Tag: development

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Devotionals

FROM CONFORMED TO TRANSFORMED

July 13, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

FROM CONFORMED TO TRANSFORMED

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2, Authorized Version (KJV)

“God’s promise is, ‘Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with ALL your heart.’ Jer. 29:13. The whole heart must be YIELDED to God, or the CHANGE (or transformation) can never be wrought in us by which we are to be RESTORED to His likeness (image).

“By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: ‘Dead In trespasses and suns;’ ‘the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;’ ‘no soundness in it.’ We are held fast in the snare of Satan, ‘taken captive by him at his will.’” Eph. 2:1; Isa. 1:5, 6; 2 Tim. 2:26.

“God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an ENTIRE TRANSFORMATION, A RENEWING OF OUR WHOLE NATURE, we must yield ourselves WHOLLY to Him.

“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. [As Paul said, ‘I die daily.’ Selfish, self-centered, self-pleasing self must die].
He calls the unconverted heart as “the old man,” and the truly converted in heart and mind as “the new man in Christ Jesus.”

“The government of God is not, as Satan.would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. Rather, it appeals to the intellect and to the conscience. ‘Come now, and let us reason together’ is the Creator’s invitation to the beings He has made.”  Isaiah 1:18.

“God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage (acts of worship) that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all REAL DEVELOPMENT OF MIND OR CHARACTER; it would make man a mere automaton (robot).

“Such is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work of His creative power (created on the 6th day of creation), shall reach the HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to BRING US THROUGH HIS GRACE.

“He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He May work His will in us. It remains for us to CHOOSE whether we will be set free from the BONDAGE OF SIN, to share the GLORIOUS LIBERTY of the sons of God!” SC 43, 44. 

May the Holy Spirit guide, enlighten, convict, convince and empower you to do God’s will!   NMF 

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Devotionals

COVETOUSNESS : AN EVIL OF GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT.

June 19, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

COVETOUSNESS : AN EVIL OF GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT.
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “Take heed, and beware of covetousness.” “Let it not be ONCE named among you.” Col. 3:5; Matt. 6:24; Luke 12:15; Eph. 5: 3.

“The deadly sin that led to Achan’s ruin had its ROOT in COVETOUSNESS, of all sins ONE OF THE MOST COMMON and the MOST LIGHTLY REGARDED [by man but not by God!]. While other offenses meet with detection and punishment, how RARELY does the violation of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure. The ENORMITY of this sin, and its terrible results, are the LESSONS of Achan’s history.

Continue reading “COVETOUSNESS : AN EVIL OF GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT.”
Categories
Devotionals

HIGHER EDUCATION? STUDY CHRIST’S PARABLES

February 10 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HIGHER EDUCATION? STUDY CHRIST’S PARABLES.

“All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet [Isaiah].”

Matt. 13: 34, 35 (read the rest). “In the Savior’s parable teaching is an indication of what constitutes “higher learning.’ Christ might have opened to men the deepest truths of science. He might have unlocked mysteries which have required many centuries of toil and study to penetrate. He might have made suggestions in scientific lines that would have afforded food for thought and stimulus for invention to the close of time.

But He did not do this. He said nothing to gratify curiosity, or to satisfy man’s ambition by opening doors to worldly greatness. In all His teaching, Christ brought the mind of man in contact with the Infinite Mind. He did not direct the people to study men’s theories about God, His Word, or His works.

He taught them to behold Him as manifested in His works, in His Word, and by His providences. Christ did not deal with abstract theories, but in that which is essential to the development of character, that which will enlarge men’s capacity for knowing God, and increase his efficiency to do good.

He spoke to men of those truths that relate to the conduct of life, and that take hold upon eternity.” COL 22, 23. There are 40 parables of Christ recorded in the NT. Don’t you think they’re priceless compared to all the politics, entertainment and unnecessary “cares of this life”?! If you do let’s find whatever time is left to study these “higher education” subjects! NMF