Month: June 2023

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Saving Enmity Part 25

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 25

THE SAINTLY EXAMPLES OF ‘SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES’ OF SATAN’S ENMITY AGAINST THE TRUTH

“Take my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering for affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. . .” James 5: 10, 11 (first part), KJV.

Read Heb. 11: 1-34 for a brief yet truly representative record of God’s named and unnamed saints spanning the ages and generations starting from Abel, the first martyr for the truth, demonstrating what Biblical faith can and will do for all who understand what it is for. Verses 35-40 does not mention names of particular saints but describes in graphic and visceral terms the bloody “miracles” of their living testimony. Consider the following (emphasis added):

 “Women received their dead raised to life again: others were TORTURED [to death] not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a BETTER resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were STONED, they were SAWN ASUNDER, they were tempted, they were SLAIN with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins: being destitute, afflicted, and tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” verses 35-38.

Then continuing on uninterrupted to the next chapter 12, we read:

 “WHEREFORE, seeing we also are compassed about with [this] SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES [not just “two or three”], let us lay aside EVERY weight, and the SIN which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with PATIENCE [with the faithful saints]  the race [for the “crown” of eternal life and eternity] that is set before us, [How?] “Looking unto Jesus [the Example of all examples] the Author and Finisher of OUR FAITH; who for the joy that was  set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame. . . .” Heb. 12:1, 2.

Indeed, Christ Jesus, God in the flesh who “was tempted in all points like as we are tempted yet without sin [never once yielded, not even in thought] “is acquainted with all that is misunderstood and misrepresented by men. His children can afford to WAIT IN CALM PATIENCE AND TRUST, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MALIGNED AND DESPISED; for ‘nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest,’ and those ‘who honor God shall be honored by Him’ in the presence of men and angels!” (Mount of Blessing, p. 54).

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Saving Enmity Part 24

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 21, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 24

REPROACH IS PART OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP AND THE CHRISTIAN’S LEGACY

“Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for My sake.” Matt. 5:11

As someone aptly said, “If a man deceive me once, shame on him; If twice, shame on me.”
Deception is deployed through numerous ways, including but not limited to, false accusation, evil-speaking, character-assassination, blackening motives, derision, misrepresentation, malicious imputations and imprecations, innuendo, sly suggestions, mocking, reproaching, slandering, reviling, or in today’s social media lingo, “shading,” “gaslighting,” etc.

Mount of Blessing, page 53:
“Ever since his fall, Satan has worked by means of deception. As he has misrepresented God, so, through his agents, he misrepresents the children of God [particularly His chosen messengers declaring unpopular yet present, testing truths of the everlasting gospel for earth’s final generation before its probation closes].

The Savior says, ‘The reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon Me.” Ps. 69:9.

“There was never one who walked among men MORE CRUELLY SLANDERED than the Son of man [Jesus Christ the Creator incarnate]. He was derided and mocked [by the chosen nation and people, His very own] because of His UNSWERVING OBEDIENCE to the PRINCIPLES of God’s holy law. ‘They hated Him without a cause’ [John 15:25, 20-24].

Yet He stood CALMLY before His enemies, declaring that reproach is a part of the authentic, genuine] Christian’s legacy, counseling His followers HOW to meet the ARROWS of malice, bidding them not to faint under persecution!” Why?

“While slander may BLACKEN reputation it cannot STAIN the character. THAT IS IN GOD’S KEEPING. So long we do not CONSENT TO SIN, there is no power, whether human or Satanic [or a deadly combination of both in desperate confederacy] that can bring STAIN [of sin and its corrupting nature] upon the soul [the living, rational person]. 

“A man whose heart is stayed upon God is just the SAME in the hour of his most afflicting trials and most discouraging surroundings AS WHEN he was in prosperity when the light and favor of God SEEMED to be upon him. His WORDS, his MOTIVES, his ACTIONS may be misrepresented and falsified, BUT HE DOES NOT MIND IT, because he has GREATER interests at stake.

Like Moses, ‘he endured as seeing Him who is invisible’ (Heb. 11:27); looking ‘not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen’ [another application of “walking by faith not by sight.’].” E G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 53-4, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1943 (All emphasis and bracketed words supplied).

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Saving Enmity Part 23

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 23

CHRIST’S SCHOOL OF GREAT TRIBULATION ON EARTH

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but WE GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also; knowing that tribulation worketh PATIENCE; and patience, EXPERIENCE; and experience, HOPE.” Rom. 5:2-4. “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Acts 14: 22, KJV.

“Through trials and persecution, the glory—CHARACTER—of God is revealed in His [real] chosen ones. The church of God, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. They walk on narrow paths on earth; they are purified in the furnace of affliction.

“They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial, and experience bitter disappointments; but their painful experience teaches them the GUILT AND WOE OF SIN, AND THEY LOOK UPON IT [sin, the transgression of God’s law] WITH ABHORRENCE [and hatred]. 

 “Being PARTAKERS of Christ’s sufferings, they are DESTINED to be partakers of His glory. In holy vision the prophet [John the beloved] saw the TRIUMPH of the people of God. He says:

‘I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the VICTORY. . . . stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the SONG OF THE LAMB, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou KING OF SAINTS.’ [Rev. 15:2, 3, KJV]. 

‘These are they which came out of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes [of character] and made the white in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB [‘without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.’ Eph. 5: 27.

Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Rev. 7: 14, 15.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 50-1, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1943. (All emphasis and bracketed words added].

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Saving Enmity Part 22

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 7, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity Part 22

CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING IN THE THICK OF ENMITY AGAINST IT

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was there guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him [the Father] who judgeth righteously.” 1 Pet. 2:21-23, KJV.

Now, prayerfully ponder upon the profoundly sobering, testing truths contained in the following excerpts from the inspired pen, especially as we near the prophesied “hour of temptation which shall come upon all the WORLD, to TRY THEM that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10, KJV. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):

  "Jesus did not present to His followers the HOPE of attaining EARTHLY glory and riches, and having a life free from trial, but He presents to them the PRIVILEGE of walking with their Master in the paths of SELF-DENIAL AND REPROACH. 

"He who came to redeem a lost world, was exposed to the UNITED FORCES of the adversaries of God and man. In  an UNPITYING CONFEDERACY, evil men and evil angels arrayed themselves against the Prince of Peace. Though His every word and act breathed of divine compassion, HIS UNLIKENESS TO THE WORLD PROVOKED THE BITTEREST HOSTILITY. Because He could give NO LICENSE for the exercise of the evil passions of our [fallen, sinful] nature, He aroused the FIERCEST OPPOSITION AND ENMITY. 

"So it is with ALL 'who will live godly in Christ Jesus' [2 Tim. 3:12]. Between righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood, there is an IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT. When one presents the love [and life example] and the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS, he is drawing away the subjects of Satan's KINGDOM, and the prince of evil is aroused to RESIST it.

“Persecution and reproach await ALL who are IMBUED with the Spirit of Christ [in and through the person and presence of Holy Spirit]. The CHARACTER of persecution CHANGES WITH THE TIMES; but the PRINCIPLE –the spirit that underlies it–IS THE SAME THAT HAS SLAIN the CHOSEN of the Lord ever since the days of ABEL.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 49, 50, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. 1943.

Bear this in mind. Immediately after the fall in Eden God put the new principle of ENMITY that is designed, empowered, and contained in God’s saving grace imparted by the Holy Spirit to the humble suppliant to create and produce “irrepressible conflict” between “righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood.” And what the omniscient and omnipotent God of love and light has separated, for man’s salvation, let no fallen, finite mortal ever dare unite or attempt to excuse, justify, reconcile, compromise, amalgamate, or repurpose against God’s express will and declared purpose.

For “cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

To be continued next week, God willing. Bless all, NMF.