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How To Study The Bible
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FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE SIMPLE AND PURE BIBLE-BASED FAITH OF THE WALDENSIAN CHRISTIANS
“The Waldenses were among the first of the peoples of Europe to obtain a translation of the Holy Scriptures. Hundreds of years before the Reformation, they possessed the Bible in MANUSCRIPTS in their native tongue [dialect, language]. They had the TRUTH UNADULTERATED, and this renders them the special OBJECTS of hatred and persecution. [Here’s particularly why]
“They declared the Church of Rome [in contrast to the church of Christ] to be the apostate Babylon of the Apocalypse [Revelation], and at the peril of their lives they stood up to resist her corruptions.
“While, under the long-continued pressure of persecution, some compromised their faith, little by little yielding its DISTINCTIVE principles, others held fast the truth.
“Through ages of darkness and apostasy, there were Waldenses who DENIED THE SUPREMACY OF ROME, who rejected IMAGE WORSHIP as idolatry, and who kept the TRUE SABBATH. Under the fiercest tempests opposition they maintained their faith. [can this be also said of us today when the prophesied persecution hasn’t yet come?]. Though gashed with the Savoyard spear, and scorched by the Romish fagot, they stood UNFLINCHINGLY for God’s word and His honor.
“Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains,—-in all ages the refuge of the persecuted and oppressed—-the Waldenses found a hiding-place. Here the light of truth kept burning AMID THE DARKNESS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. Here for a THOUSAND YEARS, witnesses for the truth maintained the ANCIENT FAITH.
“God had provided for His people a SANCTUARY OF AWFUL GRANDEUR, befitting the MIGHTY TRUTHS committed to their trust. To those faithful exiles the mountains were an EMBLEM of the immutable RIGHTEOUSNESS of Jehovah. They pointed their CHILDREN to the heights towering above them in unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him ‘with whom there is no variablemess nor shadow of turning’[James 1:17], whose word is as ENDURING as the everlasting hills. God had set fast the mountains, and girded them with strength; no arm bug Infinite Power could move them out of their place.
“In LIKE MANNER He had established His law, the foundation of His GOVERNMENT IN HEAVEN and upon earth. The arm of man might reach his fellow-men and DESTROY THEIR LIVES; but that [mortal, finite] arm could as readily uproot the mountains from their foundations, and hurl them into the sea, as it COULD CHANGE one precept of the Law of Jehovah, or BLOT OUT His promises to those who DO HIS WILL. In their FIDELITY to His law, God’s servants should be AS FIRM as the unchanging hills.
“The mountains that girded their lowly were a constant witness to God’s CREATIVE power, and a never-failing ASSURANCE of His protecting care. These pilgrims learned to love the SILENT symbols of Jehovah’s presence. They indulged NO REPINING [complaining, grumbling] because of its hardships.of their lot. What a rebuke to Christians who are constantly complaining over little or even imagined, self-induced difficulties and problems!].
They were never lonely amid the mountain solitudes. [Instead] they THANKED God that He had provided for them an ASYLUM from the wrath and cruelty of men. THEY REJOICED IN THEIR FREEDOM TO WORSHIP BEFORE HIM. Often when pursued by their enemies, the strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From many a lofty cliff they CHANTED THE PRAISE OF GOD and the armies of Rome could not silence their SONGS OF THANKSGIVING.” Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 65, 66.
During this pandemic, how many words of complaint, murmuring, accusations, lying versus word of praise, versus words and songs of praise and gratitude to God in Christ have been entered by our guardian angels into our books of record in heaven? Remember that “by our words we are either condemned or justified.” Ponder prayerfully, humbly, and thoroughly. God is mercifully righteous and just, NMF.
November, 1 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
OUTLINE OF DANIEL, WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REVELATION TO COMPLETE THE BIBLE PROPHECIES
Before going a step further studying the details of the parallel visions of Daniel (ch. 2; 7; 8-9; 10-12), It is indispensable that we see a full view of the book itself, it’s purpose, and why Revelation cannot be properly interpreted, understood and valued in these last days of earth’s history:
The Theme: “The Book of Daniel night appropriately called a handbook of history and prophecy. PREDICTIVE prophecy is a preview of history; history is predictive prophecy PASSING IN REVIEW. The element of prediction [1] enables God’s people to see the things of TIME in the light of ETERNITY, [2] alerts them for effective action [not merely reactionary] at appropriate times, [3] facilitates PERSONAL preparation for the FiNAL crisis, and [4] provides a firm basis for FAITH upon fulfillment of the prediction.
“The four major lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel set forth in BRIEF OUTLINE, against the backdrop of WORLD HISTORY, the experiences of God’s people from the days of Daniel down to the close of time. ‘The curtain is drawn aside, and we Behold, above, behind, and through the play and counter play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will’ (PK 500).
“EACH of the four lines of prophecy reaches a CLIMAX when ‘the God of heaven’ sets ‘up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed’ (chap. 2:44), when ‘the Son of man’ receives ‘everlasting dominion’ (ch.7:13,14), when opposition to the ‘Prince of princes’ is ‘broken without hand’ (ch.8:25), and God’s people are delivered forever from their oppressors (ch.12:1).
“The prophecies of Daniel thus provide a DIVINELY CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE from the precipice of time to the boundless shores of eternity, a bridge over which those who, like Daniel, PURPOSE in their hearts to love and serve God, may pass by faith from the UNCERTAINTY and DISTRESS of the PRESENT LIFE to the PEACE and SECURITY OF ETERNAL LIFE.”- Commentary of the Book of Daniel, A Section of Vol. 4, SDA Bible Dictionary.
(More tomorrow), God bless all, NMF
October 19, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
WHAT ‘IT IS WRITTEN’ DECLARES OF THE DECALOGUE
“Many religious teachers assert that Christ by His death abolished the law, and men are henceforth ‘free’ from its requirements. There are some who represent it as a ‘grievous yoke;’ and in contrast to the [alleged] bondage of the law, they present the ‘liberty to be enjoyed under the gospel.
“But not so did PROPHETS and APOSTLES regard the holy law of God. Said DAVID, ‘I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.’ (Ps. 119:45). The apostle James who wrote AFTER the death of Christ, refers to the Decalogue as the ‘royal law’ and the ‘perfect law of liberty’ (James 2:8; 1:25). And the Revelator, half a century AFTER the crucifixion , pronounces a BLESSING upon them ‘that do His commandments, that they may have RIGHT to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.’ (Rev. 22:14).
“The claim that Christ by His death abolished His Father’s law, is WITHOUT FOUNDATION. Had it been possible for the law to be CHANGED or SET ASIDE, that Christ need NOT have died to save man from the PENALTY of sin.
“The DEATH of Christ, so far from abolishing the law, proves that it is IMMUTABLE. The Son of God came to ‘magnify the law and make it honorable’ (Isa. 42:21). He said, ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law;’ ‘till heaven and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.’(Matt. 5:17,18). And concerning Himself He declares, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.’ (Ps. 40:8).
“The law of God, from its very nature, is unchangeable. It is a revelation of the WILL and CHARACTER of its Author. God is love, and His law is love. It’s TWO great principles are love to God and love to man. ‘Love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Rom.13:10). The character of God is righteousness and truth;’ ‘all Thy commandments are righteousness’(Ps. 119: 142, 172).
“And the apostle Paul declares, ‘The law is holy, the commandment is holy, and just and good.’(Rom. 7:12). Such a law, being an expression of the mind and will of God, must be as ENDURING as its Author.”- (E.G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 Ed., pp. 466, 467).
Have this Covenant (Deut. 4:13) written in your hearts and minds, and remain a faithful covenant-keeper to end with Christ, “the Angel of the Covenant.” God bless, NMF
September 24, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS
“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Eph. 6:17, A.V.
“For the Word of God is living (quick, KJV) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division (‘dividing asunder,’ KJV) of the soul and the spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:12.
“God has provided abundant means for successful warfare against the evil that is in the world. The BIBLE is the armory where we may equip for the struggle. Our loins must be girt about with truth. Our breastplate must be righteousness. The shield of faith must be in our hand, the helmet of salvation on our brow; and with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, we are to CUT our way through the obstruction and and entanglements of sin.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 502.
September 13, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH: OUR SAFEGUARD AGAINST LYING AND LIARS
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.”
Eph. 6:14, KJV.
“There is absolutely no safeguard against evil but truth. No man can stand firm for right in whose heart the truth does not abide. Thee is only one power that can make and keep us steadfast—the power of God, imparted to us by the GRACE of Christ.
“There are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to EXPLAIN their belief, they will be surprised to see how CONFUSED are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.
September 7, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
MORE ABOUT THE ANGELS AS ‘MINISTERING SPIRIT’. See Hebrews 1: 13, 14.
“Angels were held in high esteem by the Jews, so much so that apostle Paul at one time WARNED against angel worship. (Col. 2:18). This tendency to reverence angels doubtless made Paul’s argument in Hebrews very effective. If the Jews, or some of them, thought angels worthy of worship, God’s command to the angels to worship Christ must have made a deep impression upon the Jews. If Christ were so much higher than the angels that they were required to worship Him, then He must indeed be none less than God Himself.”
“That angels—though they are but ministers, servants—are accorded a high place and entrusted with great responsibilities, is clearly taught in the Old Testament.
September 6, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
ANGELS: DO WE REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO?
“Who maketh His angels spirits.”
Heb. 1:7, KJV.
“The angels are God’s ministers. They are His servants, doing His will. As the wind and the waves obey His will, as the fire accomplishes His design, so God uses His angels as they are needed.”
“Some see in this verse a reference to the cherubim and the seraphim. ‘Spirits’ is the same word elsewhere used for ‘winds,’ and of the cherubim it is written. ‘And He rose upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.’ Ps. 18:10.”