Month: July 2026

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 22, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD PRESENTS THE HUMILIATION OF CALVARY AS THE ANSWER TO SATAN’S ACCUSATIONS 

TEXTS: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2: 5-8, KJV.

    “Yea doubtless, I count all things but loss for [the privilege of acquiring] the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. . . that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my 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 comfortable unto His death.” Phil. 3: 8-10. 

Now we resume where we left off last week quoting from The Great Controversy, 1911 edition by Ellen G. White, p. 502. Please refer back to it. (All emphasis, bracketed words, Notes, and suggested Texts at the beginning provided): 

    “God had manifested His abhorrence of the principles of rebellion. All heaven saw His justice revealed, both in the condemnation of Satan and in the redemption of man. 

   “Lucifer had declared that if the law of God was changeless; and its penalty could not be remitted [immutable], every transgressor must be fierce be forever debarred from the Creator’s favor. He had declared that the sinful race [of humanity] were placed beyond redemption, and were therefore his rightful prey. 

    “But the death of Christ was an argument for man’s behalf that could not be overthrown. The penalty of the law fell upon Him who was EQUAL with God, and [fallen, sinful] MAN WAS FREE TO ACCEPT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, and by a life of penitence and humiliation TO TRIUMPH, AS the Son of God had triumphed, OVER THE POWER OF SATAN. 

    “Thus God is just, and yet the justifier of all who believe in Jesus.” (End extract). 

NOTE. All who truly believe in Jesus Christ as their Creator, Redeemer, Deliverer, and Savior, will, in love and child-like confidence, trust, and unquestioning obedience, look to Him alone as their Example and Standard of practical living and moral character-perfection. They “overcome even as He overcame” (Rev. 3: 21). This is “the victory in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 15: 57; cf. 1 John 5: 3, 4). 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 15, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

SATAN’S TRUE CHARACTER, NATURE, AND GUILT FIRST LAID BARE TO ALL ANGELS AND THE UNFALLEN WORLDS AT CALVARY

Continuing from last issue’s quote from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, p. 501 (all emphasis, bracketed words and Notes provided):

    “Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. He had revealed his true character as a LIAR and a MURDERER [see John 8:44]. It was seen that the very same spirit with which he ruled the children of men, who were under his power [since the fall in Eden and in the rise and fall of empires and nations], he would have manifested had he been permitted to CONTROL THE INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN.   

NOTE: Heaven is the home of the Godhead, and the numberless throng of the angelic “ministering spirits” who, though “made a little higher than man,” are not of “flesh, blood, and bones.” Man do not and cannot “become angels with wings” and vice versa. It is blatant “lying against the truth” to believe, assert, and teach that angels and man can intermarry, or that there are “half angels, half man,” or half angels, half animals such as gargoyles, etc. Beware of persisting old world Spiritualism. But the final, end-time Spiritualism is what “Will take the whole world captive.” Remember: “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.”(Isa. 8: 19, 20). 

    “He had claimed that the transgression of God’s law would bring LIBERTY AND EXALTATION; but it was seen to result in BONDAGE AND DEGRADATION. 

    “Satan’s lying charges against the divine character and government appeared in their TRUE LIGHT. He had ACCUSED GOD of seeking merely the exaltation of Himself in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, and had declared that while the Creator exacted SELF-DENIAL from all others, He Himself practiced NO self-denial and made NO SACRIFICE.

    “Now it was seen [as Jesus  was expiring at the cross] that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race [of human beings only; never angels], the Ruler of the universe had made the GREATEST SACRIFICE [and the ‘greatest self-denial’ as well] which LOVE could make, for ‘God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself’ (2 Cor 5: 19). 

    “It was seen also [at Calvary’s cross], that while Lucifer had opened the door for the ENTRANCE OF SIN [‘the mystery of iniquity’], by his DESIRE FOR HONOR AND SUPREMACY, Christ had in order to destroy sin, HUMBLED HIMSELF, and become OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH [see Phil. 2: 9, 5-10].”— End extract from GC 502. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 8, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE TRUE CHARACTERS OF GOD AND SATAN REVEALED TO THE UNIVERSE AT CALVARY

Text: “That the God of Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. .  . .which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” Eph. 1: 17-21, KJV. 

First, a full disclosure and confession: I did not realize how disgustingly ignorant and fearfully deceived I was regarding what Christ’s death at Calvary’s cross comprehends and its purpose in the plan of redemption of the gospel, outside of the truth that “He died for me so that I won’t have to die the second death,” etc., etc. I can only praise and thank God for His enduring mercy for “opening the eye of my mind” to see, understand, embrace, and share the advancing light on the subjects of present truth that we have been covering! Do your part, too! 

Now, the continuation from last week’s quote Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, 1911 edition (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

    “It was Satan that prompted the world’s rejection of Christ [from His own people and onwards till the close of earth’s probation]. The prince of evil exercised all his power and cunning to destroy Jesus; for he saw that the Savior’s MERCY AND LOVE, His COMPASSION AND PITYING TENDERNESS, were representing to the world the CHARACTER OF GOD. 

   “Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God, and EMPLOYED MEN AS HIS AGENTS to fill His life with suffering and sorrow [from birth to death at Calvary, 33 1/2 years]. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the ‘children of disobedience’ [all who willfully ignore, ‘make of none effect by the traditions of men,’ despise, hate, and presumptuously transgress the Decalogue, as written by God’s own finger], his cruel accusations against Him whose LIFE WAS ONE OF UNEXAMPLED GOODNESS, all sprung from deep-seated revenge [having lost his rebellious war against Christ in heaven, and was cast out with the angels that joined him.]. 

    “The PENT-UP FIRES of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, BURST FORTH ON CALVARY against the Son of God, while ALL HEAVEN gazed upon the scene with SILENT HORROR.  

    “When the great sacrifice had been consummated [by His death, burial, and resurrection] Christ ASCENDED on high, REFUSING THE ADORATION OF ANGELS until He had presented the request, ‘I WILL [Christ’s will; desire; purpose] that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be WITH ME WHERE I AM.’ John 17:24. [True meaning of, ‘I go to prepare a place for you. . . . that WHEREVER I AM there may you be also.” John 14: 1-3!]. 

    “Then with inexpressible love came forth the answer from the FATHER’S THRONE, ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’ (Heb. 1: 6). Not a stain [of sin] rested upon Jesus. His humiliation ended, His sacrifice completed, there was given unto Him a NAME that is above every name.” (End of extract from Great Controversy, pp. 501-2.).

Such was “the counsel of peace” between the Father and the Son in His office as merciful High Priest and all-powerful Intercessor/Mediator/Advocate to the Father for His faithful followers on earth! What a “lively hope,” assurance, and insurance of salvation for all seeking for it! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 1, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD CONTINUOUSLY REVEALS HIS CHARACTER, WAYS, AND PURPOSES TO ALL CREATED BEINGS 

Text: “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.” Isa. 40: 28, KJV. 

We resume the continuation from last issue’s extract from Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 500-1 (all emphases and bracketed words supplied):

     “But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character: [Exo. 34: 6, 7 quoted. Read it!]. 

    “In the banishment of Satan from heaven [and the banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden] God declared His JUSTICE, and maintained the honor of His THRONE. [‘throne implies existence of a king and kingdom.’]. But when man had sinned through YIELDING [exercising free will and choice] to the deceptions of this apostate spirit, God has an EVIDENCE OF HIS LOVE by yielding up His only begotten Son to die for the fallen race! 

    “In the ATONEMENT [both the sacrificial, at Calvary’s cross as ‘Lamb of God;’ and the intercessory, in the holy places of heavenly sanctuary as ‘the merciful High Priest/Advocate/Intercessor/Mediator] THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS REVEALED. 

   “The mighty argument of the cross [the antitypical altar of sacrifice] demonstrates to the WHOLE UNIVERSE that the course of SIN which Lucifer had CHOSEN was in no wise chargeable upon the government of God [law and its administration]. 

    “In the CONTEST between Christ and Satan, during the Savior’s [3 1/2 year] earthly ministry, the CHARACTER of the great deceiver was UNMASKED. 

    “Nothing could so effectually UPROOTED Satan from the affections of the HEAVENLY ANGELS AND THE WHOLE LOYAL UNIVERSE, as did his cruel warfare upon the world’s Redeemer. The DARING BLASPHEMY of his demand that Christ should pay him homage, his PRESUMPTUOUSNESS in bearing [literally carrying Him] to the mountain summit and the pinnacle of the temple, the MALICIOUS INTENT betrayed in urging Him to cast Himself down from the dizzy height, the UNSLEEPING MALICE that hunted Him from place to place, inspiring the PRIESTS AND PEOPLE [‘the chosen people’] to reject His love, and at last to cry, ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’—-all this excited the amazement and indignation of the UNIVERSE [unseen to the Jewish nation and the fallen inhabitants of the earth!]” -End excerpt. 

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