Tag: holy-spirit

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 14, 2025

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Last Part) 

This concludes, but by no means exhausts the “exceeding abundance” of glorious spiritual light of truth embodied in this subject. 

When spiritually discerned and thusly studied and personally appropriated, it cannot but glorify and magnify Jesus Christ, the Living Vine from whose “branches”— His true and faithful followers who are vitally, not superficially connected to Him, bear or manifest His character attributes, termed “fruits.” 

This is the “word of their testimony” that they have “presented their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is a reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Though still finite and mortal in nature with yet corruptible physical bodies, they willingly, intellectually, spiritually, and literally have consecrated their bodies to become full-time, sanctified TEMPLES where God in Christ through the Holy Spirit dwells on earth. See 1 Cor. 3: 16, 17; 6: 19, 20. 

They unquestioningly and faithfully follow this specific divine instructions: “Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1).

Carefully read for yourselves the whole chapter of John 15. Here, in simplicity, accuracy, and purify, where bearing His fruits are concerned, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” In short, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” By the “fruits” we bear in our lives and character we unconsciously reveal “to the world, men, and angels” whether Jesus through the Holy Spirit, truly abides/dwells in us “in spirit and in truth.” 

God’s servant-messenger wrote and I quote (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

    “‘I am the Vine, ye are the branches. Can we conceive of a MORE INTIMATE RELATION to Jesus than this? The fibers of end branch are almost identical with those of the vine. The communication of life, strength, and FRUITFULNESS from the trunk to the branches is UNOBSTRUCTED AND CONSTANT. The root sends its nourishment through the branch .

    “Such is the TRUE BELIEVER’S RELATION TO CHRIST. He abides IN Christ, and draws his NOURISHMENT from Him. This spiritual relation can be established ONLY by the exercise of personal faith. [‘salvation is individual; not corporate or institutional]. This faith must express on our part SUPREME PREFERENCE, PERFECT RELIANCE, ENTIRE CONSECRATION [of the mind, heart, body, soul, and spirit.].   

     “Our WILL must be wholly yielded fo the divine will, our FEELINGS, DESIRES, INTERESTS, and HONOR, identified with the prosperity of Christ’s kingdom and the honor of His cause, we constantly receiving grace from Him, and Christ accepting gratitude from us. . . . 

    “If was when Christ was about to take leave of His disciples [and ascend to the Father] that He have them the beautiful emblem of His relation to believers [Vine-branch]. A union with Christ by living faith is enduring [as in the ‘patience of the saints.” ]. Every other union must PERISH. The true believer chooses Christ as FIRST AND LAST, and BEST in everything.”

E. G. White, My Life Today (devotional), p. 11).

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 30, 2025

The Faith ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit

BAPTIZED DAILY BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, THE JUST LIVE BY THE FAITH OF JESUS

Only those who are baptized by water immersion in “John’s baptism of repentance,” followed by the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit “with fire” unto sanctification, are empowered to “keep the commandments of God because they “have the faith of Jesus.” It is “the faith that works by love” (Gal. 5:6) and sanctifies the soul. Such saints manifest without pretense the “faith fruit” of an indwelling Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s only Vicegerent on earth. They are “justified by faith” and sanctified by following Christ’s life example of obedience. 

In Prophets & Kings, pp. 386-388, E. G. White wrote of the experience and testimony of one of a so-called “minor” yet faithful “prophet” regarding the “major” faith of the true saints, past, present, and future (all emphasis and bracketed words 

  mine): 

    “On one occasion when meditating concerning the FUTURE, Habakkuk said, ‘I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me.’ Graciously the Lord answered him: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. . . . The just shall live by faith.’

     “The FAITH that strengthened Habakkuk and ALL THE HOLY AND JUST IN THOSE DAYS OF DEEP TRIAL WAS THE SAME FAITH THAT SUSTAINS GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY [the time of the Dispensation of the Holy Spirit!]. 

     “In the darkest hours, under circumstances the most forbidding, the [genuine] Christian believer may keep his soul styled upon the source of all light and power [of truth and righteousness]. DAY BY DAY, THROUGH FAITH IN GOD, his hope and courage may be renewed [refreshed; reinvigorated; recharged; re-energized by the abiding and indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit]. . . .

     “We must cherish and cultivate THE FAITH OF WHICH PROPHETS AND APOSTLES HAVE TESTIFIED—-the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and WAITS for deliverance in His APPOINTED TIME AND WAY. The SURE WORD OF PROPHECY [as assured by the Spirit of prophecy, which is the Testimony of Jesus, Rev. 19:10] will meet its fulfillment in the glorious Advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords.

    “The time of waiting may SEEM long, the soul may be OPPRESSED by discouraging circumstances, MANY in whom confidence has been placed, may FALL BY THE WAY [never ‘once saved, always saved!]; but with the prophet who encouraged Judah in time of UNPARALLELED APOSTASY, let us confidently declare, ‘The Lord is in His holy temple [in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, closing up His final work of investigative judgment]: let all the earth keep silence before Him.’ Habakkuk 2:20. . . . The just shall live BY HIS FAITH.” (end quote). 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 9, 2025

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ‘FRUIT’ OF GENTLENESS IS CHRIST’S OWN GENTLENESS

What, where, when, why, and how is this divine gentleness manifested? The apostle to the Gentiles gives us an example, as revealed in his epistle to the early church at Corinth (all emphasis and words in brackets mine): 

     “Now I Paul myself, BESEECH YOU BY THE MEEKNESS AND GENTLENESS OF CHRIST, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 

     “But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I

am present with you with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked in the  flesh.

    “For though we WALK IN the flesh, we do not WAR WITH the flesh: for the weapons of our

WARFARE are not carnal, but [spiritually] mighty through God to the PUTTING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS [that is], casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness  to revenge ALL DISOBEDIENCE, when YOUR OBEDIENCE is fulfilled.” 2 Cor. 10: 1-6, KJV. 

This divine gentleness is demonstrated and manifested in  and with the “boldness” of carrying out a “mighty warfare,” not against “flesh and blood,” especially against fellow believers of “the household of faith,” but “against wickedness in high places,” against the carnal “strongholds” of foolish, vain, and sinful “imaginations” and every “high and mighty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. . .” 

“Real refinement of thought and manner is better learned in the school of the divine Teacher  THAN BY ANY observance of SET RULES. His love pervading the heart gives to the CHARACTER those refining touches that FASHION IT in the semblance of His own [character]. This education imparts a heaven-born DIGNITY AND SENSE OF PROPRIETY. It gives sweetness of disposition and a GENTLENESS OF MANNER that can never be equaled by the SUPERFICIAL polish of fashionable society.”

E. G. White, My Life Today, p. 191. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 2, 2025

The Unmistakable Evidences of the Holy Spirit’s Withdrawal from the Earth

Even as last week’s edition

addressed the solemn warning of grieving away the Holy Spirit, in the midst of delineating on its “fruits” (which we will resume later), I dare not neglect to also remind all that, in tandem with the details of last-day prophecies itself revealing earth and mankind’s calamitous conditions as it nears the stupendous climax of the great controversy leading to the end of human probation, is that these conditions are the same evidence that the Holy Spirit is withdrawing from the earth! Be enlightened and thus shielded from the cascading deluge of deceptions, counterfeit gospel, false science, and outright lies! 

I quote the following (emphasis provided):

   “DA 636. “Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE EARTH, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in NOTHING that is human or earthly. 

    “Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the MOVEMENTS OF THEIR LEADERS. There are those who are WAITING, and WATCHING, and WORKING for our Lord’s appearing. ANOTHER CLASS are falling into line under the generalship of the FIRST GREAT APOSTATE [Satan, the adversary of God and man]. FEW believe with heart and soul that we have a HELL TO SHUN and HEAVEN TO WIN. 

    “The CRISIS is stealing upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still ‘eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against one another, contending for the higher place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding into theaters [as in early times], horse races, gambling hells. THE HIGHEST EXCITEMENT PREVAILS, YET PROBATION’S HOUR IS FAST CLOSING, AND EVERY CASE IS ABOUT TO BE ETERNALLY DECIDED [in the ongoing Investigative, pre-advent judgment taking place in the heavenly sanctuary with Christ as Judge of all the earth]. 

    “Satan sees his time is short [Rev.12:12]. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be DECEIVED, DELUDED, OCCUPIED, and ENTRANCED, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the DOOR OF MERCY FOREVER SHUT.

    “Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest AT ANY TIME your hearts be overcharged with  surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’ [Luke 21:34]. ‘Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY to escape all these things [not be overcome by them] that shall come to pass,  and to stand [without guile; faultless] before the Son of man.’ [verse 36].” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, Apr. 1950, Pacific Press  Pub. Asso., p. 636. 

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

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.