Month: January 2025

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 22, 2025

Peace: The Third ‘Fruit’ of The Holy Spirit (Part 4)

    “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”

 Matt. 5: 9, A.V. 

Christ’s ‘peace that passeth understanding’ and empowering grace are imparted only by and through—-the Third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s Vicegerent on earth, the Holy Spirit—-to the peacemakers, not trouble-makers; the law-abiding truth-bearers, not the antinomian sin excusers and justifiers. 

Now this from “the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10), emphasis mine: 

     “The peace of Christ is born of TRUTH. It is IN HARMONY  with God. The WORLD is at enmity with the law of God; SINNERS are at enmity with their Maker; and as A RESULT they are at enmity with one another. But the psalmist declares, ‘Great peace have they which LOVE THY LAW: and NOTHING shall offend them.’ Ps. 119:165. 

      “Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will FAIL OF PRODUCING PEACE, because they do not reach the HEART. 

      “The  ONLY POWER that can create or perpetuate TRUE peace is the GRACE OF CHRIST. When this [grace] is implanted in the heart, it will CAST OUT THE EVIL PASSIONS THAT CAUSE STRIFE AND DISSENSION. ‘Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree;’ and life’s desert ‘shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.’ Isa. 55:13; 35:1.” E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 302-305. 

Now we know beyond any reasonable doubt why the world’s secular and religious empires, kingdoms, and nations have been at war against each other since the fall in Eden. Such is the somber witness of earth’s history and warnings of prophecy. Conflicts and wars will rage till the end, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon at the sixth and beginning of the seventh of the seven last plagues. (Rev. 16: 12-16). 

Seek God’s peace only according to His appointed way and specific instructions, and He promised: “My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I to you. Let not  your heart be troubled neither let if be afraid.” 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 15, 2025

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 45

Peace: The Third ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 3)

NO TRUE PEACE WITHOUT SOUND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH 

Jesus said to the Twelve: “I have yet SO MANY THINGS to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. HOWBEIT when He, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, He will guide you into ALL truth.” John 16:12, 13, KJV. 

Notwithstanding that the Master Teacher and “First Comforter” himself patiently, thoroughly taught, illustrated, and repeated His gospel lessons to the first disciples, they were “slow to hear,” that is, spiritually undiscerning. They were unready and unfitted to represent Him and the spiritual kingdom He was to establish on fallen earth. 

But Jesus, the promised “Seed” and Messiah only had an ultra brief, pre-determined three and a half years, according to the plan of redemption, to accomplish His comprehensive mission on earth, beginning at His baptism at the Jordan,  27 A.D. Three and a-half years later, 31 A.D., He was already crucified at Calvary! Then, 50 days later, after spending 40

days with His disciples in His glorified body, He finally ascended to the Father in the heavenly sanctuary, witnessed by “Cephas(Peter), the Twelve, the over 500 disciple”, James, all the apostles, and Paul. (1 Cor. 15: 1-8; Acts 1:1-3)

Q. So how and by whom was the “continuing education,” training, eventual vetting by anointing, and continual empowerment and guidance of the disciples to be accomplished and facilitated, in heralding to the world the first edition of the gospel of a risen Savior, thereafter, the gospel of a coming King of kings and Lord of lords? 

God’s messenger magnifies the Biblical account thusly (all emphasis and bracketed words mine): 

     “The disciples still FAILED TO UNDERSTAND Christ’s words in their SPIRITUAL SENSE, and again He explained His meaning. BY THE [Holy] SPIRIT, He said, HE WOULD MANIFEST HIMSELF TO THEM. ‘The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send IN MY NAME, He shall teach you ALL things.’ [John 14: 26]. NO MORE WILL YOU SAY, I CANNOT COMPREHEND. No longer will you see through a glass, darkly [1 Cor. 13: 12]. You ‘shall 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’ (Eph. 3:18, 19].” E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 

ignorance of the true knowledge and understanding of the spiritual meaning of Christ’s words, the whole Bible itself—-which ONLY “THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH” can/will teach and impart to any and all humble seeker of “the truth as it is in Jesus”—-explains why Christ’s love, “which passeth knowledge,” and Christ’s peace “that passeth understanding,” can never be truly and fully experienced by any merely professed Christians. 

This spiritual deficiency and disease will become even more critical, correspondingly increasing with the chaotic, predictably unpredictable “perilous times of the last days.” It reaches its prophesied  stupendous climax in “the hour of temptation that shall try all that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10) in the final crisis and “time of trouble such as never was” (Dan. 12:1). 

It behooves all who confidently “think they will be able to stand” at that time “to make their calling and election sure” now by closely “examining themselves and proving themselves”, not others, “whether they are in the faith” of Jesus through the “Holy Spirit of truth,” by whom Christ’s  peace is imparted.

Presumption is the counterfeit of faith. Procrastinate no longer. Tomorrow is not promised. Today, “Ask, seek, and knock for the Holy Spirit” that you may obtain Christ’s “peace that passeth understandjng!”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 8, 2025

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 44

PEACE: THE THIRD ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 2)

THE ‘HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH’ GIVES CHRIST’S ‘PEACE THAT PASSETH UNDERSTANDING’

    “Great peace have they which love Thy law and nothing shall offend them.” Ps. 119: 165, KJV. 

This is a continuation of last week’s detailing on how, when, where, with WHOM, and in what particular circumstances and situations is the Holy Spirit’s “fruit” of peace is needed, imparted, and manifested. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine): 

    “At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the COMFORTER will be sent in answer to the PRAYER OF FAITH.” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 668-9. 

 NOTE: This is why we are never to carelessly assume, thus erroneously and sinfully presume that God’s peace and all the rest of the “fruits of the Spirit” are automatically imparted or unconditionally possessed somehow. 

In the second time Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He first repeated what we call the “Lord’s prayer” (Matt. 5) which was part of His longest recorded public discourse—the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6, 7); then He immediately added specific instructions on what else we are to pray for and the fervor and persistence that should attend it. Let’s review it from Luke 11: 1-13, KJV. 

Read verses 1-8 first. Now follows verse 9-13 (emphasis mine): 

      “And I say unto you, ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask for bread of any of you that is a FATHER [or mother], will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Of if he shall ask for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being EVIL [fallen, sinful, finite mortals] know how to give GOOD GIFTS unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK [seek, and knock] FOR HIM?”

This asking, seeking, and knocking for the Holy Spirit, particularly in our personal, private prayers, emphasizes that this asking is in order to give, as the three examples Christ cited clearly illustrates. More specifically, this heartfelt, persistent petition for the Holy Spirit is in order that the petitioner can give (share, declare, proclaim, teach, preach) the final, testing truths of the gospel for these last days! For indeed it is “not by human might nor power but by My Holy Spirit, saith the Lord.”(Zech. 4:6). 

While God’s true servants, co-laborers, and watchmen are to share the truth “with a zeal based on knowledge,” it is the Holy Spirit alone that does the work of conviction for His “workshop” is the conscience of the mind of the soul. Indeed, “Conscience is the ‘still small voice’ “of the Holy Spirit heard amid the din of human passions.”

     “Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstances, no distance, CAN SEPARATE US from the HEAVENLY COMFORTER. Wherever we are, where ever we may go, He is ALWAYS at our right hand to SUPPORT, SUSTAIN, UPHOLD, AND CHEER.” Ibid, p. 669.

NOTE: This is the powerful promise of divine peace that will reign within the heart of all faithful and obedient believers in all dispensations and generations for “God is no respecter of persons,” “there is neither Jew, nor Greek nor Gentile” to Him.” “To all who receive Him He grants to become His sons and daughters” of and in His kingdom of righteousness.  And like the divine agape LOVE of the Father in Christ through the Holy Spirit, absolutely NOTHING but “transgression” or sin, can and will separate us from God.  

The gospel prophet wrote:

     “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” (Isa. 59: 2). 

If we haven’t yet quite grasped the real nature of the  exceeding malignity and sinfulness of sin, this is simply one in dozens of Scriptures that reveal it. We will do ourselves a “favor” of life unto life by taking serous heed to  such warnings before it is forever too late! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 1, 2025

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 43

PEACE: THE THIRD ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 1)

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, . . “ Gal. 5: 22, KJV.

Christ’s last and parting legacy to His first disciples and all thereafter, was a legacy of peace. He 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, KJV. 

How was His peace, which neither the world nor the religions of the world could    ever give—be left with them when He was soon to die, and then later leave them behind on earth as He ascended to the Father in heaven after His resurrection? 

Yes, indeed, by and through the Holy Spirit, Christ’s peace Giver as “the other Comforter,” His Representative and Vicegerent, verily the third Person of the Godhead! 

The following is excerpted from the inspired book, The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White, God’s end-times messenger in the order of Elijah and John the Baptist’s calling and nature of work. Pages provided at the end of the quotes. (All emphases and bracketed words mine): 

     “Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim [‘the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’], Christ sought for the most essential and complete gift to bestow upon His followers, a gift that would bring within their reach the boundless measure of grace. [John 14: 16-18 quoted. Pls. read for yourself]. 

    “Before this the [Holy] Spirit had been in the world; from the beginning of the work of redemption [immediately after the fall in Eden] He had been moving upon hearts. But while Christ was on earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His PRESENCE would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He would come.

     “The Holy Spirit is Christ’s Representative, but divested of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity [as He eternally ‘partook of the likeness of sinful flesh’ in the incarnation, Rom 8: 3, 4: 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1: 1-3, 13; Heb. 2: 14-18] Christ could not be in every place PERSONALLY. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His Successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or personal contact with Christ [not even Mary nor Joseph]. By the Spirit Christ would be ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. In this sense He would be NEARER to them than if He had not ascended on high.

     “‘He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and MANIFEST MYSELF to him.’ [John 14:21. That is, thru the Presence in the divine Person of the invisible Holy Spirit]. 

Here’s how, when, where, and with whom Christ’s peace is bequeathed through the Holy Spirit is especially needed and experienced: 

     “Jesus read the future of His disciples. He saw one brought to the scaffold, one to the cross, one to exile among the lonely rocks of the sea, [‘Stephen was stoned; James was slain by the sword; Paul was beheaded; Peter was crucified; John was exiled. Yet the church grew.’ AA 597]; others to persecution and death [see Hebrews 11]. 

     “He ENCOURAGED them with the promise that with EVERY TRIAL He would be with them [In and through His Holy Spirit]. THAT PROMISE HAS LOST NONE OF ITS FORCE. The Lord knows all about His FAITHFUL SERVANTS who for His sake are lying in prison or who are banished to lonely islands.

    “He COMFORTS them with His OWN PERSONAL PRESENCE [in and through the Holy Spirit]. When for the TRUTH’S SAKE the believer stands at the bar of UNRIGHTEOUS TRIBUNALS, Christ stands by his side [invisibly, in the Holy Spirit]. All the reproaches that fall upon him fall upon Christ. Christ is condemned over again IN THE PERSON OF HIS DISCIPLE. 

When one is incarcerated in prison walls, Christ RAVISHES the heart with HIS LOVE. When one suffers DEATH for His sake, Christ says, ‘I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore. . . . and have the keys to hell [grave] and death.’ Rev. 1:18. The life that is sacrificed for Me is preserved unto eternal glory.” – Desire of Ages, chap. LXIII, April 1950 New Edition. Pacific Press Publishing Asso., pp. 668-9. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. A spiritually-prosperous and sanctifying New Year 2025 to all, NMF.