Categories
Daily Manna

THE HOPE THAT LEADS TO THE WORK OF PURIFICATION

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

July 12, 2021
THE HOPE THAT LEADS TO THE WORK OF PURIFICATION
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as He is pure.” 1 John 3: 3, KJV. As to what specific hope is herein referred to, see verses 1 and 2.
“Here is a work for man to do. He must  face the MIRROR, God’s law, discern the defects of his moral character, and put away his sins [not cherish, excuse, belittle, or excuse], washing his ‘robe of character’ in the blood of the Lamb [by ‘faith the works by love’ and purifies the soul, Gal. 5:6].
“Envy, Pride, Malice, Deceit, Strife, and Crime will be cleansed from the heart that is a recipient of the love of Christ and that cherishes the ‘hope of being made like Him when we shall see Him as He is.’ The religion of Christ [not of the ‘Church’ or the world] REFINES and DIGNIFIES it’s possessor, whatever his associations or stations in life may be.
“Men who become ENLIGHTENED CHRISTIANS rise above the level of their FORMER character into GREATER mental and moral strength. Those fallen and degraded by sin and crime MAY, through the merits of the Savior, be EXALTED to a position but ‘little lower than that of angels.’ 
“But the INFLUENCE of the Gospel Hope will not lead the sinner to look upon the salvation of Christ as a matter of FREE GRACE while he CONTINUES to live in transgression of the law of God. When the light of truth dawns upon his mind and he fully understands the REQUIREMENTS of God and fully realizes the EXTENT of his transgressions, he will REFORM his ways, become LOYAL to God through the strength OBTAINED from his Savior, and lead a NEW and PURER life.”(E. G. White, 4T 294-5).
“We have a work to do to FASHION the character AFTER the divine Model [cf. 1 Pet. 2:21-24]. All wrong habits must be given up. The IMPURE must become PURE in heart; the SELFISH must put away his selfishness, the PROUD must get rid of his pride; the SELF-SUFFICIENT man must overcome his self-confidence, and realize that he is NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST. We must have a LIVING connection with God.”- Ibid, RH, Nov. 17, 1885. (See GAG 232).   Bless all, NMF

Categories
Daily Manna Devotionals

WHO WANTS TO WEAR THE ORIGINAL SOFT WHITE LIGHT?

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

WHO WANTS TO WEAR THE ORIGINAL SOFT WHITE LIGHT?

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness.” Gen. 1:26.

“That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5: 26, 27, KJV.

“The robe [or garment] of innocence [guiltlessness] was born by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect harmony with the will of God. All the strength of their affections were given to their Heavenly Father. A beautiful SOFT WHITE LIGHT, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. The robe of light was a SYMBOL of their SPIRITUAL GARMENTS OF HEAVENLY INNOCENCE. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when SIN entered, they severed their connection with God, and the LIGHT that encircled them DEPARTED. Naked and ashamed, they tried to SUPPLY the place of the heavenly garments by SEWING TOGETHER fig leaves for a COVERING.

“This is what the TRANSGRESSORS of God’s law have done ever since the day Adam and Eve’s DISOBEDIENCE. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover their nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by WORKS OF THEIR OWN they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable to God.” – E. G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 311.

Christ was OBEDIENT to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, ‘I delight to do Thy WILL, O My God: yea, Thy LAW is within My heart.’ (Ps. 40:8). When on earth, He said to His disciples, ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments.’ John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it POSSIBLE for every human being to obey God’s commandments.” HOW!

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the HEART is united to His heart, the WILL is merged in His will, the MIND becomes one with His mind, the THOUGHTS are brought into captivity to Him: we live His life. This is what it means to be CLOTHED with the garments of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Then as the Lord looks upon us, He sees not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of SIN, but His own robe of righteousness, which is PERFECT OBEDIENCE to the law of Jehovah.” – Ibid, p. 312.

And what lies at the very center of this law? The Sabbath commandment of course! Are you aware that the Sabbath day is safely “sandwiched” between His CRUCIFIXION on Friday (Preparation day) and His glorious RESURRECTION on the first working day of the week! Indeed the two Christian pillars of Faith, the CROSS (crucifixion) and RESURRECTION, literally and spiritually protect, preserve and “guard the edges of the Sabbath!” Bless all, NMF

Categories
Devotionals

LESSONS FROM SOLOMON’S ADULTERY-IDOLATRY-APOSTASIES

June 9 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

LESSONS FROM SOLOMON’S ADULTERY-IDOLATRY-APOSTASIES. “

“For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his god, as was the heart of his father David.” 1 Kings 11: 4, NKJV.(See verses 1-13).

“Pity the Man who was Envied. (See Eccl. 1:14). Many envied the popularity and abundant glory of Solomon, thinking that of all men he must be the MOST HAPPY. But amid all that glory of ARTIFICIAL display the man envied is the one to be MOST PITIED. His countenance is dark with despair. All the splendor about him is but to him mockery of the distress and anguish of his thoughts as he reviews his MISSPENT life in seeking for happiness through indulgence and selfish gratification of every desire.” E.H.White, Signs of the Times, Feb. 7, 1878.

Categories
Devotionals

WHICH COMES FIRST: NATIONAL RUIN OR NATIONAL APOSTASY?

April 13, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

WHICH COMES FIRST: NATIONAL RUIN OR NATIONAL APOSTASY?

“It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law.” Ps. 119: 126, KJV.

Who is “they” and when, how and why will they “make void God’s law?  These should be the questions foremost in the minds of the people of the sanctuary and prophecy at this very time of earth’s history.

The COVID-19 crisis that our beloved nation (and the whole world) is currently struggling with, is packed with more profound prophetic ramifications than most realize, the ignorance, which in itself, is the greater crisis and calamity, as it nears eternal consequences.