Category: Daily Manna

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Daily Manna

I CAN BUT CHOOSE ‘NOT TO COME DOWN’ (Part 5)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE ‘NOT TO COME DOWN’ (Part 5)

“And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand.” Neh. 6: 3, 4, KJV.

“We shall receive the most fierce opposition from Adventists [‘first day,’ ‘no day,’ and ‘all days alike’] who oppose the law of God. [A majority of Sunday-keeping Christians today believe in their own doctrine of the second advent in their ‘Rapture’ doctrine which is based on Futurism, brainchild of the Jesuit Ribera to counter the Protestant Reformation (Luther, etc.) expose that the Papacy is the Antichrist).

“But like the builders of the walls of Jerusalem, WE SHOULD NOT BE DIVERTED AND HINDERED FROM OUR WORK by reports, by messengers desiring discussion or controversy, or by intimidating threats, the publication of falsehoods, or ANY OF THE DEVICES that Satan may instigate.

“Our answer should be: WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GREAT WORK, AND WE CANNOT COME DOWN. We shall sometimes be perplexed to know what course we should pursue to PRESERVE the HONOR of the cause of God and to vindicate His truth.” – E. G. White, Vol. 3 Testimonies for the Church, pp. 574, 575.

I rejoice and thank my Father in heaven for clearly speaking His thoughts to me through these Spirit-inspired words AT THIS VERY TIME when I needed it most! His mighty and powerful yet gentle hands lifted my spirits up, encouraging and exhorting me to just continue on “the great work” of helping rebuild, restore and repair the breach on the law and the Sabbath and firmly refuse to be distracted by any and all antitypical Sanballats, Tobiahs, and Geshems, their messengers and agents, and their devices and strategies!

I hope and pray you will do the same but only if convicted in conscience, voluntarily, and willingly.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT TO ‘COME DOWN’ (Part 4)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT TO ‘COME DOWN’ (Part 4)

“For he [King Hezekiah] clave to the Lord, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him.” 2 Kings 18: 6, 7, KJV.

Like Hezekiah (when he was faithful), Nehemiah also “clave to the Lord, and departed not from following Him. And thus the Lord was with Nehemiah. Here’s the living evidence:

“Messengers [of the enemies of truth, both open and pretended friends] were sent REPEATEDLY, soliciting a conference with Nehemiah, but he REFUSED [exercised his will and chose to do right] to meet them. Bold threats were made of what they proposed to do, and messengers were sent to HARANGUE the people engaged in the work of building. These presented FLATTERING INDUCEMENTS and promised the builders FREEDOM FROM RESTRAINT, and wonderful privileges, if they would unite their interests with them and CEASE THEIR WORK OF BUILDING.

“But the people were commanded NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONTROVERSY with their enemies and TO ANSWER THEM NOT A WORD [Why?] that NO ADVANTAGE OF WORDS be given them [the enemies of truth]. Threatening and ridicule were resorted to. ‘They said: Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall’ [Neh. 4:3].

Sanballat ‘was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews’ [Neh. 4:1]. Nehemiah prayed, ‘Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head’ [Neh. 4: 4].” – E. G. White, Vol. 3 Testimonies for the Church, pp. 573, 574.

As in the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, the majority of the Jews, the chosen people then, were not part of the faithful few who were laboring to rebuild the literal broken down walls and repair the breach.

How about us at this very time? Are we numbered in the books of heaven as part of the faithful few Sabbath-keepers who are actually engaged in the work restoring the glory of the law and the sanctification of the whole Sabbath day in our own individual hearts and minds, in our families, and in our church congregation and worship services?

How many of you have already committed the Ten Commandments to memory by now? If not, how can the law act as an impregnable “law” to protect us from being infiltrated by Satan’s “fiery darts” of deception and temptation?

(To be continued). I can only keep encouraging you. It is up to you to “take heed” as a free moral agent. Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna

I CAN BUT CHOOSE TO ‘NOT COME DOWN’ (Part 3)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE TO ‘NOT COME DOWN’ (Part 3)

“Nevertheless we made our PRAYER unto God, and set a WATCH against them DAY AND NIGHT, because of them.” Neh.4:9 KJV.

“We are in constant danger of becoming self-sufficient, relying upon our own wisdom, and not making God our strength. Nothing DISTURBS SATAN SO MUCH as our knowledge of his devices.

“If we feel our dangers, we shall feel the need of PRAYER, as did Nehemiah, and like him we shall obtain the SURE DEFENSE that will give us SECURITY in peril.

“If we are careless and indifferent, we shall be SURELY be overcome by Satan’s devices. We must be VIGILANT. While, like Nehemiah, we resort to PRAYER, taking all our perplexities and burdens to God, we should not feel that we have NOTHING to do. WE ARE TO WATCH AS WELL AS TO PRAY.

“We should WATCH THE WORK OF OUR ADVERSARIES, lest they gain advantage in deceiving souls. We should, in the wisdom of Christ, make efforts to DEFEAT THEIR PURPOSES, while, at the same time, we do not suffer them TO CALL US FROM OUR GREAT WORK. Truth is stronger than error. Righteousness will prevail over wrong.

“The Lord’s people are seeking to HEAL THE BREACH which had been made in the law of God. [Isa. 58: 12-14 quoted. PLS. READ IT FOR YOURSELF!]

“This disturbs the enemies of our faith, and every means is employed to hinder the work. AND YET THE BROKEN DOWN WALL IS GOING STEADILY UP. The world is being warned, and many are turning away from trampling under their feet the Sabbath of Jehovah [in contrast to the idol Sabbath of the “man of sin”].

God is in this work, and man cannot stop it. ANGELS of God are working with the efforts of His FAITHFUL SERVANTS, and the work steadily advances. We shall meet with OPPOSITION OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, as did the builders of the walls of Jerusalem, but if we WATCH and PRAY and WORK, as they did, GOD WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES FOR US AND GIVE US PRECIOUS VICTORIES.” – Vol. 3 Testimonies, p. 573.

Remember this promise of God to fight our battles for us: IF we know what our specific work and message is, then watch, pray, and work at it day and night by God’s enabling, empowering grace.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT ‘TO COME DOWN’ (Part 2)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT ‘TO COME DOWN’ (Part 2)

Based on the application of the type-antitype mechanism, it is quite easy to see that the three main enemies conspiring as a confederacy against Nehemiah and the prophesied sacred work of rebuilding the walls and repairing the breach, namely, Sanballat the Samaritan, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian find their final antitype in the global union of Romanism. apostate Protestantism, and Spiritualism that will unitedly conspire against the antitypical Zerubbabels, Ezras, and Nehemiahs in the “three angels’ messages and work of restoring the downtrodden law of God and repairing the breach on the Sabbath of the fourth commandment by the commandment-keeping remnant church of prophecy.

Nehemiah was undertaking the last leg of the literal restoration of the physical walls started earlier by Zerrubabel, followed by Ezra, the spiritual antitype of which are the last call for repentance, revival. reformation in the restoration of the rightful place of God’s law and His Sabbath in the plan of redemption of the everlasting gospel, incorporating fearful warning against worshipping the beast and his image and receiving the mark of the former, in contrast to receiving the seal or mark of God in the forehead.

“In this case [of the type in Nehemah’s time] a SPIRIT OF HATRED AND OPPOSITiON to the Hebrews formed THE BOND OF UNION and created a mutual sympathy among DIFFERENT BODIES of men who might OTHERWISE have WARRED with one another.

This well illustrates what we frequently witness in our day in the existing union of men of different denominations to OPPOSE PRESENT TRUTH, men whose only bond seems to be THAT WHICH IS DRAGONIC in its nature, manifesting bitterness and hatred against the remnant who keep the commandments of God.

This is specially seen in FIRST DAY, NO DAY, and ALL-DAYS ALIKE Adventists [three classes of second Advent believers who did not keep the fourth commandment Sabbath, at that time] who seem to be famous for hating and slandering one another, when they can SPARE TIME from their efforts to misrepresent, slander, and in every way abuse Seventh-day Adventists.” – E. G. White, Vol. 3, Testimonies for the Church. p. 372.

NOTE: In Christ’s time, the three dominant sects in the religious spectrum of NT Judaism composing the Great Sanhedrin (national Council) were the Pharisees, the orthodox, fudamentalist, “conservative religious sect or party chiefly of the middle class, the Sadducees, a minority religio-political party representing the wealthy, aristocratic, “liberal,” secular-minded wing of Judaism, and the lesser Herodians, usually thought of as “court officials of Herod” or “Herod’s soldiers.”

They did not like each other but temporarily united when they found a common enemy in Jesus Christ!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT ‘TO COME DOWN’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT ‘TO COME DOWN’

“I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?” Neh. 6:3, KJV.

Nehemiah’s shining example of having “an eye single to the glory of God” by being consistent, unmovable, steadfast, intellectually and spiritually TRUE to the work of rebuilding the wall and repairing the breach” “as the needle is to the pole,” was a powerful and TIMELY reproof, counsel, encouragement, and vitalizing inspiration for me, personally.

The Holy Spirit led me to additional magnification of its antitypical end-time application in the following SOP quotes which I am sharing with all who are interested and discern present, sealing truth in it (emphasis mine).

“I was shown (Jan. 3, 1875), that God’s people should not for ONE MOMENT RELAX THEIR WATCHFULNESS OF THEIR VIGILANCE. Satan is upon our track. He is determined to overcome God’s commandment-keeping people with his TEMPTATIONS.

If we give NO place to him, but RESIST his devices, steadfast in the faith, we shall have STRENGTH to depart from all iniquity. Those who keep the commandments of God will be a POWER in the land IF THEY LIVE UP to the light and privileges. They may be PATTERNS of piety, holy in heart and conversation.
We shall not have EASE, that we may CEASE WATCHFULNESS AND PRAYER.

As the time draws near for Christ to be revealed in the clouds of heaven, Satan’s temptations will be brought to bear with GREATER POWER upon those who keep God’s commandments, for ‘he knows his time is short’ [Rev. 12:12, last part].

“The work of Satan will be carried out through AGENTS. Ministers who hats the law of God will employ ANY means to lead souls from their LOYALTY to God. Our bitterest enemies will be among the first-day Adventists [those who believe the second coming but keep Sunday in her time and who are going to form the “image of the beast” in our day, Rev. 13].

Their hearts are fully determined to make WAR against those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. This class to TALK, WRITE, and ACT OUT the most bitter hatred against us.

“We need not look for fair dealing or for JUSTICE at their hands. Many of them are inspired by Satan with INSANE MADNESS against those who are keeping the commandments of God.

We shall be maligned and misrepresented, all our motives and actions will be misjudged, and our CHARACTERS will be attacked. The ‘wrath of the dragon’ [Rev. 12: 17] will be manifested in this manner. BUT I SAW THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE IN THE LEAST DISCOURAGED.

OUR STRENGTH IS IN JESUS, OUR ADVOCATE. IF IN HUMILITY WE TRUST IN GOD, and hold fast to His promises [know what these specifically are by studying your Bible], He will give us GRACE and HEAVENLY WISDOM to ‘withstand ALL the wiles’ of Satan and come off victors.

“In my recent view I saw that it will NOT increase our influence or bring us into favor with God to retaliate or COME DOWN FROM OUR GREAT WORK TO THEIR LEVEL IN MEETING THEIR SLANDERS.

There are those who will resort to ANY SPECIES of deception and gross falsehood to gain their object and deceive souls, and to cast STIGMA upon the law of God and those who LOVE TO OBEY IT. They will REPEAT the most inconsistent and vile falsehoods, OVER AND OVER, until they MAKE THEMSELVES BELIEVE that they are truth!

These are the strongest arguments they have to use against the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. We should not allow our FEELINGS to control us and DIVERT us from WARNING the world [the last merciful warnings to mankind contained in the three angels messages of Rev. 14 are not “peace-and-safety,” “love only” messages!].

“The case of Nehemiah was presented before me. He was engaged in building the walls of Jerusalem, and the enemies of God were determined that the walls should NOT be built. [Nehemiah 4: 7, 8 quoted].” E.G. White, Vol. 3 “Testimonies for the Church,” pp. 570-1.

(To be continued). Fortify your minds with the testing truths for these last days in preparation for earth’s final and bitterest “winter” hastening upon mankind and the church, specifically. Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE SEAL OF GOD (Part II)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SEAL OF GOD (Part II)

“Of the Amorites the Lord said, ‘In the fourth generation they shall come hither again: but the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full’ [Genesis 15:16].

Although this nation was conspicuous because of its idolatry and corruption, it had not yet filled up the cup of its iniquity, and God would not give command for its utter destruction. The people were to see the divine power manifested in a MARKED manner, that they might be left WITHOUT EXCUSE.

The compassionate Creator was willing to bear with their iniquity until the FOURTH GENERATION. Then, when CHANGE was not seen for the better, His judgments were to fall upon them.

“With unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps account of all NATIONS. While His mercy is rendered with calls to repentance, the account will remain open: but when the figures reach a CERTAIN AMOUNT WHICH GOD HAS FIXED, THE MINISTRY OF HIS WRATH COMMENCES. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is NO MORE pleading of mercy on their behalf.

“The prophet [Ezekiel] looking down the ages, had this time presented in his visions. The nations of THIS AGE [not the past Reformation] have been recipients of UNPRECEDENTED mercies. The CHOICEST of heaven’s blessings have been given them, but INCREASED pride, covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude are WRITTEN against them. They are fast CLOSING UP their account with God.

“But that which CAUSES ME TO TREMBLE is the fact that those who have had THE GREATEST LIGHT AND PRIVILEGES have become CONTAMINATED with the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, MANY, even of those who profess the truth, have become cold and borne down by the STRONG current of evil.

The universal scorn thrown upon TRUE PIETY AND HOLINESS leads those who DO NOT CLOSELY CONNECT with God to lose reverence for His law. IF they were following the light and obeying the truth from the HEART [not in lips and mouth only], this holy law would seem EVEN MORE PRECIOUS to them when thus despised and set aside.

As the DISRESPECT for God’s law becomes more manifest, the LINE OF DISTINCTION between its observers and the world becomes MORE DISTINCT. Love for the divine precepts increases with ONE CLASS according as contempt for them increases with ANOTHER CLASS.” – Vol. 5 Testimonies, pp. 208, 209.

God’s true messengers will preach and teach the LOVE of God only in the context of the LAW of God—-which broken down “walls” have been broken down and are “repairing the breach on the wall” which is the fourth commandment Sabbath!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE SOLEMN SEALING WORK OF THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE REVEALED

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SOLEMN SEALING WORK OF THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE REVEALED

“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30, KJV.

In the Bible “mark,” “seal,” and “sign” are synonymous. I must share this urgent subject to all who can hear the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit speaking to their conscience. Harden your hearts! No wonder I could not fall asleep at my usual sleeping time last night. This was suddenly urged upon me. I looked at the time on my phone. It was 9:30. I normally should have been asleep by then. I promptly obeyed and started typing lest I grieve the Holy Spirit!

This urgent message begins with what God revealed to the prophet Ezekiel. Pray that the Holy Spirit will do His appointed work of guiding, convicting and convincing your mind as you read on:
“v 1 He cried also in mid ears with a loud voice [as with the first angel’s message, Rev. 14: 6.7], saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
v 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
v 3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
v 4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a MARK upon the FOREHEADS of the men that sigh and cry for the abominations that be done in the midst [of Jerusalem] thereof.
v 5 And go the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity.
v 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom the MARK: and BEGIN in My sanctuary.

Then they began with the ancient men which were before the house.” Eze. 9: 1-6, KJV. Here’s the what the Spirit of prophecy, which is the Testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10) says: – 5T 208-9: “Jesus is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary to put on garments of vengeance and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have NOT responded to the light God has given them.

‘Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil’ [Eccl 8:11]. Instead of being SOFTENED by the patience and the long forbearance that the Lord has exercised toward them, those who FEAR NOT God and LOVE NOT the truth STRENGTHEN their hearts in their evil course.

But there are LIMITS even to the forbearance of God, and many are EXCEEDING these boundaries. They have OVERRUN THE LIMITS OF GRACE, and therefore God must interfere and VINDICATE His own honor.” – E.G. White, Vol. 5 Testimonies, pp. 208, 209).

This must be carefully examined in the context of the investigative judgment currently taking place in the most holy in heaven, that begun with the dead who professed faith in Christ, starting with Adam, and will soon pass on to the cases of the living!

Begin reviewing the seven last plagues given in Revelation in “order to know how to avoid it.”

(To be continued). Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation for the spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak! Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part IX

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part IX

The Rev. Joseph Tanner, B. A., continues (emphasis mine): ‘It is a matter for DEEP REGRET that those who hold and advocate the Futurist system, PROTESTANTS as they are for the most part [the popular ‘Rapture’ doctrine is combination of Futurism, Zionism, and Literalism], are thus really playing into the hands of ROME, and helping to SCREEN the Papacy from detection as Antichrist.

It has been well said that ‘Futurism tends to obliterate the brand put by the HOLY SPIRIT upon popery.’ More especially is this to be DEPLORED at a time when the Papal Antichrist seems to be making an expiring [desperate] effort to REGAIN his former hold on men’s minds. NOW once again, AS at the Reformation, it is ESPECIALLY necessary that his TRUE CHARACTER should be recognized, BY ALL WHO WOULD BE FAITHFUL TO ‘THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.’ – ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ pp. 16,17. London: Hudder & Stoughton, 1898.

All who profess to belong to the commandment-keeping remnant church are under solemn obligation to understand and expose the Antichrist, the Papacy, it’s career, works, and role
In the great controversy whom Paul describes as “the man of sin” and “son of perdition” in 2 Thess. 2:1-9, KJV.

“All need wisdom carefully to search out the ‘mystery of iniquity’ that FIGURES SO LARGELY IN THE WINDING UP of this earth’s history….In the VERY TIME IN WHICH WE LIVE, the Lord has called HIS PEOPLE and has given them a MESSAGE to bear. He has called them TO EXPOSE THE MAN OF SIN who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who had ‘thought to change times and laws,’ and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to to HONOR Him by KEEPING the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of CREATION, as holy unto the Lord.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 118).

All the major Christian churches are preaching the LOVE of God but not the LOVE and OBEDIENCE to the Creator’s original, unchanged, immutable LAW of Ten Commandments! Make sure you know what the complete and comprehensive Angel’s message is!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF