Category: Mid-week Manna

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Mid-week Manna

The Third Person and the Godhead Series – Part 26: RECEIVING HIM AN ESSENTIAL AND PRECIOUS EXPERIENCE

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NA’S DESK:
September 4, 2024

The Third Person and the Godhead Series – Part 26

RECEIVING HIM AN ESSENTIAL AND PRECIOUS EXPERIENCE

See David’s “last words” with the Holy Spirit in him and speaking through him in 2 Samuel 23: 2-4. And was true of David centuries prior was also experienced by the first disciples and apostles of Jesus when they received the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and then in the final loud cry of the “fourth Angel” of Revelation 18.

Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis mine):
“All things that the Father hath are Mine.’ “When He, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH is come, He will guide you into all truth. . . He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.’ John 16: 15, 13, 14, KJV.

 “The disciples had seen Christ ASCEND from among them on the Mount of Olives. And as the heavens received Him, there had come back to them His PARTING PROMISE, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ Matt 28:20. 

“They knew that His SYMPATHIES were with still. They knew that they had a Representative, an Advocate, at the throne of God. In the NAME OF JESUS they presented their petitions, repeating His promise, ‘Whatsoever ye ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.’ John 16:23.

 “Higher and higher they extended the HAND OF FAITH, with the mighty argument, ‘It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is RISEN again, who is even at the RIGHT HAND of God [the Father], who also maketh INTERCESSION for us.” Rom. 8:34.

NOTE: ‘There is only one Intercessor and Mediator/Advocate/High Priest between God and man, Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. 2:5, etc.].

“Faithful to His promise, the Divine One, EXALTED IN THE HEAVENLY COURTS, IMPARTED HIS FULNESS to his followers on earth. [How and by what means?]. His enthronement in God’s right hand was SIGNALIZED BY THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT upon His disciples.

 “By the work of Christ these disciples had been led to FEEL THEIR NEED OF THE SPIRIT; under the SPIRIT’S TEACHING they received their FINAL PREPARATION and went forth to their lifework.

“NO LONGER were they ignorant and uncultured. No longer were they a collection of independent units of a discordant and conflicting elements. No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness [the great sin as part of covetousness, plaguing the world and corrupting the churches and religions in these last days of earth’s history]. 

“They were of ‘ONE ACCORD,’ of ONE MIND and ONE SOUL. CHRIST FILLED THEIR THOUGHTS. The advancement of His kingdom [of righteousness] was their aim. In MIND AND CHARACTER [the true ‘spirit’ of humans] they had become LIKE THEIR MASTER, and men ‘took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.’ Acts 4:13. 

“Then there was such a REVELATION OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST as had never been witnessed by mortal man! Multitudes who had REVILED HiS NAME [as is happening today in the commingling of politics and religion; church and state, sacred and common] and despised His power, confesses themselves DISCIPLES of the Crucified.

“Through the co-operation of the DIVINE SPIRIT the labors of the HUMBLE men whom Christ had CHOSEN stirred the world. To every nation under heaven was the GOSPEL carried in a SINGLE GENERATION [after Pentecost]. 

“The SAME [Holy] SPIRIT that in HIS STEAD was sent to be the  INSTRUCTOR of His first co-workers, Christ has commissioned to the Instructor of His co-workers TODAY. ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the END of the world’ (Matt. 28:20) is His promise.” E. G. White, Education, p. 95.

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

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Mid-week Manna

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 25: PRAY FOR, NOT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 28, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 25

PRAY FOR, NOT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord will make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zech. 10: 1, NKJV. Compare to Luke 11: 1-13 again. The five symbols employed in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit in His various specified roles and works in the plan of redemption/salvation are: the dove, fire, rain (water), and the wind.

Although done in sincerity, not a few Christians seriously err when they pray TO, in addition to praying FOR the Holy Spirit! Such an act is not based on “It is written,” or “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, in His adopted human nature with all its frailties and liabilities, was fully dependent on divine power. As mankind’s Example and as He taught by precept practice, He prayed constantly to the Father, never to the Holy Spirit.

What He did and is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, was to pray to the Father in heaven to send the Holy Spirit, in His name, to the prepared and waiting 120 disciples, including certain women, specifically “Mary the mother of Jesus.” See Acts chapters 1 and 2. Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “It is true that in the time of the end [rapidly approaching its stupendous climax], when God’s work on earth is closing, the EARNEST EFFORTS put forth by, CONSECRATED BELIEVERS under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are to be accompanied by SPECIAL TOKENS of divine [not human] favor. 

“Under the figure of the EARLY and LATTER RAIN, that falls in the Eastern lands at seed time and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE upon God’s church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the BEGINNING of the early, or former rain [of the Holy Spirit’s power], and GLORIOUS was the result. . . . 

 “But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to PREPARE the church for the coming of the Son of man [The Word made flesh, John 1-3, 14]. This OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT is likened to the FALLING OF THE LATTER RAIN; and it is for this ADDED POWER THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TO SEND THEIR PETITIONS (by importunate prayer] TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST [Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath] ‘in the time of the latter rain.’ [We, today, are living at this time!]. IN RESPONSE [Zech. 10:1; Joel 2: 23 quoted. Read them]. 

 “But unless the members of God’s church to-day have a LIVING CONNECTION with the SOURCE OF ALL SPIRITUAL GROWTH [the Holy Sprit!], they will NOT BE READY FOR THE TIME OF REAPING. Unless they ‘keep their lamps trimmed and burning’ [constantly studying the Word of truth and being sanctified by it, [John 17:17], they will FAIL OF RECEIVING added grace in times of SPECIAL NEED.” -E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 54, 55. Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1911.

Do you claim and profess to be a member of “God’s church” spoken of here, and believe that earth’s harvest of souls is at hand, then this soberingly solemn message is for you, as well as for me!

Remember:
“Character is the harvest of life.” So that “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” (Col. 1: 26, 27). This glorious hope, the greatest of them all, is the reproduction of Christ’s perfected human nature character (Heb. 5: 8, 9) in “a peculiar people,” those who “overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony”—His purified bride, “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but is holy and without blemish,” clad in fine “white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints,” the righteousness of Christ the Bridegroom!

And thus: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed in the day of redemption!”

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

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Mid-week Manna

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 24: WHY DESIRE TO AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 21, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 24

WHY DESIRE TO AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

See Luke 11:1-12, A. V. , R.S.V. of A.R.V. Compare to 1 John 5:7.

Just as we would desire God the Father in and through His only-begotten Son, the Desire of ages, mankind’s Savior, Redeemer, and Example, so should we Their Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, for “they Three are One.”

The familiar and well-loved “Lord’s Prayer” of Bible-based Christians is given twice in the New Testament, both by the Savior himself. The first is included in His longest-recorded sermon, the Sermon in the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) when and where He publicly introduced the nature of the kingdom He had come to establish, as prophesied and declared by John the Baptist, in stark to all the kingdoms, empires, and nations of man, past, present, and future. See Matt. 6: 9-13.

The second time Jesus repeated this “Lord’s Prayer” recorded in Luke 11: 1-12 is His definitive and nuanced answer to one of His disciples request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John (the Baptist) also taught his disciples.’

All who desire, should review the foregoing, incorporating it as a permanent part of one’s petitions and prayer life, particularly in these very time when we should have been far in advance in the solemn, spiritually-intelligent work of character-preparation to receive the promised latter rain of the Holy Spirit, as the 120 disciples did in preparation to receive the former rain of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Ponder the following from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “The preaching of the word will be of no avail without the CONTINUAL presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the ONLY effectual Teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth  is ACCOMPANIED to the heart by the Spirit, will it quicken the CONSCIENCE to transform the LIFE. 

 “One might be able to present the LETTER of the word of God, he might be FAMILIAR with all its commands and promises, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit sets home the truth [as the ‘Spirit of truth’], NO souls will fall on the Rock [Christ, and His word] and be broken [cf. Isa. 28: 9-13]. 

“No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light WITHOUT the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will NOT be a success UNLESS the seed is quickened to [spiritual] life by the dew of heaven [the power and work of the Holy Spirit]. Before one BOOK of the New Testament was written, before one GOSPEL SERMON had been preached AFTER Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles [at the upper room of a certain house in Jerusalem]. THEN the the testimony of their ENEMIES [their Jewish fellowmen] was, ‘Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine’ [see Acts 5: 28, 27-33].” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671.

Here’s the solemn counsel for those, who, “in a zeal not based on knowledge,” Peter-like, speak impulsively and act compulsively, and “run ahead of the Spirit:”
“The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, pierces the heart of the sinner, and cuts it in pieces. [see Heb. 4:12, 13]. When the theory of the truth is repeated WITHOUT its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the SPEAKER, it has NO force upon the hearers, but is REJECTED AS ERROR, the speaker making himself RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF SOULS.” – Ibid, Gospel Workers, p. 253.

This provides more profound insight regarding Christ’s warning in connection with the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12:37, 1-36.

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

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Mid-week Manna

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 23: NAMED ‘THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH’ FOR HIS ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF DEFINING AND MAINTAINING THE TRUTH

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 14, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 23

NAMED ‘THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH’ FOR HIS ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF DEFINING AND MAINTAINING THE TRUTH

Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. . . . Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16: 7, 13, KJV.

Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bolding mine):
“The Comforter is called ‘the Spirit of truth. His WORK is to define and maintain the truth. He FIRST dwells [or abides] in the HEART as the Spirit of truth, and thus becomes the Comforter. [Here’s why].

 “THERE IS COMFORT AND PEACE IN THE TRUTH, BUT NO REAL PEACE OR COMFORT CAN BE FOUND IN FALSEHOOD. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the MIND. By directing men to FALSE STANDARDS, he misshapes the CHARACTER. 

 “Through the SCRIPTURES the Holy Spirit SPEAKS to the MIND, and IMPRESSES the truth upon the HEART. Thus he EXPOSES ERROR, and EXPELS IT from the soul [the living person). 

  “It is by the Spirit of Truth working through the WORD OF GOD [‘the law and testimony,’ Isa. 8:20] that God SUBDUES His chosen people.

 “In describing to His disciples  the OFFICE WORK of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to INSPIRE them with the JOY AND HOPE that inspired HIS OWN HEART. He REJOICED because of the ABUNDANT HELP He had provided for the church [in and through the Holy Spirit].” - E. G. White, Desire of Ages, April 1950, pp. 671-2.

Among the other specific functions of the Holy Spirit as Christ’s Successor on earth according to the divine order in the plan of redemption, none can be more important than His appointed role as: THE DEFINER AND MAINTAINER OF THE TRUTH.

God Creator in the flesh, Christ Jesus the Redeemer, is the only “way, the truth, and the life.” Thus, His truth must be the way that Jesus described as “straight and narrow in which few are found therein,” in stark contrast to “the broad and easy way where many are found thereat.”

His way of life-giving truth He opened up with His own life of self-denial and self-sacrifice from humble Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s ignominious cross, setting the Example for all mankind to follow “daily.” (Luke 9:23), is the only safe path to walk in this antitypical Wilderness of sin-cursed earth. It is the way of truth that leads our extremely short temporal life of suffering, pain, disappointment, and sorrow to His promised reward to the faithful of that life of everlasting joy, peace, and happiness.

This truth, i. e., “as the truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21), no truth is truth to those who practice it but merely “profess” it for “Christ is not a minister of sin” (Gal. 3:17) while Satan, “the adversary of God and man, the master counterfeiter and deceiver is “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning” (John 8: 44). “No lie (falsehood) of the truth” (1 John 2:21) and “all liars shall die the second death” (Rev. 21: 8, 27).

As Jesus explained of the work of the Holy Spirit in, for, and through His true disciples:
“He will guide you into all truth: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; for whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak. . . . He shall GLORIFY ME for He shall receive of MINE [own glory) and shall SHEW IT [My “way, truth, life” and character-glory] unto you.” John 16: 13, 13.

It is therefore a deception to claim or profess to be led or possessed by the Holy Spirit and speak, teach, and preach falsehoods for they are lies. One can never glorify nor please God while speaking falsehood and lies.

Moreover, when the 120 disciples received the first baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (former rain) “the multitudes had them speak in their own tongues or native tongues, “the wonderful works of God,” not wild gibberish!

“God is a God of order, not confusion” nor a babel of tongues! It is from another malign spirit, never the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son!

Remember this: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Cor. 13: 8) for we all have a day of reckoning with the Spirit of Truth of Christ, the merciful High Priest yet righteous Judge of all the earth!

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

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Mid-week Manna

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 22: CHANGES THE HEART OF ThE INDIVIDUAL IN THE NEW COVENANT

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 7, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 22

CHANGES THE HEART OF ThE INDIVIDUAL IN THE NEW COVENANT

For a more accurate and comprehensive context of verses 26, 27, I quote here for the convenience of the reader Ezekiel. 36: 16-27, KJV. After reading all, close with 1 Sam. 10: 6, 9 which clearly reveals the efficiency, office, and work of the Holy Sprit since the very beginning to the close of earth’s probation in the sealing of the saints of the church triumphant! Now this (all emphasis and bracketed words mine]:

  “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, son of man, when the HOUSE OF ISRAEL dwelt in their own land [the Promised land, earthly Canaan], they DEFILED it by their OWN way and own doings: their ways was before Me as the UNCLEANNESS OF A REMOVED WOMAN. 

 “Wherefore I poured My FURY [divine righteous indignation and enmity against sin] upon them for the BLOOD THAT THEY SHED UPON THE LAND, and for their IDOLS, wherewith they had POLLUTED it [the promised land]. 

 “And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed  through the countries: according to their WAY and according to their DOINGS I JUDGED THEM [cause/reason of the desolation and diaspora].”

 “And when they entered unto the HEATHEN, whither (wherever) they went, they PROFANED MY HOLY NAME, when they [Israel] said to them [the heathen countries/nations], these [referring to themselves] are the PEOPLE OF THE LORD, and are gone forth out of His hand.

“But I [God says] HAD PITY FOR MINE HOLY NAME, WHICH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL HAD PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WITHER THEY WENT. 

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; I DO NOT DO THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O house of Israel, BUT FOR MY HOLY NAME’S SAKE, which ye have profaned amount the heathen, wither ye went. 

“And I will SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which wad profaned AMONG the heathen, which ye have profaned in THE MIDST of them; and the HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord God, when I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.

 “For I will take you FROM AMONG the heathen, and gather you out of all the countries  [as in, ‘come out from among them’] and I will bring you into your own land [the final Promised land of the heavenly Canaan of the ‘earth made new’].

Here is the true preparation included in the complete and comprehensive plans of redemption in order to finally enter and inherit—no longer the restless, turbulent, and bloodied earthly Promised land of fallen, sin-cursed earth—but the eternal Promised Land of Paradise restored in the earth made new:

 “Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your FILTHINESS, and from all your IDOLS, and I will cleanse you.

“A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the STONY HEART out of your flesh [yet mortal flesh nature], and I will give you an HEART OF FLESH [in contrast to stone-cold, carnal, stubborn heart]. 

“And I will put My [Holy] SPIRIT within you, and [The Holy Spirit will] CAUSE [convict; convince; empower] YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES [no longer ‘after the flesh’ Rom. 8:1-16], and ye shall KEEP MY JUDGEMENTS, AND DO THEM [‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus,’ Rev. 14:12].”

Now compare the foregoing with Heb. 8. 6-12; 10: 15, 16. Note that in the prophetic language of “sprinkling with clean water;” water, as in the former and latter rain, is one of the other symbols of and/or manifestations, works, and fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are: the dove, oil, and wind.

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

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Mid-week Manna

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 21: HIS EFFICIENCY: COMFORTS, STRENGTHENS COMPREHENSION, UNDERSTANDING, MEMORY

MID-WEEK MAMNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK;
July 31, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 21

HIS EFFICIENCY: COMFORTS, STRENGTHENS COMPREHENSION, UNDERSTANDING, MEMORY

Read John 14:26 and 16:13, 14 first. Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):

 “At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the COMFORTER will be sent in answer to the PRAYER OF FAITH. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but NO circumstances, no distance, CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE HEAVENLY COMFORTER [the Third Person of the Godhead]. 

 “The disciples still FAILED TO UNDERSTAND Christ’s words in their SPIRITUAL SENSE, and again HE explained His meaning. By the [Holy] Spirit, He said, He would MANIFEST HIMSELF to them. ‘The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall TEACH you all things.’ NO MORE will you say, I cannot comprehend. NO LONGER will you ‘see through a glass (mirror)  darkly.’ [1 Cor. 13: 12]. You shall be able TO COMPREHEND with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, which passeth knowledge.’ Eph. 3:18,19. 

“The disciples were to BEAR WITNESS to the life and work of Christ. Through THEIR WORD He was to SPEAK to all people on the face of the earth. BUT in the humiliation and death of Christ they were to SUFFER great trial and disappointment. That AFTER this experience their word might be ACCURATE, Jesus promised that the Comforter should ‘bring all things to REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ 

‘I have yet SO MANY THINGS to say unto you,’ He continued, ‘BUT YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW. Howbeit, when HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, He will guide you into ALL TRUTH: for He shall NOT speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall He HEAR, that shall He SPEAK; and He will show you THINGS TO COME. He shall GLORIFY Me: for He shall RECEIVE of Mine, and shall SHOW it unto you.’ (John 16:13,14). 

 “Jesus had opened before His disciples a VAST TRACT OF TRUTH. But it was MOST DIFFICULT for them [and us, too!] to keep His lessons DISTINCT from the TRADITIONS AND MAXIMS of the scribes [Jewish religious scholars] and Pharisees. They [the first disciples themselves] had been EDUCATED to accept the teachings of the rabbis as THE VOICE OF GOD, and it still HELD A POWER OVER THEIR MINDS, and MOLDED THEIR SENTIMENTS. EARTHLY IDEAS, TEMPORAL THINGS, still held a large place in their thoughts. 

 “They did NOT UNDERSTAND the SPIRITUAL NATURE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM [how about us today?] though He had SO OFTEN explained it to them. THEIR MINDS HAD BECOME CONFUSED. [Such is the soul-destroying results of the doctrinal Babylonian confusion warned of in Revelation!] 

 “They did NOT COMPREHEND THE VALUE of the Scriptures Christ presented. [even much worse today]. Many of His lessons seemed ALMOST LOST upon them. 

“Jesus saw that they did not lay hold of the REAL MEANING of His words. HE  COMPASSIONATELY PROMISED that the HOLY SPIRIT SHOULD RECALL THESE SAYINGS TO THEIR MINDS. 

 “And He had LEFT UNSAID MANY THINGS that could not be comprehended by His disciples. THESE ALSO WOULD BE OPENED TO THEM BY THE [Holy] SPIRIT. The Spirit was to QUICKEN ThEIR UNDERSTANDING, that they might have an appreciation of HEAVENLY things.” - E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 669-71, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., New Ed., Thirteenth Printing, April, 1950.

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Plead for the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit, with fire! For “Wherever sin is, our God is a consuming fire!” Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 20 : PRAYER INTERCESSOR WHO MAKES ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD OF THE FAITHFUL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 24, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 20

PRAYER INTERCESSOR WHO MAKES ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD OF THE FAITHFUL

First, read Rom. 8:1-25 (KJV, RSV, or RV). Herein is clearly revealed that the precious blessings imparted through the Holy Spirit applies only to those “who walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh.” They are called “saints.”

John reveals more specific details regarding them: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14: 12); they love Jesus by obeying His command: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), and following His example (John 15:10) They possess, not merely profess in lip service and practice Bible faith—the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; Christ’s faith; the apostles’ faith; the faith of all the named and unnamed saints immortalized in Hebrews chapter 11, which I call the Bible’s “Hall of Faith,”—-not the widely-accepted-and practiced counterfeit, presumption—which was the third class of temptation Satan subjected Jesus to in His 40-day fast weakened state in the wilderness (Matt 4).

Now this (all emphasis provided):
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit [Himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

  “And He [God in Christ the Word] that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

  “And [thus] we know that all things work together for [the] good [of] them that love God, to them who are called [and respond] according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:26-28, KJV.

Prayer is the “breathe of the soul.” In the physical realm when we stop or are deprived of breathing for whatever cause or reason, we will die in a very short time. Infinitely deadlier is it in the spiritual life. And because of inherent human frailties, weaknesses, yea, infirmities which no mortal is spared while still alive, even the faithful and obedient saints fall short of fulfilling every single time the requirements of the divine “science” of the “effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man.” (James 5:16).

Knowing infinitely more than finite human minds can ever attain in the yet-corruptible flesh nature, and how exactly to translate and/or reword our feeble word into the one spoken in the heavenly courts, the language Paul heard when taken in vision “to the third heavens, paradise itself, which is unlawful for man to utter” (2 Cor.12: 4, 1-2)—the Holy Spirit then accompanies these words, not with heavenly music, as majestic and moving it must be but “with groanings that cannot be uttered” or emoter by the human vocal chords and voice box.

How wonderfully comforting it is for all struggling saints—still traversing this antitypical Wilderness of Sin-cursed earth—to know that Jesus, the “First Comforter” is traveling with us every step of the way towards the heavenly Canaan as our Counselor, Guide, Sin and Burden-bearer, and Protector in and through the “another Comforter” in the Third Person of the Godhead! Indeed, “Ye are of God [the Godhead], little children, and have overcome them [false prophets and those have the spirit of the antichrist]: because GREATER is He that is IN you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4: 4).

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

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Mid-week Manna

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 19: SIN REPROVER; WITNESSES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 17, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 19

SIN REPROVER; WITNESSES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read John 16:8-11 first. Now this from the inspired writer (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):
“The OFFICE of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: ‘When He is come He will REPROVE [convict] the world of SIN, and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT.’ (John 16:8). It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner RESPONDS to the QUICKENING INFLUENCE of the Holy Spirit, he will be brought to REPENTANCE, and aroused [awakened] to the importance of OBEYING the divine requirements.”

NOTE: God’s requirements of divine love, wisdom, mercy, and justice are also the terms of His everlasting covenant- relationship with all His intelligent creatures—specifically man, created alone “in His own image and likeness.”

These are definitively defined in the Ten Commandments which He wrote twice with His own finger on two different occasions on two tables of stone and handed over to Moses to give to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant dispensation.

And in the New Covenant, New Testament dispensation of the church, it is “written in the hearts and minds of the individual members of each of the seven church periods as named in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

“To the repentant [contrite, not proud, spiritually self-confident Laodicean believers], hungering and thirsting for RIGHTEOUSNESS [see Matt. 5: 5, 10] the Holy Spirit REVEALS the Lamb of God that TAKETH AWAY [not overlooks, covers up, excuses, justifies] THE SIN of the world. ‘He [the Holy Spirit] shall RECEIVE of Mine [righteousness] and shall SHOW it unto you,’ Christ said. ‘He shall TEACH you all things, and bring all things to REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ (John 16:14; 14: 26). 

“The Holy Spirit is given [by the Father through the Son as His Successor and Vicegerent in earth since after His ascension to these closing hours of earth’s probation] to be a REGENERATING AGENCY [in behalf of the Father in the Son] to make EFFECTUAL the salvation wrought by the DEATH of our Redeemer. 

“The Holy Spirit  is CONSTANTLY seeking to draw the attention of [fallen, sinful] men to the GREAT OFFERING made on the cross of Calvary, to UNFOLD to the world the LOVE of God, and to open to the CONVICTED SOUL the PRECIOUS THINGS of the Scriptures.”

NOTE: God unconditionally loves the SINNER with ‘perfect love’ while He unconditionally hates SIN with ‘perfect hatred.’ In this divine dichotomy are embodied the opposing natures and principles constantly working in the “enmity” of the great controversy between Christ and Satan and the plan of salvation of the gospel to redeem all that was lost to sin and Satan.

 “Having [first] brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS [the law that Christ Himself ‘magnified and made honorable’ by His substitutionary death, Isa. 42:21], the Holy Spirit WITHDRAWS THE AFFECTIONS from the things of the earth ], and FILLS the soul with a DESIRE FOR HOLINESS [also ‘the hunger and thirst for righteousness sake.’ See Matt. 5: 6, 10]. 

 “He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH’ (John 16:13), the Savior declared. If men are WILLING to be molded, there will be brought about a SANCTIFICATION of the whole being [is God’s will, 1 Thess. 4:3]. The Spirit will take the things of God and STAMP [seal] them on the soul. By His power the WAY OF LIFE [‘the straight and narrow’] will be made SO PLAIN THAT NONE NEED ERR [be misled; deceived].” -E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 52, 53, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1911.

Now, just with these sobering yet inspiring revelations of the Holy Sprit’s divine person, presence, office, authority, power, and closing work on earth before its six-thousand year probation ends, who dares to doubt, belittle, deny, and grieve Him away, finally committing the unpardonable sin—“the most common manifestation of which is persistently refusing to accept heaven’s invitation to repent!”

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