FRIDAY MORNING MANNA April 27, 2018
Nathaniel Fajardo email:[email protected]
Biblical Numerology: NUMBER SEVEN
Neutrality is neither here nor there or anywhere near the truth as it is in Jesus
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received,
but upon the use we make of what we have.”
– Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 239.
The Gold Mine of God’s Word: “We have seen only the glimmering of divine glory and of the infinitude of knowledge of wisdom; we have, as it were, been working on the surface of the mine, when rich, golden ore is beneath the surface, to reward the one who will dig for it.”- E.G. White, My Life Today (Devotional), p. 108.
How deep have you dug into the gold mine of God’s Word—this far into your life, this late in earth’s history and probation time? When was the last time you did any real serious digging on your own? If not now, when? Almost persuaded means, not persuaded. Almost there means, not yet already there.
Provision, Promises, and Possession
The whole gospel’s guaranteed accomplishment of its purpose and goal of full and eternal restoration of God’s maligned character-name, first, and His image and likeness in fallen man, originally created in His image and likeness. This rendered necessary a complete and perfect package of divine Provisions as complete and perfect as each Person of the Godhead is, and as they are, collectively. These Provisions were “prepared before the foundation of the earth,” thus, before Adam and Eve fell, as contemplated by Foreknowledge of the heavenly Council composed of the three individual divine Persons, called the Godhead—not the “Trinity”—bearing their Individual identities by specific names: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. “For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three agree as one.” 1 John 3: 7, N.K.J.V.
All these, as designed by the one Mind of the heavenly Trio, are found in and through Christ alone. The only One come from the bosom of the Father, the Creator, the I AM, volunteered to take place of man (Adam first, then all his posterity) should he fall. Christ came to earth to fulfill this mission, revealing to all who are willing to see by faith, the invisible Father in Him.
Promise and Possession
Ancient Israel as a people and nation, and their individual and corporate experiences were, and are the type of spiritual Israel and their experiences till Christ shall return in glory, as He promised.
Canaan, the earthly promised land “flowing with milk and honey” to Israel, the nation descended from the loins of Abraham through his ‘only-begotten son, Isaac, through Jacob “the supplanter” transformed to Jacob “one who has prevailed with God,” was already theirs first, as a promise, as in inheritance. But then they had to own it by possession. They first had to see it by faith in their land of bondage, then they had to move, as instructed of God through Moses arise and ; they had to see it by faith. But they had to go over and possess it if they were to own what was promised. So is the heavenly Promised Land, the earth made new to spiritual Israel.
Procrastination and Neutrality
Procrastination is an arch-enemy of opportunity. Neutrality in a battle not merely lies within the nebulous ether of compromise; rather, it is a high crime, for, since after the fall of Adam and Eve in Eden by choosing to yield—in spite of being warned through a clear, simple and comprehensive command by their Creator not to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree, lest they die. This test in Eden was the mother of all tests that have followed since then–the first test was of loyalty to Him who “created both male and female” that is, in the Godhead’s image and likeness, ”thus perfect, sinless, unfallen though untested to the beguiling temptations of the “father of lies and murderer from the beginning,” The rest is the history of mankind.
Are you a self-taught, habitual pessimist enshrouded in a mist of negativity or a well-informed, thoughtful, calm and purposeful optimist? Someone described these two opposites as follows: “A pessimist is one who complains of noise when opportunity is knocking on the door.” If you hear the voice of conviction (the voice of the Holy Spirit) now, do not ignore it any further, for: “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4: 7; ps. 95: 7-11.
Conviction manifests itself in three different ways, two of which are exact opposites, namely, humble acceptance in contradistinction to stubborn rejection. In between these two, somehow, if that were even a remote possibility with any redeemable merits as a third alternative, is presumptuous nonchalance, as in “totally uninvolved,” “I’m-not-into-any-religion” thing. This is pure make-believe.
Yet all three share a common platform called choice—that God-endowed faculty to recognize and choose freedom from spiritual slavery that probably began with a small, seemingly innocent-looking compromise, mutually consented to for some good but also attended with dishonesty, as in “white lies.” This is a slippery and precipitous slope. Unless nipped in the bud and a reverse, uphill action is determinately taken, the downward spiral begins. Because of the fallen human propensity to disobedience and the yet unsanctified desires of the “old man” character, addiction to the carnal “works and lusts of the flesh” (enumerated in Gal. 5: 19-21 and Rom.1: 18-32) quickly take over as weeds outgrow the good grass or the flowering plants. promptly seizing all the divinely-created opportunities that come with the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to choose wisely else it be otherwise-ly.”
Some may say, I remain neutral. That is a choice; it is exercising one’s will. Again, others say, I will not choose nor even entertain the idea of choosing. Ahem. That is still a choice; it is exercising one’s will not to choose—whether only in the mind and heart or action-wise. But ringing through it all is the divine plaintive invitation and challenge (its principles embodied in the first-ever question God asked the father of mankind: “Where art thou?” Gen. 3: 9). This is bell weather command as well that remains unchanged from the beginning to the end, that is, till the door to the wedding supper of the Bridegroom and the bride portrayed in the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25), closes forever. Thus: “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.
The one who tempts, deceives, and forces man’s will to conform to his perverse will, is the same one who employs and does any and all things contrary to the divine will, rendering his as satanic, for indeed he it is who has deceived countless in the past to the present time, and with unfortunate certainty, from henceforth till the close of time that neutrality of some sorts is preferable to making a clear and firm commitment to enlist and “fight the battles of the Lord where champions are few.” Note the following carefully:
The conflict in which none can stand on neutral ground
“The fallen world is the battle-field for the greatest conflict the heavenly universe and earthly powers have ever witnessed. It was appointed as the theater on which would be fought out the grand struggle between good and evil, between heaven and hell. Every human being acts a part in this conflict. No one can stand on neutral ground. Men must either accept or reject the world’s Redeemer. All are witnesses, either for or against Christ. Christ calls upon those who stand under His banner to engage in the conflict with Him as faithful soldiers [see Eph. 6:__;_] that they may inherit the crown of life.. They have been adopted as sons and daughters of God. Christ has left them His assured promise that great will be the reward in the kingdom of heaven of those who partake of His humiliation and the suffering for truth’s sake.
“The cross of Calvary challenges, and will finally vanquish, every earthly and hellish power. In the cross all influence centers, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the great center of attraction, for on it Christ gave up His life for the human race. This sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection; yea, more. It was offered to give him and entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror. Those who in the strength of Christ overcome the great enemy of God and man, will occupy a position in the heavenly courts above angels who have never fallen.” – Ibid, Sons & Daughters, p. 242.
Anyone connected with God’s work cannot remain on neutral ground
“Those who have any connection with God’s work in any of our institutions must have a connection with God, and must be committed to do right under all circumstances, that they may know where they will be found in the day of trial.No one connected with the sacred work of God can remain on neutral ground. If a man is divided, undecided, unsettled, until he is sure that he will lose nothing, he shows that he is a man God cannot use. But many are working in this line. They have not been appointed by God [although they have been long working in the institution/s!], or else they have decidedly failed to be worked by the mighty agency of the Holy Spirit.”- Ibid,Testimonies to Ministers, p. 403.
In a religious crisis neutrality is the worst type hostility against God
“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.”- Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 281.
The role of consent
Christ will blend man’s heart and mind to His will by consent. DA 668. He will identify Himself with man’s thoughts and aims by his consent. –Ibid. God cannot help without our co-operation and consent. AA 482. Devils cannot harm man [with sinning] without his consent. AH 405. God does not control mind without his consent. MB 142. God works for man by his consent. MLT 340. The mind’s consent must first be gained before man can transgress God’s law. 5T 171. Satan cannot control man’s words, thoughts and actions without his consent. AH 402.
Now, please remember this:
“Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest temptations, but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in our behalf; those victories will make it possible for us to conquer. Christ will give strength to all who seek it. No man without his consent can be overcome by Satan. The tempter has no power to control the will or force the soul to sin. He may distress but he cannot contaminate. He can cause agony, but not defilement. The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and Satan.” – Great Controversy, p. 510.
(Continued next week)