Tag: away

Categories
Devotionals

SELF-EXAMINATION: ANTIDOTE TO DRIFTING AWAY SPIRITUALLY

September 18, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

SELF-EXAMINATION: ANTIDOTE TO DRIFTING AWAY SPIRITUALLY

“Lest at any time we let them slip (drift away from).”

Heb. 2:1, KJV.

“For every one who falls into great sin, there are then who are drifting. Even when one seems to leap suddenly into sin, it is often the case that he has  PREVIOUSLY been drifting, UNNOTICED by others, and perhaps by himself. Most open sin BEGINS by slowly drifting. Therefore, let all beware!

“Float past, ‘drift away,’ ‘slip away.’ These are different renderings, and all of them significant. We are told that we OUGHT to give the more earnest heed, that is, we MUST, we OWE it, it is IMPERATIVE. We are to be watchful lest we float past, or drift away from the MOORINGS of the Word of God!

“In view of this danger, it behooves  each one to EXAMINE HIMSELF, lest he be drifting without being aware of his peril:(1) carelessness in prayer (2) discontinuance of family worship (3) absence from church services (4) lukewarmness in spiritual of church activities (5) neglect of Bible study of private devotion (6) avoidance of the ordinances of the Lord’s house (7) remissness in tithes and offerings—these and many other signs should be carefully watched. Our ATTITUDE towards them indicates if and how fast we are drifting! The apostle’s admonition against drifting is as applicable today [right now] as when it was written.” – M. L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, p. 82.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Cor. 13:5, NKJV.

David prayed: “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” Ps. 26:2. See also Ps. 139: 23, 24. 
God bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

LEST WE DRIFT AWAY

September 16, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

LEST WE DRIFT AWAY

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we drift away.” Heb. 2:1, NKJV. (The KJV says, “lest at any time we should let them slip.”)

“Lest at any time we should let them slip,’ or more literally, ‘lest we be floated past them,’ or ‘drift away from them.’

“The picture is that of a boat being carried along with the current, the occupants unaware of the fact that they are drifting. Before they realize it they are nearing the cataract, far pat the OLD LANDMARKS, and danger is at hand, and possibly, destruction.

“Drifting is one of the easiest and pleasantest means of locomotion, but it is also a most treacherous one. NO EFFORT IS NEEDED TO DRIFT, and as one glides down the river toward sure death, the FEELING is that of well-being with contentment with accompanying delightful DROWSINESS. The downward movement is hardly perceptible, for as the boat moves down the river it seems to remain MOTIONLESS. The water moves with the boat and APPEARANCES ARE DECEITFUL. Unless one awakens in time, the danger is very real.

“This was the condition of the church to which the author [Paul] was writing. They were drifting SPIRITUALLY, and did not sense their danger. Slowly they were nearing the precipice, and soon it would be too late.” M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 81, 82.

The global deterioration at every level and endeavor of human society is God’s “voice” warning mankind that earth’s probation is soon to close! Soon it will be too late for those who have persistently resisted heaven’s invitation to repent of and turn away from their sins! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.” Sow seeds of righteousness, reap the fruits of righteousness! God bless all, NMF.  

Categories
Devotionals

CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE

September 14, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE

Please find time to prayerfully and unhurriedly read verses 1-18 of Hebrews chapter 2. Here are the first 4 verses(emphasis mine):

“Therefore we must give the MOST EARNEST HEED, to the things we have heard, LEST WE DRIFT AWAY. For if the word spoken through angels, proved steadfast, and every TRANSGRESSION AND DISOBEDIENCE received a just reward, HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God AlSO bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”

Heb. 2:1-4, NKJV.

SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER: “This chapter opens with a warning against INDIFFERENCE. It is the first of many admonition scattered throughout the book, which evince the author’s [apostle Paul] anxiety for the SPIRITUAL WELFARE of his readers. From the nature of the exhortations we learn that, unlike the Corinthians, the DANGERS threatening them were NOT MORAL DELINQUENCY but a GRADUAL DRIFTING AWAY from the things they had heard, COUPLED WITH a lack of desire to apply themselves to a SERIOUS study of the Word.

“The larger part of the chapter is devoted to a discussion of the HUMANITY of Christ. In the first chapter the author brought indisputable proof of the DEITY of Christ. In the second chapter he shows that it is NEEDFUL for Christ to BECOME A MAN IF He is to be a merciful and faithful High Priest.

“How else could He deal gently with the weak and erring? He MUST be TEMPTED IN ALL POINTS LIKE AS WE ARE for it is only by passing through the EXPERIENCE to which [all] men are subject that He can succor [save, deliver, empower] those who are weak!

“This section contains a warning against the SUBTLE SINS of apathy and carelessness. Paul was greatly concerned about the SPIRITUAL condition of the people. There were TROUBLOUS TIMES AHEAD for the church. Persecution would soon break out anew; in a very few years the Roman armies would take the city, the Temple would be destroyed, and the Christians would be compelled to flee for their lives.

“Despite this, THE CHURCH WAS NOT FULLY AWAKE. They were ADRIFT with no anchor. Their condition was critical, and MOST SERIOUS OF ALL, they did not sense their danger!” (Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, 79, 80).

This is same condition we are facing today! The very signs taking place right now in America and the world are already announcing, in trumpet tones, that we entering the prophesied early time of trouble! Are we adrift or are our hearts and minds firmly anchored in the Rock, Christ Jesus and His Word—“It is Written,” “unto the law and the prophets,” “to the law and the testimony.”  Bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

ACHAN’S SIN CAUSED DEFEAT OF ISRAEL’S ARMY IN CANAAN

June 16, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

ACHAN’S SIN CAUSED DEFEAT OF ISRAEL’S ARMY IN CANAAN. (See Judges 7: 1-26 first).

“But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things….for Achan took of the accursed things, so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.” Verse 1.

Achan means “trouble.” He is also called Achar. After their miraculous victory of taking down the massively-fortified city of Jericho, Joshua led the army to attack a small town called Ai. “The hearts of the people melted and became as water.” Joshua “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eve tide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.”

Continue reading “ACHAN’S SIN CAUSED DEFEAT OF ISRAEL’S ARMY IN CANAAN”
Categories
FMM

Man’s Foolish Fear of the Effect rather than its Cause

Friday Morning Manna                                                      

November 8, 2019

Nathaniel Fajardo                                                        

email: [email protected]

Man’s Foolish Fear of the Effect rather than its Cause

     “Inasmuch then as the children having partaken [sharers] of flesh and blood, He likewise shared [“partook,” K.J.V.] in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Heb.  2: 14, 15, N.K.J.V

Man has this persistent fatal fascination, even to these closing hours of earth’s probation—to the demonic delight of “the “father of lies and murderer from the beginning” (John 8: 44)—they foolishly fear death, rather than sin. But sin is the cause, and death is its effect and consequence; and if not “speedily repented of” and overcome as the last Adam overcame, becomes its eternal reward. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6: 23.

Continue reading “Man’s Foolish Fear of the Effect rather than its Cause”