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Mid-week Manna

TO STILL FEED ON ‘MILK’ IS TO BE ‘LEFT BEHIND’ BY THOSE WHO ‘WALK FASTER’ IN THESE LAST DAYS

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

TO STILL FEED ON ‘MILK’ IS TO BE ‘LEFT BEHIND’ BY THOSE WHO ‘WALK FASTER’ IN THESE LAST DAYS

“For when for the time ye ought to be TEACHERS, ye have need that one TEACH YOU AGAIN which be the FIRST principles of the Word of God; and are BECOME such as have need of MILK, and NOT THE STRONG MEAT. For everyone that useth milk is UNSKILFUL IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth unto them that are of FULL AGE [intellectually and spiritually mature], even those who BY REASON OF USE have their SENSES [and conscience] EXERCISED to DISCERN both good and evil.” Heb. 5:12-14, KJV (emphasis mine).

Dear fellow “ten virgins” who profess to be “waiting” for the soon-coming Bridegroom (Matt.25: 1-13), the night is far spent! “And that knowing the time, that NOW IT IS HIGH TIME to awake”’out of spiritual slumber “for NOW is our salvation NEARER than when we first believed!” (Rom. 13: 11-14).

“It is TOO LATE in the day to feed with milk [of the gospel]. If souls A MONTH OR TWO old in the truth, WHO ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE ‘TIME OF TROUBLE, SUCH AS NEVER WAS’ [Dan. 12: 1], cannot hear all the STRAIGHT TRUTH, or ENDURE the ‘strong meat’ of the straightness of the way [of ‘the straight and narrow way’ that leads to eternal life] HOW will they STAND in the day of battle [of the final test of mankind, Rev. 13 and 14]? Truths that we have been YEARS learning must be learned in a FEW MONTHS by those who NOW embrace the THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE [Rev. 14: 6-12].

“There is NO NEED of milk after souls are convinced of the truth [the present testing truths]. As SOON as the conviction of truth is YIELDED to and the heart WILLING, the truth should have its effect. The truth will work like leaven, and PURIFY and PURGE away the passions of the natural [carnal] heart.

“It is a DISGRACE for those who have been IN THE TRUTH FOR YEARS to talk of feeding souls who have been MONTHS IN THD TRUTH, upon milk! It SHOWS they KNOW LITTLE of the leadings of the Holy Spirit of the Lord, and REALIZE NOT THE TIME WE ARE LIVING IN.

“Those who embrace the truth [of the third Angel’s message] now will have to STEP FAST. There will have to be a breaking up of the HEART before the Lord, a RENDING of the heart, and NOT THE GARMENT” [not in word but in deed; not the form but the substance].”- E. G. White.MS #1, Feb. 12, 1854/ 1 MR, pp. 33,34.

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

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE ARIAN AFRICAN VANDAL ‘HORN’ PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE ARIAN AFRICAN VANDAL ‘HORN’ PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS

“Treachery, which with Rome and her allies has always been a JUSTIFIABLE WEAPON, was here used IN THE service of the [Roman Catholic] Church by her dutiful son. Justinian [the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire] sent an army of 200,000 trained men under the leadership [of command] of Belisarius to conquer the Vandals WITHOUT declaring war, and UNBEKNOWN to Gelimer, king of the Vandals. The historian Villari says:

‘Belisarius landed on the African coast at nine days march from Carthage (the Vandal capital]. He did not ASSUME the attitude as a conqueror, but came, he said, as the DELIVERER of the Catholics and Romans, the clergy and proprietors, who were all equally oppressed by those foreign barbarians, the heretic Vandals.’ – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ Vol. I, p. 198.

“Thus Belisarius [commander of Justinian’s army] won the enthusiastic support of a large part of the population [beware of the popular majority]. To UNDERMINE the zeal of the Vandal leaders FOR THEIR KING, he [Belisarius] sent the ‘leading men of the Vandals’ a letter from Justinian, stating that he intended only to dethrone the usurping king, who was tyrannizing over them, and to give them back their LIBERTY. The letter reads:

‘It is not our purpose to go to war with the Vandals nor are we breaking our treaty with Gaiseric [a bare-faced lie]. We are only attempting to overthrow your tyrant,who making light of Gaiseric’s testament keeps your king a prisoner….Therefore join us in FREEING YOURSELVES from a tyranny so wicked, that you may enjoy PEACE AND LIBERTY. We give you pledge IN THE.NAME OF GOD that we will give these BLESSINGS.’…..The overseer of the public post DESERTED and delivered all the horses to Belisarius.’ – ‘History of the Later Roman Empire,’ J. B. Bury, Vol. II, p. 130. London. The Macmillian Co., 1925.

“But Justinian never intended to keep his SOLEMN OATH to grant them liberty, and the people soon found Rome the SEVEREST of tyrants.

“In 533 A. D. the Byzantine general Belisarius landed in Africa. The Vandals were several times defeated, and Carthage was entered on Sept. 15, 533…..In the next year Africa, Sardinia, and Corsica were restored to the Roman Empire. As a NATION, THE VANDALS SOON CEASED TO EXIST.’ – ‘Nelson’s Encyclopedia, Vol. XII, art. ‘Vandals,’ pp. 380, 381. New York. 1907.

“Religious INTOLERANCE accompanied the imperial restoration in the West [Roman Empire]. In Africa, as in Italy, Arians were spoiled [destroyed] for the BENEFIT of the Catholics, their churches were destroyed or ruined, and their lands confiscated.’ – ‘Cambridge Medieval History,’ Bury, Gwatkin, and Whitney, Vol. II, p. 44. NY: 1913.” (Facts of Faith, pp. 42, 43.

Bless all as we familiarize ourselves with details of church history in the light of prophecy. This is part of the comprehensive Third Angel’s message for the last days. NMF

Categories
Devotionals

MORE REVELATIONS ON THE ‘SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN’ OF THE LAST DAYS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MORE REVELATIONS ON THE ‘SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN’ OF THE LAST DAYS

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Rev. 2:9, KJV. “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Rev. 3:9.

A synagogue, according to Webster’s Collegiate Edition Dictionary (1967) is: “A congregation of Jews met for the purpose of worship; a Jewish place of worship.”

According to the gospels it was the Jewish Sanhedrin representing the people and the nation who condemned and had Jesus Christ, the “Lord of the Sabbath,” crucified by their Roman oppressors. In these last days the counterfeit sabbath, Sunday, has been egregiously called the “Lord’s day,” or as stated in Sunday law bills introduced to Congress in the late 1800s to early 1900s, the most infamous of which were the Blair Sunday law bill and the Breckinridge Sunday law bill, the “American Sabbath.” Now note the following carefully:

“I would speak words of warning to the brethren of our churches [back in 1895], for I fear that many are acting the part of the slothful servant who hid his lord’s talent in the earth [in the parable]. His sin was the SIN OF NEGLECT, the sin of failing to IMPROVE the great treasure is knowledge that were committed to his trust. God has given precious light to HIS PEOPLE (like ancient Israel and the Jewish people) with which to enlighten the world, and ARE NOT MANY treating it with INDIFFERENCE and ACTING as though the heavenly gift were of LITTLE consequence?? FAIR WEATHER DISCIPLES [as with ‘fair weather friends’] will NOT ANSWER to the Lord’s call in the TIME OF PERIL TOWARD WHICH WE ARE HASTENING. It will take those who not only HEAR, but DO the words of Christ to be active disciples [Rom. 12:11 quoted]. A new energy proceeding FROM BENEATH IS TAKING POSSESSION OF THE WHOLE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.” E. G. White, Manuscript 6, Feb. 21, 1885/ UL 66.

“John the Baptist declared to the Jews [in the time of Christ, and the spiritual, antitypical ‘sabbath-keeping’ Jews today] that their standing before God was to be decided by their CHARACTER and LIFE.  PROFESSION WAS WORTHLESS, if their life and character WERE NOT IN HARMONY WITH GOD’S LAW, THEY WERE NOT HIS PEOPLE.” – Ibid, DA 107.

“Profession alone is nothing. Names are registered upon in the CHURCH BOOKS upon earth, BUT NOT IN THE BOOK OF LIFE [in heaven].” Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 304.

“A profession of Christ [or “Christian”] is not enough to enable one to stand in the TEST OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT [the pre-advent or investigative judgment began in 1844 at end of the 2300 day prophecy of Dan. 8:14].” Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 18.

More tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF. 

Categories
Devotionals

THE TRUE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS, SAME AS THE ORIGINAL

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE TRUE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS, SAME AS THE ORIGINAL

We take a parenthetical break from the progressive detailed history of the prophesied “falling away” of the early church to refresh our minds on what the Bible says and describes the true and faithful church after its shaking and sifting:

Eph. 5:27: “Having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish” as the purified  “bride of Christ.”

1 Tim. 3:15; Rev. 3:12: They are “the pillar and ground of truth” of the spiritual “temple.”

Rom. 8: 8, 14: “They walk [live, move, and have their being] not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”

1 Pet. 2:9: They are “a chosen generation, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar [separate from the world and unhinge of the world] people, a royal priesthood.”

Rev. 14:12; 19:10; 12:17: The true “remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” and have the “spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus.”

Luke 17:21: The “kingdom” and kingship of God is within them.”

John 14:12: James 1:22: They are “doers,”!doing the works of Jesus, not “works of the flesh.”

Rev. 14: 1-12: They live and give the three angels’ messages (to the world aground them).

Matt. 16:18; 1 Pet. 2:6-8: Their faith, hope and character are based, developed, and founded upon the Rock, both Christ Himself by the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit and  the written Word abiding in their minds and hearts.

Hereunder are quotes from the inspired pen:
“From the beginning, FAiTHFUL souls have constituted the CHURCH on earth.” E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 11.

“The church on earth, composed of those who are FAITHFUL and LOYAL TO GOD, is the TRUE TABERNACLE whereof the Redeemer is the MINISTER. God, and not man, pitched this tabernacle on a high and elevated platform.” Ibid, 7 BC 931.

“Consider, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord has A PEOPLE, A CHOSEN people, HIS CHURCH, to be His own, His own fortress, which He holds in a sin-stricken, revolted world; and He intended that NO AUTHORITY should be known to it; no laws acknowledged by it, but HIS OWN.” Ibid, TM 16.

“There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the WORD of God, and are PURIFIED by it.” Ibid, 4 SOP 237.

“Those who KEEP God’s commandments, those who live NOT by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, COMPOSE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.” Ibid, 7 BC 949.
More follows tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

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.

Categories
Devotionals

GOD ENCOURAGES AND WARNS

July 5 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

GOD ENCOURAGES AND WARNS

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

Isa. 58:1, Authorized Version.

Like the gospel-prophet, God’s last-day messenger wrote these admonitions to His people of the last days, the spiritual house of Jacob:

“Hypocrisy is peculiarly offensive to God. A large majority of men and women who profess the truth PREFER SMOOTH MESSAGES. They do not desire to have their sins and defects brought before them. They want ACCOMMODATING MINISTERS, who will not arouse conviction by speaking the truth. They choose men who will FLATTER them, and in their turn they FLATTER the minister who has chosen such a ‘good’ spirit, while they REVILE the faithful servant of God.

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.’

Categories
Devotionals

EGYPT’S HATRED TOWARDS THE SABBATH

June 2, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

EGYPT’S HATRED TOWARDS THE SABBATH See Exodus 5: 4-14.

Long before the Ten Commandments were written on two tables of stone by the Creator’s own finger and given to Moses atop Mt. Sinai, the Sabbath day observance and worship was already a point controversy even while Israel was still slaves in Egypt— the first atheistic empire!

Moses and Aaron tried to teach the Israelites to observe the Sabbath day in Egypt. But resting on the Sabbath angered the pharaoh and he issued a DECREE that made Sabbath-keeping impossible in Egypt.