Tag: God

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 24, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE ORIGIN OF STUBBORNESS, DISLOYALTY AND REBELLION, 

Text: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft

Stubborness is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Sam. 15: 23, KJV. 

We resume quoting from E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 499-500 (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):       

    “With one accord, Satan and his host [one third of the angelic host] threw the blame of their rebellion wholly upon Christ, declaring that if they HAD NOT BEEN REPROVED, they would never have rebelled. Thus STUBBORN and DEFIANT in their DISLOYALTY, seeking vainly to overthrow the government of God, yet blasphemously claiming themselves to be the INNOCENT VICTIMS of oppressive power, the ARCH-REBEL and all his sympathizers were at last banished from heaven. [Rev. 12: 7-9]. 

    “The SAME SPIRIT that prompted rebellion in heaven, STILL INSPIRES rebellion on earth. Satan has continued with men the same policy and strategy] which he pursued with the angels. HIS SPIRIT NOW REIGNS IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE [See Eph. 2:2; 5:6; Col. 3:6]. Like him they seek to break down the restraints of the law of God [the Decalogue], and promise men LIBERTY THROUGH TRANSGRESSION of its precepts. 

    “REPROOF OF SIN STILL AROUSES THE SPIRIT OF HATRED AND RESISTANCE. When God’s messages of warning are brought home to the CONSCIENCE, Satan leads men to justify themselves, and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin. [‘Misery loves company;’ ‘Birds of the same feather flock together.’]. Instead of correcting their errors, they EXCITE INDIGNATION AGAINST THE REPROVER, as if he were the sole cause of the difficulty. 

    “From the days of the righteous ABEL to our own time, SUCH IS THE SPIRIT which has been displayed toward those who DARE TO CONDEMN SIN [not the sinner!].” 

   “By the same misrepresentation of the CHARACTER OF GOD as he had practiced in heaven, causing Him [God] to be regarded as SEVERE AND TYRANNICAL, Satan induced man [Eve, then Adam] to sin. And havjng thus SUCCEEDED THUS FAR, he declared that God’s unjust restrictions had led to MAN’S FALL, as they had led to his own rebellion [in heaven].” – End extract. 

NOTE: Satan is also identified in the end as “the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Rev. 12: 10. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 17, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

HISTORY OF SATAN’S REBELLION IN HEAVEN PERPETUAL SAFEGUARD FOR ALL CREATURES THROUGHOUT ETERNITY 

Text: Ps. 193:20 “Bless the Lord, all ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, heartening to the voice of His word.” Ps. 103: 20, KJV.

We resume where we left off last week (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied): 

     “Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson for the universe through all coming ages [the ceaseless ages of eternity future that commences at Christ’s glorious second advent], a perpetual testimony to the NATURE AND TERRIBLE RESULTS OF SIN. The  working out of Satan’s rule [his ‘kingdom of darkness’], its effects upon BOTH MAN AND ANGELS, would show what must be the FRUIT OF SETTING THE DIVINE AUTHORITY. 

   “It would testify that with the existence of God’s government and His law is bound up the WELLBEING of all the creatures He has made. 

   “Thus the history of this TERRIBLE EXPERIMENT OF REBELLION was to be a PERPETUAL SAFEGUARD to all HOLY INTELLIGENCES to prevent them from being DECEIVED as to the NATURE OF TRANSGRESSION [sin, 1 John 3: 4], and SAVE them from committing SIN and SUFFERING its punishment. [which is death. Rom. 6:23). 

    “To the very close of the controversy IN HEAVEN [not yet on earth], the great usurper [‘the father of lies and murderer from the beginning.’ John 8: 44 

continued to justify himself. When it was announced with all his sympathizers he must be EXPELLED from the abodes of bliss [Heaven is the home of angels; earth was created for man, his real home], then the rebel leader boldly avowed his CONTEMPT FOR THE CREATOR’S LAW. He reiterated his claim that ANGELS NEEDED NO CONTROL, but should be left to follow their own will [as in ‘will and self worship], which would ever guide them right.

    “He denounced the divine statutes as a RESTRICTION OF THEIR LIBERTY, and declared that it was HIS PURPOSE to secure the abolition of the law; that freed from this restraint, the HOSTS OF HEAVEN might enter upon a MORE EXALTED, MORE GLORIOUS state of existence.” (End excerpt from E.G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 edition, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., p. 499)

If the latter sounds familiar it is because they are really similar: Satan’s subtle words of deception to Eve, then Adam in their sinless state and purity of perfect innocence in Eden, were, “Ye shall be like gods, knowing good and evil.” Eve was deceived into disobeying God’s command; then she  tempted Adam, who yielded and disobeyed God. See Gen. 3: 1-7.

Both histories in heaven and Eden, the former of angels, the latter of man, are likewise “perpetual safeguards” for all mankind IF they heed its lessons without deadly delay and fatal excuses! 

To be continued next MWM by God’s will.  Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 10, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THAT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE MAY SEE THE MASTER DECEIVER UNMASKED 

TEXT:  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55: 8, 9, KJV. 

Continuing from last week’s extract from Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, Pacific Press Publishing, pp. 498-9 (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

    “The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the  law and government of God. ALL EVIL he declared to be the result of the DIVINE ADMINISTRATION. He claimed that it was his own object [purpose] to IMPROVE UPON THE STATUTES [and law] OF JEHOVAH. 

    “Therefore it was necessary that he should demonstrate THE NATURE of his claims, and show the working out of his PROPOSED CHANGES to the divine law. HIS OWN WORK MUST CONDEMN HIM. Satan had claimed from the first he was NOT in rebellion. THE WHOLE UNIVERSE [not only heaven and earth] MUST SEE THE DECEIVER UNMASKED. 

    [God’s infinite wisdom and “enduring mercy” demonstrated first in heaven]: “Even when it was decided [by the heavenly council of the Godhead] that he could no longer remain in heaven, INFINITE WISDOM did not destroy Satan. Since the SERVICE OF LOVE can alone be acceptable to God, the ALLEGIANCE of His creatures must rest upon CONVICTION OF HIS JUSTICE AND BENEVOLENCE. 

    “The inhabitants of heaven [angels] and of OTHER WORLDS, being UNPREPARED TO COMPREHEND the nature or the consequences of SIN, could not then have seen the JUSTICE AND MERCY of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been IMMEDIATELY blotted out from existence, they would have served God from FEAR, rather than from LOVE.

    “The INFLUENCE of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the SPIRIT OF REBELLION have been utterly eradicated. EVIL MUST BE PERMITTED [by God] TO COME TO MATURITY [‘filled to the brim,’ ‘full-cup’ principle]. 

     “FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNIVERSE THROUGH CEASELESS AGES, Satan must more fully develop his principles, that HIS CHARGES against the divine government might be SEEN IN ITS TRUE LIGHT BY ALL CREATED BEINGS, that the justices and mercy of God and the immutability of the His law might be FOREVER be placed beyond all question.” (End extract). 

I am stunned and humbled, unable to find words to thank God enough for revealing to fallen, sinful, finite mortals like me, such staggeringly awesome truths “from eternity past,” way before the earth and man was created! Truly “how excellent is His name (character),” and “His ways past finding out.” By such divine revelations we can, intellectually and spiritually, say in humble and hopeful confidence, “GOD IS IN CONTROL.”  For I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 3, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN HIS MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS WITH THE ‘MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ 

TEXTS: “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps. 119: 89; 19: 7, KJV. 

We resume quoting from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 487-8 (all emphasis provided):

   “Satan had artfully presented his side of the question, employing SOPHISTRY AND FRAUD to secure his objects. His power to DECEIVE was very great, and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an ADVANTAGE. Even the loyal angels could NOT FULLY DISCERN his character, or see what his WORK was leading. 

    “Satan had been so highly honored, and all his acts had been clothed in MYSTERY, that it was DIFFICULT to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work. 

    “UNTIL FULLY DEVELOPED, SIN WOULD NOT APPEAR THE EVIL IT WAS. Heretofore it had no place in the UNIVERSE of God, and HOLY BEINGS had NO CONCEPTION of its nature and malignity. THEY COULD NOT DISCERN THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM SETTING ASIDE THE DIVINE LAW. 

    “Satan had, at first, concealed his work under a specious profession of LOYALTY TO GOD.  He claimed to be seeking to promote the HONOR of God, the STABILITY of His government, and the GOOD of all the inhabitants of heaven. While instilling DISCONTENT into the minds of the angels under him [one third of the angelic host], he had artfully made it appear that he was seeking to REMOVE DISSATISFACTION. 

   “When he urged that CHANGES BE MADE IN THE ORDER AND LAWS OF GOD’S GOVERNMENT, it was under the pretense that these were necessary in order to preserve HARMONY in heaven!”

NOTE: the latter reminds me of that perverted principle: “Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis.”

Translation: Create the problem; prepare the solution; control the situation. 

     “In His dealings with SIN, God could employ ONLY righteousness and truth. Satan COULD USE what God COULD NOT—flattery and deceit. He had sought to FALSIFY the word of God, and MISREPRESENTED His plan of government before the angels, claiming that God was NOT JUST IN LAYING LAWS AND RULES upon the inhabitants of heaven; that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the EXALTATION of Himself.

    “Therefore, it must be DEMONSTRATED before the inhabitants of HEAVEN, as well as of ALL THE WORLDS, that GOD’S GOVERNMENT WAS JUST, HIS LAWS PERFECT. 

    “Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. [Therefore] THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE USURPER, AND HIS REAL OBJECT, MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL. HE MUST HAVE TIME TO MANIFEST HIMSELF BY HIS WICKED WORKS.”’- End extract. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 27, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

TEXT: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, THY WILL be done in earth, AS IT IS in heaven.” Matt. 6: 9-13; Luke 11: 2. 

God’s omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, purposes, will, and dealings with fallen mankind and earth may even be better understood and appreciated by this revelation of His long-suffering patience,  merciful, yet righteous dealings with Lucifer in his rebellion in heaven—even before man and earth were created! Indeed, “Our “Father’s will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He “changeth not,” is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” “from everlasting to everlasting.”

We resume where we left off

last week on Great Controversy, 1911 GC 496-7 “his liberty was to be abridged.”….

    “From MISREPRESENTATIONS  of the words of Christ, he (Lucifer) passed to PREVARICATION AND DIRECT FALSEHOOD, accusing the Son of God of a design to HUMILIATE him before the INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN. He sought also to make a false issue BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE LOYAL ANGELS. All whom he did not subvert and bring fully to his side, he accused of INDIFFERENCE to the interest of heavenly beings. The very work which he himself was doing, he charged upon those who remained true to God. 

    “And to sustain his charge against God’s INJUSTICE toward him, he resorted to MISREPRESENTATION of the words and acts of the Creator. It was his policy to PERPLEX the angels with subtle arguments concerning THE PURPOSES OF GOD. Everything that was SIMPLE he shrouded in MYSTERY, and by artful perversion CAST DOUBTS upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. His high position, in such close connection with the divine administration, gave him greater force to his representations, and MANY were induced to unite with him in rebellion against HEAVEN’S AUTHORITY.

     “God in His WISDOM, permitted Satan to carry forward his work, until the spirit of rebellion RIPENED into active revolt. It was NECESSARY for his plans to be fully developed that their TRUE NATURE AND TENDENCY might be seen by all. Lucifer, as the anointed cherub, had been highly exalted; he was greatly beloved, and his INFLUENCE over them was strong. 

    “God’s government INCLUDED not only the inhabitants of heaven, but ALL THE WORLDS that He had created; and Satan thought that if he could carry the ANGELS OF HEAVEN with him in rebellion, he could carry ALSO THE OTHER WORLDS.” (end extract from GC 496-7). 

For the other inhabited “worlds” and “dominions” other than earth’s dominion in God’s immeasurably vast universe, see Heb. 1: 3; 11: 3; cf. Dan. 7: 27; Col. 1:16. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 20, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration, Not Superstition or Tradition

ORIGIN OF DISCONTENT, DISSATISFACTION, PRIDE, DECEPTION, TRUTH-PERVERSION, TRAITORS 

Texts: “Only by pride cometh contention. . . . “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 13:10; 16: 18, KJV. 

We resume from where we left off last week quoting from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 495-6 (all emphasis, bracketed words and numbers provided):

     “The spirit of discontent had never been known in heaven. LUCIFER HIMSELF DID NOT KNOW AT FIRST TO SEE WHITHER HE WAS DRIFTING; he did not understand the NATURE OF HIS FEELINGS. 

     “But as his dissatisfaction  was proved to be without cause, Lucifer was CONVINCED that he was in the wrong, that the divine claims [of God’s law] were JUST, and that he ought to acknowledge them as such BEFORE ALL HEAVEN. 

    “Had he done this, HE MIGHT HAVE SAVED HIMSELF AND MANY ANGELS [in fact and truth, one third of the heavenly host under his direct command while Christ is the Archangel, His name and title being Michael, the Commander-in-Chief of the heaven’s army of angels]. 

    “He [Lucifer] had NOT at this time FULLY cast off his allegiance to God. Though he had FORSAKEN HIS POSITION AS COVERING CHERUB, yet if he had been WILLING to return to God, acknowledging the Creator’s WISDOM, and satisfied to fill THE PLACE appointed him in GOD’S GREAT PLAN, he would have been RE-INSTATED in his office [as covering cherub of God’s ‘great white throne’!] 

    “But PRIDE forbade him to submit. He persistently defended his own course, maintained that he had NO NEED OF REPENTANCE, and fully committed himself, in THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, to his Maker! [herein lies the spirit-nucleus, the core-substance of the ‘drama of the ages,’; ‘the cosmic conflict’ between Christ and Satan over God’s law, the foundation of His everlasting throne and kingdom!].

    “All the powers of his master-mind were bent on the work of DECEPTION, to secure the SYMPATHY of the ANGELS THAT HAS BEEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. Even the fact that Christ had WARNED AND COUNSELED him, was perverted to serve his traitorous designs. 

   “To those whose loving trust BOUND THEM MOST LOYALLY TO HIM [1/3 of the angels], Satan had represented that he was [1] wrongly judged, that [2] his position had not been respected, and that [3] his liberty was to be abridged.” (End extract) 

If Lucifer and the angels he had initially deceived by perverting truth in heaven were given time to repent and be restored to God’s favor and their positions—before they had exceeded the boundaries of God’s mercy when it meets His righteousness and justice—how much more for fallen, sinful mankind—who are subject to God’s saving grace, power, and plan of redemption to which angels were not similarly provided for in God’s wisdom! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 6, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

‘THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ STARTED IN HEAVEN

TEXT: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts your thoughts.” Isaiah 56:8, KJV. 

We resume from last week’s quote from the Great Controversy (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

    “But there was one who chose to PERVERT this freedom [in heaven; before earth was created]. SIN ORIGINATED with him, who, NEXT TO CHRIST, had been the most honored of God, and who stood HIGHEST IN POWER AND GLORY in among the inhabitants of heaven. [heaven is the home of angels]. 

    “Before his fall, LUCIFER WAS FIRST OF THE COVERING CHERUBS, holy and undefiled. ‘Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.’ ‘Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast CREATED, TILL INIQUITY was found in thee.”(Eze. 28: 12-15, 17). 

    “Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the ANGELIC HOST [often Biblically described as “the clouds of heaven”] exercising his noble powers to bless others and glorify his Maker. 

   “But, says the prophet, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’ Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a DESIRE FOR SELF-EXALTATION. [Eze. 28:6; Isa. 14: 13, 14, KJV quoted]. 

     “Instead of making God SUPREME in the AFFECTION AND ALLEGIANCE of His creatures, it was Lucifer’s endeavor to win their service and homage to himself. And COVETING the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon His Son, this PRINCE OF ANGELS aspired to power which it was the prerogative of CHRIST ALONE to wield. 

    “All heaven had rejoiced to REFLECT the Creator’s glory [of His character and image] and to show forth His praise. And WHILE God was thus honored, all had been PEACE AND GLADNESS. 

    “But a note of DISCORD now marred its celestial harmonies. The service and exaltation of SELF, CONTRARY TO THE CREATOR’S PLAN, awakened forebodings of evil in MINDS to whom God’s glory was supreme. [angels have angelic minds, as man has a human mind; but all subject to the law of God]. 

    “The HEAVENLY COUNCILS pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him [1] the GREATNESS, [2] the GOODNESS, and [3] the JUSTICE of the Creator [and the Redeemer after the fall of man in Eden!], and [4] the SACRED, UNCHANGING NATURE OF HIS LAW. God Himself had established the ORDER of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin to himself. 

    “But the WARNING, GIVEN IN INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed JEALOUSY of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined. PRIDE IN HIS OWN GLORY NOURISHED THE DESIRE FOR SUPREMACY. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer, were not appreciated as a GIFT OF GOD, and called forth NO GRATITUDE to the Creator. 

    “He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be EQUAL WITH GOD. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was CLOTHED WITH WISDOM AND GLORY above them all. 

    “Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged SOVEREIGN OF HEAVEN, AND ONE IN POWER AND AUTHORITY WITH THE FATHER. In all the counsels of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was NOT PERMITTED thus to enter into THE DIVINE PURPOSES. ‘Why,’ questioned this mighty angel, ‘should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus honored above Lucifer?” (End excerpt from The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, The Origin of Evil, chap. 29, by Ellen G. White, pp. 493-5. 

How awesomely precious it is to fallen, sinful, finite mortals like me, to be privileged, and thus honored undeservedly, to be given an infinitely honest and true revelation of what happened in HEAVEN, the home of angels and the Godhead—and the angelic origin and originator of the “mystery of iniquity”, and Christ’s earliest dealings with it! This alone reveals the character of God before He even created the earth and man! And since He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” we should delight to know, how, as the Redeemer and Savior of fallen man, His divine will powers forward His Plan of Redemption for fallen man and the final and eternal disposal of all that is evil and sinful—both “root and branches.”

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