Month: August 2024

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 28, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 25

PRAY FOR, NOT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord will make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zech. 10: 1, NKJV. Compare to Luke 11: 1-13 again. The five symbols employed in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit in His various specified roles and works in the plan of redemption/salvation are: the dove, fire, rain (water), and the wind. 

Although done in sincerity, not a few Christians seriously err when they pray TO, in addition to praying FOR the Holy Spirit! Such an act is not based on “It is written,” or “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, in His adopted human nature with all its frailties and liabilities, was fully dependent on divine power. As mankind’s Example and as He taught by precept practice, He prayed constantly to the Father, never to the Holy Spirit.

What He did and is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, was to pray to the Father in heaven to send the Holy Spirit, in His name, to the prepared and waiting 120 disciples, including certain women, specifically “Mary the mother of Jesus.” See Acts chapters 1 and 2. Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “It is true that in the time of the end [rapidly approaching its stupendous climax], when God’s work on earth is closing, the EARNEST EFFORTS put forth by, CONSECRATED BELIEVERS under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are to be accompanied by SPECIAL TOKENS of divine [not human] favor. 

“Under the figure of the EARLY and LATTER RAIN, that falls in the Eastern lands at seed time and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE upon God’s church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the BEGINNING of the early, or former rain [of the Holy Spirit’s power], and GLORIOUS was the result. . . . 

 “But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to PREPARE the church for the coming of the Son of man [The Word made flesh, John 1-3, 14]. This OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT is likened to the FALLING OF THE LATTER RAIN; and it is for this ADDED POWER THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TO SEND THEIR PETITIONS (by importunate prayer] TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST [Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath] ‘in the time of the latter rain.’ [We, today, are living at this time!]. IN RESPONSE [Zech. 10:1; Joel 2: 23 quoted. Read them]. 

 “But unless the members of God’s church to-day have a LIVING CONNECTION with the SOURCE OF ALL SPIRITUAL GROWTH [the Holy Sprit!], they will NOT BE READY FOR THE TIME OF REAPING. Unless they ‘keep their lamps trimmed and burning’ [constantly studying the Word of truth and being sanctified by it, [John 17:17], they will FAIL OF RECEIVING added grace in times of SPECIAL NEED.” -E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 54, 55. Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1911. 

Do you claim and profess to be a member of “God’s church” spoken of here, and believe that earth’s harvest of souls is at hand, then this soberingly solemn message is for you, as well as for me!

Remember:
“Character is the harvest of life.” So that “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” (Col. 1: 26, 27). This glorious hope, the greatest of them all, is the reproduction of Christ’s perfected human nature character (Heb. 5: 8, 9) in “a peculiar people,” those who “overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony”—His purified bride, “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but is holy and without blemish,” clad in fine “white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints,” the righteousness of Christ the Bridegroom!

And thus: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed in the day of redemption!”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 21, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 24

WHY DESIRE TO AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

See Luke 11:1-12, A. V. , R.S.V. of A.R.V. Compare to 1 John 5:7.

Just as we would desire God the Father in and through His only-begotten Son, the Desire of ages, mankind’s Savior, Redeemer, and Example, so should we Their Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, for “they Three are One.”

The familiar and well-loved “Lord’s Prayer” of Bible-based Christians is given twice in the New Testament, both by the Savior himself. The first is included in His longest-recorded sermon, the Sermon in the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) when and where He publicly introduced the nature of the kingdom He had come to establish, as prophesied and declared by John the Baptist, in stark to all the kingdoms, empires, and nations of man, past, present, and future. See Matt. 6: 9-13.

The second time Jesus repeated this “Lord’s Prayer” recorded in Luke 11: 1-12 is His definitive and nuanced answer to one of His disciples request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John (the Baptist) also taught his disciples.’

All who desire, should review the foregoing, incorporating it as a permanent part of one’s petitions and prayer life, particularly in these very time when we should have been far in advance in the solemn, spiritually-intelligent work of character-preparation to receive the promised latter rain of the Holy Spirit, as the 120 disciples did in preparation to receive the former rain of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Ponder the following from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “The preaching of the word will be of no avail without the CONTINUAL presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the ONLY effectual Teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth  is ACCOMPANIED to the heart by the Spirit, will it quicken the CONSCIENCE to transform the LIFE. 

 “One might be able to present the LETTER of the word of God, he might be FAMILIAR with all its commands and promises, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit sets home the truth [as the ‘Spirit of truth’], NO souls will fall on the Rock [Christ, and His word] and be broken [cf. Isa. 28: 9-13]. 

“No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light WITHOUT the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will NOT be a success UNLESS the seed is quickened to [spiritual] life by the dew of heaven [the power and work of the Holy Spirit]. Before one BOOK of the New Testament was written, before one GOSPEL SERMON had been preached AFTER Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles [at the upper room of a certain house in Jerusalem]. THEN the the testimony of their ENEMIES [their Jewish fellowmen] was, ‘Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine’ [see Acts 5: 28, 27-33].” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671. 

Here’s the solemn counsel for those, who, “in a zeal not based on knowledge,” Peter-like, speak impulsively and act compulsively, and “run ahead of the Spirit:”
“The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, pierces the heart of the sinner, and cuts it in pieces. [see Heb. 4:12, 13]. When the theory of the truth is repeated WITHOUT its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the SPEAKER, it has NO force upon the hearers, but is REJECTED AS ERROR, the speaker making himself RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF SOULS.” – Ibid, Gospel Workers, p. 253.

This provides more profound insight regarding Christ’s warning in connection with the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12:37, 1-36.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 14, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 23

NAMED ‘THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH’ FOR HIS ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF DEFINING AND MAINTAINING THE TRUTH

Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. . . . Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16: 7, 13, KJV.

Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bolding mine):
“The Comforter is called ‘the Spirit of truth. His WORK is to define and maintain the truth. He FIRST dwells [or abides] in the HEART as the Spirit of truth, and thus becomes the Comforter. [Here’s why].

 “THERE IS COMFORT AND PEACE IN THE TRUTH, BUT NO REAL PEACE OR COMFORT CAN BE FOUND IN FALSEHOOD. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the MIND. By directing men to FALSE STANDARDS, he misshapes the CHARACTER. 

 “Through the SCRIPTURES the Holy Spirit SPEAKS to the MIND, and IMPRESSES the truth upon the HEART. Thus he EXPOSES ERROR, and EXPELS IT from the soul [the living person). 

  “It is by the Spirit of Truth working through the WORD OF GOD [‘the law and testimony,’ Isa. 8:20] that God SUBDUES His chosen people.

 “In describing to His disciples  the OFFICE WORK of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to INSPIRE them with the JOY AND HOPE that inspired HIS OWN HEART. He REJOICED because of the ABUNDANT HELP He had provided for the church [in and through the Holy Spirit].” - E. G. White, Desire of Ages, April 1950, pp. 671-2.

Among the other specific functions of the Holy Spirit as Christ’s Successor on earth according to the divine order in the plan of redemption, none can be more important than His appointed role as: THE DEFINER AND MAINTAINER OF THE TRUTH.

God Creator in the flesh, Christ Jesus the Redeemer, is the only “way, the truth, and the life.” Thus, His truth must be the way that Jesus described as “straight and narrow in which few are found therein,” in stark contrast to “the broad and easy way where many are found thereat.”

His way of life-giving truth He opened up with His own life of self-denial and self-sacrifice from humble Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s ignominious cross, setting the Example for all mankind to follow “daily.” (Luke 9:23), is the only safe path to walk in this antitypical Wilderness of sin-cursed earth. It is the way of truth that leads our extremely short temporal life of suffering, pain, disappointment, and sorrow to His promised reward to the faithful of that life of everlasting joy, peace, and happiness.

This truth, i. e., “as the truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21), no truth is truth to those who practice it but merely “profess” it for “Christ is not a minister of sin” (Gal. 3:17) while Satan, “the adversary of God and man, the master counterfeiter and deceiver is “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning” (John 8: 44). “No lie (falsehood) of the truth” (1 John 2:21) and “all liars shall die the second death” (Rev. 21: 8, 27).

As Jesus explained of the work of the Holy Spirit in, for, and through His true disciples:
“He will guide you into all truth: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; for whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak. . . . He shall GLORIFY ME for He shall receive of MINE [own glory) and shall SHEW IT [My “way, truth, life” and character-glory] unto you.” John 16: 13, 13.

It is therefore a deception to claim or profess to be led or possessed by the Holy Spirit and speak, teach, and preach falsehoods for they are lies. One can never glorify nor please God while speaking falsehood and lies.

Moreover, when the 120 disciples received the first baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (former rain) “the multitudes had them speak in their own tongues or native tongues, “the wonderful works of God,” not wild gibberish!

“God is a God of order, not confusion” nor a babel of tongues! It is from another malign spirit, never the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son!

Remember this: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Cor. 13: 8) for we all have a day of reckoning with the Spirit of Truth of Christ, the merciful High Priest yet righteous Judge of all the earth!

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