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Devotionals

WE PARTAKE OF THE DIVINE NATURE IMPARTED THRU THE DIVINE POWER OF CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE AS GOD IN THE FLESH

October 2, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

WE PARTAKE OF THE DIVINE NATURE IMPARTED THRU THE DIVINE POWER OF CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE AS GOD IN THE FLESH

“To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, as His DIVINE POWER has given to us all things that PERTAIN to LIFE and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us EXCEEDINGLY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, that through these you may be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust [unholy, worldly, carnal desires and the lust of the eye and the flesh’].”

2 Pet. 1:1-4, NKJV.

The Incarnation: “Layon aside His royal robe and kingly crown, Christ clothes His divinity with humanity, that human beings might be RAISED from their degradation [caused by sin], and placed on vantage ground.

Categories
Devotionals

UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER

August 6, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

‘UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER.’ Heb.1:3, A.V.

Take note if that. ‘Upholding all things by the word of His power,’ rather than ‘by the power of His Word,’ as we would quickly say, without much thought.

“Christ is said to be ‘upholding all things.’ The word for ‘upholding’ denotes MORE than merely sustaining something so that it will not collapse. It means ‘bearing forward to a destination.’ While it includes the idea of sustaining, it has the ADDED meaning of ‘movement, of guidance, of purposeful progress.’

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Devotionals

FROM SLAVE TO SIN, TO A PRINCE OF GOD

July 14, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

FROM SLAVE TO SIN, TO A PRINCE OF GOD

“And He (Christ) said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince has thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed.”

Gen. 33: 28, Authorized Version.

“Because of the deception practiced to secure his father’s blessing, intended for Esau, Jacob had fled for his life, alarmed by his brother’s deadly threats. After remaining for many years as an exile, he had set out, at God’s command, to return with his wives and children…to his native country. On reaching the borders of the land, he was filled with terror by the tidings of Esau’s approach as the head of warriors, doubtless bent on revenge. Having sent his family away, that they may not witness his distress, Jacob remains alone to INTERCEDE with God.” GC 616.

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Devotionals

FROM CONFORMED TO TRANSFORMED

July 13, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

FROM CONFORMED TO TRANSFORMED

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2, Authorized Version (KJV)

“God’s promise is, ‘Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with ALL your heart.’ Jer. 29:13. The whole heart must be YIELDED to God, or the CHANGE (or transformation) can never be wrought in us by which we are to be RESTORED to His likeness (image).

“By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: ‘Dead In trespasses and suns;’ ‘the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;’ ‘no soundness in it.’ We are held fast in the snare of Satan, ‘taken captive by him at his will.’” Eph. 2:1; Isa. 1:5, 6; 2 Tim. 2:26.

“God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an ENTIRE TRANSFORMATION, A RENEWING OF OUR WHOLE NATURE, we must yield ourselves WHOLLY to Him.

“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. [As Paul said, ‘I die daily.’ Selfish, self-centered, self-pleasing self must die].
He calls the unconverted heart as “the old man,” and the truly converted in heart and mind as “the new man in Christ Jesus.”

“The government of God is not, as Satan.would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. Rather, it appeals to the intellect and to the conscience. ‘Come now, and let us reason together’ is the Creator’s invitation to the beings He has made.”  Isaiah 1:18.

“God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage (acts of worship) that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all REAL DEVELOPMENT OF MIND OR CHARACTER; it would make man a mere automaton (robot).

“Such is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work of His creative power (created on the 6th day of creation), shall reach the HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to BRING US THROUGH HIS GRACE.

“He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He May work His will in us. It remains for us to CHOOSE whether we will be set free from the BONDAGE OF SIN, to share the GLORIOUS LIBERTY of the sons of God!” SC 43, 44. 

May the Holy Spirit guide, enlighten, convict, convince and empower you to do God’s will!   NMF