Whole Gospel Ministries

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 18, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 28

LOVE: THE ‘FIRST FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“God is love.” 1 John 4:8-16.

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is ONE LORD. And thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with ALL thine heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy might [or strength].” Deut. 6: 4, 5. (Compare to Mark 12: 28-34; Luke 10: 25-28).

To be sure, there is only one God—the Creator and the Redeemer. All others who claim and pretend to be (or are made to be so by idolaters of all stripes, such as the sun, moon, stars, and animals, etc.) beginning with Satan “the enemy of God and man,” their master, are false gods.

The fulness of God Almighty the Eternal One, is beyond ken of His intelligent creatures; much less of fallen, sinful, finite mortals. But according to His own Word, omniscience, love, and “enduring mercy,” He chose to reveal His fulness in and through the GODHEAD made of three Persons. “For there are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit): and these Three are ONE.” 1 John 5:7, A.V.

The Word is first and foremost, Christ, Jehovah the Creator (John 1:1-3, 14) and then, Redeemer through His mysterious incarnation, atoning sacrifice in His death by crucifixion, victorious resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father in His glorious, white throne in heaven. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. . .” John 1: 1-3. Then the Word is both “the written and the spoken word by and through the power of the Holy Spirit: “It is written”; “Thus saith the Lord.” “To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is NO light [of truth] in them.” (Isa. 8:20).

The God of love is the “Lord our righteousness” Jeremiah 23:6. Thus, God’s “Righteousness is LOVE, and love is the LIGHT and LIFE of God.” (E. G. White, Sons and Daughters, p. 304).

John was the youngest of the first Twelve when they were “called from their nets” by Jesus. He was drawn to and personally stayed closer to Christ than the eleven. Thus he was called even to this day as “John the beloved,” i. e.. of Jesus. Among the four synoptic gospels, John presents the most sublime aspect of the same gospel recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

It is in John’s gospel where we read a concentration of Christ’s pre and post crucifixion promises of the coming of, person, presence, office work, and efficiency of the Holy Spirit, His appointed Successor and vicegerent on earth after His ascension—the third Person of the Godhead “but devoid of the personality of humanity and independent thereof.”

In solemn biblical fact and spiritual truth, the Holy Sprit is “the fulness Godhead”—not “bodily” as Christ alone, “the “only begotten Son of God,”
incarnated into “the likeness of sinful flesh” in “the great mystery of godliness which is beyond any controversy” and thus gain the new identity and unique relationship to the Father. In both Sonships, Jesus repeatedly declared to the Pharisees and the Jewish nation in His time, “I and My Father are one.”

John wrote in language that even a child and the unlearned can understand regarding the love of the Father in Christ for Christ, His only-begotten Son and their undeserved love for fallen men.

John 3:16 is a keystone verse of this glorious truth of God, and the Godhead’s love underwriting the “counsel of peace” entered into by the Godhead “before the foundations of the earth were laid,” where and when the plan of redemption was contemplated and devised in the event man would fall, and did fall.

For beginners, we’ll just quote “what is written” from the “little John’s.”

 “Behold, what manner of LOVE the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the WORLD knoweth us not, because it knew Him NOT.” 1 John 3:1. 
“My little children, let us NOT LOVE in word, neither in tongue but in DEED and in TRUTH.” 1 John 3:18.
 “The Lord our Righteousness.” Jer. 23:6.
 “Fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9, 10; 1: 19, 16-18. 
 “In the likeness of sinful flesh.” Rom. 8:3.
 “Beloved, let us LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for LOVE IS OF GOD and everyone the loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the LOVE OF GOD TOWARD US, because that God sent His only-begotten Son INTO the world, that WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM. Herein is love, NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [atoning sacrifice in His substitutionary death] for our sins.” 1 John 4: 7-10, KJV.

Likewise, beloved brethren in Christ, as you pray daily, “ask, seek, and knock” for the Holy Spirit” for it is only by and through Him that we can “bear the fruit of the LOVE OF CHRIST for undeserving sinners like us, and His perfect ENMITY (righteous indignation and hatred) towards SIN (transgression of His law) for it SEPARATES (Isa. 59: 2) the omnipotent Creator from His creatures, the loving Redeemer from all who are deceived, mesmerized, enamored, and enslaved to sin and Satan “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning.”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 11, 2011

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 27

RECEIVER BEARS TEN KINDS OF FRUITS AND ‘BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM’

In Luke 11:9-13 (KJV) Christ repeated His promise of the Holy Spirit ten times, including it when He taught His disciples the definitive “Lord’s Prayer,” which He first revealed as part of His comprehensive Sermon on the Mount declared at the outset of His public earthly ministry when and where He introduced to the multitudes gathered there the spiritual nature of the kingdom He was to establish on earth. It was and is definitely unlike any kingdom, nation, empire of man and the earth, past, present, and future. So that He compared and illustrated its inception, growth, and progress “like a mustard seed.” See Matt. 17:20.

He likewise armed His disciples, then and now, by equipping them with a spiritual detector to discern and expose the true and truth from shiny “deep fakes,” look-alike counterfeits; His true messengers and servants from the fanatical, zealous yet spiritually immature, naïve, and unlearned, as well as hard-core charlatans, deceivers, and impostors—-verily “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

In one fell swoop as it were, He laid down this second fool-proof principle and test: “By THEIR FRUITS ye shall know them.” See Matthew 7:15-20.

The first one was enunciated by the prophet in the Old Testament, “To the law and testimony [‘It is written’ and ‘Thus saith the Lord’]; if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them.’ Isa. 8:20.

And where the Holy Spirit, His office work, Person, and Presence is specifically and especially concerned, apostle Paul instructs God’s faithful followers and co-workers how to test, try, and “prove all things” by referencing thoughts, words, and deeds by a definitive list of the “fruits of the Spirit.”

NOTE: The “fruits of the Spirit” are not the same as the “gifts of the Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12: 1-31, then, 13:1-13. The former results from a faithful and wise use of the spiritual “gifts” of God-given talents, particularly time, exclusively for God’s glory, gospel work, and kingdom of righteousness.

There are nine “fruits of the Spirit” that Paul identifies in Galatian 5:22, 23. We don’t do any violence to this glorious truth when we add, as adjuncts, the following: “righteousness and truth” (Eph. 5:9; cf. James 3:18), and “the Spirit of “wisdom and revelation, and knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17, 18).

Humbly aware that “spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned,” i.e., by the Holy Spirit; that “the carnal mind is at enmity with God’s law;” that “the wisdom of man is foolishness with God” and vice versa; that God’s thoughts and ways are not like that of fallen, finite, sinful mortals, then we are better prepared to accept and understand the spiritually-magnified meaning of each of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, 23.

Their unforced, unfeigned, and unconscious manifestation in the words, actions, and lifestyle are the “fruit” and “fruit-bearing” evidences and living testimony of an indwelling Holy Spirit and the infilling of divine grace with its enabling power in the believer’s life.

We will take up the Spirit’s fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance, Righteousness, and Truth “against such there is no law” for they are simply also the unmistakable evidences of loving—not coerced, enforced, legalistic, performative and mercenary obedience—to God’s immutable law of righteousness, the transcript of His character, and foundation of His everlasting throne.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.