Category: Mid-week Manna

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 35

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 13, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 35

COUNT THE COST OF THE ENMITY AND DISCIPLESHIP

Luke 14:25-33:
“And there went a great multitude with Him [Jesus]: and He turned, and said unto them, ‘If any man come to Me, and HATE NOT his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and HIS OWN LIFE also, he CANNOT BE My disciple. And whosoever does not BEAR HIS CROSS, and come after Me, CANNOT be My disciple. And which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and COUNTETH THE COST, whether he hath sufficient to finish it? . . . . So likewise, whosoever be of you that FORSAKETH NOT all that he hath, he CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.” KJV. (cf. Luke 9:23-26).

“The Lord does not deceive His soldiers. He opens before them the CONFLICT, presents the BATTLE PLAN, points out the HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING, and exhorts everyone to COUNT THE COST. He does not leave them in ignorance. He tells everyone BEFORE ENLISTMENT, to count the cost before they enlist as soldiers in His army, for the soldier’s life is a LIFE OF DUTY [not ease and pleasure].” -E. G. White, MS 98, Aug. 4, 1900.

The Cost of Being a Wholehearted Follower of Christ:
“The word of God is plain, but often there is an ERROR in applying it to oneself. There is a liability to SELF-DECEPTION and to think that its warnings and reproofs DO NOT MEAN ME. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ [Jer. -17:9, 10]. SELF-FLATTERY may be construed into Christian emotion and zeal. SELF-LOVE AND CONFIDENCE may give us assurance that we are right when we are FAR from meeting the requirements of God’s Word.

“The Bible is full, clear and explicit; the CHARACTER of the true disciple of Christ is marked out with exactness. We must search the Scriptures, with humble hearts, trembling at the Word of God, IF WE WOULD NOT BE IN ANY WAY DECEIVED IN REGARD TO OUR TRUE CHARACTERS.

“There must be persevering effort to overcome SELFISHNESS and SELF-CONFIDENCE. Self-examination [introspection] must be thorough, that there be no danger of SELF-DECEPTION. A little catechizing of self on special occasions [such as altar calls in church, etc.] is NOT sufficient. DAILY examine the foundation of your hope, and see whether you are indeed in the LOVE OF CHRIST[not self].

Deal truly with your own hearts, for you cannot afford to run ANY RISK here. COUNT THE COST of being wholehearted Christian, and then gird on the armor [of Christ’s righteousness].” -Ibid, Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 322.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 6, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 34

THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE TRUE GOSPEL

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. . . Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

Ps. 34: 15, 19 (1-21).

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” 2 Tim. 1: 8, KJV. 

 “In every age God’s chosen MESSENGERS have been reviled and persecuted; yet through their affliction the knowledge of God has been spread abroad. . . .

“How often this result has been seen in the HISTORY of God’s messengers? When the noble and eloquent Stephen was stoned to death at the instigation of the Sanhedrin council, there was NO LOSS to the cause of the gospel. The light of heaven that glorified his face, the divine compassion breathed in his dying prayer, were as a SHARP ARROW OF CONVICTION to the bigoted Sanhedrist who stood by, and SAUL, the persecuting Pharisee, became a chosen vessel, to bear the name of Christ before Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel [the Jewish nation in Christ’s time and their national religion]. 

“And long afterward Paul the aged wrote from his PRISON HOUSE AT ROME: ‘Some indeed preach Christ even of ENVY AND STRIFE.....not sincerely, supposing to ADD AFFLICTION to my bonds.....Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ [and His true gospel] is preached.’ (Phil. 1: 15, 16, 18). 

“Through Paul’s IMPRISONMENT the gospel was spread abroad, and souls were won for Christ in the very palace of the Caesars [the cruel and depraved emperors of pagan Rome who worshipped the sun]. By the efforts of Satan to DESTROY IT, ‘the incorruptible seed’ of the Word of God, ‘which liveth and abideth forever’ (1 Pet. 1:23), is sown in the hearts of men; THROUGH THE REPROACH AND PERSECUTION of His children, the name of Christ is MAGNIFIED, and souls are saved.” (All emphasis and bracketed words supplied)-E.G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 54-7. 

Who or what was the Sanhedrim, AKA Sanhedrin?
“An assembly convened for consultation, deliberation, advice, consideration, or agreement upon concerted action; in some cases, a permanent advisory, legislative, or administrative body. Various kinds of councils are referred to under different terms in the Bible, but nearly all the New Testament examples refer to a specific body, to which this discussion will be confined: the GREAT SANHEDRIN OF JERUSALEM, THE CHIEF JUDICIAL BODY OF THE JEWS for the Hellenistic period to A.D. 66…..

 “Authority. It was the highest judicial body in the country and had power over LIFE AND DEATH (Josephus’ Ant. xiv. 9, 3, 4; Matt. 26: 3, 4, 59, 66). However, during the administration of the Roman procurators, its death sentences had to be confirmed by the governor (John 18: 31), although this seems to have occasionally been circumvented (Acts 7: 58). The norm of its action was THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE  ORAL TRADITIONS that were pronouncements of leading Jewish scholars. It is generally agreed that the Roman administration also put in its hands the responsibility of collecting the taxes. The obligation was discharged by SELLING IT to tax purchasers or speculators, known as PUBLICANS in the NT.” SDA Bible Dictionary, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald Pub. Asso., 1960, art. “Council.”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 30, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 33

THE EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL AND EXTREMELY CORROSIVE NATURE OF THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY REVEALED IN ITS TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES

The story and history of the fall in Eden recorded in Genesis reveals this truth, among many others: all it took was just one seemingly “little sin,” each by Eve first, then Adam, to bring down the successive train of curses, woes, decay, and death (as it’s “wages”) upon mankind and whole earth itself.

As Paul wrote: “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam], SIN ENTERED into the WORLD and death by sin; and so DEATH PASSED UNTO ALL MEN, for that all have sinned.” (See Rom. 5: 12-19, KJV).

As a result since then, he wrote:
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in PAIN together UNTIL NOW. And not only they, but OURSELVES ALSO, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, EVEN WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 7:22,23).

Iniquity or sin, is “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Its first manifestation on earth was in the first disastrous experiment with disobedience of the creature towards his Creator’s command, even while in their yet original sinless, uncorrupted, innocent purity, “living, moving, and having their being” within the safe confines of their Eden home on fair earth.

Adam and Eve failed mankind’s first test of probation whereby the freedom of choice — based on their yet-untested power of the will, which is the governing power in the nature of man, having been created as a free moral agents to worship his Creator only according to the dictates of conscience. The plan of redemption “which was prepared before the foundations of the earth were laid,” instantly kicked in when man sinned and fell. So that “the moment there was a sinner there was a Savior.” This mercifully granted undeserving mankind the second and last probationary time, which will soon end as the signs of the times clearly warn all who will take heed!

God Creator’s very first recorded words immediately after the fall of Adam in Eden was not an inquiry seeking any knowledge, understanding, or explanations for the Omniscient “Word, who in the beginning was with God, and was God who made all things and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1: 1-3) infinitely knows and sees the end from the beginning, such that “His word is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there ANY CREATURE that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are NAKED and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4: 12, 13).

God’s first inquiry to fallen man, immediately revealing His divine love and mercy, was unrewarded. Notice: “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Gen. 3: 9, KJV. But instead of humbly and quickly emerging from hiding in vain behind the trees of Eden because of their physical nakedness caused by their spiritual guilt and shame, repenting and confessing their sin and pleading forgiveness, which would have been instantly granted by the loving Creator, they quickly launched into self-justifying, blame-shifting, accusing others for their sins, in effect, blaming and accusing God Himself, “adding sin to sin, transgression to transgression.” Prayerfully and thoroughly study Gen. 3: 1-24 again.

Had not God immediately “put enmity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman (Eve) and her Seed who would “bruise the head of serpent,” and carry on this enmity, hatred, great controversy, and war between the respective “seeds” of Satan and the faithful followers of Christ down through the long centuries to this our day and time, culminating very soon in its prophesied stupendous climax—all mankind from the first Adam was hopelessly doomed to eternal damnation and death!

But “thank be to God for the victory in Christ Jesus,” the “second Adam” to whom all who have been genuinely and thoroughly re-born again by the twin baptisms of the water baptism of repentance, followed by the daily, fiery, purifying baptism of the Holy, can now retrace their spiritual genealogy, not to the first fallen man Adam, but to the sinlessly victorious “second Adam,” God incarnate in human flesh and blood in ultimate and infinite condescension, who was “tempted in all points as we are tempted yet without sin.”

He loves righteousness in perfection and hates sin with perfect hatred! See Heb. 1: 9. This is the only way we can “overcome even as He overcame” and “please Him” as the simple life testimony of Enoch’s 300 year walk with God resulted in His translation!

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 23, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 32

LIKE CHRIST’S PEACE, REPROACH IS A PART OF THE TRUE DISCIPLE’S LEGACY

“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven [not on earth].” Matt. 5:11-12, KJV. 

The last-day messenger bearing the “the Spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus” in the remnant church (Rev. 12:17; 19:10) wrote and we quote:

“Ever since his fall, Satan has worked by means of DECEPTION. As he has misrepresented God, so, THROUGH HIS AGENTS, he misrepresents the children of God [the ‘commandment-keeping saint’ in contrast to the ‘children of disobedience’].

 "The Savior says, ‘The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon Me.’ (Ps. 69:9). In like manner they fall upon His disciples. There was never one who walked among men more cruelly SLANDERED than the Son of man. He was derided and mocked because of His UNSWERVING OBEDIENCE to the principles of God’s holy law [cf. John 15:10]. 'They hated Him without a cause.’ [John 15:25].

Yet He stood calmly before His enemies, declaring that reproach is a part of the [true, not apostate] Christian’s legacy, counseling His followers HOW TO MEET the arrows of malice, bidding them NOT TO FAINT UNDER PERSECUTION.

 “While slander may blacken REPUTATION, it cannot stain the CHARACTER. That is in God’s keeping[!]. So long as we DO NOT CONSENT to sin, there is no power, whether human or satanic, that can bring a STAIN upon the soul [the whole living person]. 

 The man whose HEART is stayed upon God is just the SAME in the hour of his MOST afflicting trials and most discouraging surroundings as when he was in PROSPERITY, when the light of and favor of God SEEMED to be upon him. [see Job’s experience]. 

“His words, his motives, his actions, may be misrepresented and falsified, but he does not mind it, because he has GREATER INTERESTS at stake. [what a powerful reminder for all faithful co-laborers with Christ!]. Like Moses, he endured as ‘SEEING Him who is INVISIBLE,’ [Heb. 11:27]; looking ‘not at things which are  seen, but at the things which are unseen.’ [2 Cor. 4:18]. 

“‘When men shall revile you and persecute you,’ said Jesus, ‘rejoice and be EXCEEDING GLAD.’ [How and why?] “He pointed His hearers to the PROPHETS who had spoken IN THE NAME OF THE LORD as an ‘example of suffering affliction, and of patience’ [James 5:10]. 

Abel, the very first Christian of Adam’s children, died a martyr. Enoch [the seventh righteous patriarch from Adam] walked with God, and ‘the world knew him not.’ Noah was mocked as a fanatic and alarmist. ‘Others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments.’ ‘Others were tortured, NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE; that they might obtain a BETTER RESURRECTION.’ [Heb. 11: 36, 35].

 “In every age God’s CHOSEN MESSENGERS have been reviled and persecuted; yet THROUGH THEIR AFFLICTIONS, the knowledge of God has been spread abroad. EVERY DISCIPLE of Christ is to step into the ranks, and CARRY FORWARD the same work, knowing that it’s FOES [enemies, and all at enmity against God’s law] ‘can do nothing against the truth, but FOR the truth.’ [2 Cor.13:8].

“God means that truth [especially the present, testing truths for these last days] shall be brought to the FRONT, and become the SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION AND DISCUSSION—even through the CONTEMPT placed upon it. The minds of the people must be AGITATED; every controversy, every reproach, every efforts to restrict liberty of conscience, is GOD’S MEANS of awakening minds that otherwise might slumber.” E. G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 53-5. 

In the parable of Matt. 25: 1-12, the ten virgins represent all the churches in the midnight of earth’s history—the solemn pre-advent, investigative judgment hour preceding Christ’s second advent. If they are spiritually asleep, they cannot be the ones to wake themselves up with the midnight cry, ‘Behold! the Bridegroom [Christ] cometh; go ye out to meet Him!’ Someone, or some people wide awake as “faithful watchmen of the night’ have to do it.

Do you know who they are? And what specific messages they are proclaiming in trumpet tones for these last days? Are you one of them? If not, “examine yourselves, prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith” and “make your calling and election sure!”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 2, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 30

WHEN TO PRAY FOR ENMITY BETWEEN US AND SATAN

God’s messenger for these last days wrote: “The Lord will have A PEOPLE as true as steel and with faith as firm as the granite rock. They are to be His WITNESSES in the world, His INSTRUMENTALITIES to do a SPECIAL, GLORIOUS WORK in the day of HIS PREPARATION. . . .[Apparently faithful church members and even] “Ministers who have preached the truth with all zeal and earnestness MAY APOSTATIZE and join the ranks of our enemies, but does this change the truth of God into a lie? ‘Nevertheless,’ says the apostle Paul, ‘the foundation of God standeth sure ‘(see 2 Tim. 2:19). The faith and FEELINGS of men may change; but the truth of God, never! . . .

[Referring to the commandment-keeping remnant church of prophecy]:
“It is certain that we have the truth as God lives; and Satan, with all his arts and hellish power, cannot change the truth of God into a lie. While the great adversary [of God and man] will TRY his utmost to make of none effect the word of God [and the Testimonies of the Spirit of prophecy], the [present, testing] truth must go forth as a lamp that burneth.

“The Lord has singled us out and made us subjects of His marvelous mercy. Shall we be charmed with the pratings [idle talk; chatter] of the apostate? Shall we CHOOSE to take our stand with Satan and his hosts? Shall we join the transgressors of His law [and deniers of His character and power of godliness]? 

“Rather, let it be our prayer, ‘LORD, PUT ENMITY BETWEEN ME AND THE SERPENT [and all his demonic and human agencies]. Why? “If we are NOT AT ENMITY with his works of darkness [that has the appearance of truth], HIS POWERFUL FOLDS ENCIRCLE US, AND HIS STING is ready at any moment to be driven to our hearts. We should count him a DEADLY FOE. We should OPPOSE him in the name of Christ. . . . Let all who name the name of Christ clothe themselves with ‘the armor of righteousness.’

“The time has come when we must KNOW FOR OURSELVES  why we believe as we do. . . . Let us lay up FOR OURSELVES against the time to come, that we may lay hold of eternal life [the overcomer’s reward of immortality]. We must labor, not in our own strength, but in the strength of our risen Lord. So what will we do and dare for Jesus?” - E. G. White, Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 593-597/ Mara 127 (all emphases and bracketed words supplied). 

Have you actually enlisted “under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel,” “put on the whole armor of God” and are gallantly “fighting the good fight of faith,” “overcoming the world, the flesh, and resisting the devil” in “the battles of the Lord where champions are few?”

Then continually pray, “Lord put enmity between me and Satan and his hosts and keep its flame burning. Don’t let Satan blow it out!” We are assured that such a prayer is answered “before it is finished”, and if need be, He will send legions of angels to our aid for God sees the situations we are incapable of discerning and reads the motives of our hearts before they are rendered into audible words.

God “hears” our thoughts; that’s how personalized His omnipotence and omnipresence are toward each of His afflicted and struggling yet faithful followers on earth, as imparted through and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, let us hate Satan and sin, and never ever “grieve away” the Holy Spirit by “persistently rejecting heaven’s yet-merciful offer to repent”and forsake all our cherished, self-indulging, secret, and hidden sins. God sees them all. Presumption and procrastination are deadly enemies of our salvation.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 29

WHY PERSECUTION AGAINST THE GODLY SEEMS TO SLUMBER

To prepare His first disciples, and all after them, for the days of darkness, trials, sufferings, and persecutions they would suffer for the sake of truth and righteousness, beginning from their very own brethren, Jesus said: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15: 20.

God’s last-day messenger wrote [all emphasis and bracketed words mine]:
“Jesus suffered for us more than any of His followers can be made to suffer through the cruelty of wicked men [the ‘enmity’ of Gen. 3:15]. Those who are called to endure torture and martyrdom, are but FOLLOWING THE STEPS of God’s dear Son.

“[2 Pet. 3:9 quoted]. He does not forget or neglect His children; but He PERMITS the wicked to reveal their true character, that NONE who desire to do His will may be DECEIVED concerning them. Again and again the  righteous are placed in the furnace of affliction, that they THEMSELVES may be purified [part of sanctification]; that their EXAMPLE may convince others of the REALITY of faith and godliness [‘the word of their testimony’ in deeds and works, not mere words and profession]; and that their CONSISTENT COURSE may CONDEMN the ungodly and unbelieving [fuller meaning of ‘unbelief’ and ‘unbelievers’]. 

“God permits the wicked to prosper, and to reveal their ENMITY against Him, that when they shall have filled up the measure of their iniquity, all may see His JUSTICE AND MERCY in their utter destruction. The day of His vengeance hastens when all who have transgressed His law and OPPRESSED HIS PEOPLE [all through the ages] will meet the just recompense of their deeds, when every act of CRUELTY OR INJUSTICE toward God’s faithful ones will be punished as though done to Christ Himself. 

“There is ANOTHER AND IMPORTANT QUESTION that should engage the attention of the CHURCHES OF TODAY. The apostle Paul declares that [2 Tim. 3:12 quoted]. WHY IS IT, THEN, THAT PERSECUTION  SEEMS IN A GREAT DEGREE TO SLUMBER? The only reason is, that the CHURCH HAS CONFORMED TO THE WORLD’S STANDARD, and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion current in our day is NOT of the pure and holy character that marked the CHRISTIAN FAITH in the days of Christ and His apostles [Ephesus and Smyrna stages]. If is only because of the spirit of COMPROMISE WITH SIN, because the GREAT TRUTHS [specifically the five pillars of the present truth] are so INDIFFERENTLY regarded, because there is SO LITTLE VITAL GODLINESS IN THE CHURCH [largely superficial and in form only] that Christianity is apparently so POPULAR with the world. [But] let there be a revival of faith and power of the early church [under the power of the former rain of Pentecost. See Acts of the Apostles], and the spirit of PERSECUTION will be revived, and the FIRES of persecution will rekindled.” E. G. White, Great Controversy, pp. 47, 48. Pacific Press Publishing Asso. , 1911. 

COMING TO THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THE TESTING TRUTHS. “A season of great trial is before us. . . . Those who are ignorantly deceived are not to remain in this condition. The Lord says to His MESSENGERS: Go to them and declare to them [either/or in person, “pen and voice’] and declare to them what I have said, ‘whether they will hear or whether they will forbear’ [see Eze. 2: 1-10; 3: 1-27]. The time is upon us when persecution will come upon those who proclaim the [present, testing] truth. . . . Soon there will be trouble all over the world [it’s upon us now]. It becomes everyone to seek to KNOW God. We have no time to delay. With earnestness and fervor the message must be given [Isa. 55:1; 56: 1, 2 quoted].

“The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus [Rev. 14:12] will feel the ire [enmity] of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the WORLD as his subjects [as ‘the god of this world’], he has gained control over the APOSTATE CHURCHES; but here is A LITTLE COMPANY that are resisting his supremacy. If he could BLOT them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the HEATHEN nations to destroy [ancient] Israel, so in the near future [so much nearer now!] he will stir up the wicked powers of the earth to DESTROY the people of God. 

All will be required to render OBEDIENCE to human edicts in VIOLATION of the divine law [Decalogue]. Those who will be true to God and to duty [See Eccl. 12: 13,14] will be menaced, denounced, and proscribed. They will be betrayed ‘both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends.’ Luke 21: 16.” -Ibid, Testimonies for the Church, pp. 227, 228, 231.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 19, 2023

SPECIAL FOR ADVENTISTS ONLY (Part 2)

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 28

WHAT IS ‘THE FAITH OF JESUS’?
“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, KJV.

Hereunder are context-specific, definitive definitions of the term “the faith of Jesus” interlocked in the sum and substance of the content of the prophesied proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages of Revelation 14: 6-12.

Each follows the other in orderly sequence and all are combined and comprehended in and by the third. These are earth’s final merciful warnings sent by God. They are just about to reach their stupendous climax. And, “the final events,” that is, from a definite prophesied tipping point when the critical mass of apostasy is reached, “will be rapid ones.”

The Spirit of Prophecy, which is the Testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17; 19:10), declares through His last-day messenger to all “who will hear His voice and not harden their hearts” (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied]:

“You inquire what the faith of Jesus is. I have seen the brethren and sisters have NOT understood the faith of Jesus in its TRUE light. They have TAUGHT that it is healing the sick, etc. It is not healing the sick, MERELY, but it is ALL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ I saw that it [the ‘faith of Jesus’] was the whole New Testament, WHICH RELATES TO JESUS.” - Letter 4, 1857; Manuscript Releases, Vol. 5, p. 290, par. 1.

 “The Faith of Jesus.’ It is TALKED of but NOT understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, THAT BELONGS TO THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE? Jesus becoming our SIN-BEARER that He might become our SIN-PARDONING Savior. He was treated AS we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took OUR sins [so] that we might take HIS righteousness. Faith IN the ABILITY of Christ to save us AMPLY and FULLY and ENTIRELY is THE FAITH OF JESUS.” Selected Messages, Vol. 3, 1888 message, p. 117.

(See Gen. 4: 1-6 first]. “The offering of Cain [in fact and truth, vain] was an OFFENSE to God, because it was a Christless [and bloodless] offering. The BURDEN OF OUR MESSAGE is not only the commandments of God, but THE FAITH OF JESUS. A bright light [of advancing present truth] shines upon our pathway TODAY, and it leads to INCREASED FAITH IN JESUS. We must receive EVERY ray of light, and WALK in it, that IT MAY NOT BE OUR CONDEMNATION in the Judgment.

[Note that]. Our duties and obligations BECOME MORE important as we obtain MORE DISTINCT views of truth. Light makes MANIFEST AND REPROVES the errors that were CONCEALED in darkness; and as light comes, the LIFE AND CHARACTER MUST CHANGE, TO BE IN HARMONY WITH IT [this light of the three angels’ messages].

Sins that were ONCE sins of IGNORANCE [cf. Acts 17: 30, 31] because of the blindness of the MIND, can NO MORE be indulged in WITHOUT INCURRING GUILT. As increased light is given, men must be REFORMED, ELEVATED, and REFINED by it, OR they will be MORE PERVERSE AND STUBBORN than before the light came.” – Gospel Workers, p. 162.

The ‘faith of Jesus’ belonging to the full and comprehensive Third Angel’s message is the substance of the genuine Righteousness by faith message first given in 1888 and was supposed to be “the beginning of the loud cry of the fourth angel of Revelation 18.”

But its progress was disastrously aborted by its rejection with the two special messengers God raised to deliver this special latter rain Righteousness by Faith message. That’s why the Lord’s coming has long been delayed. Satan knows just exactly how, when, where, and with whom he subtly and unseen, lays devices and snares; they spring and snap their intended victims—the designated “watchmen”— when they slowly “drift” then fall asleep in the midnight of earth’s history, as portrayed in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25.

If they are asleep they cannot be the ones who give the “midnight cry” that suddenly jolts them awake, five really unprepared for the anticipated even; five fundamentally prepared.

Jesus, Himself the Word, taught in parables (40 recorded in the NT as part of “the faith of Jesus”), pencil pictures of the final reward of those who “endure to the end,” heaven itself, and eternity beyond; grand outlines of prophecies (later amplified in detail by John in the Revelation starting from Daniel); illustrating gospel truth and laying down its firm foundation and platform by the inductive method (from the apparent and known to its “unknown” higher spiritual sphere); universally transcendent principles, that closely adhered to the Scriptural discipline of: “to the law and the prophets;” “to the law and the testimony;” “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little;” “thus saith the Lord;” “It is written.”

And, where handling the last-day “Testimony of Jesus” is concerned, the “time and place” principle must be faithfully applied to avoid its special pitfalls. “Watch, pray,” and search the Scriptures as for hidden treasure” that “ye fall not into Satan’s unnumbered schemes, temptations, and yes, provocations.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 12, 2023

SPECIAL FOR ADVENTISTS ONLY

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 27

THE STARTLING, STILL MERCY-MiNGLED, FINAL WARNING ENTRUSTED TO A SPECIAL PEOPLE

 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the words of My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” “And go, get thee to them in captivity, unto thy children of thy people [Israel/Judah in Babylonian captivity], and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear or whether they will forbear.”Eze. 3: 17. 11, KJV.

“Whether they will hear or forbear” clearly reveals the unconditionality of the message and task. It is a stand alone, not dependent, framed, premised, or shaped by the messenger proclaiming it, much less the reaction and reception accorded it by the intended recipients. It cannot be amended in any manner of way for or by any person or entity for any reason, excuse, or justification.

To claim the divine recognition and special privileges attached to being called to do such a holy and lofty purpose, yet refuse to consistently and faithfully fulfill “in season or out of season” the heaven-honored role and undertaking of giving the message as it is to those who need it, or give another message, and as a consequence and result they “perish in their sins,” will assuredly receive the dreadful pronouncement, “his blood will I require at thine hand.” Eze. 3: 18, 20; 33; “his blood shall be upon his head” (Eze. 33: 4): “his blood will I require from the WATCHMAN’S hand” vs 6-8.

Now this from the inspired pen:

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as WATCHMEN and LIGHT BEARERS. To them has entrusted the LAST WARNING for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given A WORK OF THE MOST SOLEMN IMPORT—-the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is NO OTHER WORK of so great importance. They are to allow NOTHING ELSE to absorb their attention. 

 “THE MOST SOLEMN TRUTHS EVER ENTRUSTED TO MORTALS have been given us to proclaim to the world The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be TRUE TO THE TRUST committed to them. 

“They are not to engage in SPECULATION, neither are they to enter into BUSINESS ENTERPRISES WITH UNBELIEVERS; for this would hinder them in their God-given work. 

“Christ says of His people, ‘Ye are the LIGHT of the world.’ Matt. 5:14. It is NOT a small matter that the counsels and plans of God has been so CLEARLY OPENED to us. It is a wonderful PRIVILEGE to understand the will of God as revealed through the ‘SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.’ This places on us a HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY. God expects us to impart to others the KNOWLEDGE that He has given us. It is HIS PURPOSE that divine and human instrumentalities shall UNITE in proclaiming the WARNING MESSAGE. 

“So far as his opportunities extend, EVERYONE who has received the light of truth [of the three angels’ messages], is UNDER THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY as was the prophet of Israel to whom came the word [Eze 33:7-9 quoted. Pls. Read it]. 

“Are we to WAIT until the fulfillment of the prophecies of the end BEFORE we say anything concerning them? OF WHAT VALUE WILL OUR WORDS BE THEN? Shall we wait until GOD’S JUDGMENTS FALL UPON THE TRANSGRESSOR [of God’s complete Law] before we tell him HOW TO AVOID THEM [the judgments of the seven last plagues]? WHERE IS OUR FAITH IN GOD? Must we see things foretold come to pass BEFORE WE BELIEVE what He said [He will do]? 

“In clear, distinct RAYS OF LIGHT has come to us, showing us that the ‘great day of the Lord is near at hand,’ ‘even at the door.’ LET US READ AND UNDERSTAND BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” - E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, p. 9. (All emphasis and bracketed words supplied).

An admonition, if immediately and thoroughly acted upon is a great saving grace, but which, IF IGNORED or presumptuously postponed for a “more convenient time,” becomes a foreshadowing and scriptural premonition of darkness and doom, which is, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the FAITH; prove your own selves [not others]. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.” 2 Cor. 13: 5.

What specific “faith” is this as this word is used far to loosely describe so many things—some of which openly contradict the other, if not the Bible itself! Verily, it is the faith of the last day saints described in Revelation 14. Hear ye, read ye! “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.” v. 12.

Next MWM we will provide a more definitive and comprehensive description of what “the faith of Jesus” is, in the context of the proclamation of the three angels’ messages, revealing its comprehensive, present truth relevance, God willing.

Bless all, NMF.