Category: Mid-week Manna

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 8, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – Part 10

THE ‘SEVENTH’ WAY OF ESCAPE: YOUR HOLY CALLING AND SACRED STATUS

By nature, man acts out what or who he thinks he is; or what others think and say he is to them, which underwrites performative actions and deeds. Now if the mind and heart are yet “carnal,” though the person professes and “has the form of godliness,” the corresponding “works of the flesh (Gal. 5: 19-21) will reveal the real person.

Often, it is in unforeseen crises, emergency situation, a fiery trial, or fierce temptation that both of either hidden or unknown moral character defects, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities are brought to light.

By the same metrics, yet on the opposite end, it is also by the expert witness of the nine “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22, 23), that an unpretentious genuine follower of Christ is revealed. Indeed, as Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” But it takes time, patience, and dedicated effort to nurture it to maturity before it finally bears its fruits. Trees are a symbol of man in the Bible.

Even if one has fully committed his life and dedicated all his means to following Christ and the cause of the “present, testing truths” for these last days, he is never beyond temptation! Hence Paul warned, “Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10: 12).

Let all who have already accepted Christ and “patiently keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12), constantly bear the following in mind and safeguard its high, noble, and sacred distinction and honor by not yielding to any and all temptations by grace and gallant resistance. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “But ye are CHOSEN generation, a ROYAL priesthood, a HOLY nation, a PECULIAR people; that ye should show for the praises of Him who has CALLED you out of darkness [of ignorance, sin, worldliness, carnality] into His MARVELOUS LIGHT.” 1 Pet. 2: 9, A.V. 

Remember: You are much more than any and all classes of earthly royalty and monarchy. If you are truly “dead to sin and alive in Christ,” then you are in fact and truth, Chosen, Royal, Holy, and Peculiar—according to the infallible, omniscient, and omnipotent Word of God, not the fallible, finite wisdom of fallen, sinful mortals!

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 1, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 9

THE SIXTH ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’ FOR ALL TEMPTED, FALLEN SINNERS: PRAYER

But there is much more involved in the divine science of this particular prayer “escape.” When carefully and prayerfully studied, correctly understood, and faithfully applied, it becomes indispensable
to all who would “experience the victory in Christ Jesus,”
victoriously “overcoming even as Christ,” by example, overcame all temptations by which all men are tempted by.”

With solemn delight, I am sharing herewith excerpts rich with Scripture that explain and magnify so precisely on this prayer “escape” provision, from
the inspired pen of Ellen G. White, in her book, Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 460. She wrote (all emphasis mine):

“Keep thy heart with all diligence,’ is the counsel of the wise man; ‘for out of it are the issues of life.’ As man ‘thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 4: 23; 23:37). The heart must be renewed by divine grace, or it will be in vain to seek for the purity of life. He who attempts to build up a noble, virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ, is building his house upon the shifting sand.

IN THE FIERCE STORMS OF TEMPTATION, DAVID’S PRAYER should be the petition of every soul: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ (Ps. 51:10). And having partaken of the heavenly gift, we are to go on unto perfection, being ‘kept by the power of God, through FAITH.’ (1 Pet. 1:5).

 “Yet we have a WORK TO DO TO RESIST TEMPTATION. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices must GUARD WELL the avenues of the soul; they must AVOID reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest IMPURE thoughts. The MIND should not be left to WANDER at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. [flooding the social media and internet today]. ‘Girding up the loins of your MIND,’ says the apostle Peter, ‘be sober, . . . not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts [carnal desires] in your ignorance; but like as He which called you is HOLY, be ye YOURSELVES also holy IN ALL MANNER OF LIVING.’ (1 Pet. 1:13-15, R.V.). 

 “Says Paul, ‘Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise [worthy], THINK on these things.’ (Phil. 4:8). 

THIS WILL REQUIRE PRAYER AND UNCEASING WATCHFULNESS. We must be aided by the ABIDING INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [not the influencers of the world], which will attract the MIND UPWARD, and HABITUATE it to dwell on pure and holy things. And we must give DILIGENT STUDY to the word of God. ‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.’ ‘Thy Word,’ says the psalmist, ‘have I his in mine heart, that I might NOT SIN against Thee.’ (Ps. 119: 9, 11).”

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

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

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 7

THE FOURTH ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’ FOR ALL TEMPTED, FALLEN SINNERS

 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [by the temptation], he shall receive the crown of life [or ‘the crown that is eternal life’], which the Lord has promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, NEITHER tempteth He any man. BUT every man is tempted, WHEN he is drawn away by his OWN LUST and [thereby] enticed. THEN when lust hath CONCEIVED, it bringeth forth SIN: and sin, when it is FINISHED, bringeth forth DEATH.” James 1:12-15, KJV. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine). 

I class this as the fourth “way of escape,” not as a matter of divine chronology or order of importance but because it makes spiritual practical sense, following the first three cited previously.

It is clear here that the apostle describes a process at work, not an instantaneously automatic occurrence, but traceable from cause to effect. The sinful act is the result of several factors and steps. Honestly recognizing, spiritually discerning, and weighing each, intellectually and spiritually, affords the tempted one to pause and “nip it at the bud” preventing it from deteriorating further in the process. Indeed, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”

It is as, “Stop, first look left than right before crossing the street.” Or “count the cost” if you really can afford it, or actually need it. Is worth all the risk. That momentary pause to reflect, can be the difference between life and death. As has been said, one moment’s indiscretion, a lifetime of shame and regret! Impulsive-compulsive behavior is intemperance and lack of personal discipline and self-control.

So how does the tempted one “endure,” not yield and succumb to the temptation? Endure by resistance. By what means? By God’s empowering grace. Here’s what the same apostle teaches us:

 “Do you think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST [by grace] the devil, and he will FLEE from you. Draw NEAR to God, and He will draw near to you. CLEANSE your hands, ye sinners; PURIFY your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep [for your sins, pride, stubborness, and double-mindedness]: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. HUMBLE yourselves in the sight of the Lord [not before man], and HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP.” James 4: 5-10. 

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

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

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series- No. 6

THE THIRD ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’

“Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exo. 25:8, 9, KJV. (Read chapters 25-31 for more complete picture).

The first of four earthly ones was any tent or temporary dwelling place, but especially the tabernacle erected by Moses at Mt.Sinai, God’s sacred earthly dwelling place and the center of the Hebrew (ancient Israel) worship for more than four centuries. Under the first and last theocracy God was Israel’s direct Supreme Ruler, and in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle abode the visible glory symbolic of Divine Presence (Exo. 25:22; 40:34, 35), at times called the “Shekinah” glory, which is a Rabbinical, not Biblical term.

In the promised land, king David was privy to the purpose and meaning of the sanctuary and all its systems and services. God gave him all the specifications on how and what it would be built with—but forbade him from actually doing if for he had “bloody hands” as a man of war. It was his son Solomon “the wise man” whom God entrusted with this sacred task and project.

This temple, most often referred to as Solomon’s Temple was constructed on what was formerly called Mt. Moriah, scene of the offering of Isaac by Abraham. Hence, David could and did write, “Thy WAY, O God, is in the SANCTUARY” (Ps. 77:13).

Going back to the beginning:
“It was difficult for man, surrounded by sin, to understand these wonderful truths [embodied in the first promise and prophecy of Gen. 3:15]. The rays of light [of the gospel truth] which shone from the heavenly sanctuary upon the [very first] simple sacrifices [offered by Adam, Abel, Seth, etc.], were so obscured by doubt and sin, that God, in His great love and mercy, had an EARTHLY SANCTUARY built after the divine pattern [in heaven], and PRIESTS were [divinely] appointed [not people-elected], who served unto the EXAMPLE AND SHADOW of heavenly things.’ (Heb. 8:5). This was done that the man’s FAITH might lay hold of the fact that IN HEAVEN there is a SANCTUARY whose SERVICES are for the REDEMPTION of [fallen, sinful] mankind.

“The prophet Jeremiah grasped this great truth, and exclaimed, ‘A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.’ (Jer. 17:12). David knew of God’s dwelling place in heaven [the ‘Father’s house,’ John 13:1-3, and when writing for the generations to come, he said, ‘He (God) had looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth.’ (Ps. 102:19). 

The faithful ones have always understood that when they sought God with ALL THE HEART, their PRAYER came up to His holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven.’ (2 Chron. 30: 27).”
S. Haskell, The Cross and Its Shadow, pp. 21, 22, Facsimile Reproduction, Printed by Review & Herald Publishing Asso., 1914. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine)

Review 1 Cor. 10:13 again with these added light that should strengthen, resolve, as it increases intelligent faith in God and the ways of escape He has made that all may successfully bear and endure, not yield to any and all of Satan’s deceptions and temptations!

Until next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 3, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 5

THE FIRST AND SECOND ‘WAYS OF ESCAPE’ SUMMARY

The first “way of escape” God provided for our first parents and all their children, mankind itself, was the divine “enmity” He immediately “put” between Satan disguised as a serpent, the first of all spiritualistic mediums thereafter, between the woman Eve, the mother of mankind and their respective “seed.”

This enmity had no existence prior and neither were Adam and Eve originally designed and made from the dust of the ground (never from “spirit”) physically or especially spiritually, programmed or wired so to speak with this one-off function and power, or even a special gift” as “a way of escape.”

The word itself “escape,” meaning “to break free or flee from,” “unshackle,” gives the transformed yet finite and mortal (no longer carnal) SPIRITUAL MIND of the true follower of Christ and diligent student of the Word some idea of this great “mystery of iniquity” in stark contrast to the “great mystery of godliness” as was and is manifest in the incarnated Creator Christ Jesus.

Hence the absolute indispensability of a genuine and full conversion of the sinner previously possessing a “carnal mind,” being “transformed by the renewing of that mind” into “the mind of Christ” (Rom. 12:2, 1; Phil. 2:5-2). Only such a mind can “discern spiritual things,” and “set their affections on things above” that are eternal, not temporal in value. (Col. 3:2; 2 Cor. 4:18). Paul reminds all: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.” (Rom. 8: 6-8).

The second “way of escape” God provided for man after the fall in Eden was intentionally both visceral and instructional, divinely-designed by its shock value to emphasize the exceeding sinfulness of sin and thereby cherish hatred towards it—-the killing and shedding of its blood of the very first yearling male lamb as a burnt offering on the first stone altar, set up just outside the gates of the garden of Eden.

If revealed to the fallen father and mother of mankind that indeed “sin is the transgression of the law” and that its “wages is death.” That the only hope the transgressor has is not “to do away with the law” but for someone pure and innocent of any sin to volunteer to take the place of the guilty and condemned one as his substitute and surety.

This is the only living-sacrifice, ransom and redemption price demanded by God’s immutable law of righteousness that had been transgressed: the life of the transgressor. Nothing else or less could suffice or could take its place as the only acceptable atoning sacrifice. It was only then that indeed “the law was to be magnified and made honorable” by the Law giver himself. (Isa. 32:21).

It was this first of all typical animal sacrifices, especially and specifically the lamb, in contrast to the other specified clean animals such as goats, bullocks, and doves. All were types or “shadows” of the great Antitypical Lamb of God who would offer Himself four thousand years later at Calvary’s Cross!

At this pivotal point in the plan of redemption type would meet antitype, shadow its substance when all the system of sacrifices and the system of the priesthood, instituted by Christ himself under the ceremonial law governing them, would be “nailed to the cross” with Christ.

The GOSPEL IN SYMBOLS—-with the law of Ten Commandments originally written with God’s finger on two tables of stone secreted within the ark of the covenant/testament/testimony that stood alone in the most holy apartment of the earthly tabernacle/ sanctuary on earth, that was always set in the midst of the encampment of Israel and preceded them in all their travels—-as taught in the Old Testament of the Mosaic-Levitical dispensation to and through ancient Israel as a nation—-would then transition to the GOSPEL IN CHRIST through the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church of the Christian Era till Christ returns in His second advent.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 27, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 4

THE SECOND ‘WAY OF ESCAPE” AFTER THE FALL

The first way of escape envisioned by the omniscient Mind of the omnipotent Godhead (“let US make man in OUR image and in OUR likeness”) in and through Christ the Creator, for the only creature created or “made in the image and likeness of God—-should he fail the first test of free moral agency by disobedience to the word of law of his Maker—was not to ignore, set aside, amend, negate, “make of none effect, or worse, do away with that law, but to put divine ENMITY between him and Satan the serpent, the tempter, “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning, the author of sin, the transgression of God’s law.

This most fundamental of all Bible truths we have already established. Though created sinlessly perfect, the creature called man, was divinely endowed, intrinsically “wired” if you will, with a will, the power of choice, verily the governing power in man to choose intelligently, freely, willingly, and voluntarily to adore and worship his Creator by and through loving obedience to His word,

His law which is an expression of His will and thought, standard of His character-image, and the rule of His everlasting in heaven and the universe. This was and is the true foundation of the first, fullest, and most comprehensive meaning of “relationship.” There was none before it, and everything after it—the relationship of the only creature created in the image and likeness of the Creator of heaven and earth. Every other form of relationships are but branches of this main trunk as it were, downstream end products, or worse but yet prophesied as part of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, abominable corruptions and perversions.

In these lasts days of earth’s history of mankind’s second and last probation, it is one of Satan’s
most cunning counterfeits and truth-destroying means of deception—relationships with a cornucopia of its variables with everyone and everything else but with the first of all that could possibly be in the beginning: between creature and his Creator.

The second “way of escape” is described as follows. We quote again from The Cross and Its Shadow by Stephen Haskell, pp. 20, 21, for additional emphasis (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “Before man was placed on trial [man’s first probationary testing time] the LOVE of the Father and that the Son for him was SO GREAT that CHRIST [the Creator] PLEDGED HIS OWN LIFE AS A RANSOM if man should be overcome by the temptations of Satan. Christ was ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Rev. 13:8) [Calvary prophesied before Creation]. 

This wonderful truth was made known to our first words spoken by the Lord to SATAN, ‘It (the Seed of the woman) shall BRUISE THY HEAD, and thou shalt bruise His heel.’ [Christ’s ‘heel’ would be bruised by Satan at Calvary, but Satan’s head will be finally eternally ‘bruised’ by Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords at the end of the millenium when he and all the fallen angels and wicked are finally destroyed by the ‘cleansing fires of the last days.

 “In order that man might realize the ENORMITY OF SIN THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY THE LIFE OF THE SINLESS SON OF GOD, he was required to bring an INNOCENT lamb, confess his sins over its head [not feet or heels], then with his OWN HANDS TAKE ITS LIFE, a type of Christ’s life. This sin-offering was burned [nothing was left it it but ashes], typifying that through the DEATH of Christ ALL SIN would be FINALLY DESTROYED by the FIRES at the last day. [Malachi 4: 1-3). The Cross and Its Shadow.

Note this: It was not the cruel “nails of Rome” driven through Christ’s sinlessly undefiled hands and feet into the wooden tree instigated through the hatred and false accusation of His chosen people that killed Jesus: it was the SINS of mankind, for “the wages of sin is death,” and Christ “was made sin for us, who knew no sin.”

Death by crucifixion was the “manner” by which He would be “condemned to die, not by beheading, hanging, strangulation, public burning, quartering, firing squad, or by any other form or method of public execution for enhanced dramatic effect for whatever reason.

Crucifixion was the means by which “all men would be drawn to Him,” that is, attention would be drawn towards Him like no other more intellectual, historical, or even miraculous means. That He, “the holy One of Israel,” the spotless Son of God, would be literally “lifted up,” suspended between heaven and earth,” crucified between two legitimately-determined-and condemned criminals was “truth greater than fiction,” more virally compelling the most finely-spun conspiracy.

It is from this platform that the true meaning of the Cross of Christ has and should be taught in the Third Angel’s Message, earth’s final, merciful warnings!

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 20, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 3

THE VERY FIRST ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’

This brings us right back to a subject we just covered as a series yet now with added insight and enlightenment, as can only be expected from God’s inexhaustible mine of truth! Quoting from Haskell’s The Cross and its Shadow, pp. 19-21 (emphasis mine):

“To every voyager on the storm-tossed sea of life, the Lord has given a COMPASS which, if rightly used, will safely guide him into the eternal haven of rest [the ‘place’ Christ went ‘prepare’]. It was given to our first parents at the GATE of Eden. The compass CONSISTS of the following words, which were spoken by the Lord to Satan: “I will put ENMITY between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.’ [Gen. 3:15]. 

 “In EVERY HEART God has planted [even as He ‘planted’ the garden of Eden for Adam and Eve] an enmity to sin [the transgression of the law’], which, IF HEEDED, will lead to righteousness and eternal life. Any man, whatever his station or rank in life, who will ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW the divine compass placed in his heart, will 1) accept Christ as his Savior [from sin and sinning] and 2) be led into the sunlight of God’s love and approval (John 1:9). 

“As the result of our first parents’ eating of the forbidden fruit, over all the earth hung the gloom of the divine decree [the ‘curse of sin’], ‘In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die’ (Gen. 2:17, margin). The marks of death and decay were soon seen in the falling leaves and withered flowers. There was NO ESCAPING the decree, ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Rom. 6:23). 

“But a ray of light penetrated the darkness when God spoke the following words, ‘It (the Seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel’(Gen. 3:15). These words revealed the fact that for those who would CHERISH THE ENMITY AGAINST SIN which God had placed in the heart, there was a WAY OF ESCAPE FROM DEATH. They would live, and Satan would die; but BEFORE his death he would ‘bruise the heel’ of the Seed of the woman. This was necessary in order that the DEATH OF SATAN might be made sure, and that MANKIND MIGHT ESCAPE ETERNAL DEATH.

“In order that man might realize the ENORMITY of sin, which would TAKE THE LIFE of the sinlesss Son of God, he was required to bring an INNOCENT LAMB, confess his sins over its head, then with HIS OWN HANDS take its life, A TYPE of Christ’s LIFE. 

 “This SIN-OFFERING was BURNED, typifying that through the DEATH of Christ all sin would FINALLY be destroyed at the FIRES OF THE LAST DAY (Mal. 4: 1-3).” End quote.

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