‘MAN OF SIN’! (Part 7)

“Instead of recognizing [Nicodemus’] salutation [that Jesus must be a ‘teacher sent of God’], Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a SEEKER AFTER TRUTH. He knew the object of this visit, and with a desire to DEEPEN the conviction already resting upon His listener’s mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN FROM ABOVE, he CANNOT SEE the kingdom of God.’ John 3: 3, margin.

“Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a DISCUSSION with Him, but Jesus laid bare the FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH. He said to Nicodemus, It is NOT THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE you need so much as SPIRITUAL REGENERATION. You need not have your CURIOSITY satisfied, but to have a NEW HEART. You must receive a NEW LIFE FROM ABOVE before you can appreciate HEAVENLY THINGS.

Until this CHANGE takes place, making all things NEW, it will result in NO SAVING GOOD for you to DISCUSS with Me My authority or My mission.’” – “The Desire of Ages,” E. G. White, pp. 170, 171, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., New Edition, Third Printing, April 1950.

Any Bible study entered into, whether daytime or nighttime, with a group or individually will not avail spiritually if:
(1) one is merely driven by carnal curiosity instead of desire to know the truth as it is in Jesus. It was such curiosity that led Eve to approach the forbidden tree in Eden
(2) seeking only to acquire theoretical knowledge instead of the mind and will of God
(3) attempts to comprehend spiritual things with a carnal mind and refuses to seek first and receive a new spiritual life, heart, and mind.

There is no “saving good” to be obtained in “discussing” or “reasoning together” Bible truth with such individuals, beginning with ourselves! “Having the form of godliness but denying its power” to transform the carnal mind to the spiritual mind, the “old man” to a “new man in Christ Jesus” will prevent the Christian from “making his calling and election sure.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.