Tag: God

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Devotionals

JESUS’ CHILDHOOD: THE ONLY PERFECT EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN CHILDREN

July 24, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

JESUS’ CHILDHOOD: THE ONLY PERFECT EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN CHILDREN

“And the child grew, and waxed in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the GRACE of God was upon Him.” “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Luke 2:40,52, A.V.

“The childhood and youth of Jesus were spent in a little mountain village [not in a palace, castle or gated community]. There was not a place on earth that would not have been HONORED by His presence. The palaces of kings would have been privileged in receiving Him as a Guest. But He PASSED BY the homes of wealth, the courts of royalty, and renowned seats of learning, to make His home in obscure and despised Nazareth.”

“Wonderful in its significance is the BRIEF record of His early life [Luke 2:40 quoted]. In the sunlight of His Father’s countenance, Jesus increased with wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man….”

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Devotionals

PRESUMPTUOUS MISHANDLING OF GOD’S WORD PREPARES FOR SPIRITUALISM

July 22, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

PRESUMPTUOUS MISHANDLING OF GOD’S WORD PREPARES FOR SPIRITUALISM

“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples. . . . And when they say to you, Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter, should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead in behalf of the living? To the law and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light (of truth) in them.”

Isa. 8:18,19,20, NKJV.

“In the days of Christ the leaders and teachers of Israel [the Jewish nation] were powerless to resist the work of Satan. They were neglecting the ONLY means by which they could have withstood EVIL SPIRITS. It was by the Word of God that Christ overcame the wicked one.”

“The leaders of Israel professed to be the expositors of God’s Word BUT they had studied it only to SUSTAIN their traditions, and enforce their man-made observances. By their interpretations they made it express sentiments that God has NEVER given.”

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Devotionals

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER’S GIRDLE OF TRUTH

July 17, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER’S GIRDLE OF TRUTH

“Stand therefore, having your loins [of the mind] girt about with truth.” 

Eph. 6:14, A.V. (See verses 10-18).

“There is absolutely no safeguard against evil but truth. No man can stand firm for right in whose heart the truth does not abide. There is only one power that can make and keep us steadfast [in the truth]—the power of God, imparted to us by the grace of Christ [through the Holy Spirit.

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Devotionals

THE FUNCTION OF GRACE IN THE LAW THAT GOVERNS HIS KINGDOM

July 16, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE FUNCTION OF GRACE IN THE LAW THAT GOVERNS HIS KINGDOM

“Receive, I pray thee, the Law of His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart.”

Job 22:22, A.V.

“Everything in nature, from the mote in the sunbeam, to the worlds in high, is under law. And upon obedience to these laws the order and harmony the natural world depend.

“So there are great principles of righteousness to control the life of INTELLIGENT beings, upon CONFORMITY to these principles the WELL-BEING of the universe depends.

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Devotionals

FROM SLAVE TO SIN, TO A PRINCE OF GOD

July 14, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

FROM SLAVE TO SIN, TO A PRINCE OF GOD

“And He (Christ) said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince has thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed.”

Gen. 33: 28, Authorized Version.

“Because of the deception practiced to secure his father’s blessing, intended for Esau, Jacob had fled for his life, alarmed by his brother’s deadly threats. After remaining for many years as an exile, he had set out, at God’s command, to return with his wives and children…to his native country. On reaching the borders of the land, he was filled with terror by the tidings of Esau’s approach as the head of warriors, doubtless bent on revenge. Having sent his family away, that they may not witness his distress, Jacob remains alone to INTERCEDE with God.” GC 616.

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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

SATAN’S SHADOWS DISAPPEAR IN GOD’S LIGHT

July 10, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

SATAN’S SHADOWS DISAPPEAR IN GOD’S LIGHT

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”

Dan. 12:10, Authorized version.

“Bear in mind that the time will never come when the shadow of Satan will not be cast athwart our pathway to obstruct our faith and eclipse the light coming from the Sun of Righteousness [Mal.4:2]. Our faith must not stagger, CLEAVE through that SHADOW. We have and experience that is not to be buried in the DARKNESS OF DOUBT. Our faith is not on FEELING but in TRUTH.  None us need flatter ourselves that while the world is progressing in wickedness we shall have no difficulties.

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AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE

“I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of the old. I will meditate also if all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.”

Ps.77:11,12, Authorized Version.

“Great things are before us and we want to call the people from their indifference, to get ready for that day! We are not now ‘to cast away our confidence,’ but to have firm assurance, FIRMER than ever before. Hitherto has the Lord helped us, and He will help us to the end….

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