Tag: emnity

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 20, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
(Last Part of this Series)

Here’s a summary of this series, “God’s Saving Enmity.”

God Creator decreed the first of all the promises and prophecies of the Bible immediately after Eve, followed by Adam fell by disobedience in the garden of Eden (prototype of all the homes, houses, and households to the close of time) God’s command and yielded to Satan’s first cunning and subtle deception by taking on the appearance of a serpent, the most beautiful animal before it was cursed, as the first of all forms and types of mediums thereafter, in the first of all the unnumbered schemes and temptations of “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning.

God Creator’s first promise and prophecy of hope to the now fallen, sinful, and guilt-laden First Couple was a revelation that God’s own ENMITY, verily divine hatred toward sin, the transgression of His law, was what He would PUT BETWEEN the deceiver and the deceived, the tempter and the tempted. Without the divine power of enmity imparted by God’s saving grace, there was absolutely nothing that could break the attraction, affinity, loyalty, and propensity for sin and disobedience that Adam and Eve now possessed. One seemingly little act of disobedience of the originally sinless, unfallen pair and instantly their natures now became fallen and sinful, their bodies subject to death, decay, and corruption. Such is the fearfully malignant power of the exceeding sinfulness of sin in the mystery of iniquity!

The divine solution to the SIN PROBLEM and the nature of the great controversy between good and evil that started in heaven and continued on earth beginning in Eden, is the comprehensive Plan of Redemption of the everlasting gospel, indeed “the good news of salvation! God Creator introduced it in Eden with these part of the plan of redemption in these momentous words: “I will put ENMITY between thee (Satan) and the woman and between your seed and her Seed; it (the Seed shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His [the Seed’s] heel.” Gen. 3:15, KJV.

And what or who is this “seed of the woman who would “bruise the head of the serpent,” that is, finally and eternally destroy Satan? Paul tells us with a clear and plain words:

 “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law [the natural law of conception and birth], to redeem them that were under [the condemnation of the law for transgressing it], that we might receive the adoption of sons [through the true rebirth by the twin baptisms of water and the Spirit and transformation into the “new man in Christ Jesus” through the work of sanctification).” Gal. 4: 4, 5.

Paul further clarifies who this “seed” is by comparing and contrasting Him with Abraham (emphasis mine):

 “Now to Abraham and his seed [isaac, Jacob, etc.] were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy Seed, which is CHRIST.” Gal. 3:16. 

The only hope of the sinner is to cease from sin by enmity and hatred for sin that comes with the whole package of the comprehensive plan of redemption taught in detail by the wonderful sanctuary doctrine revealing the twin aspects of sacrifice and intercession, all through Christ as both the Sacrificial Lamb of God and the all-powerful yet merciful High Priest, Intercessor, Mediator, Advocate and now as righteous Judge of all the earth during this most solemn period of earth’s history in the ongoing pre-advent or investigative judgment.

In short, we cannot successfully overcome and triumph over sin and Satan until we hate sin as Christ hates it. Mark this scripture (emphasis mine):

“But unto the Son, He [the Father] saith, Thy throne O GOD, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast LOVEST righteousness and HATED INIQUITY [or sin; unrighteousness]; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Heb. 1: 8, 8. And lastly and solemnly: 
 “For it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were ONCE enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come [by way of prophecy], IF they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they CRUCIFY TO THEMSELVES THE SON OF GOD AFRESH [the promised Seed of Gen. 3:15], AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME.” Heb 6: 4-6, KJV.

By God’s permission and grace, we will start a new series next MWM, but by no means can we ever exhaust the enlightening, testing truths of this subject!Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 13, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 48

THE ONLY BATTLE AND WAR TRUE CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN

 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against WICkED SPIRITS in high places.” Eph. 6:12 (margin), KJV.

While Satan is constantly seeking to blind their minds to the fact, let CHRISTIANS never forget that that they ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood [verse above quoted]. The inspired warning is sounding down the centuries to our [present] time: ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’ 1 Pet. 5:8. [Therefore] ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’ Eph. 6:11.

From the days of Adam to our time, OUR great enemy [in his enmity of God and man] has been exercising his power to oppress and destroy. HE IS NOW PREPARING FOR HIS LAST CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CHURCH.

[What or which ‘church’?]. “All who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into CONFLiCT with this relentless foe. THE MORE NEARLY THE CHRISTIAN IMITATES THE DIVINE PATTERN, THE MORE SURELY WILL HE MAKE HIMSELF A MARK FOR THE ATTACKS OF SATAN.

All who are actively engaged in the cause of God, seeking to UNVEIL THE DECEPTIONS of the evil one and to PRESENT CHRIST to the people, will be able to join in the testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of serving the Lord in all humility of MIND [not performative appearance or professions], with many tears and temptations. [Why?]:

Satan assailed Christ with his FIERCEST AND MOST SUBTLE TEMPTATIONS; but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in OUR BEHALF; those victories make it POSSIBLE for us to conquer [‘overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil’]. Christ will GIVE strength to all who SEEK IT [by prayer and study of His Word through the Holy Spirit and ministry of holy angels that excel in strength].

[As free moral agents, divinely and originally endowed with the will, which is the governing power in man], “No man WITHOUT HIS OWN CONSENT can be overcome by Satan [i.e., yield to his temptations or fall for his temptations]. The tempter has no power to CONTROL the will of FORCE the soul to sin [disobey God’s law]. He may DISTRESS, but he cannot CONTAMINATE. He can cause AGONY, but not DEFILEMENT.

The fact that Christ [‘The Word made flesh,’ John 1: 1-3, 14] has CONQUERED should INSPIRE His followers [as their Example and Pattern Man] with courage to FIGHT MANFULLY the battle against SIN and SATAN.” – E. G. White, Great Controversy, p. 1911 ed., Pacific Press Publishing Asso.[all emphasis and words in brackets mine].

Jesus said. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” All who for any excuse, reason, political, national, or worse, religious agenda trains any form of weapon of warfare against his fellow mortal and sinner cannot be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Why? Simply because when the Creator and Redeemer introduced the nature of the kingdom He came to inaugurate on earth in His Sermon on the Mount (which of course includes the famous Beatitudes) declared: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy [cf. Lev. 19:18; Deut. 23:6].

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; THAT YE MAY BE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5: 43-45, 36-48, KJV.

Apostle Paul echoes this unadulterated kingdom truth for the true and faithful New Testament Christian:

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him a drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good [not ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’].” Rom. 12: 20, 21, see verses 9-19, KJV. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 6, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 47

THE GREATER HIS ENMITY AND WRATH THE GREATER HIS DEADLY DECEPTIONS

“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and the sea! For the devil is come down upon you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:12, KJV.

Great Controversy, page 509:
“The tempter often works MOST successfully through those who are LEAST suspected of being under his control. The possessors of TALENT AND EDUCATION are admired and honored, as if these qualities could ATONE for the absence of the fear of God, or ENTITLE men to His favor. Talent and culture considered in themselves, are GIFTS of God; but when these are made to SUPPLY the place of piety, when INSTEAD of bringing the soul nearer to God, they lead away from Him, then they become a CURSE AND A SNARE.

“The opinion prevails with many that all which APPEARS as courtesy or refinement must, in some sense, pertain to CHRiST [and Christianity]. Never was there a GREATER mistake. [True] these qualities should grace the CHARACTER of every Christian, for they would exert a powerful influence in favor of TRUE RELIGION; but they must be CONSECRATED to God; or else they are a power for EVIL.

“Many a man [or woman] of cultures intellect and pleasant manners, who would not stoop to what is COMMONLY regarded as an immoral act, is but a POLISHED INSTRUMENT in the hands of Satan. The insidious, deceptive character of his influence and example renders him a MORE DANGEROUS ENEMY to the cause [of ‘the truth as it is in Jesus’] THAN THOSE WHO ARE IGNORANT AND UNCULTURED.” -E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., p. 509 (all emphases and bracketed words mine).

How timeless and awesomely timely is the divine rebuke and warning raised by the weeping prophet to backsliding ancient Israel: “Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.” Jer. 17: 5, KJV.

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
November 29, 2023

God’s SavingEnmity
Part 46

ONLY AUTHENTIC BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS RECEIVE DIVINE ENMITY AGAINST SIN

 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the  servant of sin.” John 8:34. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:8, KJV. 

“In the ungenerate heart there is a LOVE OF SIN, and a disposition to cherish and excuse it. [In stark contrast] “In the renewed heart there is HATRED FOR SIN, and a determined RESISTANCE against it.

“When Christians CHOOSE the society of the ungodly and unbelieving, they EXPOSE THEMSELVES to temptation. Satan CONCEALS himself from view [a key cog in his deadly original strategy of deception as ‘the father of lies’] and stealthily draws his deceptive covering over their eyes. They CANNOT SEE that such company is calculated [by the master strategist] to do them harm; and while all the time ASSIMILATING to the world in CHARACTER, WORDS, AND ACTIONS, they are becoming more and more BLINDED.

“CONFORMITY TO WORDLY CUSTOMS CONVERTS THE CHURCH TO THE WORLD; IT NEVER CONVERTS THE WORLD TO CHRIST.

“Familiarity with sin will INEVITABLY cause it to appear LESS REPULSIVE. He who chooses to associate with the servants of Satan, will soon cease to fear their master [Satan].

“When in the way of duty [see Eccl. 12:13,14] we are brought into trial [by temptation to disobey God’s law], as was DANIEL in the king’s court, we may be sure that God will PROTECT US; but if we PLACE OURSELVES [by our self-pleasing, self-justifying choice, not by God’s commandments and leading], we shall FALL sooner of later.” – E.G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., Pacific Press Publishing Asso.(all emphasis and words in brackets supplied).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
November 22, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 45

MAN’S VIGILANT ENEMY IS TRACKING HIM EVERY MOMENT EVERYWHERE

“By their fruits ye shall know them.” See Matt. 7: 16-20, KJV. 

Both Jesus Christ and Satan and their respective PERSONS are currently invisible to mortal eyes. (Their respective appointed times, manner, and appearance are specified in prophecy). The ascended Savior of man is still in the most holy in heaven, closing out His intercessory work as merciful High Priest and righteous Judge of all the earth. Christ’s actual Presence on earth is resident in and manifested by the invisible Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead.

On the other hand, Satan, the enemy of God and man, is “the central power on the earth,” directing and implementing his “wrathful” plans and works through his “grand masterpiece of deception” on earth called the “man of sin,” “the son of perdition” of “the mystery of iniquity.” 2 Thess. 2: 2-12, etc.

Now this:
“While men are ignorant of his devices [‘unnumbered schemes’], this VIGILANT FOE is upon their track every moment. He is intruding his presence in every department of the HOUSEHOLD, in every STREET of our cities, in the CHURCHES, in the NATIONAL COUNCILS, in the COURTS OF JUSTICE—perplexing, deceiving, seducing, everywhere ruining the souls and bodies of men, women, and children, breaking up families, SOWING hatred, emulation, strife, sedition, murder.

 “And the CHRISTIAN WORLD [mainstream Christianity] seems to regard these things as though God had appointed them, and they must exist. [one of the many ways of transgressing the second commandment of the Ten, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exo 20: 7; Deut. 5: 11, etc. 

SATAN’S STRATEGY AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE

“Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God  by BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS which separate them from the world [1 Pet. 1:9: Deut.14:2; cf. Rom. 12: 1, 2]. “Ancient ISRAEL were enticed into sin when they ventured into FORBIDDEN association with the heathen [‘Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers.’ 1 Cor. 6: 15-20; cf. James 4: 4; 1 John 2: 15-17]. 

In similar manner are MODERN ISRAEL led astray. [2 Cor. 4:4 quoted. Read!]. ALL WHO ARE NOT DECIDED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE SERVANTS OF SATAN.” -E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed.. p. 508, Pacific Press Asso. [all emphasis and words in brackets mine].

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

November 15, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 44

WHY GOD’S ENMITY AGAINST SATAN AND SIN SEEMS TO SLUMBER

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” Isa. 56:10.

“Woe unto the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down upon you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12: 12, KJV.

Because “The great dragon, that old serpent, Satan the Devil” knows his time is short, what does he do and continues doing?

“Satan summons all his forces, and throws all his powers to combat. [But] why is it that he meets no resistance [when God immediately ‘put enmity between him and the woman’ in Eden (Gen. 3:15)? Why are the soldiers of Christ [in the professed ‘Bible and Bible only’ Christian churches] SO SLEEPY AND INDIFFERENT? [See Isa. 56:10 above].

“Because they have [1] so little connection with Christ [even if they are fully connected with the ‘church’]; because they are [2] so destitute of His [Holy] Spirit. [3] Sin [‘the transgression of God’s law] is not to them repulsive and abhorrent, as it was to their Master [4] They do not meet it, as did Christ, with decisive and determined resistance. [5] They do not realize the exceeding evil and malignity of sin, and they are BLINDED BOTH to the CHARACTER AND POWER of the prince of darkness.

“There is LITTLE ENMITY against Satan and his works, because there is SO GREAT IGNORANCE concerning his power and malice, and the VAST EXTENT of his warfare against Christ and His [true] church. MULTITUDES ARE DELUDES HERE. They do not know that Satan is a MIGHTY GENERAL, who controls the MINDS of evil angels, and that with well-matured plans and skillful movements he is warring against Christ to PREVENT the salvation of souls [living persons].

“Among professed Christians, and even among MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, there is heard scarcely a reference to Satan, except perhaps an INCIDENTAL MENTION in the pulpit. They OVERLOOK the evidences of his continued activity and success; they NEGLECT THE MANY WARNINGS of his subtlety; they seem to IGNORE his very existence.” -E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 507-8. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine).

If you have been spiritually asleep in these most solemn period of earth’s history, self-confident in carnal security having been assured by popular “peace-and-safety’ messages, “now is the time to awake out of sleep” and “make your calling and election sure” “for your soul may be required of you tonite. And how will it be?”

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
November 8, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 43

HOW, WHERE, WHEN, WITH WHOM AND OVER WHAT IS THE ENMITY MANIFESTED

“And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be deprived. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21, KJV. 

Thus declared Jesus Christ, who “in the beginning was the Word, was with God and was God,” verily “the Light and Life of the world,” “the only-begotten of the Father in and through whom He “created all things and upholds all things by the word of His power,” incarnate in human flesh and blood nature, the Lamb of God who alone can take away the sins of the world, the Redeemer, Savior, High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, and concurrently the righteous Judge of all the earth.

The image-character of Him “who is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” and “in whom is there is no variableness nor shadow of turning” being “the fulness of the Godhead bodily” is revealed “to the world, men, and angels” in the law of Him who is the “one and only Lawgiver.” This law is His everlasting covenant between Creator and creature, Savior and the eternally-saved. Deut. 4:13; Rev. 22: 14, KJV.

So why did fallen, sinful humanity of the world He created “not know Him nor His very own people, the Jewish nation of His time, refused “to receive Him,” but instead falsely accused Him to be crucified by their hated national enemies at that time—Rome of the Caesar’s? See John 1: 1-11)? Because of the difference rendered by the enmity of Gen. 3:15.

Note the following:

 “The difference between the character of Christ and the character of other men in His day was everywhere apparent and because of this difference the WORLD HATED HIM. It hated Him because of His goodness and His STRICT INTEGRITY. And Christ declared that those who manifest the SAME attributes would be LIKEWISE hated. As we NEAR the end of time this hatred for the followers of Christ will be MORE AND MORE MANIFEST. . . . 

When the light of heaven [of the present, testing truths of the gospel for the last days] rests upon us CONTINUALLY [not intermittently, sporadically, compulsively-impulsively], we shall REPRESENT Christ. It was the RIGHTEOUSNESS [‘unrighteousness is sin.’ 1 John 5:17) revealed [manifested] in His life that DISTINGUISHED [made Him ‘separate,’ ‘peculiar and distinct’] from the world and called forth its HATRED.” – E. G. White, Manuscript 97, Oct. 16. 1909; Upward Look, p. 303.

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
November 1, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 42

THE ENMITY AND WAR OF WARS OF THE COSMIC CONFLICT DESCRIBED BY THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

“And there was WAR in heaven: Michael [Christ’s title as Commander-in-Chief of the angelic army host] and His angels FOUGHT AGAINST the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found ANYMORE in heaven. And the DRAGON was cast out [of heaven], that OLD SERPENT, called the DEVIL and SATAN, which deceiveth the WHOLE WORLD: and he was cast out INTO THE EARTH, and his angels were cast out with him.” Rev. 12: 7-9. 

 “And the dragon was WROTH [angry; hated] the woman [prophetic symbol of church], and went to MAKE WAR with the REMNANT of her  [the woman’s] SEED, WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.” Rev. 12:17 (cf. Rev. 14:12; 19: 10). 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Pet. 5:8, 9, KJV. 

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is ENMITY with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the ENEMY of God. . . . But He giveth MORE GRACE. Wherefore He saith, God RESISTETH the proud, but giveth grace unto HUMBLE. Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL, and he will flee from you.” James 4: 4, 6, 7. 

“Finally, my brethren, be STRONG in the Lord, and in the POWER of His might. Put on the WHOLE ARMOR of God, that ye might be able to STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. For we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the RULERS of the DARKNESS of this world—AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES [of our fallen, sin-cursed world!]. Wherefore take unto you the WHOLE ARMOR Of GOD, that ye might be ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore having your loins [of the mind] girt about with TRUTH and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS and your feet shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL of peace; ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of faith [‘the faith of Jesus.’ Rev. 14:12], wherewith ye shall be ABLE TO QUENCH  ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD OF THE [Holy] SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD [‘It is written;’ ‘Thus saith the Lord;’ ‘Unto the law and the testimony.’]. PRAYING ALWAYS [‘pray without ceasing’] with all prayer and supplication in the [Holy] Spirit, and WATCHING thereunto with ALL PERSEVERANCE and supplication for all saints.” Eph. 6: 10-18. 

“For the Word of God is quick [living], and POWERFUL, and SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD—piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a DISCERNER of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there ANY CREATURE that is not manifest in HIS SIGHT: but all things are NAKED AND OPENED unto the eyes of Him with whom WE have to do.” Heb. 4: 12, 13. 

The quoted Holy Scriptures speak for itself on this topic (emphasis mine).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.