Tag: heart

Categories
Devotionals

DAILY BATTLES, DAILY VICTORIES

September 29, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DAILY BATTLES, DAILY VICTORIES

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 15:57.

“Victories are not gained by ceremonies or display, but by simple obedience to the highest General, the Lord God of heaven. He who trusts [and obeys] this Leader [the ‘great I Am,’ ‘the Lord of hosts,’ ‘the mighty God and Prince of peace,’ ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah,’ ‘the King of kings and Lord of lords’] will never know defeat!

Here’s the thing. “The largest share of the annoyances of life, it’s DAILY corroding cares, it’s heartaches, it’s irritations, is a result of TEMPER uncontrolled. [intemperance, the opposite of temperance, one of the ‘fruits of the Spirit’].

Continue reading “DAILY BATTLES, DAILY VICTORIES”
Categories
Devotionals

THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS

September 24, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

Eph. 6:17, A.V.

“For the Word of God is living (quick, KJV) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division (‘dividing asunder,’ KJV) of the soul and the spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:12.

“God has provided abundant means for successful warfare against the evil that is in the world. The BIBLE is the armory where we may equip for the struggle. Our loins must be girt about with truth. Our breastplate must be righteousness. The shield of faith must be in our hand, the helmet of salvation on our brow; and with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, we are to CUT our way through the obstruction and and entanglements of sin.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 502.

Continue reading “THE SWORD FOR THE BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS”
Categories
Devotionals

DO CHRISTIANS TODAY UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY?

July 27, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DO CHRISTIANS TODAY UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY?

Maybe not. Because the brothers James and John, two of the first Twelve disciples did not, even after they had the special privilege together with Peter to witness the transfiguration! See Lue 9: 28- 36, 51-56 first.

“James and John, were GREATLY ANNOYED at the insult shown to their Lord. They were filled with INDIGNATION because He had been insulted by the Samaritans whom He was honoring by His presence. They [James & John] had been with Him in the mount of transfiguration, and had seen Him GLORIFIED by God, and honored by Moses and Elijah. This manifest DISHONOR by the Samaritans, should not, THEY THOUGHT, be passed over without marked PUNISHMENT.”

Continue reading “DO CHRISTIANS TODAY UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY?”
Categories
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.

Continue reading “THE FUNCTION OF GRACE IN THE LAW THAT GOVERNS HIS KINGDOM”
Categories
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 

Categories
Devotionals

TRUE HOLINESS IS FROM THE HEART, NOT FROM THE LIPS

June 30 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TRUE HOLINESS IS FROM THE HEART, NOT FROM THE LIPS

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are ABOVE, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things ABOVE, not on the things on the earth.” Col. 3: 1,2, KJV.

True heart holiness can only be possible when the law or covenant of God is written in the heart, not merely professed by the lips. See Jer. 31: 33; cf. Deut. 4:13.

“When the law of God is written [also ‘etched’] in the heart it will be EXHIBITED in a pure and holy life. The commandments of God are no dead letter [merely to be memorized, lectured, catechized or pontificates upon]. THEY ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE, ‘bringing the imagination and even the thoughts into subjection to the will of Christ.’

Continue reading “TRUE HOLINESS IS FROM THE HEART, NOT FROM THE LIPS”
Categories
Devotionals

ACHAN’S SECRET SIN EXPOSED PUBLICLY BY GOD

June 17, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK;

ACHAN’S SECRET SIN EXPOSED PUBLICLY BY GOD. “For God will bring every secret thing into judgment, whether they be good or evil.” Eccl. 12:14.

Continuing from yesterday: “God’s command has been disregarded by of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the NATION was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor. THEY have even taken of the accursed thing
and have also STOLEN, and DISSEMBLED also’ instruction was given to Joshua for the discovery and punishment [judicial procedures] of the criminal. The [casting of] lots was to be employed for the DETECTION of the guilty. The sinner was NOT directly pointed out, the matter being left to DOUBT for a time, that the people might FEEL their RESPONSIBILITY for the sins existing among them, and thus be led to SEARCHING of HEART and HUMILIATION before God.

Continue reading “ACHAN’S SECRET SIN EXPOSED PUBLICLY BY GOD”
Categories
Devotionals

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

June 8 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exo.20:14.

Jesus magnified this law by declaring: “You have heard that it was said to those of old ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever LOOKS at a woman to lust for her has ALREADY committed adultery with her in HIS HEART.” Matt. 5: 26,27, NKJV.

“When the thoughts of evil is loved and cherished, HOWEVER SECRETLY, said Jesus, it shows that sin STILL reigns in the heart. The soul is still in the gall of bitterness and in the BOND[AGE] of iniquity.

Continue reading “THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT “Thou shalt not commit adultery.””