Category: Devotionals

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Daily Manna Devotionals

YOUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE DETERMINES YOUR ‘CHRISTIANITY’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

YOUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE DETERMINES YOUR ‘CHRISTIANITY’

“And it came to pass, that a whole year they [Barnabas and Paul] assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26, KJV (for proper context, read verses 1-29).

Notice that the “church” here mentioned wasn’t yet identified by any specific designation such as “Anglican,” “Adventist,” “Baptist,” “Catholic,” “Evangelical,” “Methodist.” “Presbyterian,” or even “CHRISTIAN,” not until the Word says so.

This ongoing series of the prophesied or foretold—not preordained or predestined—‘falling away of the church,” i.e., already called “Christian,” is past, present, and future: it traces back to the earliest pagan and heathen religious influences and practices that gradually entered into the early church, its deceptively devastating and overwhelming power of amalgamation based on compromise that resulted in the early “falling away” that morphs into its prophesied spiritual state of confusion described in Revelation as “Babylon,” and its final shocking form as “Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots (her spiritual daughters) and the Abominations of the Earth,” made up of “the beast and his image,” in final desperate global confederacy with “the dragon and the false prophet.” All these religious and civil institutions with their respective isms will be arrayed against God’s authority as expressed and defined in His immutable law of Ten Commandments, His power and seal as Creator-Redeemer-Sanctifier definitively defined and embodied in the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and against the last remaining faithful “keepers of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” They are the last and culminating purified “church of Christ” of the Desire of Ages.” For, “from the beginning faithful [not compromising, much less apostate] souls comprise the church of Christ on earth.”

Most certainly, not all who profess to be or claim to subscribe to a creed such as the Apostle’s Creed. etc.. are rendered from the same spiritual foundry and cast in the same mold, although Christians of the “primitive godliness” mold are. A. How can we tell? What are distinguishing differences/marks?
A. The Bible answers: “To the law and testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because it is no light in them“ (Isa.8:20); “By their fruits you shall you know them”(Matt. 7:16-20); Jesus calls (not canonizes) them as “saints” because “they keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” and “have spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12; 19:10).

Now let’s trace back when and why the true followers of Christ and of His “church” were first called Christians.

“Christian, [Greek. Christianos, a. ‘a follower of Christ.’]. A name used FIRST in Antioch of Syria to describe a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). The text does not make clear WHO originated the term. It has been thought unlikely that it was adopted by the Christians [the true followers of Christ], although there is an ancient tradition that Evodius, the first bishop of Antioch, as the originator of the term. Nor is it likely that the name was coined by the JEWS [why?] for the Greek ‘Christos’ means ‘Messiah,” and the Jews would hardly call the disciples of Jesus ‘followers of Messiah’ [they rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah]. It appears that the term was FIRST applied to the followers of Jesus by the HEATHEN [such as the religion of the Roman emperors and their subjects were], doubtless as a nickname to express CONTEMPT, but to the Christian of became a name of HONOR. The word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet. 4:16, KJV.” – SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, art. ‘Christian,’ p. 192: Review & Herald Publishing Asso., Washington, D.C. 1960.

Now we return to our prophetic tracing of the blood-stained career of Romish church through the Middle and Dark Ages, progressing onward. God bless, NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

HEATHEN PHILOSOPHIES AND PAGAN PRACTICES INTO THE EARLY CHURCH AND IS NOW TOO DEEPLY EMBEDDED TO UPROOT.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HEATHEN PHILOSOPHIES AND PAGAN PRACTICES INTO THE EARLY CHURCH AND IS NOW TOO DEEPLY EMBEDDED TO UPROOT.

Let’s retrace the origins of three vital and pivotal doctrines, practices by Christianity today, fulfilling Paul’s prophecy that Christ’s second coming “shall not come, except that there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thess. 2:3 (read verses 4-12), K.J.V.

“The advancing centuries witnessed a constant increase of ERROR in the doctrines put forth from Rome. Even BEFORE the establishment of the papacy [in 538 A.D.], the teachings of heathen philosophers had received attention and and exerted and influence in the [early] church. Many who professed CONVERSION still clung to the tenets of their PAGAN philosophy, and not only continue its study themselves, but urged it upon OTHERS as a means of EXTENDING their influence among the heathen. Serious errors were thus introduced into the church.

“Prominent among these was the belief in [1] MAN’S IMMORTALITY and his CONSCIOUSNESS IN DEATH. This doctrine laid the foundation upon which Rome established the [2] THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS [3] THE ADORATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. From this sprang also [4] THE HERESY Of ETERNAL TORMENT for the finally impenitent, which was early incorporated into the papal faith.

“Then the way was prepared for the introduction of still another invention of paganism, which Rome named [5] PURGATORY and employed to terrify the credulous and superstitious multitudes. By this heresy is affirmed the existence of a PLACE OF TORMENT [or Torture], in which the souls of such as have not merited eternal damnation are to suffer punishment for their sins, and from which, when freed from impurity, they are admitted to heaven.

“Still another fabrication was needed to enable Rome to PROFIT by the FEARS and VICES of her adherents. This was supplied by the [6] DOCTRINE OF INDULGENCES. Full remission of sins [Justification], PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE, and the release from all the pains and penalties incurred, were promised to all who would ENLIST IN THE PONTIFF’S WARS [deceivingly called ‘holy Crusades’] to extend his TEMPORAL dominion, to PUNISH his enemies, or to EXTERMINATE those who dared deny his spiritual supremacy. The people were also taught that by PAYMENT OF MONEY to the church they might free themselves from SIN, and also release the souls of their DECEASED [dead] friends who were confined to the ‘tormenting flames.

“By such means did Rome FILL HER COFFERS [treasury,] and sustain the magnificence, luxury, and vice of the pretended representatives of Him ‘who had not where to lay His head.’” – E.G. White, ‘The Great Controversy,’ 1911 ed., pp. 58, 59.
More follows. God bless, NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE WALDENSES (THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS) ‘CONTENDED FOR THE FAITH DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE WALDENSES (THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS) ‘CONTENDED FOR THE FAITH DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS’

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and EXHORT you that you SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND for the faith once delivered to the saints.” Jude 3, K.J.V.

“The faith which for many centuries were held and taught by the Waldensian Christians, was in MARKED CONTRAST to the false doctrines put forth by Rome. Their religious belief [or faith] was founded upon the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD—THE TRUE SYSTEM OF CHRISTIANITY.

“But these humble peasants, in their obscure retreats, shut away from the world, and bound to their daily toil among their flocks and vineyards, HAD NOT BY THEMSELVES arrived at the truth in opposition to the dogmas and heresies of the apostate church.

Theirs was NOT a Faith newly received. Their religious belief was their INHERITANCE from their fathers. They contended for the faith of the APOSTOLIC church—-‘the faith once delivered to the saints.’

“‘The church in the wilderness,” and not the PROUD HIERARCHY enthroned in the world’s great capital, was the TRUE CHURCH of Christ, the GUARDIANS of the treasures of truth which God has given to the people to be given to the world.

“Among the leading CAUSES that had led to the separation of the true church from Rome, was the HATRED of the latter toward the BIBLE SABBATH. As foretold by prophecy, the papal power ‘cast down the truth to the ground.’ The law of God was ‘trampled in the dust,’ while the traditions and customs of men were exalted.

“The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the SUNDAY as a holy day [not holiday]. Amid the prevailing error and superstition, MANY, even of the true people of God, became so BEWILDERED that WHILE they observed the Sabbath, they refrained from labor ALSO on the Sunday.

But this did not satisfy the papal leaders. They DEMANDED not only that Sunday be hallowed, but that the SABBATH BE PROFANED; and they denounced in the strongest language those WHO DARED to show it honor. It was only by FLEEING from the power of Rome that any could OBEY God’s law in peace.”- E.G. White, ‘Great Controversy,’ pp. 64, 65 (1911 ed.).

Centuries earlier the ancient Israelites suffered the same spiritual bondage under Egyptian despotic rule. They could only begin to obey God’s law and keep the creation Sabbath when emancipated through the Exodus out of Egypt. The last call to the churches of “come out of her that ye receive not of her plagues” is for the honest in heart yet are still deceived as to which day is the true Sabbath and the other testing truths and doctrines. Those who already know these are under solemn obligation to God to proclaim to the “world around them” the last merciful warnings of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14.
Bless your efforts, NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE WALDENSES, THE SABBATH AND THE BIBLE

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE WALDENSES, THE SABBATH AND THE BIBLE

“In the lands beyond the jurisdiction of Rome, there existed for many centuries existed bodies of Christians who remained almost wholly free from papal corruption. They were surrounded by heathenism, and in the lapse of ages, were affected by its errors; but they continued to regard the Bible as the ONLY RULE OF FAITH, and adhered to many of its truths. These Christians believed in the PERPETUITY OF THE LAW OF GOD, AND OBSERVED THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. Churches that held to this faith and practices, existed in Central Africa and among the Armenians of Asia.

“But of those who resisted the encroachment of the papal power, the WALDENSES STOOD FOREMOST. In the very land where popery had fixed its seat, there its falsehood and corruption were most steadily resisted. For centuries the churches of the Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission.

“After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, the leaders of these churches reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy of the power to which the WHOLE WORLD seemed to pay homage. There were SOME, however, who refused to yield to the authority of Pope or prelate. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God, and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A SEPARATION TOOK PLACE. Those who adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew; some, forsaking their native Alps, raised the banner of truth in foreign lands; others, retreated to the secluded glens and rocky fastness of the MOUNTAiNS, and there preserved THEIR FREEDOM TO WORSHIP GOD.” – E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 63, 64. Pacific Press Publishing Asso., Mountain View, CA.

Learn as much as you can on what the Waldenses and others of the earliest Christians who were the immediate fruits of the missionary labors of Christ’s first disciples and apostles, treasured, practiced, and defended with their lives:—-the Bible and Bible only as the rule of faith; the perpetuity of God’s law: the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; and the inalienable right of liberty and freedom to worship God according to the dictates of the conscience: these are possible only by the separation of church power and state power, which is still protected by the original First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. It is upon this terminal issue that mankind will choose EITHER to receive the mark of the beast or the seal of the living God. This last choice determines the soul’s eternal destiny.
Choose to do God’s will and you will “please Him” as Enoch did before his translation! Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

HERETICS’ KEPT FLAME OF TRUTH BURNING THROUGH THE DARK AGES

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

‘HERETICS’ KEPT FLAME OF TRUTH BURNING THROUGH THE DARK AGES

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the WILDERNESS, into HER PLACE, where she is nourished for A TIME, and TIMES, and HALF A TIME, from the face of the serpent.” Rev. 12.14, K.J.V.

“While Constantine’s purchased converts, and the superficial-minded multitude followed the popular [Romish] church, there were many honest, God-fearing Christians, who resented this sinful compromise with PAGANISM; and when they saw that all their protests [the compromise] were useless, they withdrew to PLACES where they could more freely follow their CONSCIENCES and bring up their CHILDREN away from the contamination of the fallen church which they looked upon as the ‘Babylon’ of Revelation 17. Several hundred SABBATH-KEEPING Christian churches were established in southern India, and some were even found in China. Likewise the original Celtic Church in England, Scotland, and Ireland KEPT THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH, as will be shown in the following:

“The majority of these Christians settled, however, in the ALPS, a PLACE naturally suited for their protection, being situated where SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, and ITALY join. They could, therefore, more easily get [nature’s] PROTECTION in one or another of these COUNTRIES, as it would be harder for the PAPACY to get JOINT ACTION of all these [three] countries in case of PERSECUTION. Then, too, these MOUNTAINS were so STEEP and HIGH, the VALLEYS so NARROW, and the PASSES into these so NARROW so DIFFICULT, that it would seem as though God had PREPARED THIS HIDING PLACE for His TRUE CHURCH AND TRUTH during the Dark Ages! William Jones says:

‘Angrogna, Pramol and S. Martino are strongly fortified by nature on account of their many passages and bulwarks of rocks and mountains: as if the all-wise Creator, says Sir Samuel Morland, had, from the beginning, designed that place as a CABINET, wherein to put some INESTIMABLE JEWEL, or in which to preserve MANY THOUSAND SOULS, which would not bow the knee to Baal [ancient Phoenician sun-god].’- ‘History of the Christian Church,’ Vol. I, p. 356, third edition, London: 1818.” – C. Edwardson, ‘Facts of Faith,’ p.118.

Know who the Waldenses, Vaudois, Albigenses are and what they were persecuted and died for. They are included in the Biblical Hall of Faith of Hebrews chapter 11, verses 35-40. They were the martyrs and saints, together with the later Protestants, of Jesus who preserved the truth with their lives and blood which we received as it were in a silver platter. Hence, we take it for granted because we hardly sacrificed anything to obtain it. I often think to myself, Those godly men, women, youth and even children deserve the reward of eternal life. How about me? My faith, loyalty, trust and obedience to God, His truth and law have not yet been tested and tried as theirs!
Lord have mercy and patience on me! NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

DENIAL DEBUNKED BY THE TRUTH, FACTS, AND THEIR OWN WORDS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DENIAL DEBUNKED BY THE TRUTH, FACTS, AND THEIR OWN WORDS

Jesus Christ, God Creator in the flesh, declared, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”(John 8:32,36). John said: “No lie is of the truth” (1 John 2: 21).

Uriah Smith wrote: “The false claims of some Catholics that their church has never killed dissenters, have been flatly denied by one of their own standard writers, Cardinal Belarmine, who was born in Tuscany in 1542, and who, after his death in 1621, came being near being placed in the calendar of saints on account of his great services in behalf of the church. This man, on one occasion, under the spur of controversy, betrayed himself to an ADMISSION of the REAL FACTS of the case.

“Martin Luther having said that the church (meaning the true church) NEVER BURNED HERETICS, Bellarmine understanding it of the Roman Catholic Church, made answer:

‘This argument proves not the sentiment, but the ignorance or impudence of Luther; for as ALMOST AN INFINITE NUMBER were either burned or put to death, Luther either did not know it, and was therefore ignorant; or if he knew it, he is convicted of impudence and FALSEHOOD —-for that heretics were often burned BY THE CHURCH, may be PROVED by adducing a few from MANY examples.’- John Dowling, ‘The History of Romanism,’ p. 547. (D&R 133,134.

“John Lothrop Motley, speaking of the papal persecution in the Netherlands [one of the three countries of the Lowlands; Belgium and Luxembourg are the others], says:

‘Upon Feb. 16, 1568, a sentence of the Holy Office (The Inquisition) condemned ALL THE INHABITANTS in the Netherlands TO DEATH AS HERETICS……A proclamation of the king ten days later, confirmed this decree of the Inquisition, and ordered it be carried into instant execution…..This is probably THE MOST CONCISE DEATH WARRANT that was ever framed. Three millions of people, men, women, and CHILDREN, were sentenced to the SCAFFOLD IN THREE LINES.’- ‘The Rise of the Dutch Republic,(2-vol. ed.) Vol. I, p. 626. New York.

“Many Roman Catholic authors today tried to prove that their church does not sanction persecution, but FACTS of history are too plain to be denied. Eternity alone will reveal what God’s dear children suffered during the Dark Ages. Accordingly as the Papacy attained to power, the common people became more oppressed until ‘THE NOON OF PAPACY WAS THE MIDNIGHT OF THE WORLD.’ – ‘History of Protestantism,’ J. A. Wylie, L. L. D., Vol. I, p. 16. London.”- C. Edwardson, ‘Facts of Faith,’ p. 67. Southern Publishing Asso. TN. 1943.

Prophecy reveals what is coming; history is prophecy fulfilled. Bless all, NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

TRACING THE BLOODY TRACKS FOLLOWING AFTER THE ‘LITTLE HORN’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TRACING THE BLOODY TRACKS FOLLOWING AFTER THE ‘LITTLE HORN’

“I beheld, and the same (little) horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them”….”and shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” Dan. 7: 21, 25, K.J.V.

“The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. VIII was printed in 1910, which bears the sanction of the Catholic authorities, and their ‘censor,’ so that here is up-to-date authority showing that the Roman church sanctions persecution. The Roman church here acknowledges that, WHEN SHE IS IN POWER, she forced the CIVIL government to BURN those she termed ‘heretics, and the government officials who FAILED to execute her [the church’s] laws, because ‘heretics’ by that neglect, Ans SUFFERED [the same] punishment of ‘heretics.’ Professor Alfred Baudillart, a Roman Catholic scholar in France, who is now [as of 1943] a Catholic Cardinal, says:

‘The Catholic Church is a respecter of conscience and of liberty……She has, and LOUDLY PROCLAIMS THAT SHE HAS, a ‘HORROR OF BLOOD.’ Nevertheless when confronted by heresy she DOES NOT CONTENT HERSELF WITH PERSUASION; arguments of an intellectual and moral order appear to her INSUFFICIENT, and she has recourse to FORCE, to corporal punishment, to TORTURE. She creates TRIBUNALS like those of the Inquisition, she calls the LAWS OF THE STATE to her aid, if necessary she encourages a CRUSADE, or a religious war and all her ‘HORROR OF BLOOD’ practically culminates into urging the SECULA POWER [‘the kings of the earth’] to shed it, which proceeding is MORE ODIOUS—BECAUSE IT IS LESS FRANK—THEN SHEDDING IT HERSELF.

Especially did she act thus in the sixteenth century [the Dark Ages] with regard to PROTESTANTS. Not content to REFORM MORALLY, to preach by example, to convert people by eloquent and holy missionaries, she LIT (set afire) in Italy, in the Lowlands (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), and above all in Spain the FUNERAL PILES OF THE INQUISITION.

“In France under Francis I and Henry II, in England under Mary Tudor, she tortured the heretics, whilst both in France and Germany during the second half of the sixteenth century and the first half of the SEVENTEENTH century if she did not actually begin, at any rate she encouraged and actively aided, the RELIGIOUS WARS. No one here will deny that we here have a GREAT SCANDAL to our contemporaries…..Indeed, even among our friends and our brothers we find those who dare not look at this problem IN THE FACE. They ask permission from the CHURCH to IGNORE or even DENY all those acts and institutions [such as the Inquisition] in the past, which have made orthodoxy compulsory.’ – ‘The Catholic Church, the Renaissance, and Protestantism,’ pp. 182-184. London: 1908. This book bears the sanction of the Roman Catholic authorities, and their ‘censor.’”— Christian Edwardson, ‘Facts of Faith,’ pp. 64, 65. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville, TN 8, 1943.

It was on Friday that Jesus was crucified by the CHURCH (Jews) and the STATE (Rome) combined!! That was the type. We are facing the antitypical FRIDAY of end-time prophecy! It is preparation day and preparation time!
Have a sanctifying Sabbath starting sunset tonight. NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE LITTLE HORN ‘WEARS OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST’ BECAUSE OF ‘HERESY’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE LITTLE HORN ‘WEARS OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST’ BECAUSE OF ‘HERESY’

Prophecy warns God’s people of the last days that the bloody and dark chapters of church history will be repeated, this time by the final threefold union and divinely-forbidden global confederacy of “Romanism, apostate Protestantism and Spiritualism.”

The little horn power, in “speaking great words against the Most High,” would also “wear out His saints.” Dan. 7:28. That is, as we have already seen, persecute the saints of the Most High, not the ‘saints’ canonized by the papal church, till they were literally ‘worn out’ to death.

Edwardson says: “Has the Papacy fulfilled this part of the prophecy? In order to do ROMAN CATHOLICS] NO INJUSTICE, we shall quote from unquestioned authorities among them. And, since they PERSECUTE people for ‘HERESY,’ we must first let them define what they mean by ‘heresy.’

“In the New York Catholic Dictionary, published by the Universal Knowledge Foundation, a Roman Catholic institution, New York, 1929, we read:

‘Heresy (Greek hairesis, choice), deciding for oneself what one shall believe and practice.’- Art. ‘Heresy, p. 440. According to this definition anyone who will not blindly subject to papal authority, but will read the Bible, deciding for himself what he shall believe [according for the dictates of his conscience] is a ‘HERETIC.’

Q. “What official stand has the Catholic Church taken in regard to such ‘heretics?’
Ans. “This we find stated in the Catholic Encyclopedia in the following words:

“In the Bull ‘Ad extirpanda’(1252) Pope Innocent IV says: ‘When those adjudged guilty of heresy have been given up to the CIVIL power [state] by the bishop or his representative [church], or the INQUISITION, the ‘podesta’ or chief magistrate [civil power] of the city shall take them at once, and shall, within five days at the most, execute the laws made against them….. Nor could any doubt remain as to what CIVIL regulations were meant, for the passages which passages which ordered the BURNING of impenitent heretics were inserted in the PAPAL DECRETALS from the IMPERIAL constitutions ‘Commissis nobis’ and ‘Inconsutibilem tunicam.’ The aforesaid Bull ‘Ad extirpanda’ remained therefore a FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT of the Inquisition, RENEWED OR REINFORCES by several popes: Alexander IV (1254-61), Clement IV (1265-68), Nicolas IV (1288-92), Boniface VIII (1294-1303), and others. The civil authorities therefore, were enjoined by the popes, UNDER PAIN OF EXCOMMUNICATION to execute the legal sentences that condemned impenitent heretics to the STAKE [called ‘auto da fe’]. It is to be noted that the excommunication itself was NO TRIFLE, for, if the person excommunicated did not free himself from excommunication within a year, he was held by legislation of that period to be a HERETIC, and incurred all the penalties that affected HERESY.’- Vol. VIII, p. 34.” – Christian Edwardson. Facts of Faith, pp. 62, 63. Southern Publishing Asso. Nashville 8, TN 1943.

The Christian life is not a cakewalk. It is a battle, a march, a race for immortality and eternity. As the apostles truthfully declared, “It is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom of God” and “All that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution,” that is, “for Christ” and “righteousness’ sake.”
More tomorrow. Bless all, NMF