Month: October 2024

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 30, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 34

LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 7)

Before proceeding further on the specific “love” that is a “fruit of the Spirit,” that is, of, and emanating from Him who the Bible describes as “GOD IS LOVE” (1 John 4: 8, 16) we answer to valid inquiry of some as to what this ‘fruit’ definitively means.

Hereunder is a succinct yet comprehensive definition (bolding mine):

“Fruit. [Hebrew, generally ‘peri,’ ‘fruit’; ‘taburah’; ‘product (of soil or toil); Greek generally ‘Karpov’.’] Basically the product of trees and vines, but frequently, in figures of speech, the END RESULT of any work or activity. Thus, the PRODUCE of the land is designated ‘fruit’ (Gen. 4:3; Lev. 25:19, etc.), as is the OFFSPRING of man and beast (Gen. 30:2; Deut. 28:4; Micah 6:7; etc.). SPEECH is poetically designated ‘the fruit of his mouth’ (Prov. 18:20); WORK, ‘the fruit of her hands’ (ch 31:16); and the REWARDS of evil deeds, as the ‘fruits of one’s deeds’ (Isa. 31:10, RSV); etc.

“In the New Testament, IN ADDITION to its usual meaning, ‘fruit’ is frequently used as a figure of speech for the OUTWARD ACTIONS OF ONE’S LIFE, particularly those indicating WHETHER THE HEART IS RIGHTEOUS OR EVIL (Matt. 3:8; 7:16, 17; Luke 6: 43, 44; Phil. 1:11). Similarly, in Gal. 5:  22, 23, the CHRISTIAN GRACES are called ‘The FRUIT of the Spirit.’” -SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald Publishing Asso., 1960. 

Simply put, this is the PERFECT LOVE OF THE PERFECT CREATOR AND PERFECTED REDEEMER, whose PERFECT LOVE-GIFT to totally-undeserving, fallen, sinful, carnally-minded, stubborn-hearted mortals, is His transforming love that, when received willingly, enables and empowers the sinner to OBEY, OUT OF LOVE, HIS LAW OF LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Thus Jesus declares to all penitent sinners: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. It is the love of the Father IN Christ imparted through the Holy Spirit, Christ’s Successor and Vicegerent, verily our “other Comforter.”

Notice:
“The Holy Spirit comes to us as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the IMAGE of God is REPRODUCED in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. LOVE takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the DIVINE SIMILITUDE [likeness].” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 391.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 23, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 33

LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 6)

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul, “the apostle to the Gentiles,” wrote what is famously known and quoted from as “the love chapter”of 2 Corinthians 13.

Paul was unique among the first apostles in a couple of aspects; one outstanding one was he alone was “caught up to the third heaven. . . Into paradise “either by vision or dream-vision (like Jacob) “to the third heavens, even paradise itself.” Writing in the third person, he humbly relates this in 2 Cor. 12: 1-11. Be sure to read it unhurriedly and without preconceived ideas for it reveals the context on which the familiar words, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (verse 9) applies to.

As might be normally expected, Paul did not, however, describe what his EYES BEHELD there, like “gorgeous mansions,” or any of the familiar patriarchs, prophets, and kings.

Why? Simply because they returned to the dust from where man was made from, and will only be arise from their dusty graves in the “resurrection of the just” when Christ, in His “love that conquers all,”
returns in His second advent, bringing His “reward of eternal life” to “all who loved Him by keeping His commandments.

Rather, the only “good report” Paul brought back down to earth with him as it were, of his sacred, otherworldly experience and trip to the third heavens to share with us finite, mortal earthlings was (emphasis mine):

“I HEARD UNSPEAKABLE WORDS, WHICH IS NOT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO  UTTER.” Verse 4. 

Without “uttering these heavenly words Paul nevertheless provides more spiritual insight but not any details elsewhere, writing (emphasis mine):

“Eye hath not seen, NOR nor EAR HEARD, nor has entered into the heart of men what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Cor. 2:9. The rest of the chapter says that the Holy Spirit is prepared to reveal “the deep things of God” but can only be “spiritually discerned.”

Thus, when we read again, even repeat by rote memory the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, we now know that this love, called “charity” in the KJV (A.V.) has absolutely nothing of “eros” in it, is not based on “philos,” neither its substitute though of “brotherly love,” nor ever “platonic” but exclusively “agape,” selfless love.”

Fallen, sinful mortals with carnal minds and hearts are all born with sinful propensities, which are all “at enmity,” not in agreement or harmony with truth, righteousness, self-denial and self-sacrifice. Selfishness is part of the nature of fallen mortals. The love that it is capable of is precisely that. One cannot expect pure water from a polluted well or spring. The source must first be purified.

But where the plan of redemption is concerned, there is absolutely no provision whatsoever for “self-cleaning,”
self-cleansing, or self-atonement, even if we “give our bodies to be burned,” etc.

It is only by living faith in the cleansing power of the blood life sacrifice of the Lamb of God “to take away sin and its guilt, and receive by “asking, seeking, and knocking for the Holy Spirit” and His “baptism by fire” to “consume sin” (Matt. 3: 11, 12; Mal. 3: Mal. 3: 1-6; Heb.13: 28, 29; Deut. 4:24; 9: 3; Isa 5:24) will any striving believer be able to “overcome even as Christ overcame”(Rev. 3:18-22) “the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
By these enlightenment we can better understand and appreciate the sublime privilege of knowing the LOVE OF JESUS that reveals the fullness of God, as declared by Paul herewith (emphasis mine):

 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  of whom the family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory [glorious character] to be strengthened with might by His [Holy] Spirit [dwelling] in the inner man [heart, mind, conscience]; 
 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. That ye, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to COMPREHEND with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD. 
 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
“Unto Him be glory in the church through Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph. 3:14-21, KJV. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 16, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 32

LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 5)

That PLATONIC LOVE, the philosophical brainchild of the Greek philosopher Plato—is not from and of the eternal God who is “love, light, and life”—-is part of Paul’s bold declaration of the foolishness of men’s wisdom compared to God’s wisdom as quoted hereunder. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):

“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made FOOLISH THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD? For after that IN THE WISDOM OF GOD the world by wisdom [its own] KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [as considered by the wisdom of man] to SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE. For the Jews require a SIGN [miraculous physical evidence], and the GREEKS seek after WISDOM [of the world]. But we [Paul and the apostles] preach CHRIST crucified, unto the JEWS A STUMBLING BLOCK, and unto the GREEKS FOOLISHNESS. But unto them which are called [and respond], BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS, Christ is the power of God, and the Wisdom of God. Because THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MEN [‘both Jew and Greek’]; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Cor. 19-25, A.V. 

Two of Paul’s truth-dense epistles were written to and named after two Greeks, namely, Timotheus or Timothy, and Titus. Notice (emphasis mine):

Of Timothy: “Then came he [Paul] to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a  CERTAIN DISCIPLE was there, NAMED TIMOTHEUS, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed [in Christ]; but his father was a GREEK: which was well reported of by the brethren. . . .and circumcised him BECAUSE OF THE JEWS for they knew all that his [Timothy’a] father was a Greek.” Acts. 16: 1-3. 

 Of Titus: “Then 14 years after I [Paul] went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took TITUS with me also. . . . But neither Titus, who was with me, being a GREEK, was compelled to be circumcised [by the troublesome Judaizing Jews].” Gal. 2: 1, 3. 

Paul makes it crystal clear to both believers and unbelievers through all time, dispensations, and eras that where the gospel of salvation is concerned “God “is no respecter of persons:”

 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond [slave] or free, neither male nor female: for ye are all ONE in Christ.” Gal. 3:28. 

“For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is NO DIFFERENCE between the Jews and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is RICH unto all that call upon Him. For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be [not already or automatically] saved.” Rom. 10: 11-13. 

In fact it was the unbelieving Judaizing Jews, not the GREEKS and Gentiles, who fomented hatred and persecution toward Paul and Barnabas as they proclaimed the crucified, risen, and ascended Savior.

“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they both went up together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a GREAT MULTITUDE both of the Jews and the GREEKS BELIEVED. But the unbelieving Jews STIRRED UP the Gentiles, and made their MINDS EVIL affected against the brethren.” Acts. 14: 1, 2 (read chapters 13, 14 for broader context).

These sample verses are cited to prevent any hasty conclusions that this ministry is prejudiced against Plato, atheists, Holy Spirit deniers, antinomians, hedonists, or any fellow finite mortals. Indeed, “All we like sheep have gone astray,” and that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rather, it is the anti-scriptural, counterfeit, erroneous doctrines and philosophies of any and all that we are addressing here—-and all in the LOVE of God and in defense of the gospel “truth as it is in Jesus.”

The love that manifests in the life of the truly converted and spiritually-growing followers of Christ, defined as the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is one and the same as that of God the Father and Jesus Christ the only-begotten Son, for “They Three are One.”

We will focus in the following editions on the “agape” SELF-LESS “love divine and excelling” that alone is of the Godhead, emanates from the Father IN Christ the only-begotten Son (both “of God” and “of Man”), imparted through the Holy Spirit, empowers all, packaged the “more abounding saving grace that is greater than the power of temptations of “the world, the flesh, and the devil,” and thus, “greater than faith and hope.”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 9, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 31

LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 4)

After identifying last week the three different root words translated into the common word love, namely, “eros,” “philos,” and “agape,” thus clearly revealing the stark differences between them, but not till thus carefully analyzed. We now consider the fourth kind (not cited in any order of importance), “platonic love,” a brainchild of the Greek philosopher, Plato.

Knowing more about the man reveals even more of this kind of love, more specifically, if it is based on God and His divine love. The following is quoted from the authoritative secular source of Webster’s Unified Dictionary and Encyclopedia, published by H. S. Stuttman Co. Inc., NY, 1960, p. 3304 (all emphasis mine):

“Plato. 428-438 B.C., Greek philosopher was born at Athens, of one of the most distinguished families of the city. In early life a pupil of SOCRATES, he set up his own PHILOSOPHICAL SCHOOL, the Academy, c 387, having spent the interval between his master’s death and that date in travel in Italy and elsewhere. All Plato’s authentic writings, and some others on which both ancient and modern critics have cast more or less doubt, have come down to posterity. Practically all of them are in the ‘dialogue form,’ which he particularly affected. Plato’s PHILOSOPHY, briefly, was IDEALISM: THE BELIEF THAT IDEAS, RATHER THAN MATTER, ARE THE TRUE REALITY, ETERNAL AND UNCHANGING, FROM WHICH ALL LIFE AND CREATION STEM. 

“Plato GLORIFIED the RATIONAL SOUL as ORIGINAL, IMMORTAL, SUPERIOR TO THE BODY. He was one of the MOST INFLUENTIAL of all philosophers  in Western civilization.” (end quote). 

How did Paul, ‘the apostle to the Gentiles’ of the Christian era of the New Testament describe in his Holy Spirit-inspired epistles the vaunted “wisdom” of the Greek philosophers of who still wield such a powerful influence in these last days, not only upon Western civilization but in the beliefs and doctrines of its different religions, sects, and denominations but all united in two fundamental doctrines: the immortality of the soul and the sacredness of the first day of the week!

Thus it is of the greatest urgency that all professed Christians humbly “examine themselves and prove themselves” strictly by God’s word as to how they understand “love” as given in “God so LOVED the world. . . “, “If you LOVE Me, keep My commandments.” John 3:16; 14: 15, etc., or the so-called “love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13.

We will summon the testimony of New Testament regarding the philosophy and wisdom of the Greeks compared to the principles, knowledge, and wisdom of the omniscient, and omnipotent LIVING God of love, light, and life, God wiling. Bless all, NMF.