Tag: God

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

January 28, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

If only the “great men and kings of the earth”, the so-called “shakers and movers”, architects and shapers of the destiny of the global world order, would find precious, dwindling time to search and understand God’s Word and examine their own hearts, lives, and true ambitions! 

For proper context, plead for the Holy Spirit, then read Dan. 4: 1-12 first on your Bibles, KJV or RSV preferred. 

Now follows verses 13-17 (emphasis mine): 

    “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a WATCHER AND HOLY ONE came down from heaven; and He cried aloud, and said thus, HEW DOWN the tree and, and CUT OFF his branches, SHAKE OFF his leaves, and SCATTER his fruit: let the BEASTS get away from under it, and the FOWLS from its branches;

     “Nevertheless LEAVE THE STUMP of his roots in the earth, even with a BAND OF IRON AND BRASS, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and LET HIS PORTION BE WITH the BEASTS in the grass of the earth;

    “LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED FROM MAN’S, AND LET A BEAST’S HEART BE GIVEN UNTO HIM, AND LET SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER HIM. 

    “This matter is BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS, and THE DEMAND BY THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES: TO THE INTENT THAT THE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN, AND GIVETH IT TO WHOMSOEVER HE WILL[s], and SETTETH UP OVER IT THE BASEST OF MEN” (end of Scripture text). 

Now this magnification from inspired pen of God’s messenger:

    PK 536-7: “The history of nations speaks to us today. To EVERY NATION and every individual GOD HAS ASSIGNED A PLACE IN HIS GREAT PLAN. Today men and NATIONS ARE BEING TESTED BY THE PLUMMET in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. ALL ARE BY THEIR OWN CHOICES [individuals and nations] DECIDING THEIR DESTINY, and God is OVERRIDING ALL for the accomplishment of HIS PURPOSES. 

    “The prophecies which the Great I AM has given in His Word, uniting link after link in the chain of events, from eternity in the past to the eternity in the future, TELL US WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE PROCESSION OF THE AGES, and what may be expected in the time to come! 

    “All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, UNTIL THE PRESENT TIME, has been traced in the pages of HISTORY, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be FULFILLED IN ITS ORDER.” – E. G. White, Prophets & Kings, Pacific Press Publishing, 1943, p. 536. 

This is an urgent Present, testing Truth of the end-time Gospel Christ’s kingdom of righteousness for both individuals and nations who profess Christianity! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 28, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

If only the “great men and kings of the earth”, the so-called “shakers and movers”, architects and shapers of the destiny of the global world order, would find precious, dwindling time to search and understand God’s Word and examine their own hearts, lives, and true ambitions! 

For proper context, plead for the Holy Spirit, then read Dan. 4: 1-12 first on your Bibles, KJV or RSV preferred. 

Now follows verses 13-17 (emphasis mine): 

    “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a WATCHER AND HOLY ONE came down from heaven; and He cried aloud, and said thus, HEW DOWN the tree and, and CUT OFF his branches, SHAKE OFF his leaves, and SCATTER his fruit: let the BEASTS get away from under it, and the FOWLS from its branches;

     “Nevertheless LEAVE THE STUMP of his roots in the earth, even with a BAND OF IRON AND BRASS, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and LET HIS PORTION BE WITH the BEASTS in the grass of the earth;

    “LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED FROM MAN’S, AND LET A BEAST’S HEART BE GIVEN UNTO HIM, AND LET SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER HIM. 

    “This matter is BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS, and THE DEMAND BY THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES: TO THE INTENT THAT THE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN, AND GIVETH IT TO WHOMSOEVER HE WILL[s], and SETTETH UP OVER IT THE BASEST OF MEN” (end of Scripture text). 

Now this magnification from inspired pen of God’s messenger:

    PK 536-7: “The history of nations speaks to us today. To EVERY NATION and every individual GOD HAS ASSIGNED A PLACE IN HIS GREAT PLAN. Today men and NATIONS ARE BEING TESTED BY THE PLUMMET in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. ALL ARE BY THEIR OWN CHOICES [individuals and nations] DECIDING THEIR DESTINY, and God is OVERRIDING ALL for the accomplishment of HIS PURPOSES. 

    “The prophecies which the Great I AM has given in His Word, uniting link after link in the chain of events, from eternity in the past to the eternity in the future, TELL US WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE PROCESSION OF THE AGES, and what may be expected in the time to come! 

    “All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, UNTIL THE PRESENT TIME, has been traced in the pages of HISTORY, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be FULFILLED IN ITS ORDER.” – E. G. White, Prophets & Kings, Pacific Press Publishing, 1943, p. 536. 

This is an urgent Present, testing Truth of the end-time Gospel Christ’s kingdom of righteousness for both individuals and nations who profess Christianity! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 21, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD INCREASES AND DESTROYS NATIONS 

    “He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and straighteneth them again.” Job 12: 23, KJV. 

Read Habakkuk 1: 5-17 within this topic’s context and thought.    

Now follows this elucidation of Daniel chapter two by E. G. White in her book, Prophets & Kings, pp. 499, 500. All  emphasis and bracketed words provided. 

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the whole composite metallic image of a man represents the most powerful kingdoms, empires, and nations of earth starting with ancient Babylon. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream for him, declaring: 

     “In the days of these kings [kingdoms] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, WHICH SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall BREAK INTO PIECES AND CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the STONE was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold [the metallic symbols of the world’s empires], the great GOD hath made it known to the king, WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.’ 

     “The king was convinced of the truth of the interpretation, and IN HUMILITY AND AWE [‘fear’] he ‘fell upon his face and worshipped’, saying, ‘Of a truth it is, that YOUR GOD IS A GOD OF GODS, and a LORD OF KINGS, and a REVEALER OF SECRETS, seeing thou [Daniel] couldest reveal this secret.’ 

    “Nebuchadnezzar revoked the decree for the destruction of the wisemen [of Babylon]. Their lives were SPARED because of Daniel’s connection with the Revealer of secrets. . . .

    “In the annals of human history, THE GROWTH OF NATIONS, the rise and fall of empires, appear AS IF dependent on the will and prowess of MAN; the shaping of events SEEMS , to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, ABOVE, BEHIND, AND THROUGH ALL 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. 

     “In words of matchless beauty and tenderness, the apostle Paul sets before the sages of Athens the DIVINE PURPOSE in the creation and distribution of RACES AND NATIONS. ‘God that hath made the world and all things therein,’ declared the apostle, hath made ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN FOR TO DWELL UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, and hath determined THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, and the BOUNDS [boundaries] of their habitation; THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, IF HAPLY they might feel after Him, AND FIND HIM.’ (Acts 17: 24-27, KJV).” End quote. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 14, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS (Part 2)

ALL NATIONS ARE OF ONE BLOOD.  In apostle Paul’s public address as he stood in the midst of Areopagus (Mars’s Hill) before the Athenian Jews, the pagan philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics, he declared: 

     “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, whom therefore YE IGNORANTLY WORSHIP, Him I declare unto you. 

    “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with [human] hands. Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needeth anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

    “And hath MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS of men

for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before, and THE BOUNDS OF THEIR HABITATION; 

    “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.

    “For IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING; as certain as also of your own poet have said, For we are also His offspring.

    “Forasmuch then as WE ARE THE OFFSPRING OF GOD, we ought not to think that the GODHEAD is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17: 22-29, KJV. 

Indeed, it is God alone (the one God of the Godhead, made up of the three Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) who “made all nations of one blood,”—is the One who establishes the boundaries of all nations, according to His will and purpose, not the “great men and kings of the earth” who, in their foolish pride, forget that they are but fallen, sinful, finite, mortals whose bodies simply “return to the dust of the earth” at death! Note this:

    “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee: WHEN THE MOST HIGH DIVIDED TO THE NATIONS THEIR INHERITANCE, when he separated the sons of Adam, HE SET THE BOUNDS OF THE PEOPLE, according to the number of the children of Israel” (Deut. 32: 7, 8). 

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

MID-WEEK MSNNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 7, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS

We begin first with a couple of key texts for this topic following the rule of first-mention in the Bible (all emphasis and bracketed words provided): 

AFTER THE FLOOD: 

     “These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their NATIONS. These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their NATIONS: and by these were THE NATIONS DIVIDED IN THE EARTH AFTER THE FLOOD.” Gen. 10: 31, 32, KJV. 

THREE MONTHS AFTER ISRAEL’S EXODUS FROM EGYPT: 

     “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilder eras of Sinai. . . And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou SAY TO THE HOUSE OF JACOB, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians. . . . Now therefore, IF ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above  all people; for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an HOLY NATION. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Exo. 19: 1, 3, 5, 6; cf. Lev. 20: 23- 26; Deut. 14: 2; 1 Pet. 2: 9. 

    “Blessed be the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Ps. 33: 12. 

     “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Prov. 14: 34. 

Now, a spiritually-profound quote from the inspired pen: 

    “In the annals of human history the GROWTH OF NATIONS, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent upon the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or CAPRICE. 

    “But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counter-play of human interests and powers and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will. The Bible reveals the true philosophy of history [in and

of the rise and fall of the nations and empires of man].” -Ellen G. White, Education, p. 173. 

    If only the “great and mighty men” and “kings and princes of the earth” who constantly plot and scheme to effect “regime changes”, “nation building,” and “controlling economic and strategic hemispheres” of this fallen world, would humbly consult the Word of God, how different the world history, current developments, and prophesied future events would have been! 

But rest assured, faithful followers of Christ, God’s will and purpose for nations will be soon fulfilled in the triumphant and glorious emergence of the final antitypical “chosen generation, royal priesthood, HOLY NATION, and peculiar people.” 

You, of course, can and should be part of it, if and when you simply trust and willingly obey God’s perfect plan of redemption of the true gospel! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 31, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF TRUE EDUCATION (Part C) 

Having first established a firm scriptural foundation of “it is written” and “thus saith the Lord,” we now quote Ellen G. White, God’s servant-messenger (all emphasis provided).

Christian Education, published by the International Tract Society, Battle Creek, 1893, pp. 63, 64: 

     “The true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul [the living person]. In the beginning, God created man in His own likeness. He endowed him with noble qualities. His mind was well-balanced, and all the powers of his being were harmonious.

    “But the fall and its effects have perverted these gifts. Sin has marred and well-nigh obliterated the IMAGE of God in man. 

    “It was to RESTORE this that the plan of salvation was devised, and a LIFE OF PROBATION was granted to man. To bring him back to the PERFECTION in which he was first created, is the GREAT OBJECT OF LIFE,—the object that underlies every other. It is the work of PARENTS AND TEACHERS, in the education of the youth, to co-operate with the DIVINE PURPOSE; and in so doing, they are ‘laborers together with God.’ (1 Cor. 3:9, KJV). 

    “All the varied capabilities that men possess—of mind, soul, and body—are GIVEN them by God, to be so employed as to reach the highest possible degree of EXCELLENCE. 

    “But this CANNOT be a selfish and exclusive culture, for the CHARACTER of God, whose likeness we are to RECEIVE, is benevolence and love. [Therefore] every faculty, every attribute, with which the Creator has endowed us, is to be employed for His glory [His character] and for the uplifting of our fellow-men. And in this EMPLOYMENT is found the PUREST, NOBLEST, and HAPPIEST exercise. 

     “Were this PRINCIPLE given the attention which its importance demands, there would be a RADICAL CHANGE in some [today, most, if not all] of the current methods of education [from kindergarten to graduate school]. 

    “Instead of appealing to PRIDE AND SELFISH AMBITION, kindling a spirit of emulation, teachers would endeavor to awaken the LOVE FOR GOODNESS AND TRUTH. . . . 

    “The student would seek the development of God’s gifts [and talents] in himself, NOT TO EXCEL OTHERS, but to fulfill the PURPOSE OF THE CREATOR and to RECEIVE HIS LIKENESS. 

    “Instead of being directed to mere EARTHLY STANDARDS, of being actuated by the desire of SELF-EXALTATION, which in itself dwarfs, and belittles, the mind would be directed to the Creator, and to know Him, and to become like Him.”

    “‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding’ (Prov. 9:10). The great work of life is CHARACTER-BUILDING; and a knowledge of God is the FOUNDATION OF ALL TRUE EDUCATION.” (End quote). 

    Q. Was this, in any way, the kind of Christian education you and I received from home and in the schools we graduated from? 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 24, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part C) 

All professed Christians in these last days of earth’s history, should be keenly aware that there is no more time to waste. The highest interests of our soul’s eternal salvation are at stake. Thus, whatever education we are pursuing in our brief temporal lives here, should be soundly established and carefully guided by the highest form and source of true education—that which prepares the student-learner for the higher school of eternal education! Now these: 

      “Every Word of God is PURE; He is a SHIELD unto them that put their trust in Him. ADD NOT unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a LIAR.” Prov. 30: 5, 6, A. V. 

    “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, NOR KNOWLEDGE, NOR WISDOM, IN THE GRAVE WHITHER THOU GOEST. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither bread to the WISE, nor yet riches to the men of UNDERSTANDING, nor yet favor to the men of SKILL; but time and chance happened to them all. FOR MAN ALSO KNOWETH NOT HIS TIME; as the FISHES that are taken in an evil net, and as the BIRDS are caught in a snare; SO ARE MEN SNARED in an evil time, when it faileth suddenly upon them.” Eccl. 9: 10-12, KJV (all emphasis   mine). 

God’s last-day messenger wrote under inspiration: 

    “We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. [Note: numberless by now in this digital age of information explosion; and now AI]. There are matters that consume our time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interest demand the close attention and energy that are too often given to comparatively insignificant things.”—E. G. White, Counsels on Education, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. 1968, pp. 316, 317. 

    “We have no time to lose. We know now how soon OUR [individual] PROBATION may close [at death]. Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. Christ is soon to come. 

     “The angels of God are seeking to ATTRACT US FROM OURSELVES AND FROM EARTHLY THINGS. Let them not labor in vain. When Jesus rises up in the most holy place [in the heavenly sanctuary] and lays off His MEDIATORIAL ROBES and CLOTHES HIMSELF WITH THE GARMENTS OF [divine, righteous]VENGEANCE [against sin sinners stubbornly and incorrigibly hardened by and in it], the mandate will go forth, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. . . and he that is righteous, and let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly: and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ Rev. 22: 11, 12, KJV. 

     “A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. ARE WE PREPARED TO MEET IT? [What we have been and are ‘educating’ ourselves with, will determine the answer]. 

     “We need not say: The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. ALREADY THEY HAVE COME. We need now the SWORD OF THE WORD to cut to the very soul and marrow of fleshly lusts, appetites, and passions. [Eph. 6: 17, 10-18; Heb. 4: 13, 13; 1 Pet. 2:11].  

     “Minds that have been given up to LOOSE THOUGHT need to  change. [1 Pet. 1: 13-16, A.R.V. quoted. Read]. THE THOUGHTS  SHOULD BE CENTERED UPON GOD. Now is the time to put forth earnest effort to OVERCOME the natural tendencies of the carnal heart. 

    “Our efforts, our self-denial, our perseverance, must be PROPORTIONATE TO THE INFINITE VALUE of the object in which we are in pursuit [of the education we are engaged in and receiving]. ONLY BY OVERCOMING AS CHRIST [‘the Teacher sent from God’] OVERCAME [as our Example, 1 Pet. 2: 21-26] SHALL WE WIN THE CROWN [that is eternal] LIFE.” Ibid, 314, 315.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 17, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part B) 

Hereunder are more Scripture foundations for this topic (all emphasis and bracketed words provided): 

After David’s death, his famous son, Solomon took the throne. After offering literally a thousand burnt offerings of the prescribed animal sacrifices on the brass altar “before the Lord which was at the tabernacle of the congregation,” that night, God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give thee.”. . Solomon replied:

    “Give me now WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, that I may go out and come in before this people [ancient Israel]: for who can judge [rule over] this Thy people, that it so great?”

     “And God said to Solomon, Because this was IN THINE HEART, and thou hast NOT ASKED riches, wealth, honor, nor life of thine enemies, neither yet has asked long life, BUT HAST ASKED WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE for thyself, that thou mayest judge My people, over whom I HAVE MADE thee king: 

    “WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE is granted unto thee, and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, SUCH AS NONE OF THE KINGS HAVE HAD that have been before thee, neither shall there ANY AFTER thee HAVE THE LIKE.” 1 Chron. 1: 6-8, KJV. 

Solomon asked that which was in his heart; it was his heart’s desire, not mere intellectual superiority. It is of and for this particular wisdom and knowledge that God endowed upon Solomon the abilities, capacities, and powers to acquire in order to fulfill God’s purposes and plans, and magnify His glory.  

God’s glory is His character (the ‘image’ in which Adam and Eve were made), the transcript of which is His immutable law, His everlasting covenant of Ten Commandments, the foundation of His eternal throne and everlasting kingdom of love, mercy, righteousness, and justice. 

Read and contemplate the 33 chapters of the book of Proverbs that so clearly delineates on this wisdom and knowledge that Christ’s true followers should seek to be educated on. We quote the first seven verses here: 

    “The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David [Jesus was also called ‘the Son of David’], king of Israel [Pilate wrote, ‘Jesus, King of the Jews’ in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek and placed it at the top of Christ’s head as He was dying on the cross]. 

    “To KNOW WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION; to receive the WORDS OF UNDERSTANDING; to receive the instruction of WISDOM, JUSTICE, and JUDGMENT, and EQUITY. To give SUBTILITY to the simple [humble], to the young man KNOWLEDGE AND DISCRETION. 

    “A wise man will HEAR, and INCREASE LEARNING; and a MAN OF UNDERSTANDING shall ATTAIN unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb [as well as parables and prophecies of the Bible] and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark [deep] sayings. 

     “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE: but the FOOLS DESPISE wisdom and instruction.” verses 1-7.

   And in the last book of the Bible, this “fear of the Lord that is the beginning of knowledge” of God becomes the most solemn judgment-hour message of the everlasting gospel proclaimed by the first angel to the churches and the world: 

    “And I saw another angel fly in  the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice [increasing in intensity, urgency, scope, and reach worldwide], FEAR GOD, AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM; FOR THE HOUR [the time] OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: AND WORSHIP HIM that made heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7, KJV. 

   NOTE: The highest form of worship is…..Obedience, coming from the heart. It is willing, voluntary, and uncompromising, compelled alone by unconditional love! That’s just as simple, as accurate, and as pure a Bible truth can be.

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 10, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF  EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part A) 

 Let us first wisely lay down the solid rock of sola scriptura, the only firm and sound foundation upon which true Christian Bible  students base their practical, working faith, decisions, and life choices upon. Here are just a few samples out of dozens (all emphases and Notes provided.  All scriptures are from the KJV):

     “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation [manner of living] his works with meekness of wisdom. . . . 

     “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality [bias, favoritism; prejudice; tribalism, etc.], and without hypocrisy” James 3: 13, 17, KJV.

     Apostle Paul declares in 1 Cor. 1: 17-31:

     “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made of none effect. 

     “For the preaching of the cross to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

     “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent [cf. Isa. 29: 14, KJV]. 

NOTE: The “cross of Christ” comprehends the ultimate act of condescension of the “great mystery of godliness” in the incarnation; His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice; His sacrificial atonement as the sinless Lamb of God, offered as the Substitute and surety for and in behalf of the fallen, sinful and guilty human race. 

    “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputed [scholarly debaters] of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

     “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by [their] wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [the true gospel and its plan of redemption] to save them that believe.

    “For the Jews require a sign [physical miracles], and the Greeks seek after wisdom [of this world]: 

    “But we preach [thusly, teach; instruct; educate] Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks, foolishness.

    “But unto them which are called [‘eklessia’], both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

      “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

     “But ye see your calling [those who are ‘called’], brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 

      “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise [of worldly wisdom]; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world [the wisdom that is spiritually Simple, Accurate, and Pure] to confound the things which are mighty [by fallen man’s estimation and standards]; and base things of the world and things which are despised [by the worldly-wise], hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh glory in His presence. 

    “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us WISDOM, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as It is Written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the [wisdom of the] Lord.” (End quote from 1 Cor. 1: 17-31). 

Prayerfully ponder and studiously study these Scriptures, seeking the education from above unto eternal life by the divine wisdom imparted through the “Holy Sprit of truth”, who teaches, enlightens, and guides into all “truth as it is in Jesus.”’

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