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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: PROPHET DANIEL MADE PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON AND MEDO-PERSIA

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 25, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

PROPHET DANIEL MADE PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON AND MEDO-PERSIA

Based on the book of Daniel. 

Daniel was always true to God while loyal to his government. Dan. 6: 16-23. He was a high government official for over 70 years under two successive pagan world empires: Babylon (under Nebuchadnezzar, briefly Belshazzar), on to Medo-Persia (under Darius and Artaxerxes). 

We read the following from the KJV Bible: 

    “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him RULER over the whole province of Babylon, and CHIEF of the governors over all the wisemen of Babylon.” (Dan. 2:48, read 1-49). 

    “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”(Dan. 6: 28; cf. Ezra 1:1-11; 2: 1, 2).

The Babylon herein referred to has its spiritual antitype as a major player at the end stages of the church. In Revelation it is a symbol of opposition against Christ and His followers (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:18). Let’s first  consider facts of its secular historical aspect.

Source: SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald Publishing Asso., WA D.C, 1960, art. ‘Babylonia,’ pp. 108-9 (all emphasis provided): 

    “In the 13th century B.C., the Assyrians. . . invaded Babylonia. . . For 6 centuries Babylonia was more or less an Assyrian dependency. . . Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C. . . made himself king of Babylon under the name of Pul.

    “Sargon II also ruled as king of Babylon, but Sennacherib, tired of the constant rebellions, thoroughly destroyed the city of Babylon. 

    “Esarhaddon rebuilt it.

After which the city experienced its most flourishing period. 

    “In 626 B.C. Nabopolassar, a Chaldean official subject to the Assyrians, declared himself king of Babylon, as one of his tribal relatives, Marduk-apaladdina (the Biblical Merodach-baladan) had done a century earlier. His bid for independence lasted only 18 years, but the new Kindom became a success, and developed into an EMPIRE that soon succeeded that of the Assyrians. 

    “After Nabopolassar had fought against the Assyrians for several years with uneven success, he joined the MEDES, and with their help after a siege of 3 months conquered NINEVEH in 612 B.C.

    “When the conquerors divided the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian king inherited all of MESOPOTAMIA, SYRIA, and PALESTINE. It was necessary for him to fight remnants of Assyrian resistance in Upper Mesopotamia for a few more years, and also the EGYPTIANS, who had helped the Assyrians and who tried to become the masters of SYRIA and PALESTINE.

   “In 605 B.C., NEBUCHADNEZZAR, still crown prince, defeated NECHO OF EGYPT, first at Charchemish and then at Hamath. Late in the summer his father [Nabopolassar] died and he succeeded to the throne. 

   “Annual campaigns in SYRIA and PALESTINE followed. JERUSALEM was taken several times, and after its THIRD CAPTURE in 586 B.C., the rebellious city was DESTROYED AND ITS POPULATION DEPORTED TO BABYLONIA. 

    “Nebuchadnezzar was a strong king and a great builder. He practically rebuilt the city of Babylon, and erected many structures in many cities. After a successful rule of more than 40 YEARS, he was followed by several weak rulers under whose inefficient government the empire DETERIORATED rapidly. 

    “His son Amel-Marduk, the Biblical Evil-merodach, reigned for only 2 years (562-560 B.C.),  and was then assassinated and succeeded by his brother-in-law Nergal-shar-usur, who ruled in Babylon for 4 years (560-556 B.C.). He was followed by his son Labashi-Marduk, who was murdered after a reign of less than 2 months. The murderers put one of the conspirators, NABONIDUS, on the throne. 

    “Nabonidus saw danger from PERSIA [modern-day Iran] and made an alliance against it with EGYPT, LYDIA, and SPARTA. He also campaigned in ARABIA and made Tema in northwestern Arabia his residence for a number of years, while his elder son, BELSHAZZAR, to whom he entrusted the kingship as COREGENT, ruled in Babylon.

   “In October, 539 B.C., only 23 YEARS after Nebuchadnezzar’s death, the empire fell to the hands of CYRUS THE PERSIAN, almost without a fight. Cyrus had forced an entrance into the Mesopotamian valley in the BATTLE OF OPIS, and a few days later the capital city fell to the Persians without a battle, and its fall ended the history of Babylon as an independent power. 

    “The Kindom became a part of the PERSIAN EMPIRE and later was reduced to a province. The territory then fell to ALEXANDER THE GREAT [of Grecia] and belonged successively to the SELEUCIDS, PARTHIANS, SASSANIDS, and others; now it is part of the country of IRAQ.” (End of excerpt). 

With this historical background of the “rise and fall” of the said empires, we can better appreciate Daniel’s recorded “true as steel to principle” and uncompromising faithfulness to God, while excelling in serving in the highest government offices of  successive pagan kings and their empires! 

It only takes one lit candle to dispel the darkness. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye are the light of the world and salt of the earth.”

Are we? 

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

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed : God’s Men in High Government Positions (Part 1)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 18, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed

God’s Men in High Government Positions (Part 1)

JOSEPH TRUE TO GOD WHILE GOVERNOR IN ANCIENT EGYPT’S ATHEISTIC EMPIRE 

For the thrilling account of its fuller history, thus first establishing a firm Biblical foundation with its true contextual background, read Genesis chapters 39-45 on your own Bibles, KJV of RSV. 

We now proceed to quote extracts from E. G. White’s book ‘Patriarchs and Prophets,’ Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1913, pp. 210-223. (All emphases, bracketed words, and Notes provided): 

    “Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king’s (Pharaoh) guard [by the heathen Ishmaelite traders whom his brothers sold him to], in whose service he remained for 10 years. He was here exposed to temptations of NO ordinary character. He was in the midst of IDOLATRY. The worship of FALSE GODS was surrounded by ALL THE POMP AND ROYALTY, supported by the wealth and culture of the MOST HIGHLY CIVILIZED [yet atheistic and heathen] NATION THEN EXISTING. 

     “Yet Joseph preserved his SIMPLICITY, and his FIDELITY TO GOD. The sights and sounds of VICE were all around him, but he was one who SAW NOT AND HEARD NOT. His THOUGHTS were not allowed to linger upon forbidden subjects. The desire to gain the favor of the Egyptians could not cause him to CONCEAL his principles. 

     “Has he attempted to do this, he would have been OVERCOME by temptation; but he was NOT ASHAMED of the religion of his fathers [the godly patriarchs] and he made no effort to HIDE the fact that he was a worshipper of Jehovah. 

    “‘And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a PROSPEROUS MAN. . . . And his master SAW that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made ALL that he did to prosper in his hand.’ (See Genesis 39). Potiphar’s confidence in him increased daily, and he finally PROMOTED him to be his steward [to the captain of the Pharaoh’s guard/security detail] with FULL CONTROL over all his possessions.  ‘And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught what he had, save the bread which he did eat.’ (Gen. 39).”

Now take note all Christian evangelists, preachers, ministers, pastors, and believers of the popular “prosperity gospel.”

    “The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph’s care was NOT THE RESULT OF A DIRECT MIRACLE; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the DIVINE BLESSING. Joseph attributed his success to the FAVOR of God, and even his IDOLATROUS MASTER accepted this as the SECRET of his unparalleled prosperity. 

     “Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could NEVER had been attained. GOD WAS GLORIFIED BY THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIS SERVANT. It was HIS PURPOSE that in purity and uprightness the BELIEVER in God should appear IN MARKED CONTRAST to the worshippers of idols [in all its variant forms, animate and inanimate, including the idol of self in self-worship, philosophical ideas, opinions, theories, traditions, doctrines that contradict Bible truth] that the LIGHT of heavenly grace might shine forth AMID THE DARKNESS OF HEATHENISM.” (end quote). 

NOTE: These earliest form of ancient heathenism and paganism (religions) entered early Christian church through the “great compromise” and “falling away,” resulting in the development of “the man of sin,” in “the mystery of iniquity,” revealed by Paul as “already at work” in his time! See 2 Thess.2: 1-12, etc. 

Prophecy and history, both

sacred and common (secular) silently witness to the grand truth that God is in control, His divine purposes revealed and fulfilled in the rise and fall of nations and empires till “all is fulfilled” and His eternal kingdom finally rules over the “restored first dominion” of “the new heaven and the new earth.”

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

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Mid-week Manna

THE ‘ENMITY’ OF GENESIS.3:15  –  ‘EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR’ BEGINNING WITH ABEL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 7, 2022

THE ‘ENMITY’ OF GENESIS.3:15  –  ‘EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR’ BEGINNING WITH ABEL

The following is quoted from Patriarchs and Prophets by E. G. White, ‘Cain and Abel Tested’ Chap. 5, (all emphasis and words in brackets mine).

“Cain hated and killed his brother not for any wrong that Abel had done, ‘but because his [Cain’s] works were evil, and his brother’s righteous’ (Gen. 4:6, 7). 

So in ALL AGES the wicked have HATED those who were better than themselves [note that!]. Abel’s life of obedience and unswerving faith [‘the faith that works by love ‘ Gal. 4:6] was to Cain a PERPETUAL REPROOF. ‘Everyone that doeth evil HATETH the light, neither cometh to the light [of truth and righteousness as revealed in the law as the transcript of God’s character] lest his deeds be REPROVED’ (1 John 3:12). 

“The brighter the heavenly light that is REFLECTED in the character of God’s FAITHFUL SERVANTS, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly REVEALED, and the more determined will be their efforts to DESTROY those who DISTURB their [carnal, self-pleasing-justifying] peace.

“The MURDER of Abel was the first example of the ENMITY that God had declared would exist between the SERPENT and the SEED of the woman—-between SATAN and his SUBJECTS and CHRIST and His FOLLOWERS. Through man’s sin [‘the transgression of the law,’ 1 John 3:4], Satan had GAINED CONTROL of the human race, but Christ would ENABLE [and empower] them to CAST OFF HIS YOKE. [The ‘enabling’ of the ‘enmity’ and empowerment of the grace of the Father in His Son, as imparted by the Holy Spirit]. 

“Whenever, through FAITH in the Lamb of God [not ‘trusting man and making flesh his arm.’ Jer. 17:5]. a soul RENOUNCES [not excuses or justifies] the service of sin, Satan’s WRATH is kindled [see Rev. 12:17; 13:12]. The HOLY LIFE of ABEL testified AGAINST Satan’s claim that it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to keep  God’s law [sounds ultra familiar in mainstream Christianity, doesn’t it!] 

“When Cain, moved by the spirit of the wicked one [Satan], saw that he could NOT CONTROL Abel, he was so ENRAGED that he destroyed his [own brother’s] life. [Jesus warned His first Disciples, “Your greatest enemies will be your own household,’ both biological and spiritual “household of faith’ or ‘church’ or ‘religion.’ See Matt. 10: 32-39, etc.]. 

“And WHEREVER there are any who will STAND IN VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW OF GOD, the SAME SPIRIT will be manifested against them [History indeed will repeat itself till the close of man’s probation!]. It is the SPIRIT that through all ages has set up THE STAKE and KINDLED THE BURNING PILE  for the disciples of Christ. [Study/review the 1260-day prophecy spanning the Dark Ages when the Roman church ruled Christianity and then the known world, 538-1798 A.D.]. 

“But the CRUELTIES heaped upon the follower of Christ are instigated by Satan and his hosts [his ‘seed’] because they CANNOT FORCE THEM to submit to their control. IT IS THE RAGE OF A VANQUISHED FOE. EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR. 

“Says the prophet [John the beloved], ‘They [the saints and martyrs in particular] overcame him [‘that old serpent, called the devil’] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they lived not their lives unto the death.’ (Rev. 12: 11, 9).” -pp. 76-7. 

Dear friends, In this our day and time, whose “seed” do you and I belong to? Do not guess or speculate. “Make your calling and election sure” for “By our fruits we are known.” It is either the irrefutable “fruits of the Spirt” and “righteousness” “unto life eternal” (Gal. 5:22-25) or the unmistakable “works of the flesh and sin “unto eternal damnation” (Gal. 5:19-21). In God’s plan of redemption no provision exists for “purgatory,” compromises, “a mixed multitude” of “part wordling-part Christian, amalgamations, mutants, or spiritual synthetic clones of both classes. At the close of our probation at death, we are judged eternally as either one or the other. So “today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” 

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

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Mid-week Manna

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS Part 6

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS Part 6

Who, does the Bible say, practices and manifests the religion of the Bible and have the faith of Jesus?

Without a shadow of doubt, it is those who, often unrecognized, despised, and ridiculed for their singularity and “peculiarity as a people, as a chosen nation, a royal priesthood and holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9), because of their own enlightened, loving, consistent, growing, and “faith that works by love” (Gal. 4:6) in the “faith of Jesus”(all that refers to Christ in the New Testament) and thus “have the Spirit of prophecy which is the Testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev.12:17; 14;12; 19:10).

The Revelation of Jesus Christ in the last book of the Bible, by way of end-time prophecy that proclaims “the EVERLASTING gospel,” distinguishes them from the rest of the Christian world in these “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” definitive definitions and descriptions of who, why, and what makes them such: (All from the KJV; emphasis mine):

First, “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make WAR with the REMNANT of her SEED which KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of GOD, and HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.” Rev. 12: 17.

Second, ( after citing the first, second, and third angels’ messages in their fixed order, verses 6-11): “Here is the patience of the SAINTS : here are THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the FAITH OF JESUS.” Rev. 14:12.

Third, (read verses 1-9). John says, “And I fell at his feet [the angel revealing these prophecies to him] to WORSHIP him. And he said unto me, See thou do it NOT: [for] I am thy fellow-servant, and of THY BRETHREN that HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS: Worship God: FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.” Rev. 19:10.

Jesus, “the Word from the beginning,” Himself the God of love and law, “manifest in the flesh” in the “great mystery of godliness” in His incarnation, defined the SUM and SUBSTANCE of the true worship of the true religion of the Bible, manifested in those that have the sanctifying “faith of Jesus” through the edifying and enlightening work of the Holy Spirit in “the Testimony of Jesus in the Spirit of prophecy” in these last days, as follows:

“If you LOVE Me, KEEP [do; obey] MY COMMANDMENTS.” John 14: 15. RenderIng it even it clearer “by the word of His testimony,” rebuking all Pharisee-like naysayers, and silencing any all disputes, quibbling, controversy and confusion generated by both ignorant and willful ignorance, Jesus reiterated this sum-and-substance definition of the everlasting covenant-relationship and its conditional promises and blessings between Jesus Christ and His true apostles, disciples, and followers, in the following verse in the New Testament for all professing Christians to study and ponder upon:

“IF ye keep My commandments, ye shall ABIDE in My love, EVEN AS I have kept His [the Father’s] commandments and ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.” John 15:10.

I am sure that all who claim to be Christian, “live, move, and have their being” based exclusively on sola scriptura (as did the early church in apostolic purity), will want and do everything within their God-given talents, abilities and powers by the empowering grace dispensed by the Holy Spirit, will “make their calling and election sure” in and by ABIDING IN THE LOVE OF JESUS, “even as,” His example as the “Son of man,” in our adopted “flesh and blood nature, He abode in His Father’s love BY KEEPING the law, “magnifying it and making it honorable” (the exact opposite of ignoring, “making of none effect,” trampling upon,” disobeying, transgressing, tinkering, amending, distorting, abrogating, and the absurd and apostate teaching that it has been “done away with” by “nailing it to the cross.”

It was CHRIST, not the Law of God, that was “nailed to that shameful tree.”) This IS religion, this IS the faith of Jesus, this IS the faith of Abraham “the father of the faithful” and “friend of God,” the faith of all the named and unnamed SAINTS in the Bible’s eternal HALL OF FAITH (in contrast to the “Halls of Fame,” and ignominious “Halls of Shame” of fallen, sinful morals of corruptible flesh) preserved and immortalized in the divine ARCHIVES and revealed to the eyes of mortal man, both wicked and righteous in Hebrews chapter 11.

Dear friends, please FAST and PRAY for the awakening, conviction, conversion or re-conversion, enlightenment, and guidance of the Holy Spirit, then “roll up your sleeves,” study and store your minds with the great testing truths of the fundamental pillars and landmarks of Present, testing, sealing Truth and “work for the night is coming when man works no more” in death.

To be continued in the next MWM, God willing. NMF

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Mid-week Manna

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Focus on the Faith of Jesus) Part 5

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
September 7

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Focus on the Faith of Jesus) Part 5

In the context of the proclamation of the three angels’ messages (of Rev. 14: 6-12) given in these last days of earth’s history, the first immediately reveals the nature and burden of these consecutive and threefold worldwide messages (represented as “flying in the midst of heaven”), as being: worship, religion, and “the patience” of a people who “are prophetically distinctly identified as the faithful “remnant,” thus, not the mass of Christianity, because of two distinct joint-features: they “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

The sum and substance of the relationship between the Creator and man, alone created in His image and likeness, was stated simply by Christ Himself: “If you LOVE Me, KEEP [do; obey] My commandments.” (John 14:15). And loving obedience is the highest and most sublime form of worship!

Among other fundamental commands and principles the Creator laid down and declared in the beginning, uniting the indivisible union between Creator and creature, starting with Adam and Eve, “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder,” so everything following thereafter in the gospel’s plan of salvation, especially as it reaches its stupendous climax in the great controversy between Christ and Satan and their respective agencies and followers on earth, the issue is the same: it is over the immutable law of God, which is the transcript of His character, the foundation of His government in heaven and throughout the universe, and the pre eminent authority of Jesus, the Creator incarnate, over all creation, both animate and inanimate, thus, the only Redeemer and Savior of fallen mankind from the power of Satan and slavery to sin, “the transgression of the law of God Almighty, not multitudinous and changeable laws if sinful, finite, and mortal man.

These are integral parts of the Bible’s religion, the faith of Jesus, and thus the religion and faith of those designed ages as the faithful “remnant” of the last days.

Are you part of these “saints” who “worship Him who made heaven and earth” by “keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” and are in “one accord” “in spirit and in truth” with these faithful “remnant” of the last days?

Be sure to “make your calling and election sure” by “examining yourselves and proving yourselves whether you are in the faith” of the present testing truths for these last days!

To be continued next MWM, God willing. NMF

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Mid-week Manna

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH Of JESUS (Part 4)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 31

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH Of JESUS (Part 4)

Focus on the “Faith of Jesus.”

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12, KJV.

Here we will focus on “the faith of Jesus” more definitively, expansively, and wholistically, as in the whole gospel, not merely parts or broken shards of it; or worse, “another gospel” and “another Jesus” which Paul warned against (2 Cor. 11: 3, 4). Thank and praise God for making special provisions for the commandment-keeping remnant saints of the last days (Rev. 14:12) with the “Testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19: 10; cf. 12: 17).

By magnifying (not replacing or rendering secondary) the testing truths of the Bible for these last days (called ‘present truth’), it fortifies the mind and strengthens the faith of those who will stand faithful and true in the rapidly-approaching “hour of temptation, which will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). In the context of the proclamation of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14, the “faith of Jesus” is defined as follows (emphasis mine):

“You inquire what the faith of Jesus is. I have seen that the brethren and sisters have NOT understood the faith of Jesus in its TRUE light. They have taught that it is healing of the sick, etc. It is not healing the sick, MERELY, but it is ALL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS in the New Testament. ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ I saw that it was the WHOLE NEW TESTAMENT, which relates to Jesus.” (E. G. White, Letter 4, 1857 (To Bro. Pierce, Dec. 3, 1857), Manuscript Releases, Vol. 5, p. 290, par. 1.

The Faith of Jesus. It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the Faith of Jesus, THAT BELONGS TO THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE? Jesus becoming our SIN-BEARER that He might become our sin-pardoning Savior. He was treated as WE deserve to be treated. He came to our world and TOOK OUR SINS that we might TAKE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us AMPLY and FULLY and ENTIRELY [from the power of sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil] is the FAITH OF JESUS.” (Ibid, Vol. 3, 1888 message, p. 117).

See Gen. 4: 1-16. The offering [and worship] of Cain was an offense to God, because it was a Christ-less offering. The burden of our message is NOT ONLY the commandments of God, but the Faith of Jesus. A bright light shines upon our pathway today, and it leads to INCREASED FAITH in Jesus. We must receive EVERY RAY of light, and WALK in it, that it may be NOT our condemnation in the [pre-advent, Investigative) Judgment.

Our duties and our obligations become MORE important as we obtain more DISTINCT views of truth. Light makes MANIFEST and REPROVES the errors that were CONCEALED in darkness; and as light comes, the LIFE and CHARACTER of men MUST CHANGE correspondingly, to be in HARMONY with it. Sins that were ONCE sins of ignorance, because of the BLINDNESS of the mind, can NO MORE BE INDULGE IN without incurring guilt.

As increased light is GIVEN, men must be REFORMED, ELEVATED, and REFINED by it, or they will be MORE PERVERSE and STUBBORN than before the light came.” (Ibid, Gospel Workers, p. 162).

To be continued in next week’s MWM, God willing. NMF

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Mid-week Manna

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 3)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 24

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 3)

Per the “more sure word of prophecy” (2 Pet. 1: 19-21, KJV) specifically the prophetically con-joined prophecies of Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation, the last of the sixty-six books of the Bible–the great controversy between Christ and Satan and their respective agencies and followers on earth, between righteousness and sin, good and evil, truth and error, particularly it’s mesmerizing counterfeits in these last days—was and will be waged through and over religion and it’s main form of expression, worship, OBEDIENCE being the highest form of worship.

It is this arena of human activity, experience, and context that man’s duly informed, conscious and rational ultimate choices, before death, determines and then fixes beyond change, his eternal destiny.

This is why the wiseman Solomon, moved by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “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, wither thou goest.” Eccl. 9: 10, KJV. Again, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also, their love and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun.” vs 5, 6.

Repeating what God sadly told Adam and Eve after their transgression in Eden (Gen. 3:19), the wiseman wrote: “Remember now Thy CREATOR in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say [too late], I have no pleasure in them.” Eccl. 12: 1. For “Then shall the dust return to the earth as if was: and the spirit [the breathe of life] shall return unto God who gave it.” v 7. He then tells all generations of men since then who have ears to hear and do not harden their hearts: “Let us hear the CONCLUSION of the whole matter: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. For God shall bring every work info judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl 12: 13, 14, KJV.

This is Bible religion, and certainly central to the faith of Jesus who testified of Himself: “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love, EVEN AS I HAVE kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15: 10. Having set that example of genuine Bible religion and His own faith, verily “the faith of Jesus,” He then bequeaths this love command to His true followers thereafter: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15, KJV.

These commandments are the commandments of God and Jesus, not the counterfeit and Antichristian commandments of “the man of sin” and its “image” of the apostate churches of the last days, as prophesied.

Apostle Paul exhorts all professed believers: “Examine yourselves and prove yourselves whether ye are in the faith. . . “(2 Cor. 13: 5). Now, ask yourself these questions:
Does my present Christian religion teach and uphold these clear fundamental truths of Bible religion? Is the “faith” I currently profess, and even zealously promote to others in harmony with this “faith of Jesus”?

The midnight cry for these last days (first given by Jesus as part of Bible religion and the faith of Jesus) in the prophetic-parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25: 1-13), is echoed by Paul in these words: “And that, knowing the time, that NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: for now is our salvation NEARER than when we [first] believed. The NIGHT is far spent, the DAY is at hand: let us therefore cast off the WORKS OF DARKNESS [see Gal. 5: 15-17; Rom. 1: 18-32; 2 Cor. 6: 9. 10, etc.] and let us PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT [see Eph. 6: 10-18, etc.].

Let us walk [“live, move, and have our being”] honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering [partying] and wantonness [self-pleasing indulgences], not in strife and envying. But PUT YE ON JESUS CHRIST, and make not provision for the FLESH, to fulfill the LUSTS thereof.” Rom. 13: 11-14, KJV. Beyond any reasonable doubt, this is Bible religion and the faith of Jesus.

To be continued in next week’s MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 2)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 17, 2022

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 2)

Jesus said: “But the hour cometh, and NOW IS, when the TRUE WORSHIPERS shall worship the FATHER in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: for the Father SEEKETH SUCH to worship Him. God is a SPIRIT: and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4: 23, 24, KJV (emphasis mine).

Referring to Mark 12: 28, 29, A. T. Jones thus wrote: “All there is of any SOUL [the living person, not a separate, ‘disembodied spirit’ or “ghost” that leaves the person’s body at death!] is first due to God; because it all came from God. This, therefore, is the first of all commandments, NOT because it is the first one that was ever given by spoken word, or that was ever written out, but because it is the first that could POSSIBLY be.

“And this because it is the expression of the FIRST PRINCIPLE of the existence of any INTELLIGENT creature. The principle was there, INHERENT in the existence of the first intelligent creature [the first Adam], in the FIRST MOMENT of his existence, and there the principle abides ETERNALLY, UNMODIFIED AND UNFADING.

“Now, though that is the first of all relationships, and the first of all duties, though that relationship and duty are inherent in the very existence of intelligent creatures, yet even in that inherent OBLIGATION, God has created every intelligent creature FREE–free to RECOGNIZE that obligation or not, free to DISCHARGE that duty or not, just as he CHOOSES.

“Accordingly it is written, ‘Choose you this day whom you will serve’ [Joshua 24:15]. ‘Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely’ [Rev 21: 17]. Thus it is absolutely true that in RELIGION [of the Bible] –in the duty which we OWE to our Creator and the MANNER of discharging it—God has created man entirely ‘exempt from the domination of others and from restricting circumstances,’ has made him free to make his choice, and decide his conduct for himself, SPONTANEOUSLY AND VOLUNTARILY.’ Thus religious liberty is a GIFT OF GOD, inherent in the gift of RATIONAL EXISTENCE ITSELF.

“Any service to God that is NOT freely chosen [coerced, forced, intimidated, threatened] by him who renders it CANNOT be of God; because ‘God is love’ [1 John 4: 8, 16] and love and compulsion, love and force, love and oppression, can NEVER go together [they are ‘at enmity towards each other.’ See Rom. 8: 6-8 for example].” Individuality in Religion, pp. 6-8.

Even as “spiritual things are spiritually discerned,” true worship is in and of the spirit (from an honest, sincere, humble, and penitent heart). not merely “having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof.. . .ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3: 5, 7), ceremonial, mechanical, mere lip service. See Isa. 28:13; Matt. 15: 7-9; Mark 7: 5-9, KJV.

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