Tag: Godhead

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 7, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 22

CHANGES THE HEART OF ThE INDIVIDUAL IN THE NEW COVENANT

For a more accurate and comprehensive context of verses 26, 27, I quote here for the convenience of the reader Ezekiel. 36: 16-27, KJV. After reading all, close with 1 Sam. 10: 6, 9 which clearly reveals the efficiency, office, and work of the Holy Sprit since the very beginning to the close of earth’s probation in the sealing of the saints of the church triumphant! Now this (all emphasis and bracketed words mine]:

  “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, son of man, when the HOUSE OF ISRAEL dwelt in their own land [the Promised land, earthly Canaan], they DEFILED it by their OWN way and own doings: their ways was before Me as the UNCLEANNESS OF A REMOVED WOMAN. 

 “Wherefore I poured My FURY [divine righteous indignation and enmity against sin] upon them for the BLOOD THAT THEY SHED UPON THE LAND, and for their IDOLS, wherewith they had POLLUTED it [the promised land]. 

 “And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed  through the countries: according to their WAY and according to their DOINGS I JUDGED THEM [cause/reason of the desolation and diaspora].”

 “And when they entered unto the HEATHEN, whither (wherever) they went, they PROFANED MY HOLY NAME, when they [Israel] said to them [the heathen countries/nations], these [referring to themselves] are the PEOPLE OF THE LORD, and are gone forth out of His hand.

“But I [God says] HAD PITY FOR MINE HOLY NAME, WHICH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL HAD PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WITHER THEY WENT. 

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; I DO NOT DO THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O house of Israel, BUT FOR MY HOLY NAME’S SAKE, which ye have profaned amount the heathen, wither ye went. 

“And I will SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which wad profaned AMONG the heathen, which ye have profaned in THE MIDST of them; and the HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord God, when I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.

 “For I will take you FROM AMONG the heathen, and gather you out of all the countries  [as in, ‘come out from among them’] and I will bring you into your own land [the final Promised land of the heavenly Canaan of the ‘earth made new’]. 

Here is the true preparation included in the complete and comprehensive plans of redemption in order to finally enter and inherit—no longer the restless, turbulent, and bloodied earthly Promised land of fallen, sin-cursed earth—but the eternal Promised Land of Paradise restored in the earth made new:

 “Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your FILTHINESS, and from all your IDOLS, and I will cleanse you.

“A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the STONY HEART out of your flesh [yet mortal flesh nature], and I will give you an HEART OF FLESH [in contrast to stone-cold, carnal, stubborn heart]. 

“And I will put My [Holy] SPIRIT within you, and [The Holy Spirit will] CAUSE [convict; convince; empower] YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES [no longer ‘after the flesh’ Rom. 8:1-16], and ye shall KEEP MY JUDGEMENTS, AND DO THEM [‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus,’ Rev. 14:12].” 

Now compare the foregoing with Heb. 8. 6-12; 10: 15, 16. Note that in the prophetic language of “sprinkling with clean water;” water, as in the former and latter rain, is one of the other symbols of and/or manifestations, works, and fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are: the dove, oil, and wind.

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

MID-WEEK MAMNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK;
July 31, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 21

HIS EFFICIENCY: COMFORTS, STRENGTHENS COMPREHENSION, UNDERSTANDING, MEMORY

Read John 14:26 and 16:13, 14 first. Now this from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):

 “At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the COMFORTER will be sent in answer to the PRAYER OF FAITH. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but NO circumstances, no distance, CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE HEAVENLY COMFORTER [the Third Person of the Godhead]. 

 “The disciples still FAILED TO UNDERSTAND Christ’s words in their SPIRITUAL SENSE, and again HE explained His meaning. By the [Holy] Spirit, He said, He would MANIFEST HIMSELF to them. ‘The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall TEACH you all things.’ NO MORE will you say, I cannot comprehend. NO LONGER will you ‘see through a glass (mirror)  darkly.’ [1 Cor. 13: 12]. You shall be able TO COMPREHEND with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, which passeth knowledge.’ Eph. 3:18,19. 

“The disciples were to BEAR WITNESS to the life and work of Christ. Through THEIR WORD He was to SPEAK to all people on the face of the earth. BUT in the humiliation and death of Christ they were to SUFFER great trial and disappointment. That AFTER this experience their word might be ACCURATE, Jesus promised that the Comforter should ‘bring all things to REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ 

‘I have yet SO MANY THINGS to say unto you,’ He continued, ‘BUT YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW. Howbeit, when HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, He will guide you into ALL TRUTH: for He shall NOT speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall He HEAR, that shall He SPEAK; and He will show you THINGS TO COME. He shall GLORIFY Me: for He shall RECEIVE of Mine, and shall SHOW it unto you.’ (John 16:13,14). 

 “Jesus had opened before His disciples a VAST TRACT OF TRUTH. But it was MOST DIFFICULT for them [and us, too!] to keep His lessons DISTINCT from the TRADITIONS AND MAXIMS of the scribes [Jewish religious scholars] and Pharisees. They [the first disciples themselves] had been EDUCATED to accept the teachings of the rabbis as THE VOICE OF GOD, and it still HELD A POWER OVER THEIR MINDS, and MOLDED THEIR SENTIMENTS. EARTHLY IDEAS, TEMPORAL THINGS, still held a large place in their thoughts. 

 “They did NOT UNDERSTAND the SPIRITUAL NATURE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM [how about us today?] though He had SO OFTEN explained it to them. THEIR MINDS HAD BECOME CONFUSED. [Such is the soul-destroying results of the doctrinal Babylonian confusion warned of in Revelation!] 

 “They did NOT COMPREHEND THE VALUE of the Scriptures Christ presented. [even much worse today]. Many of His lessons seemed ALMOST LOST upon them. 

“Jesus saw that they did not lay hold of the REAL MEANING of His words. HE  COMPASSIONATELY PROMISED that the HOLY SPIRIT SHOULD RECALL THESE SAYINGS TO THEIR MINDS. 

 “And He had LEFT UNSAID MANY THINGS that could not be comprehended by His disciples. THESE ALSO WOULD BE OPENED TO THEM BY THE [Holy] SPIRIT. The Spirit was to QUICKEN ThEIR UNDERSTANDING, that they might have an appreciation of HEAVENLY things.” - E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 669-71, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., New Ed., Thirteenth Printing, April, 1950. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Plead for the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit, with fire! For “Wherever sin is, our God is a consuming fire!” Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 24, 2024

Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 20

PRAYER INTERCESSOR WHO MAKES ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD OF THE FAITHFUL

First, read Rom. 8:1-25 (KJV, RSV, or RV). Herein is clearly revealed that the precious blessings imparted through the Holy Spirit applies only to those “who walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh.” They are called “saints.”

John reveals more specific details regarding them: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14: 12); they love Jesus by obeying His command: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), and following His example (John 15:10) They possess, not merely profess in lip service and practice Bible faith—the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; Christ’s faith; the apostles’ faith; the faith of all the named and unnamed saints immortalized in Hebrews chapter 11, which I call the Bible’s “Hall of Faith,”—-not the widely-accepted-and practiced counterfeit, presumption—which was the third class of temptation Satan subjected Jesus to in His 40-day fast weakened state in the wilderness (Matt 4).

Now this (all emphasis provided):
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit [Himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

  “And He [God in Christ the Word] that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

  “And [thus] we know that all things work together for [the] good [of] them that love God, to them who are called [and respond] according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:26-28, KJV. 

Prayer is the “breathe of the soul.” In the physical realm when we stop or are deprived of breathing for whatever cause or reason, we will die in a very short time. Infinitely deadlier is it in the spiritual life. And because of inherent human frailties, weaknesses, yea, infirmities which no mortal is spared while still alive, even the faithful and obedient saints fall short of fulfilling every single time the requirements of the divine “science” of the “effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man.” (James 5:16).

Knowing infinitely more than finite human minds can ever attain in the yet-corruptible flesh nature, and how exactly to translate and/or reword our feeble word into the one spoken in the heavenly courts, the language Paul heard when taken in vision “to the third heavens, paradise itself, which is unlawful for man to utter” (2 Cor.12: 4, 1-2)—the Holy Spirit then accompanies these words, not with heavenly music, as majestic and moving it must be but “with groanings that cannot be uttered” or emoter by the human vocal chords and voice box.

How wonderfully comforting it is for all struggling saints—still traversing this antitypical Wilderness of Sin-cursed earth—to know that Jesus, the “First Comforter” is traveling with us every step of the way towards the heavenly Canaan as our Counselor, Guide, Sin and Burden-bearer, and Protector in and through the “another Comforter” in the Third Person of the Godhead! Indeed, “Ye are of God [the Godhead], little children, and have overcome them [false prophets and those have the spirit of the antichrist]: because GREATER is He that is IN you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4: 4).

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 17, 2024

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 19

SIN REPROVER; WITNESSES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read John 16:8-11 first. Now this from the inspired writer (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied):
“The OFFICE of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: ‘When He is come He will REPROVE [convict] the world of SIN, and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT.’ (John 16:8). It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner RESPONDS to the QUICKENING INFLUENCE of the Holy Spirit, he will be brought to REPENTANCE, and aroused [awakened] to the importance of OBEYING the divine requirements.”

NOTE: God’s requirements of divine love, wisdom, mercy, and justice are also the terms of His everlasting covenant- relationship with all His intelligent creatures—specifically man, created alone “in His own image and likeness.”

These are definitively defined in the Ten Commandments which He wrote twice with His own finger on two different occasions on two tables of stone and handed over to Moses to give to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant dispensation.

And in the New Covenant, New Testament dispensation of the church, it is “written in the hearts and minds of the individual members of each of the seven church periods as named in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

“To the repentant [contrite, not proud, spiritually self-confident Laodicean believers], hungering and thirsting for RIGHTEOUSNESS [see Matt. 5: 5, 10] the Holy Spirit REVEALS the Lamb of God that TAKETH AWAY [not overlooks, covers up, excuses, justifies] THE SIN of the world. ‘He [the Holy Spirit] shall RECEIVE of Mine [righteousness] and shall SHOW it unto you,’ Christ said. ‘He shall TEACH you all things, and bring all things to REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ (John 16:14; 14: 26). 

“The Holy Spirit is given [by the Father through the Son as His Successor and Vicegerent in earth since after His ascension to these closing hours of earth’s probation] to be a REGENERATING AGENCY [in behalf of the Father in the Son] to make EFFECTUAL the salvation wrought by the DEATH of our Redeemer. 

“The Holy Spirit  is CONSTANTLY seeking to draw the attention of [fallen, sinful] men to the GREAT OFFERING made on the cross of Calvary, to UNFOLD to the world the LOVE of God, and to open to the CONVICTED SOUL the PRECIOUS THINGS of the Scriptures.” 

NOTE: God unconditionally loves the SINNER with ‘perfect love’ while He unconditionally hates SIN with ‘perfect hatred.’ In this divine dichotomy are embodied the opposing natures and principles constantly working in the “enmity” of the great controversy between Christ and Satan and the plan of salvation of the gospel to redeem all that was lost to sin and Satan.

 “Having [first] brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS [the law that Christ Himself ‘magnified and made honorable’ by His substitutionary death, Isa. 42:21], the Holy Spirit WITHDRAWS THE AFFECTIONS from the things of the earth ], and FILLS the soul with a DESIRE FOR HOLINESS [also ‘the hunger and thirst for righteousness sake.’ See Matt. 5: 6, 10]. 

 “He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH’ (John 16:13), the Savior declared. If men are WILLING to be molded, there will be brought about a SANCTIFICATION of the whole being [is God’s will, 1 Thess. 4:3]. The Spirit will take the things of God and STAMP [seal] them on the soul. By His power the WAY OF LIFE [‘the straight and narrow’] will be made SO PLAIN THAT NONE NEED ERR [be misled; deceived].” -E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 52, 53, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1911. 

Now, just with these sobering yet inspiring revelations of the Holy Sprit’s divine person, presence, office, authority, power, and closing work on earth before its six-thousand year probation ends, who dares to doubt, belittle, deny, and grieve Him away, finally committing the unpardonable sin—“the most common manifestation of which is persistently refusing to accept heaven’s invitation to repent!”

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