Category: Devotionals

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Devotionals

THE PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OF THE CHURCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAPACY

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OF THE CHURCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAPACY

“The terrible nature of these sensual gratifications of this pagan festivals, in which the leaders of the Church now allowed to members to indulge, a person can hardly imagine TILL the sickening facts are spread before one’s eyes by Livy in (Hist. lib. xxxix, chap. 9-17). The learned Englishman, F.A.S, in his ‘Second Annals,’ Vol. 3, on the ‘Gentile Nations,’ pp. 487-489, says that this ‘most revolting and abandoned villainy’ was so general, that when the Roman Senate has to proceed against its worst features, ‘Rome was almost deserted, so many persons, feeling themselves implicated in the proceedings, sought safety in flight.’

“[Edwarson writes]: ‘A church that will take in members, WITHOUT CONVERSION, and then allow them to CONTINUE in the most putrid corruption, must have LOST all respect for MORALITY (not to say CHRISTIANITY), and cannot be in possession of divine power of the Gospel: which CHANGES the hearts and lives of people.(Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 5:17.)

“The apostle Paul had foretold this ‘falling away’ of the Church. (Acts 20: 28-30; 2 Thess. 2:1-7.) And it was during this fallen condition that the Church CHANGED its weekly rest day from the Sabbath to the Sunday.

“Dr. N. Summerbell says: ‘The Roman Church had totally apostatized….It reversed the Fourth Commandment by doing away with the Sabbath of God’s word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday.’- ‘The Christian Church,’ p. 415. Cincinnati: 1873. (From “Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, pp. 104, 105.

Only “truth as it is in Jesus” can truly “set us free” from the power is sin and the darkness of error and ignorance: this is the true liberty and victory in Christ abiding in the soul!
Bless all, NMF

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Devotionals

PAUL’S PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OR GREAT APOSTASY OF THE EARLY CHURCH

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK: 

PAUL’S PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OR GREAT APOSTASY OF THE EARLY CHURCH 

“Now brethren, concerning the (second) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you to not too shaken in mind and troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless THE FALLING AWAY comes first, and THE MAN OF SIN be revealed, THE SON OF PERDITION, who opposes and exalts himself ABOVE all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:1-4, NKJV (See verses 5-12).  

Apostle Paul was not only the quintessential apostle to the Gentiles; he was a prophet, too. He foretold of the great apostasy of the Church, described as the “falling away” and the earliest beginnings of the development of the Papacy.

The book of Hebrews was written first to the early Christians who expected Jesus to return soon in their time by revealing to them, and to our time as well, that Christ would not come before the papacy would have been fully exposed by the third angel’s message, and by providing the details of Christ’s penultimate office closing work in the heavenly sanctuary as the merciful High Priest, all-powerful Mediator, Advocate and Intercessor for His faithful followers on earth, and in closing, the righteous Judge of all the earth and mankind.

As Paul wrote in Romans, “For we shally stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:10,12. Paul here is echoing and re-emphasizing to the New Testament Christian what Solomon wrote in the Old Testament:   “Let us hear the CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the WHOLE DUTY of man.

For God shall bring EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, with every SECRET thing, whether if it be good or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13,14, KJV.   Now, back to more recorded historical details of this great “falling away.”   “Speaking of this great immoral pagan feast [Sun worship] Cardinal Newman says: ‘It certainly is possible that the consciousness of the sanctifying power in Christianity may have acted as a TEMPTATION to sins, whether of DECEIT or VIOLENCE; as if the habit or state of GRACE destroyed the sinfulness of certain acts, or as if THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS.’-‘ Development of Christian Doctrine,’ p. 379. London: 1878.  

Here we see the seeds of the distortion and corruption of the meaning and purpose of ‘grace’ as is taught in the Christian mainstream today! Also, the Jesuit brainchild of “the end justifies the means” finds its earliest origins at time, as an eminent Roman Catholic author, Cardinal Newman, wrote in his book.  More tomorrow. God bless, NMF

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, THE LORD’S DAY, CHRISTIANITY, AND ROMANISM (Part VII)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:  MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, THE LORD’S DAY, CHRISTIANITY, AND ROMANISM (Part VII)  “Cardinal Newman says:  Confiding then in the power of Christianity to resist the infection of evil, and to transmute the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship to an evangelical use, the rulers of the Church from early times were prepared, should the occasion arise, to ADOPT, to IMITATE, or sanction the existing rites and customs of the populace, as well as the philosophy of the EDUCATED CLASS……  “The same reason, the NEED OF HOLY DAYS for the multitude, is assigned by ORIGEN, St. Gregory’s master, to explain the establishment of the LORD’S DAY……..  “We are told in various ways by EUSEBIUS, that CONSTANTINE, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, TRANSFERRED into it the outward ornaments to which they had been accustomed in their own…..Incense, lamps, and candles, holy water; asylums, holy days, and seasons, the ring in marriage, turning to east [Easter Sunday morning worship services], images, ……are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.’ – ‘Development of Christian Doctrine,’ pp. 371-373. London: 1878.  “Real SUPERSTITIONS have sometimes obtained in parts of CHRISTENDOM from its intercourse with the heathen, as PHILOSOPHY has sometimes corrupted her divines [church leaders], so has paganism corrupted her worshippers.’ Ibid, pp. 377, 388.  “The Church can CONVERT heathen appointments into spiritual rites and usages. Hence there has been from the first much variety and change, in the SACRAMENTAL acts and instruments which she has used.’  -Ibid, p. 379.”- (From “Facts of Faith,” Cristian Edwardson, p. 104. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville, TN. 1942.  The Christian religion of man is mingled with pagan practices. The Christian religion of Christ and the Bible is free from these corruptions of faith and doctrines. What is your religion?   Bless all, NMF

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part VI)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part VI)

“So willing were the church leaders to adopt the POPULAR heathen festivals, that even HEATHEN authors reproached them for it. Faustus accused St. Augustine [prominent church father of the Romish church] as follows:

“You celebrate the solemn festivals of the Gentiles,!their calends, and their solstices; and as to their manners, these you have retained WITHOUT any alteration. Nothing DISTINGUISHES you from the pagans except that you hold your assemblies APART from them. – ‘Cited in ‘History of the Intellectual of Europe,’ Dr. J. W. Draper, Vol. 1, p. 310. NY, 1876.

“Similar reproaches has been made earlier, for Tertullian [another prominent church father] answers them, making the following admission:

“Others, with greater regard to good manners, it must be confessed, suppose that the sun is the God of the Christians, because it is a well-known fact that we may PRAY TOWARDS THE EAST, or because we make Sunday a day of FESTIVITY. What then? Do you do less than this? …..It is you, at all events, who have even admitted the sun into the calendar week; and you have selected its day, in preference to the preceding day [Saturday]….You who reproach us with the sun and Sunday should consider your PROXIMITY [nearness, closeness, likeness] to us.” – ‘Ad Nationes,’ Book I, chap. 13; in ‘Anti-Nicene Fathers,’ Vol. III, p. 123, ed. by Drs. Roberts and Donaldson, NY: 1896.

“Tertullian had no other excuse for their Sunday-keeping than that they DID NOT DO WORSE than the heathen! But not only did the Church adopt heathen festivals but Gregory Thaumaturgus allowed their celebration in the DEGRADING manner of the heathen [pagans]:

“When Gregory perceived that the IGNORANT MULTITUDE persisted in their IDOLATRY on account of the pleasures and sensual gratifications which they enjoyed at the pagan festivals, he granted them permission to INDULGE THEMSELVES in the like pleasures, in celebrating the memory of the holy martyrs [?], hoping that, in process of time, they would return of their own accord, to a more VIRTUOUS and regular course of life.’ – ‘Ecclesiastical History,’ J. L. Mosheim, D. D., Vol. I, Second Century, Part II, chap. 4, par. 2, footnote (Dr. A. Maclaine’s 2-vol. ed., p. 66). NY: 1871. (From “Facts of Faith,” Christian Edwardson, pp. 103, 104. Southern Publishing Asso. Nashville TN. 1943.

God bless all today. NMF

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part V)

November 27, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part V)

“Richard Vertegen, after much research, writes of the heathen nations:

‘And it is also respectable that the most ancient Germans being Pagans, and having appropriated their first Day of the Week to the peculiar adoration of the Sun, whereof that Day doth yet in our English Tongue retain the name of Sunday.’ – ‘Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities,’ p. 11. London: 1673.

“Speaking of the Saxons, he says: ‘First then unto the day dedicated unto the especial adoration of the Idol of the Sun, they gave the name of Sunday, as much as to say the Sun’s-day, or the day of the Sun. This Idol was placed in a Temple, and there adored and sacrificed into, for that they believed that the Sun in the Firmament did with or in this Idol correspond and co-operate. The manner and form whereof was according to this ensuing Picture.’ – Ibid, p. 74. (Capitalization as given in this ancient book).

“It is hardly fair to accuse the Roman Catholic Church of exchanging God’s holy Sabbath for a heathen festival WITHOUT giving her the opportunity to DENY or ACKNOWLEDGE this accusation; so we will let her now state the FACT in her own words, frankly. She says:

“The Church took the pagan philosophy and made it the buckler of faith against the heathen……She took the pagan Sunday and made it the Christian Sunday……There is, in truth, something royal, kingly about the sun, making it a fit emblem of Jesus, the Sun of Justice. Hence the Church in these countries would seem to have said, ‘Keep that old, pagan name. It shall remain consecrated, sanctified.’ And thus the pagan Sunday, dedicated to Balder, became the Christian Sunday, sacred to Jesus.’ – ‘Catholic World,’ March, 1894, p.809.” (From ‘Facts of Faith,’ Christian Edwardson. pp. 102, 103, Southern Pub. Asso. 1943.

The Bible Sabbath has a preparation day, Friday. The pagan Sunday which the Catholic Church changed its name to ‘Christian Sunday,’ does not have a preparation day. Hence, they cannot change the true Sabbath into their “preparation day.” It would be too obvious a change this late!
Let’s prepare for the Lord’s day tomorrow! Bless all, NMF  

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Devotionals

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

“In everything give thanks: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU [and me].” 1 Thess. 5:18.

Let us thank God for all His blessings: particularly those that didn’t look or feel like one, or came in the form we did not expect, suspect, imagine not desire. Those seemingly unanswered prayers eliciting disappointed hopes, may in fact be some of the greatest blessings where eternal interests are concerned: they may have revealed our weakest points that we little realized was the “weakest link in the chain.” Whenever and whatever blessings that God in His wisdom and love determines best for us, that are not appreciated, He reminds us by removing them till we learn to discern such as blessings. But always, He has a special blessings for all who trust, obey, depend and willingly co-operate with Him in all His revealed will for us. The development of the special graces of humility, meekness, patience, forbearance and mercy are accelerated by such experiences.

Let us thank God for His truth with all its promises and provisions: It is impossible to exhaust or render obsolete even one “truth as it is in Jesus.” He desires that we become channels for His truth Alas, how often His truth is marred by the channel through which His truth passes through!  In infinite mercy to the contrite and repentant sinner, He forgives the corrupted channel and purifies the blessing that His name be glorified.

Let us thank God in Christ for His loving kindness: There is absolutely nothing nor any creature that is more powerful than God’s love. Rom. 8:35-39. His love, “poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5), will gain the victory when all argument and authority are futile and powerless. Everything else will fail but God’s love will prevail.

Above all, and greater than all these blessings: “Thanks be unto God for His ‘indescribable Gift” (2 Cor. 9:15), for “through Him and by Him, who is before all things, all things consist” (Col. 1:16,17).

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge [even as His peace passes understanding]; THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL FULNESS OF GOD.” Eph. 3:17. 18.

This Thanksgiving, deep in the throes of the COVID pandemic, think on these special promises and provisions so you can thank God not only for making it through this pandemic year, for the “turkey dinner” with family and friends, but for grand hope that we can “be filled with all the fulness of God.”  I cannot think of anything greater, now and forever!
Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY, ROMANISM AND ‘THE LORD’S DAY’ (Part IV)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY, ROMANISM AND ‘THE LORD’S DAY’ (Part IV)

“Thomas Chafie, a clergymen of the English [Anglican] Church, gives the following reasons why the early Christian church COULD NOT CONTINUE to keep the Bible Sabbath among the heathen, nor CHANGE the heathen custom from Sunday [back] to Saturday:

“Christians should not have done well in changing, or endeavoring to have changed the heathen’s standing service-day, from Sunday to any other day of the week; and that for these reasons:

“1. Because of the contempt, scorn and derision they thereby should be had among all the Gentiles with whom they lived; and toward whom they ought by St. Paul’s rule to live in offensively, 1 Cor. 10:32, in things indifferent. If the Gentiles thought hardly, and spoke evil of them, for that they ran not into the SAME EXCESS of riot [wild feasting and gross intemperance]: 1 Pet. 4:4, what would they have said of Christians for such an innovation as would have been made by the CHANGE of their standing service-day? If long before this, the JEWS were had in such disdain among the Gentiles for their Saturday-Sabbath…..how grievous would be their taunts and reproaches against the poor Christians living with them, and under their power, for their new set Sacred day, had the Christians chosen any other than the Sunday?

“2. Most Christians then were either Servants or of the poorer sort of the People: and the Gentiles most probably not give their servants LIBERTY to cease from working on any other set day constantly, except on their Sunday……

“3. It would have been but labor in vain for them to have assayed the same, they could never have brought it to pass.’- ‘A Brief Tract on the Fourth Commandment,’ ….About the Sabbath-Day,’ pp. 61, 62. London: St. Paul’s Yard, 1692.” –   (From Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 101, 102. Southern Pub. Asso., Nashville, TN, 1943.

Instead of converting the Gentiles, Christianity feared to offend them more than offend God, and yielded up their faith and fidelity to God and the Bible Sabbath and started keeping the heathen Sunday, calling it “the Lord’s Day.” The compromise turned into a major deception and gross doctrinal error embraced by the whole Christian world then and now!

Be a true and faithful commandment-keeping Christian! Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part III)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part III)

Professor Gilbert Murray, M.A., D. Litt., L.L.D., F.B.A., Professor of Greek in Oxford University, says:

“Now, since Mithras was ‘The Sun, the Unconquered,’ and the Sun was ‘The Royal Star,’ the religion looked for a King whom it could serve as the representative of Mithras upon earth.

The Roman Emperor seemed to be clearly indicated as the true King. In sharp CONTRAST to Christianity, Mithraism recognized CAESAR as the bearer of the Divine Grace, and the votaries [worshippers] filled the legions of the CIVIL service [note that for it is part of how religious laws will be legislated soon, mingling church craft and statecraft].

It had so much acceptance that it was able to IMPOSE on the CHRISTIAN world its own SUN-DAY in place of the SABBATH, its Sun’s birthday, TWENTY-FIFTH DECEMBER, as the birthday of Jesus.’ – ‘History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge,’ Chap. III; cited in ‘Religion and Philosophy,’ pp. 73,74. NY, 1929.” (From Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, p. 100, Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville, TN, 1943.

Know the origin of things. It reveals why things are, and what they will be, in the light of prophecy. Bless all, NMF