April 19, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR ‘S DESK:
NO VICTORY WITHOUT SUBMISSION & CO-OPERATION WITH CHRIST
Good morning on the 31st day since our state’s governor declared a lock-down as a major mitigation strategy against the covid-19 enemy.
It’s for you to assess as to where tide is turning. Everyone has his own take and only time will tell if their hunches and determinations were sound or unsound.
Remember the first day of the Creator’s week, is today which the world, not the Bible calls Sunday, for that was what it really was, the day dedicated to the sun, an inanimate body to “rule the day.”
The world and the churches have chosen their own way and own day, like Cain, to worship God. Abel, his brother, chose to simply obey the Creator’s appointed way, as He said, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”
And so if we are of the righteous Abel’s spiritual line, let’s roll up the sleeves of our mind and get to work and start this week deep in the den of the lethal corona virus with these “spiritually and intellectually,” stimulating, and working thoughts:
“Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great work of OVERCOMING; for God does nothing for man WITHOUT his co-operation.
“Neither say that after you have done all you can on your part, Jesus will help you [Not ‘God helps those who help themselves.”] for Christ has said, ‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’ From the first to the last [as in Alpha and Omega, First And Last, Beginning and End] man is to be laborer together with God. Unless the HOLY SPIRIT works in the human heart, at EVERY STEP we shall stumble and fall [especially in times of calamities and emergencies such like now].
“Man’s efforts alone [‘makes flesh his arm,’ Jer.17:5] alone are nothing but worthlessness; but co-operation with God means VICTORY. Of ourselves we have no power to REPENT of sin. Unless we receive divine aid, we cannot take the first step toward the Savior. He who says, ‘I am Alpha & Omega, is the salvation of every soul.
“But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire [not force, threaten, cajole or bribe] every man to unwearied diligence. We are to STRIVE, WRESTLE, AGONIZE, WATCH and PRAY, lest we be overcome by the wily foe. The power and grace [mark this divinely-potent combination] with which we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are to TRUST in Him, ‘who is able to save them to the uttermost.’
“Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man [such as ‘once-saved-always-saves or ‘predestination or ‘faith’ or ‘believe only’]; but rather TEACH man to co-operate with God, that he may be successful in overcoming.
“Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God. In the Judgment pronounced is ACCORDING to what has been done OR undone’ [Matt. 34-40-40].”-Notebook Leaflets, Elmshaven Library, pp. 65,66.
“Work out this week, your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to WILL and To Do His (not yours) good pleasure.” NMF