Category: Devotionals

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Devotionals

HEBREWS 2:9

October 13, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HEBREWS 2:9
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death; crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

The following is a laser-focused Christ-centered discourse. It lifts our minds and thoughts far above the unprecedented, record-smashing, multi-layering strife and confusion that branched out overnight as it were, from the Covid pandemic that opened up the year 2020. Let us “turn our eyes upon Jesus” and away from the raging storms without and within our hearts.

“But we SEE Jesus. The ‘but’ here denotes contrast. Man does ‘not yet’ have dominion, ‘but we see Jesus.’ He has dominion, even while He was here, on earth. He sent Peter to catch a fish, and in the fish’s mouth was found the coin needed for the occasion. (Matt. 17:27.).

“He told the disciples to let down the net, and they caught a multitude of fish. (John 21:6.). He commanded the winds and the waves, and they obeyed Him. (Matt. 8:26.) He cursed the fig tree, and it withered.(Matt. 21:19.)

“He exorcised demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead.(Mark 5:13; Matt. 8: 14, 15; John 11: 43,44.). He multiplied the loaves and the fishes, walked on the water,  and rebuked Satan. (Mark 8: 1-9; Matt. 14:25; 4:10,11.)

“There was no situation of which Jesus was not the Master! ‘We see not yet’ man in possession of these powers, ‘but we see Jesus.’  He is prophetic of the possibilities of man.” – M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 94, 95.

Jesus the Man, “is prophetic of the possibilities of man”—-that’s any penitent sinner who is “hungering and thirsting after righteousness,” who is willing to “take up his heavy cross of self-denial, daily, in order to “come after Christ” and follow His life example on earth. God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

LET HIM WHO THINKS HE IS ALREADY ETERNALLY SAVED TAKE HEED LEST HE BE SELF-DECEIVED

October 12, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

LET HIM WHO THINKS HE IS ALREADY ETERNALLY SAVED TAKE HEED LEST HE BE SELF-DECEIVED

“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12, KJV.

Peter, one of the Twelve disciples had to learn a lesson that we all need to learn even more today “in these perilous times of the last days.” What was it?

See Matt. 26: 31-35, 58, 69-75. Now this: “Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self confidence led him to the belief that he was SAVED, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could DENY his Master.

“Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against TEMPTATlON. Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should NEVER be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. THIS IS MISLEADING. Everyone should be taught to cherish HOPE and FAITH, but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are NOT BEYOND THE REACH OF TEMPTATION. Only ‘he who endures the trial will receive the crown of life.’

“Those who accept Christ, and in their FIRST CONFIDENCE say, ‘I am saved,’ are in danger of trusting to themselves. We are admonished [1 Cor. 10:12 quoted]. Our only safety is constant DISTRUST of self, and  dependence on Christ…..

“We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, AND CEASE TO MAKE ADVANCEMENT [in the divine-human joint work of moral character perfection], saying, ‘I am [already] saved.’ When this idea is entertained, the MOTIVES for watchfulness, for prayer, for earnest endeavor  to press onward to higher [spiritual] attainments, CEASE TO EXIST.

“No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words, [‘I am already saved’] till Christ shall come, and we ‘enter in through the gates unto the city of God.’ Then, with UTMOST PROPRIETY, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for ETERNAL DELIVERANCE.” – (From E. G. White, Maranatha, p. 236).

May all learn this lesson before it is too late! God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

WHY OUR TRUST IN GOD IS SO UNSTABLE

October 11, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

WHY OUR TRUST IN GOD IS SO UNSTABLE

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Ps. 37: 3, KJV.

“‘Trust in the Lord.’ Each day has its burdens, it’s cares, and perplexities: and when we meet, how ready we are to talk of our difficulties and trials.”

Where do many of these trials come from? “So many BORROWED troubles intrude, so many fears are INDULGED, such a weight of anxiety is expressed, that one might almost suppose that we had NO pitying, loving Savior, ready to hear all our requests, and be to us a ‘present help in every time of need.

“Some are always fearing and borrowing trouble. Everyday they are surrounded with the tokens of God’s love, every day they are enjoying the bounties of His providence, but they OVERLOOK this present blessings. Their minds are continually dwelling upon something DISAGREEABLE which they fear may come of some difficulty may really exist, which, though SMALL, blinds their eyes to the many things which demand GRATITUDE.

“The difficulties, which they encounter, instead of driving them to God, the only source of help, SEPARATE them from Him, because they awaken unrest and repining.

“Brethren and sisters, do we well to be thus UNBELIEVING? Why should we be UNGRATEFUL and DISTRUSTFUL? Jesus is our Friend. All heaven is interested in our welfare: and our anxiety and fear GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God!

“We should not indulge in a solicitude which only frets and wears us, but does not help us bear trials.

“No place should be given to that distrust of God which leads us to make a PREPARATION against future want, the CHIEF pursuit of life, as though our HAPPINESS consisted in these EARTHLY things, and we could gain them while IGNORING the fact that God controls all things.” – E.G. White, This Day with God, p. 42.

How often Christians grieve the Holy Spirit, not by doing wicked things or being “trouble-makers” but by being “trouble-borrowers.” To make things even worse, they allow the trials resulting from their choices to separate them from God instead of driving them to Him, the only Source of help! That’s self-inflicted double jeopardy.

Indeed “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” God help us all, NMF.  

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Devotionals

PETER’S LADDER IS CHRIST’S HUMAN-DIVINE NATURE

October 9, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

PETER’S LADDER IS CHRIST’S HUMAN-DIVINE NATURE

“Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness charity(love).” 2 Pet. 1: 5-7, KJV (Read verses 1-11). Now this:

Point the youth [both in age and in the faith] to Peter’s ladder of eight rounds, and place their feet, not on the highest round [right away], but on the lowest, and with earnest solicitation urge them to climb to the very top.

“Christ is the ladder [or the stairway]. The base is planted firmly on the earth in His HUMANITY; the topmost round reaches to the throne of God in His DIVINITY.

“The humanity of Christ embraces FALLEN humanity, while His DIVINITY lays hold of the throne of God.

“We are SAVED by climbing round after round [in spiritual growth of character perfection], by LOOKING to Christ, CLINGING to Christ, MOUNTING step by step to the HEIGHT OF CHRIST [not any mortal] so that He is ‘made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.’

“Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity/love are the ROUNDS OF THIS LADDER [or stairway]. All these GRACES are to be manifested in the Christian CHARACTER: ‘and if you do these things, you shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1: 10, 11.” – E. G. White, Vol. 6, Testimonies, p. 147.

Are you still climbing this ladder/stairway? Or have you stopped somehow, distracted, discouraged, dismayed or temporarily deceived? If so, immediately resume the ascent for the allotted time is soon to end!  Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

DOES YOUR SOUL BREATHE WELL?

October 8, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DOES YOUR SOUL BREATHE WELL?

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5: 17. “Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Eph. 6:18.


“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5: 5:16, NKJV.

“Prayer is the breathe of the soul, the channel of all blessings.

“As the repentant [not self-justifying] soul offers its prayer, God sees its struggles, watches its conflicts, and marks its sincerity. He has His finger upon its pulse, and He takes note of every throb. Not a feeling thrills it, not an emotion agitates it, not a sorrow shades it, of which He is not cognizant. That soul was purchased at an infinite cost, and is loved with a devotion that is unalterable.

“Prayer to the Great Physician for the healing of the soul brings the blessing of God. Prayer unites us one to another and to God. Prayer brings Jesus to our side, and gives new strength and fresh grace to the fainting, perplexed soul.

“Christ our Savior was tempted in all points as we are, yet He was without sin. He took human nature, being made in the fashion as a man, and His necessities were the necessities of a man. He had bodily wants to be supplied, bodily weariness to be relieved.

“It was by prayer to His Father that He was braced for DUTY and for TRIAL Day by day He followed His round of duty, working to save souls. And He spent whole nights in prayer in behalf of the tempted ones.

“The night seasons of prayer which the Savior spent in the mountain or in the desert were essential to prepare Him for the trials He must meet…..and those striving to live His life will feel the SAME need.” – E.G. White, Review & Herald, Oct. 30, 1900. Bless all, pray all. NMF 

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Devotionals

MAN’S ORIGINAL POSITION AND POWER AT CREATION, RESTORED AT FINAL REDEMPTION OF ALL THINGS

October 7, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MAN’S ORIGINAL POSITION AND POWER AT CREATION, RESTORED AT FINAL REDEMPTION OF ALL THINGS

“What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?……Thou crownest Him with glory and honor…..But now we see not yet all things put under him.” Heb. 2: 6, 7, 8, KJV (Read the complete verses and Job 7:17; Ps. 8: 4-6).

“GLORY AND HONOR.’ This distinctly points to the experience of Adam and Eve recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. God did not create man to be a servant or slave [all colonial powers, past and present and all involved in any all forms of enslavement are self-condemned here]. He made man to be king, and bestowed glory and honor upon him.

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Devotionals

LOYALTY TO GOD IS THE FIRST AND LAST TEST OF MANKIND

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

LOYALTY TO GOD IS THE FIRST AND LAST TEST OF MANKIND

Everyone and every institution, from the POTUS to the army, to parents, to every fraternity and especially secretive orders, etc. where the first concept, principle and virtue begin on earth?

See Gen. 1: 27, 28 first. Now this: “Adam was crowned king in Eden. To Him was given dominion over EVERY living thing that God had created. The Lord blessed Adam and Eve with intelligence such as He had not given to ANY other creature. [it is a fallacy to claim that animals have intelligence; they only have instincts]. He made Adam the rightful SOVEREIGN over all the works of His hands.

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Devotionals

ANGELS ARE OUR COMPANIONS ASSIGNED ‘TO KEEP US IN ALL OUR WAYS’

October 5, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

ANGELS ARE OUR COMPANIONS ASSIGNED ‘TO KEEP US IN ALL OUR WAYS’

“For unto the angels has He not put in subjection the world to come.”

Heb. 2: 5

“God has not put the world to come in subjection to the angels. Because of SIN man fell very low in the scale of values. When Christ identified Himself with humanity and became a man, a NEW DIGNITY became
ours. We are now closely united with God in a fellowship that is EVEN CLOSER than that which the angels know. In this NEW RELATIONSHIP God did not put man in subjection to angels! We deal directly with Christ without any [angelic] intermediary.” p. 90.

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