Category: Mid-week Manna

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 10, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 18

BETTER THAN PERSONAL PRESENCE OF THE CREATOR’S INCARNATED NATURE

Jesus said to His first disciples (all emphasis supplied):
“BELIEVE ME that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me FOR THE VERY WORKS SAKE. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that BELIEVETH IN ME, the WORKS that I do shall he do also; and GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO, because I go unto My Father. . . . And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER, that He may ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER; even the Spirit of truth.” John 14: 11, 12, 16, 17.

“Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them observe ALL THINGS I have commanded you: and, lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.” Matt. 18: 19, 20.

1. How could the disciples “do greater things than Jesus their Master, verily God in the flesh, did? Surely He who is “the way, the TRUTH, and the life” spoke nothing but the truth. So what did He really mean?
   2. How could they remember all that He taught in order for them to teach these “to all nations” after He returned to the Father, when on several occasions they could not even understand His parables? He even said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” John 16:12.
   3. Since He was soon to die at Calvary, resurrect “on the third day” and forty days later (Acts 1: 1-3; 1 Cor. 15: 1-8, etc.), in the presence of the Twelve, visibly ascend to heaven in His glorified incarnated human nature—how could He promise them He would still be “with them alway even unto the end of the world?”

Ah! All these and much more would be enabled and accomplished through the divine power of the Third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s invisible presence in and through His Successor on earth after His ascent, according for the divine plan of redemption. Because “these three [Persons] are one” (1 John 5:7, A.V.) the “fullness of the Godhead” resides both in the Father and the Holy Spirit, but in Christ the only-begotten, “it pleased the Father that “in Him should dwell all the fulness of the Godhead BODILY” (Col. 2: 9; 1:19) both in the work of Creation (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3, 10; Col. 1: 13-18; Heb. 1: 1, 2, 8-12; the work of Redemption, beginning in “the mystery of godliness in the incarnation. Furthermore, Christ alone is “the brightness of the glory” and EXPRESS image of the person of the Father” (Heb. 1: 2, 3)!

E. G. White, God’s servant, magnifies these precious truths (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):
“Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim [the Lamb of God], Christ sought for the MOST ESSENTIAL AND COMPLETE GIFT to bestow upon His followers, a gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of GRACE. [John 14: 16-18 quoted].

“BEFORE THIS the Spirit  had been in the world [since beginning of creation]; [and then] from the very beginning of the work of redemption He had been MOVING UPON MEN’S HEARTS. But while Christ [in His adopted human nature from the incarnation] was on earth, the disciples had desired no other Helper. Not until they were DEPRIVED of His [physical, visible] PRESENCE would they FEEL their need of the Spirit, and then He would come. 

 “The Holy Spirit is Christ’s Representative [Successor; Vicegerent; Vicar], but DIVESTED OF THE PERSONALITY OF HUMANITY, and INDEPENDENT thereof. 

“CUMBERED with [the natural limitations of] HUMANITY, Christ COULD NOT BE IN EVERY PLACE PERSONALLY. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His Successor on earth. NO ONE could then have ANY ADVANTAGE because of his LOCATION or his PERSONAL CONTACT with Christ. By the [Holy] Spirit He would be ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. In this sense He would be NEARER TO THEM than if He had not ascended on high.” - Desire of Ages, pp. 668-9, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., New Edition, 1950.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 12, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 15

Foundational Scriptures (all emphasis supplied).
Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER, that HE may abide with you FOREVER.

Even THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH whom the WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM: but ye know HIM; for HE dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you.”. . . “At that day [when the Comforter comes as promised and fulfilled at Pentecost that began the Christian church and dispensation of the New Testament) ye shall know that I AM IN THE FATHER, and ye in ME and I in YOU.” John 14: 16, 17, 20. (Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible scriptures cited will be from the King James or Authorized Version, K.J.V./A.V.):

The foregoing are one of the transcendental last “few words” Jesus made to His first Twelve disciples (Judas Iscariot still included) at that pivotal Thursday night after He had attended His fourth and last OT Passover service then immediately instituted the Lord’s Supper ordinance, including the preparatory foot-washing, which was to forever replace and render the annual Passover service merely a part of the Mosaic ceremonial system of the Old Testament, that along with all others including the physical circumcision of the male (see book of Galatians, etc.) and all included in the Ceremonial law, were, in fact and truth “nailed to the cross” and were “done away with” in the New Covenant where “the law is written in the living, moving, and thinking “hearts and minds” of the true believers, not on two inanimate tables of stone.” (Heb. 8:10, 1-9; 10: 16; Eze. 36: 25-27; 11: 19, 20; Deut. 5.13, etc.)—was the definitive promise of the Holy Spirit.

As a matter of introduction, after which Bible verses will the main source of this series, I first quote extracts from the book The Coming of the Comforter by Leroy Edwin Froom, Review & Herald Publishing, 1949. (All emphasis and bracketed words supplied). To wit:
“The Dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Taking this order [cited in the previous paragraph as:
1) the promised coming of the Holy Spirit;
2) the character and personality of the Holy Spirit; and
3) the mission, or work, of the Holy Spirit, observe FIRST the explicit declaration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. One must be impressed with the fact that just as truly as the PROPHETS announced Jesus’ [first] advent, so He announces the advent of ANOTHER, CO-EQUAL with Himself and the SUCCESSOR of Himself. As one ASCENDED [to the Father in heaven], so that other DESCENDED [on earth as His vicegerent!]. And the SAME recognition of authority and deference paid by the DISCIPLES [then and now] to their Lord, was to be given to the Holy Spirit as Christ’s VICAR on earth.

 “As Christ had a DEFINITE TIME MISSION [specifically, only 3 1/2 years from baptism to crucifixion] so the Holy Spirit likewise has a definite time mission [all take note!], His special DISPENSATION from Pentecost to the Second Advent. He is the a Person of the Godhead [the Third Person] who came to the earth in a DEFINITE WAY, at a DEFINITE TIME, for a DEFINITE WORK, and has been here ever since, just as really Jesus was here on His special mission during the THIRTY-THREE [short] years. ‘The dispensation in which we are NOW living is to be, to those that ask [‘seek, knock, and pray’ Luke 11: 9-13, 1-12] is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit.’ E.G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, 511).” pp. 26, 27. 

The only antidote and protection we have in these last days against the last great deceptions and delusions of Satan for these last days that are and will so powerful that “if possible, even the very elect will be deceived,” includes the grave and solemn warning against the teaching that there is “no Holy Spirit” and the like! That is openly “grieving away of the Holy Spirt.” It is already on the rise which means probation’s hour is soon to close!

To be continued next MWM, God willing. “Make your calling and election sure!” Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 5, 2024

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST Series
Part 14

THE ‘WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’

While this is not the last or most important “way of escape” from temptation (1 Cor. 10:14), it, I believe, sums it all up for all who love Jesus enough to obey His commandments (John 14:15) and are thus sorely tempted and severely tried (John 15:17-25; 16: 1-4; 2 Tim. 3:12, etc.) by Satan through his demon and human agencies. (John 15:16-25; 16: 1-4; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-19, etc.).

Yes, indeed! “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the GODLY out of temptations, and to reserve the UNJUST unto the day of judgment to be punished.” (2 Pet. 2:9).

God’s special deliverance through His “ways of escape from temptations” are promised to the godly, humble, sin-hating sinners, not to the stubborn, proud, presumptuous, hypocritical, ungodly sinners. The only “way of escape” available for the ungodly is godliness, Godlikeness, even as “the only hope for the sinner is to stop sinning” by godly repentance and a resolute turning away from his sins by God’s enabling grace.

The authentic, not artificial, professed Christian, is truly armed with a deeper and experienced knowledge of Jesus which is only obtained and owned by “eating His flesh,” the heavenly manna, “and drinking His blood” (John 6: 48-53, 25-69), which is the acquired habit of a disciplined study of the His Word. Like Christ his Savior and Example, he daily, one day at a time, “grows in stature, waxes strong in spirit, increasingly filled with wisdom by the grace of God” (Luke 2: 40; cf. 1:80; Eph. 4:13, etc.) and therefore, intellectually and spiritually, and individually, not merely theoretical/doctrinal, or vicarious/corporate/institutional. He is locked-into the New Covenant/Testament relationship with the yet-invisible Jesus, by and in faithfully following His self-denying, self-sacrificing suffering-perfected EXAMPLE daily, one day at a time. (Heb. 5: 8, 9; 1 Pet. 2: 21-25).

He thus “walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh” (Rom. 8:1-18) by “letting the mind of Christ be in” him.( Phil. 2:5). This was the WAY Enoch WALKED with God for three centuries and became the first mortal to be translated “for his life testimony pleased God.” (Heb. 11: 5; Gen. 5:21-24).

It was in and through his MIND that Enoch walked and talked with God! He and Elijah are the prototypes of the 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5 who are found of God as guileless, not guilty! These fellow mortals experienced the “victory in Christ Jesus” by “faith that works by love” and purifies the life! (1 Cor. 15:57; Gal. 5:6).

So that whenever and wherever tempted by whomsoever with whatsoever, you can, with a mind intellectually and spiritually settled in “the truth as it is in Jesus,” ask this self-arming question, ‘WHAT WOULD JESUS DO’? and know with much greater but not absolute, certainty (as “without faith it is impossible to please Him”) as to what and how His answer will be.

Moreover, when one enters into a higher sphere of relationship with God in this manner, he will not knowingly, thus presumptuously pray and ask God for anything he knows is “at enmity with God’s law;”such would be an insult and one of the ways of denying Christ.

This also applies when wanting “to know what God’s will is” whenever faced with difficult decisions and things are not quite as dried-and-cut or is totally unfamiliar or unprecedented in one’s experience. This is rendered more efficacious when tended with “the patience of the saints” and the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous” (Rev 14:12; James 5:16).

And where the relationship of creature with Creator, man with God, sinner with Savior, suppliant with Advocate/Intercessor/Mediator is concerned, the greatest evidence of, and highest form of WORSHIP, adoration, and obeisance is loving obedience to all of His Ten Commandments when “written in the heart and mind under the new covenant” (Heb. 8:9, 10; 10:16; Eze. 11: 19,20; 36: 25-27).

The profound yet simple gospel truth undergirding and assuring the victory of the plan of salvation versus the great controversy with Satan and sin, the Savior of mankind himself declared in an all-encompassing yet easy to remember “Jesus said” statement: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15, KJV. It is this “love that conquers all.” This is the LOVE or “charity that abides with faith and hope, these three; but the greatest of them all is charity” (1 1 Cor. 13: 13. 1-12) for it is the power to obey God’s law, not faith nor hope, as essential as these graces are as part of the “fruits of the Spirit.”

This is how Jesus, whose predetermined name in the council of heaven means “He shall SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM (not in) THEIR SINS” (Matt. 1:21), provides the living Example of how He “SUCORS all that are tempted;” why “He is able to save to uttermost” all who flee to Him in faith, at any time and every kind of need as a personal Savior, Refuge, Solid Rock, Almighty Defender and through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

All need to know and remember that the Godhead and the angelic ministry that excel in strength are on the side of the severely tried yet humble and penitent sinner who is constantly buffeted by the merciless attack of the enemy of souls with his numberless agencies, employing unnumbered schemes.

Remember these:
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the UTTERMOST [who?] that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth [the risen Christ our Mediator is no longer subject to temptation and death!] to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

 “Now unto Him that is ABLE TO KEEP YOU from falling [into temptation, and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24.

“Now unto Him that is able TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us.” Eph. 3:20.

“Nay, IN ALL THESE THINGS we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him that loved us [and love in return].” Rom. 8: 37. 

Last but not least: (When resistance is success). “SUBMIT yourselves unto God, RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” James 4:7 (6-10).

This concludes this series. To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 29, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – Part 13

THE ‘TENTH’ WAY OF ESCAPE: COUNT TO TEN

When suddenly and sorely confronted with “the temptation that doth so easily besets you”—maybe to compromise and temporarily set aside conviction for convenience or temporal safety; duty and virtue for profit; violate conscience for any indulgence; sacrifice dignity and honor for viral fame, etc., it varies from person to person, yet there are those that are indeed “common to man,” but whatever it is—breathe” first by literally counting one to ten.

To the uninitiated, this starts as a conscious, disciplined effort until it becomes a subconscious habit. This alone affords you a “pause” buffer to think instead of instantly reacting compulsively and impulsively.

But greater and more effective than this is spiritual enlightenment on the meaning and importance of the number ten. The desired developed habit will be additionally-armored spiritually, empowered to “count the cost” (Luke 14: 25-35) and to discern with intelligent faith.

Here’s how and why. In Biblical numerology, ten is the number of completeness, completion, and comprehensiveness. Here are but two yet vital examples:
1. The Law of Ten Commandments which “God’s thought made audible,” readable, understandable, and applicable to all mankind. “Ten precepts, brief, comprehensive and authoritative, cover the duty of man to God and His fellow man; and all based upon the great fundamental principle of love. [Luke 10:26; Deut. 6: 4, 5; Lev. 19: 8].
In the Ten Commandments these principles are carried out in detail, and made applicable to the condition and circumstances of man.”

 “The Ten holy precepts spoken by Christ upon Sinai’s Mount were the revelation of the character of God, and made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human heritage. The Law of Ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented to man is the VOICE of God from heaven speaking to the soul in PROMISE, This do [obey] and you will not come under the dominion and control of Satan.” (Ibid, 1BC 1105). 

 “The law of God is the standard by which the CHARACTERS AND LIVES of men will be tested in the JUDGMENT. Says the wise man: ‘Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.’ Eccl. 12: 13, 14, A.V.” Ibid, GC, 1911 ed., 482). 

 2. The Parabolic-Prophecy of the Ten Wise and Foolish Virgins. See Matt. 25: 1-13, KJV.      In the Bible the woman is a symbol of the church (virgins) and the Bridegroom, Christ. 
 “In the parable, all ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps, and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the CHURCH that lives just BEFORE Christ’s second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard of the message of Christ’s near approach, and CONFIDENTLY expect His appearing. BUT as in the parable, SO IT IS NOW. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the CRY is made, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him,’ MANY ARE UNREADY. They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They are DESTITUTE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (Ibid, COL 408).  

Now you know how and why “counting one to ten” as one of the “ways of escape” when tempted and tried is not merely to “breathe and buy time,” but to bring instant recall of the awesomely solemn truths that should make any and all of Satan’s fiercest temptations to “lose their sting.”’

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 22, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – Part 12

THE ‘NINTH’ WAY OF ESCAPE. ASCEND HIGHER ON THE WINGS OF SONG

  “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but  understanding that the will of the Lord is. . . . Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.” Eph. 5: 15-17, 19, KJV. 

 “By faith that  works by love” (Gal. 5:6), refocus your whole attention instantly to the Savior and Example of the Model Man. Whatever the circumstances surrounding you, firmly and steadfastly focus the eye of your MIND by the enabling grace imparted by the Holy Spirit, on this all-powerful truth: Jesus Christ, the incarnated Creator and “second Adam,” was “in ALL POINTS tempted like as WE are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4: 15).

 Thus indeed, “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is COMMON TO MAN” (1 Cor. 10:13). Again, “Though He were a Son [of God] yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect [by suffering temptation, steadfastly resisting, never yielding nor compromising, not even in thought], He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him [by following His example].” Heb. 5:8, 9. It is in this special sense and setting that He is “the Author and Finisher” of “the faith once delivered to the saints, “ who, in “patience, keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). 

As part of his “unnumbered schemes,” Satan’s temptations come in all forms, including provocations. One powerful “way of escape” this is to immediately sing to yourself, (paying less attention to whether you are in tune) the “songs of Zion,” or “heavenly Canaan,” which may be actual Psalms or “old time religion” hymns, or more modern songs with scripturally-sound lyrics, set in music that will not grieve the Holy Spirit and your guardian angel. Note:

“When others are impatient, fretful, and complaining because self is not subdued, begin to sing some of the songs of Zion. While Christ was working at the carpenter’s bench [in Nazareth, proverbial for wickedness], others would sometimes surround Him, trying to cause Him to be impatient; but He would begin SINGING some of the beautiful Psalms, and before they realized what they were doing, they had joined with Him in singing, influenced, as it were, by the power of the Holy Spirit which was there.” E. G. White, Sons & Daughters (devotional), p. 88.

For more examples, Christ often sang Psalms 66 and 68, both composed by David (3BC 1148; 4T 533). David composed 2 Samuel 22 while being hunted by King Saul (4SG-a 93). David composed Psalm 3 in darkest trial when he fled from Absalom, his own son. (PP 741-2; Ed 165). Psalm 46, composed by David (Ed 165; PK 203), was sung by the godly Protestant Reformer, upon receiving discouraging news (LS 258). The popular Psalm 91, is entitled “The Shield of Omnipotence” (8T 120), etc. Read them all, and if you possess the talent, compose
your own melody so you can sing them to yourself, and maybe share them with others.

If we are truly “preparing” to be with Jesus “wherever He is” in “the place He went to prepare for us” (John 14:1-3), we should be singing the “songs of Canaan and heavenly Zion” now during our antitypical journey in this wilderness of sin, if we would finally cross the antitypical Jordan river into the heavenly promised land of eternity.

If we are planning to join the grand song of victory of the eternally-redeemed, assisted by the angelic choir, we must first be overcomers here on earth, “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet. 1:4) by “the way of escape” of heavenly music and song! As “by constantly beholding one becomes changed into that image, so does by constantly singing and listening! “Choose ye this day” for tomorrow is not given!

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 15, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – Part 11

THE “EIGHTH” WAY OF ESCAPE: DUE DILIGENCE, NOT SINFUL NEGLIGENCE

 “Therefore we must give the MORE EARNEST HEED to the things which we have HEARD lest AT ANY TIME we should let them SLIP. For if the word spoken by angels were steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness—-both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost (Spirit)—according to His will?” Heb. 2: 3, 4, K.J. V. (All emphasis mine). 

What is the definitive and more nuanced meaning of salvation?
“Christ declares Himself to be ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ [John 14:6]. The way to heaven is represented as a narrow path, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. But truth [never error or compromise] illuminates this path at every step. . . . SALVATION means to us COMPLETE SURRENDER OF SOUL, BODY, AND SPIRIT.

Because of the unruly elements of our nature our passions often gain the mastery. THE ONLY HOPE of the sinner is to CEASE FROM SIN. Thus his will [power of choice as a free moral agent] will be in HARMONY with the will of Christ. His soul will be brought into FELLOWSHIP with God.” -E.G. White, Manuscript 73, May 11, 1899 (all emphasis and bracketed words mine).

In his must-read book, The Book of Hebrews, Review & Herald, 1948, M. L. Andresen wrote:
“The more earnest heed.’ Christ never preached for the sole purpose of imparting information. Wonderful as are the truths He revealed, His preaching had a deeper purpose than that of enriching the mind. He wanted to move men into action; He wanted them to give heed to what He said; He wanted them to be ‘DOERS and not forgetful hearers of the Word.’ [James 1:22].

This is also the intent of the apostle [Paul, writer of Hebrews]. He warns the CHURCH to give more earnest heed to what they have heard [as in, ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.’]. He intimates that they are not entirely heedless; but he desires them to give MORE earnest heed to ‘the things which belonged to their peace’ [Luke 19: 42]. They had already the knowledge they needed. They knew what to do. But they were NOT living up to the light they had. They must be STIRRED into action.” pp. 80, 81.

More than we realize, there will be so much less reason, occasion, stress, anxiety, and desperation to seek “a way of escape” from many a sticky situation if only we judiciously avoid getting entangled at the outset.

This “way of escape” is preemptive, thus preventive. Then, not only “avoid”but run away from the deadly sin of presumption, the counterfeit of faith, like the plague!

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