Tag: holy-spirit

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 26, 2025

A Solemn Warning Against Grieving Away the Holy Spirit

     “And grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30, K.J.V. 

While continuing to examine each of the “fruits” of the Spirit, we should never lose sight of the Person of the Holy Spirit himself in the specific nature of His mission and work on earth, even as we can temporarily lose focus on Jesus’ incarnated human nature perfected through sufferings (Heb. 5:8,9),  while getting absorbed with His miraculous works or fixated on the yet-unseen “glories”

of the “place” He has been “preparing” since His ascension two thousand years ago! 

Hereunder is a powerful illustration cited by Leroy E. Froom in his book, The Coming Comforter, p. 195. (Emphasis mine): 

     “A boy once had a DOVE so tame he would perch in his shoulder and take food from his hand. One day the lad held out a tempting morsel. As the bird came of eat, he closed his hand over the food. The bird turned away disappointed. Again he opened his hand. The second time the bird came, more timidly. And once more the hand was closed. With drooping wings the dove went a short distance away. Yet again the hand was extended. The bird hesitated, then came slowly forward. When he was about to take the food the hand closes for the third time. Then the dove spread his wings and FLEW AWAY, and the lad never saw him again. Such is the fate of those who at last DRIVE AWAY the Holy Spirit, the ‘heavenly dove.’ 

God’s last-day messenger bearing “the Spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17; 19:10), succinctly enunciated this awful truth:

    “After God has shown individuals their sins and given them GRACE [through the Holy Spirit] to overcome, and His Spirit has been LONG STRIVING with them, He will NOT work a miracle to prevent the sure result of RESISTING that Spirit and PERSISTING in a wrong course. There is a BOUNDARY to His grace and mercy; and when this boundary is passed, the AID [divine help and power] of His Spirit, so wickedly refused and INSULTED, is WITHDRAWN, and the soul is given over to the WORST Of TYRANTS—THE POWER OF A PERVERTED WILL. If we are closely connected with sacred things, and yet do not realize their importance, the HEART will become so hard that the most earnest appeals will NOT move it into contrition [conviction to repentance].” Ellen G. White, Bible Echo, June, 1888. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 19, 2025

Goodness: the Fifth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 3) 

GENTILES CONVERTED THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT REMINDED OF GOD’S UNCHANGING EQUAL GOODNESS AND SEVERITY 

   “Behold therefore the GOODNESS and SEVERITY of God: on them which fell, severity; but towards thee (converted Gentiles), GOODNESS, IF thou continue in His (God’s) GOODNESS: otherwise thou (converted Gentiles) thou shalt also be cut off. [see Heb. 3: 6, 14]. And they also (the remaining Israelites/Jews), if they abide NOT STILL IN UNBELIEF, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again (in His goodness and wisdom).” Rom. 11: 22, 23. 

Apostle Paul here is admonishing first, the Gentile converts in the early church in Rome, and finally, all end-time converts from heathenism and paganism to the Revelation 14: 12 commandment-keeping remnant church of prophecy.

He reminds all that “not once saved, always saved,” “not once chosen, always chosen.” He repeats the fundamental truths that: 

1) God is “no respecter of persons;” “there is neither Jew, nor Greek, nor Gentile,” for “all have fallen short of the glory of God.” 

2) that as Jesus, who is “the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express IMAGE of His Person,”  “loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity” so does He manifest GOODNESS towards those who remain faithful to their calling and election but SEVERITY towards those who fall away in stubbornness, rebellion, and apostasy against the abundance of blessing and light of truth shown to them in God’s love, mercy, and goodness! 

God the Father IN Christ the only-begotten Son THROUGH  the Holy Spirit, is the one God of the GODHEAD who “changeth not;” is “the same yesterday, today, and forever;” is “from eternity past to eternity future,” the timeless “I Am.” 

    “Surely His mercy and goodness follows all the days of the lives” of those who have “presented their bodies as a living(not dead) sacrifice as their reasonable service” as their loving and gratefulness towards God’s mysterious long-suffering and GOODNESS. They, whether Jew, Greek, or Gentile, “do not allow sin to reign in their yet-mortal bodies,” “keeping it in subjection to the mind,” the mind of Christ.” Gratefully accepting that their bodies “have been purchased with a price,” even the blood of Christ, they yield these bodies to become dedicated, hallowed, and sanctified “temple/ of God and the Holy Spirit” converting their yet “mortal bodies” to be “temples of God and the Holy Spirit!” Their minds are of “the new man in Christ Jesus.” 

It is but spiritually natural that such will bear the fruit of GOODNESS and the rest of the ten “fruits of the Spirit.” This is the only way, “walk ye in it.” 

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

  

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’s DESK:

March 12, 2025

Goodness: the Fifth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

David, the “man called after God’s own heart,” understood by conviction, experience, and inspiration this specific “fruit of the Spirit.” As he in true contrition and “godly repentance” petitioned God directly to be forgiven of his infamously wicked “great sin of presumption, he wisely pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.” Ps. 51: 10, 11, 1-19. 

Earlier, he penned the beloved and familiar Psalm 23, accurately connecting God’s GOODNESS with His MERCY “which endureth forever” in one breath, as his Shepherd, thus, considering himself as but helpless lamb needing the protection, provision, and deliverance of the GOOD SHEPHERD. “Surely GOODNESS AND MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Verse 6. 

Paul, whose amazing manner of conversion to become God’s point man “apostle to the Gentiles” at the opening of the Christian era transitioning from the Old Testament Mosaic dispensation, was himself a prominent Jewish zealot, scholar of Judaism—“an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”(11:1). 

Read Romans chapter 10 and 11. Here Paul crystallizes the truth that “God is no respecter of persons.” Whether “Jew, Gentile, or Greek,” etc., all mankind are equally indebted to the undeserved “GOODNESS and mercy of God,” measured by the same eternal and universal standard of righteousness — all subject to the divinely-determined terms of salvation of the plan of redemption of the gospel, “the GOOD news” in verity! 

Verses 1-3 of chapter 10 reveals the heavy burden in Paul’s heart for: his fellow Jews and Israelites of his time, fellow believers of the Christian Era, but especially for the professed followers of the ascended Christ “the Lamb of God”—still the Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, and merciful High Priest but now the righteous Judge of all the earth—-who are being weighed in the balances of the sanctuary in heaven,” as their lives have and are passing in review during this most solemn hour of earth’s history—the pre-advent, judgement-hour announced by the first angel’s message of Rev. 14 (all emphasis mine):

    “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they MIGHT BE SAVED [not ‘already and irrevocably saved’ though they were the ‘first chosen people’ from Abraham!]. Here’s why; and all professed “chosen people” of God today should prayerfully, humbly, and promptly “examine and prove themselves” whether they are not, in any way, similarly guilty.

     “For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL FOR GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they being IGNORANT of God’s righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have NOT SUBMITTED themselves unto the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.” Be sure to read on up to  verse 21. 

The opposite and counterfeit of God’s righteousness is the righteousness of the establishment; an institution of the “many inventions” of fallen, finite, mortal, sinful man, not of the immortal, infinite, divine Son of God and Son of man, Jesus Christ and Prince “Immanuel, being interpreted, God with us.” 

Be sure to read on to verse 21. 

Chapter 11 is a continuum and results in a logical question following the previous chapter’s narrative:

    “I say then, HATH GOD CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE? GOD FORBID. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” 

Then follows HOW and WHY God “who changeth not,” is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” does not ultimately “cast away HIS PEOPLE,” in spite of corporate “Israel” and “Judah’s” dismal history of hard-heartedness, disloyalty, unfaithfulness, and betrayal of their high calling and sacred trust. 

 It is only because of a FEW FAITHFUL REMNANT, relative to the vast majority of “believers.”This has been true from the  beginning, at the present time, but particularly stark and undeniable during the stupendous climax of the great controversy between Christ and Satan in the closing hours of earth’s probation. That time and “the day of God” is rapidly approaching and few are prepared for the close of their individual probation at death, in spite of the GOODNESS AND MERCY and the mysterious long suffering patience of God Almighty! 

We will continue mining Romans 10 and 11 for the golden truth of God’s GOODNESS fully manifested in Christ and imparted through the Holy Spirit next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 5, 2025

Goodness: the Fifth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

    “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Eph. 5: 9, 10, KJV. Read verses 1-8. 

The true followers of God, as His dear children, are light in the world for they are His children  of light. They are exactly the opposite of the “children of darkness,” of disobedience, and of the world who are distinguished by the ten types of sins identified in verses 1-8. 

The life “walk”, “conversation” and conduct of the children of light proves what is truly acceptable to God for it manifests as “fruits” of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. What they think, say, and do is revealed “IN ALL GOODNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH.” 

This cannot but be “good news” of “the truth as is in Jesus,” the very “truth that sets the sinner free” from his bondage and slavery to his previous life of the darkness of ignorance, disobedience, presumption, indulgence, and “love of the world, the things of the world, and the lust of the eye and the flesh.” 

The true children of light claim no original or originating goodness and righteousness and truth on their part, but instead truly “ask, seek, knock for the Holy Spirit,” and “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” And as Jesus promised as a blessing in His Sermon on the Mount—-the foundational platform of His kingdom of righteousness—they are likewise “filled with all HIS righteousness.” They obtain it not by self works but “by faith that works by love” (Gal. 5:6) and purifies the soul through the work of sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Thus Christ, not self, is glorified “in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”

There is no true “goodness” if it is not of righteousness and truth! And all are imparted only to the “children of light”

by the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ the Holy One!    

Sunday is the first working day of the seven-day week. There is no “eighth day” the alleged “day of light” as asserted by a previous pope!  

    “Work for the night is coming when man works no more.” 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 26, 2025

Long-suffering: the Fourth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 2) 

Long-suffering is one of the vital virtues that should be added to “faith,” the first rung of “Peter’s Ladder” in the ascent to the height of Christlike perfection. Based on its original Greek, Long-suffering  also means, “long-spirited, i.e., forbearing or patient”; “long patience; patiently endure; fortitude; long-enduring temper.” 

Apostle Paul describes it as a result and evidence that his fellow-workers in the ministry “have not received the grace of God in vain,” as in, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” 

Quoted below is 2 Cor. 6: 3-10, KJV (emphasis mine): 

    “Giving NO OFFENSE IN ANYTHING, that the ministry not be blamed; but IN ALL THINGS approving ourselves as ministers of God, in MUCH PATIENCE, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings. By pureness, by knowledge, BY LONGSUFFERING, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost(Spirit), by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand on the left [cf. the ‘whole armor of God,’ Eph. 6: 11-18], by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers [falsely accused], and yet true; as unknown, yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 

To the youngest apostle Paul wrote: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me, first, Jesus Christ might show forth ALL LONGSUFFERING, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on Him to life eternal.” 1 Tim. 1: 15,16. 

Apostle Peter warns procrastinators, the willingly-ignorant, and blasphemous naysayers of these last days that the apparent delay of God’s wrath against sin and wickedness is only because: 

     “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [to deal with wicked earth as He did with  Noah’s Flood], as some men count slackness: but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH [in their sins], but that all should come to [godly] repentance.” . . . And account that the LONGSUFFERING of our Lord IS SALVATION. . . “ 2 Pet. 3: 9, 15. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing, to still mercifully extend our individual probation! Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 19, 2025

Long-Suffering: The Fourth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

“Long-suffering” is mentioned only 17 times throughout the 66 books of the Bible. It is used only four times in the OT; two by Moses and one each by David and Jeremiah. It appears 13 times in the NT; 11 by Paul, and thrice by Peter. 

This apparent paucity of the “preponderance of evidence”  and an immature, hasty conclusion that it is thusly minor in importance, is quickly dispelled by the following—that sets the tone of this series. Notice: 

The first mention of “long-suffering” in the Authorized Version (KJV) is in Exo. 34:6. The specific context in which it is cited reveals why this godly virtue, among others specified, must be “added” to the foundation of “faith, etc.” when “climbing Peter’s ladder” of Christian growth of character perfection. 

It is a vital part in the terms and conditions specified in the divine eternal “life insurance policy” stipulated in 2 Pet. 1: 1-12. Examine and review it frequently. Why? “For IF you do these things, you shall NEVER fall [or sin], “even as” Jesus, mankind’s Savior by sacrifice and example, never yielded to any temptation, thus, never fell, redeeming the failure of the first Adam in Eden. Amazing truth indeed! He was long-suffering as Jehovah-Creator, He is longsuffering as Jesus Christ, the incarnated Creator, the great I AM, “yesterday, today, and forever.” 

We first learn of this in the pivotal experience of the prominent spiritual giant of the Bible, Moses, the tenth in the line of godly patriarchs from Adam. He was the first type of Christ in the office, position, and role of leadership, as well as intercessor of the “congregation of Israel.” 

Firstly, read Exo. Chapters 32-34 on your own. Israel, as a tribal congregation of 12 tribes, had just committed the unthinkable abomination of worshipping the golden calf, symbol of the Egyptian sun-god. Moses had just shattered the two tables of stone on which were written the law. After pleading to God as intercessor of Israel, Moses beseeched God, saying, 

      “Show me Thy glory.” God answered, “I will make ALL MY GOODNESS pass before thee, and I will PROCLAIM the name of the Lord before thee. . . . And thou CANST NOT see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live. 

     “And the Lord said, Behold, there is A PLACE by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a ROCK. And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee upon a cleft of the rock, and I will COVER thee with My hand while I pass by. And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see MY BACK PARTS: but My face shall not be seen.” Exo. 33:18-23. 

     After Moses, this time with his own hands had hewn two tables of stone and ascended, alone with it up the Mount as commanded, then God showed Moses His “back parts,” in this manner, as “it is written.” 

     “And the Lord descended in the cloud [of angels], and stood with him there, and PROCLAIMED THE NAME OF THE LORD. And the Lord passed by him BEFORE him (Moses), and PROCLAIMED [thereafter; after passing by, or after], The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, LONG-SUFFERING, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping MERCY for thousands, FORGIVING iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will BY NO MEANS CLEAR THE GUILTY; visiting the inquiry of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” Exo. 34:5-7. 

So the “back parts” that God revealed to Moses as he remained protected in the cleft of the rock [symbol of Christ himself]—was not His literal divine backside [He had not yet incarnated into flesh and blood nature] and one can see God in His unveiled glory—-but was a verbal proclamations of HIS GOODNESS, that included His LONG-SUFFERING towards fallen mankind as a whole, the backsliding chosen people in particular, and Moses himself—following after He had passed by in a cloud [of angels] before Moses securely nestled within the cleft of a chosen rock.

That shielding, riven rock is Christ Himself, the Shelter in the times of storm and tempests of the great controversy with Satan! What merciful yet powerful divine-human LONG-SUFFERING! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 22, 2025

Peace: The Third ‘Fruit’ of The Holy Spirit (Part 4)

    “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”

 Matt. 5: 9, A.V. 

Christ’s ‘peace that passeth understanding’ and empowering grace are imparted only by and through—-the Third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s Vicegerent on earth, the Holy Spirit—-to the peacemakers, not trouble-makers; the law-abiding truth-bearers, not the antinomian sin excusers and justifiers. 

Now this from “the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10), emphasis mine: 

     “The peace of Christ is born of TRUTH. It is IN HARMONY  with God. The WORLD is at enmity with the law of God; SINNERS are at enmity with their Maker; and as A RESULT they are at enmity with one another. But the psalmist declares, ‘Great peace have they which LOVE THY LAW: and NOTHING shall offend them.’ Ps. 119:165. 

      “Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will FAIL OF PRODUCING PEACE, because they do not reach the HEART. 

      “The  ONLY POWER that can create or perpetuate TRUE peace is the GRACE OF CHRIST. When this [grace] is implanted in the heart, it will CAST OUT THE EVIL PASSIONS THAT CAUSE STRIFE AND DISSENSION. ‘Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree;’ and life’s desert ‘shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.’ Isa. 55:13; 35:1.” E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 302-305. 

Now we know beyond any reasonable doubt why the world’s secular and religious empires, kingdoms, and nations have been at war against each other since the fall in Eden. Such is the somber witness of earth’s history and warnings of prophecy. Conflicts and wars will rage till the end, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon at the sixth and beginning of the seventh of the seven last plagues. (Rev. 16: 12-16). 

Seek God’s peace only according to His appointed way and specific instructions, and He promised: “My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I to you. Let not  your heart be troubled neither let if be afraid.” 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 15, 2025

The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 45

Peace: The Third ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 3)

NO TRUE PEACE WITHOUT SOUND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH 

Jesus said to the Twelve: “I have yet SO MANY THINGS to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. HOWBEIT when He, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, He will guide you into ALL truth.” John 16:12, 13, KJV. 

Notwithstanding that the Master Teacher and “First Comforter” himself patiently, thoroughly taught, illustrated, and repeated His gospel lessons to the first disciples, they were “slow to hear,” that is, spiritually undiscerning. They were unready and unfitted to represent Him and the spiritual kingdom He was to establish on fallen earth. 

But Jesus, the promised “Seed” and Messiah only had an ultra brief, pre-determined three and a half years, according to the plan of redemption, to accomplish His comprehensive mission on earth, beginning at His baptism at the Jordan,  27 A.D. Three and a-half years later, 31 A.D., He was already crucified at Calvary! Then, 50 days later, after spending 40

days with His disciples in His glorified body, He finally ascended to the Father in the heavenly sanctuary, witnessed by “Cephas(Peter), the Twelve, the over 500 disciple”, James, all the apostles, and Paul. (1 Cor. 15: 1-8; Acts 1:1-3)

Q. So how and by whom was the “continuing education,” training, eventual vetting by anointing, and continual empowerment and guidance of the disciples to be accomplished and facilitated, in heralding to the world the first edition of the gospel of a risen Savior, thereafter, the gospel of a coming King of kings and Lord of lords? 

God’s messenger magnifies the Biblical account thusly (all emphasis and bracketed words mine): 

     “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.’ [John 14: 26]. NO MORE WILL YOU SAY, I CANNOT COMPREHEND. No longer will you see through a glass, 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].” E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 

ignorance of the true knowledge and understanding of the spiritual meaning of Christ’s words, the whole Bible itself—-which ONLY “THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH” can/will teach and impart to any and all humble seeker of “the truth as it is in Jesus”—-explains why Christ’s love, “which passeth knowledge,” and Christ’s peace “that passeth understanding,” can never be truly and fully experienced by any merely professed Christians. 

This spiritual deficiency and disease will become even more critical, correspondingly increasing with the chaotic, predictably unpredictable “perilous times of the last days.” It reaches its prophesied  stupendous climax in “the hour of temptation that shall try all that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10) in the final crisis and “time of trouble such as never was” (Dan. 12:1). 

It behooves all who confidently “think they will be able to stand” at that time “to make their calling and election sure” now by closely “examining themselves and proving themselves”, not others, “whether they are in the faith” of Jesus through the “Holy Spirit of truth,” by whom Christ’s  peace is imparted.

Presumption is the counterfeit of faith. Procrastinate no longer. Tomorrow is not promised. Today, “Ask, seek, and knock for the Holy Spirit” that you may obtain Christ’s “peace that passeth understandjng!”

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