Tag: Jesus

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CHRIST PERFECTED THROUGH SUFFERINGS TO BE MAN’S SAVIOR

October 18, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

CHRIST PERFECTED THROUGH SUFFERINGS TO BE MAN’S SAVIOR

“For it became Him, for whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Heb. 2:10, KJV.

Perfect through Sufferings. “This does not mean that Christ was not previously perfect [sinless]. Christ was perfect as God. [God in the flesh, ‘Immanuel, being interpreted. God with us.’ Matt. 1:24], He was perfect as a man [the only sinless One].

“By His sufferings He became perfect as SAVIOR. The thought is that of reaching a prescribed goal, of finishing a race, of completing a task. Before Christ came to earth, the path He must tread was plain before Him; every step was clear. To reach the goal, He must go all the way.

“He could not stop short of His ultimate destination. He must persevere to the end. It is the FINISHING of this course that is involved in the text before us, NOT ANY MORAL SHORTCOMING.

“It is a man running a race, reaching the three quarters mark and running strong, showing no sign of weakness. But he has not finished. Not until the race is completed will he receive the crown. It is the last quarter that counts. When finally he finishes he has attained, and will receive the award [and reward].

“He has then PERFECTED His course.” (M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 97, 98).

Apostle Paul followed the example Jesus set before all His true followers. Just before His grisly death by decapitation ordered by the cruel Roman emperor Nero, the apostle wrote these words designed to enlighten and guide the saints as they approach the terrible, yet necessary fiery ordeal of the final test of faith in the enforcement of the “mark of the beast” in ReV. 13 and 14.

Find time to read and meditate on Phil. 3: 7-17!! Only those who patiently “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (v 14) will receive “the crown that is eternal life” as the  award and reward of those “who endure to [their individual] end.” May we all follow Christ our Savior, as Paul did! Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

HEBREWS 2:9

October 13, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HEBREWS 2:9
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death; crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

The following is a laser-focused Christ-centered discourse. It lifts our minds and thoughts far above the unprecedented, record-smashing, multi-layering strife and confusion that branched out overnight as it were, from the Covid pandemic that opened up the year 2020. Let us “turn our eyes upon Jesus” and away from the raging storms without and within our hearts.

“But we SEE Jesus. The ‘but’ here denotes contrast. Man does ‘not yet’ have dominion, ‘but we see Jesus.’ He has dominion, even while He was here, on earth. He sent Peter to catch a fish, and in the fish’s mouth was found the coin needed for the occasion. (Matt. 17:27.).

“He told the disciples to let down the net, and they caught a multitude of fish. (John 21:6.). He commanded the winds and the waves, and they obeyed Him. (Matt. 8:26.) He cursed the fig tree, and it withered.(Matt. 21:19.)

“He exorcised demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead.(Mark 5:13; Matt. 8: 14, 15; John 11: 43,44.). He multiplied the loaves and the fishes, walked on the water,  and rebuked Satan. (Mark 8: 1-9; Matt. 14:25; 4:10,11.)

“There was no situation of which Jesus was not the Master! ‘We see not yet’ man in possession of these powers, ‘but we see Jesus.’  He is prophetic of the possibilities of man.” – M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 94, 95.

Jesus the Man, “is prophetic of the possibilities of man”—-that’s any penitent sinner who is “hungering and thirsting after righteousness,” who is willing to “take up his heavy cross of self-denial, daily, in order to “come after Christ” and follow His life example on earth. God bless all, NMF 

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A CITY OF REFUGE TO FLEE TO FOR COMPLETE SAFETY IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES

October 4, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

A CITY OF REFUGE TO FLEE TO FOR COMPLETE SAFETY IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES

The inheritance of the tribe of Levi in Caanan were forty-eight cities and its suburbs. Six of these cities were divinely set apart as ‘Cities of Refuge.’

If you believe you are part of the people described in the last days as “a chosen generation, a royal PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people”(1 Pet. 2:9), then you must know why these 6 cities were so dedicated, their purpose, and most specially, what they signified and its fullest application for these last days.

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TRUST wholly in the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

September 30, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TRUST wholly in the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

“His grace is SUFFICIENT for all our trials, and although they are GREATER NOW than ever before, yet if we trust WHOLLY in God, we can overcome every temptation, and through His grace come off as VICTORIOUS [daily, one day at a time].” (E. G. White, God’s Amazing Grace, p. 59).

Let all encourage one another to overcome as Jesus overcame and be part of the saints identified in Revelation as “they that overcome the beast and image” “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” God bless all, NMF 

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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’].

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THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

September 27, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

Whenever mortal sinners like you and me approach the subject of the Incarnation of Christ, we are warned to “take off your shoes from your feet for the ground in which you are standing is holy ground.” We would do well to take heed! Let all remember that “spiritual things can only be discerned spiritually.” The carnal mind disqualifies itself “for it is at enmity against God’s law.”

Now, please read Hebrews 2: 5-8 first. Then consider these:

“Christ is presented here as being ‘lower than the angels,’ though ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ He is shown to be VERY MAN, as truly as in the first chapter He is shown to be VERY GOD. His humanity enables Him to be the kind of High Priest [merciful and all-powerful Intercessor, Mediator, Advocate] men need.

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OUR YOUTH AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

September 25, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUR YOUTH AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

“And [take] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Eph. 6:17

Jesus was particularly emphatic regarding the treatment of, welfare, and salvation of the tender, receptive and yes, vulnerability of the children and youth during His three and half year ministry on earth. He declared some of His  strongest words of rebuke and warnings ever against those in authority who would mislead and/or become stumbling blocks to the youngest members of His spiritual kingdom in earth! They are both literally and spiritually the helpless lambs of His flock!

“God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His Word! A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the VOICE OF GOD speaking to the soul [the whole, living, rational person].

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MANY MORE NEGLECT THAN REJECT YET THE FINAL RESULT IS THE SAME

September 21, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MANY MORE NEGLECT THAN REJECT YET THE FINAL RESULT IS THE SAME

“How shall we escape, if we neglect?”

Heb. 1: 3, KJV.

“This question is so framed as to demand the answer, ‘We shall not escape.’ The danger here pointed out is not of rejecting Christ and the [true] gospel. But we are persuaded that many more neglect than reject. And it is against neglect that the apostle warns!

“Comparatively FEW definitely and finally reject God’s offer of eternal life [through the divine plan of salvation as taught in great detail by the sanctuary doctrine]. Most men intend at some time [procrastinate, put off for a ‘more convenient time’] to attend to their religious duties. But they DELAY and NEGLECT; and before they are aware of it, ‘the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and they are not saved.’(Jer. 8:20). It is always dangerous to neglect, for ‘now is the accepted time!’ [‘Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.’].

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