Month: December 2022

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Mid-week Manna

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM WHOLE GOSPEL MINISTRIES

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 28, 2022

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM WHOLE GOSPEL MINISTRIES

As we bid good-bye to the waning days and hours of this momentous year 2022—-with its unprecedented yet prophesied, mind-boggling, sanity-provoking, emotionally-jarring, ethics and values challenging, and generational lifestyle-altering changes and innovations—-we all need to take a deep breathe. He is speaking, “Be still and know that I am God.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,” including the god of self!

Seek some quiet, safe place or any time space that enables introspection, free of unwelcome intrusions within and without. You can do it. Only be “willing to be made willing,” and God will find a way. That’s what the empowering grace of Christ will do. This is His will for all, to “Examine yourself; prove thyself whether you are in the faith.”

In more ways than we realize, the way we will meet the incoming year 2023 individually and collectively, with both its certainties and uncertainties, is determined by how much we’ve unlearned of our bad habits and presumptuous mistakes, self-centered, unChristlike spirit, immature and unbecoming ways and learned truly new and better ones, going forward from this outgoing year. Otherwise, how can we truthfully greet any one “A Happy New Year?” What could be happy and new?

Let’s adopt Apostle Paul’s eminently edifying and inspiring declaration, knowing that his martyrdom in the hands of the cruel Roman emperor Nero, was drawing near: Hear him and let’s take this as our New Year’s Resolution, as recorded in Philippians 3:7-15, KJV (emphasis mine):

 “But what things were GAIN to me, those I counted LOSS for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus our Lord: for whom I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, and do count them but DUNG, that I may WIN Christ.
 “And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the RIGHTEOUSNESS which is of God BY FAITH:
 “That I may KNOW Him, and the POWER of His resurrection,  and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, being made conformable to His death; if   by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
 “Not as though I had already ATTAINED, either were already PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS ARE BEFORE,
 “I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
 “Let us therefore, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, be THUS MINDED: and IF in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall REVEAL this unto you.”

Be thus-minded, then we can humbly yet confidently claim this most precious promise of true and lasting peace that all the superpowers of this world can never achieve, much less give. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be TROUBLED, neither let it be AFRAID.” John 14: 27.

Dear friend, resolutely meet the incoming year 2023 by giving your heart and surrendering your life to God the Father in Christ, who purchased you with His blood shed at Calvary. Then you can rightfully claim this promise by His faith:
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [false prophets, false spirits, and the Antichrist. see vs 1-3]: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.” 1 John 4: 4, KJV.

Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS UNVEILED BEFORE THE EYES OF MAN AND ANGELS IN GOD INCARNATE IN A MANGER OF ANIMALS

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 21, 2022

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS UNVEILED BEFORE THE EYES OF MAN AND ANGELS IN GOD INCARNATE IN A MANGER OF ANIMALS

First, you can, if you will, find time in your multi-layered, multi-tasking hectic and stressful schedules during these unprecedented, mind-boggling times, to literally take a pause. Take your Bible (preferably the KJV or NKJV) and read, “pondering in your heart,” the following verses in this order, focusing on the “Seed of the woman”: Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4: 4, 5; John 3:16: Matthew 1: 21-23.

Then follow these scriptures (all emphasis and bracketed words mine]:
“And without controversy, GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels [both the holy and the fallen angel-demons], preached [first to His own people, the Jews, then to the] Gentiles, believed on in the world [by the true believers], received up into glory [after His death, resurrection, and ascension].” 1 Tim. 3: 16, KJV.

If we are truly convinced and fully convicted that Christ indeed is the REASON we celebrate the Christmas SEASON, then our most precious thoughts and affections would center upon the glorious revelation of the great mystery of godliness, when, according to the plan of redemption, God Creator was manifested “before man and angels” as the promised “Seed of the woman,” made in the flesh and blood nature of man four thousand years after the Fall in Eden.

Love divine and love excelling, unfolded in the humblest yet immaculately-pure and majestic simplicity of the birth of the only begotten Son of God into the Son of man, when and where divinity was manifest in humanity in the unfallen universe in greatest act of divine condescension—-the incarnation!

Without ever ceasing to be God, the Creator became a Man to walk among men for thirty-three and a half years, beginning as every human does “according to natural law, an infant “born of a woman” but of a virgin birth,” Mary being “overshadowed by the Holy Spirit.”

In the Incarnation God Bound Himself to Humanity with Ties that can Never be Broken.

“In STOOPING to take upon Himself HUMANITY, Christ [the Creator] revealed a character OPPOSITE the character of Satan [the fallen covering cherub, Lucifer]. But He stepped STILL LOWER in the path of humiliation. [Phil. 2:8].

“Christ was treated as WE deserve, that we might be treated as HE deserves. He was condemned for OUR sins, which He had no share, that we might be justified [forgiven; pardoned] by His righteousness, in which we had no share, He suffered the DEATH which was OURS, that we might receive the LIFE which was HIS. ‘With His stripes we are healed.’. . . .

“In taking our nature, the Savior has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is LINKED with us [John 3:16 quoted]. He [the Father] gave Him NOT only to BEAR our sins, and to DIE as our sacrifice; HE GAVE HIMSELF TO THE HUMAN RACE. [God gave divinity to to humanity, even to the depths of fallen humanity].

“To assure us of His IMMUTABLE COUNSEL OF PEACE [Zech. 6:13; Heb. 6:17), God gave His only-begotten Son to BECOME ONE OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, FOREVER TO RETAIN HIS HUMAN NATURE.” E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 25-6 (emphasis mine).

In the incarnation, as visibly manifested in Christ’s birth, fallen humanity gained a new member of its family—the sinless “second Adam.” He partook of and will forever retain the human nature which He did not possess prior to the incarnation. And yet He never gave up His divinity. He who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” the “great I am,” “who changeth not,” never ceased to be God Creator when He became the Man Christ Jesus, the Savior of mankind whose promised second advent “draweth nigh: even at the door!”

It is only when we hold these profound, precious and glorious truths close to our hearts that we will truly understand, appreciate, and receive the specific blessings enfolded in the grand anthem sang by the celestial choir over the plains of Bethlehem at Christ’s birth. “Glory to God,‘peace on earth and good will towards man!”

Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

THE ‘ENMITY’ OF GENESIS.3:15  –  ‘EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR’ BEGINNING WITH ABEL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 7, 2022

THE ‘ENMITY’ OF GENESIS.3:15  –  ‘EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR’ BEGINNING WITH ABEL

The following is quoted from Patriarchs and Prophets by E. G. White, ‘Cain and Abel Tested’ Chap. 5, (all emphasis and words in brackets mine).

“Cain hated and killed his brother not for any wrong that Abel had done, ‘but because his [Cain’s] works were evil, and his brother’s righteous’ (Gen. 4:6, 7). 

So in ALL AGES the wicked have HATED those who were better than themselves [note that!]. Abel’s life of obedience and unswerving faith [‘the faith that works by love ‘ Gal. 4:6] was to Cain a PERPETUAL REPROOF. ‘Everyone that doeth evil HATETH the light, neither cometh to the light [of truth and righteousness as revealed in the law as the transcript of God’s character] lest his deeds be REPROVED’ (1 John 3:12). 

“The brighter the heavenly light that is REFLECTED in the character of God’s FAITHFUL SERVANTS, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly REVEALED, and the more determined will be their efforts to DESTROY those who DISTURB their [carnal, self-pleasing-justifying] peace.

“The MURDER of Abel was the first example of the ENMITY that God had declared would exist between the SERPENT and the SEED of the woman—-between SATAN and his SUBJECTS and CHRIST and His FOLLOWERS. Through man’s sin [‘the transgression of the law,’ 1 John 3:4], Satan had GAINED CONTROL of the human race, but Christ would ENABLE [and empower] them to CAST OFF HIS YOKE. [The ‘enabling’ of the ‘enmity’ and empowerment of the grace of the Father in His Son, as imparted by the Holy Spirit]. 

“Whenever, through FAITH in the Lamb of God [not ‘trusting man and making flesh his arm.’ Jer. 17:5]. a soul RENOUNCES [not excuses or justifies] the service of sin, Satan’s WRATH is kindled [see Rev. 12:17; 13:12]. The HOLY LIFE of ABEL testified AGAINST Satan’s claim that it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to keep  God’s law [sounds ultra familiar in mainstream Christianity, doesn’t it!] 

“When Cain, moved by the spirit of the wicked one [Satan], saw that he could NOT CONTROL Abel, he was so ENRAGED that he destroyed his [own brother’s] life. [Jesus warned His first Disciples, “Your greatest enemies will be your own household,’ both biological and spiritual “household of faith’ or ‘church’ or ‘religion.’ See Matt. 10: 32-39, etc.]. 

“And WHEREVER there are any who will STAND IN VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW OF GOD, the SAME SPIRIT will be manifested against them [History indeed will repeat itself till the close of man’s probation!]. It is the SPIRIT that through all ages has set up THE STAKE and KINDLED THE BURNING PILE  for the disciples of Christ. [Study/review the 1260-day prophecy spanning the Dark Ages when the Roman church ruled Christianity and then the known world, 538-1798 A.D.]. 

“But the CRUELTIES heaped upon the follower of Christ are instigated by Satan and his hosts [his ‘seed’] because they CANNOT FORCE THEM to submit to their control. IT IS THE RAGE OF A VANQUISHED FOE. EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR. 

“Says the prophet [John the beloved], ‘They [the saints and martyrs in particular] overcame him [‘that old serpent, called the devil’] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they lived not their lives unto the death.’ (Rev. 12: 11, 9).” -pp. 76-7. 

Dear friends, In this our day and time, whose “seed” do you and I belong to? Do not guess or speculate. “Make your calling and election sure” for “By our fruits we are known.” It is either the irrefutable “fruits of the Spirt” and “righteousness” “unto life eternal” (Gal. 5:22-25) or the unmistakable “works of the flesh and sin “unto eternal damnation” (Gal. 5:19-21). In God’s plan of redemption no provision exists for “purgatory,” compromises, “a mixed multitude” of “part wordling-part Christian, amalgamations, mutants, or spiritual synthetic clones of both classes. At the close of our probation at death, we are judged eternally as either one or the other. So “today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” 

To be continued in the next MWM, God willing.  Bless all, NMF.