Tag: suffering

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Devotionals

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

MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS IN THE INCARNATION FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH

October 16, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS IN THE INCARNATION FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH

“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.” Heb. 1:9, A.V.

Notice that it was “by the GRACE of God” that Christ the Creator, was both “made a little lower than the angels” in the mystery of the Incarnation and by that same “grace of God” ‘taste death for every man.” Every diligent and thorough Bible student should take this profound scripture into proper account when addressing familiar lines “by grace you are saved, not of your works lest any MAN should boast.” Remember these: God does not boast; only fallen man does. Now this:

“A little lower than angels.’ When Jesus became man He was made [according to the divine plan of redemption ‘prepared  before the foundation of the world’] a little lower than the angels, or as the margin reads, ‘a little while inferior to.’ Thus Jesus in a very real sense took our nature WITHOUT losing His Godhead, though He [temporarily] relinquished the independent use of the prerogatives of Deity. At no time did He exercise His divine powers EXCEPT as He received commandment from God. (John 4:31: 5:19). As a man He was at all times subject to God. 

“For the suffering of death.’ The KJV affirms that Jesus became man that He might SUFFER and DIE. He was made ‘a little lower than the angels for [the purpose of] suffering and death.’ The Revised Version affirms that it was as a REWARD for His suffering and death that Christ was ‘crowned with glory and honor.’

“By the grace of God.’ Christ’s sufferings here are not considered as PUNISHMENT laid on Him, for it was ‘by the GRACE of God’ that He tasted death for every man—a significant expression. Some of the older manuscripts instead of ‘by the grace of God’  have ‘apart from God,’ which suggests that Christ in His death suffered ALONE without the SUSTAINING presence of God. This would give point to His DESPAIRING cry, recorded in Matt. 27:46: ‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast Thou FORSAKEN Me?’

“Taste death for every man.’ This does not mean, as some suggest, that He merely tastes LIGHTLY of death, and did not suffer the WHOLE measure. GETHSEMANE shows that He ‘drank the cup to the dregs and tasted death as NO OTHER MAN ever tasted it!” —M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp.95, 96.
Ponder on these! Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass nor ANYTHING that is thy neighbor’s.”

June 15, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass nor ANYTHING that is thy neighbor’s.” Exo. 20: 17.

God is also called Palmoni, “the divine Numberer” and is a God of order who “numbers the numberless stars of the heavens” and the number of hairs on our heads. Number Ten in the Bible stands for ‘completion,’ hence there are only Ten Commandments that cover our “whole duty to God and to our fellowmen.

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Devotionals

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: “Thou shalt not kill.”

June 7 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT:  “Thou shalt not kill.” Exo. 20: 13; Deut. 5: 17; Matt. 5: 21,22, KJV.

O if only men would understand the spiritual magnification of this commandment (and the rest of the nine), the nation and mankind would not be suffering all the prejudice, racial hatred and killings hemorrhaging society today!

“Whosoever HATETH his brother is a MURDERER: and you know no murderer has life in him.” 1 John 3:15. “The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan: and it led him to put to death [thru his combined Jewish and Roman agencies] the Son of God. Whoever cherishes MALICE or UNKINDNESS is cherishing the same spirit; and its fruit will be unto death. In the REVENGEFUL THOUGHT the evil deed lies enfolded, as the plant in the seed.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, p.89.

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Devotionals

THE ‘BELLY GOD’ & GOD’S DISEASED BODY TEMPLE

May 19, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE ‘BELLY GOD’ & GOD’S DISEASED BODY TEMPLE

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ [cross of self-denial]: whose end is destruction, whose god is their BELLY, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on EARTHLY things.” Phil 3:18,19,NKJV.

This current global crisis is disease-centered, multiple other crises branching out from it. To cut to the chase and better understand why, instead of vainly waiting for the “experts” who can’t even agree among themselves, turn to the eternal Source of all wisdom. Study for yourselves the following:

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Devotionals

SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S SAKE?

November 20, 2019

MID-WEEK MESSAGE FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S SAKE?

“If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this matter…Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Pet. 4: 16,19.

“Many who profess the name of Christ, and profess to be looking for His speedy coming, know not what it is to suffer for Christ’s sake. Their hearts are not subdued by grace, and they are not dead to self; but it often appears in various ways; and at the same time they are talking if having trials. But the  principal cause of their trials is an unsubdued heart, which make self so sensitive, that is so often crossed.

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Devotionals

Pray For More Wisdom, Patiences & Grace

September 16, 2019

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:


Pray For More Wisdom, Patiences & Grace.

“The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations but always for your good.” Gospel Workers 258. Paul prayed 3 times that the “thorn in his flesh” be removed.

God’s answer: “My Grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Cor. 12: 7-10. “Where sin abounds, Grace much more abounds.” Rom 5:20. Pray sincerely, trustingly “without ceasing” but also intelligently.

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FMM

Christ’s Humanity Suffered the Superhuman Agony of Soul in Gethsemane

"Jesus Praying" Photo Credit by Samson Daniel/Flickr

Friday Morning Manna                 August 9, 2019

Nathaniel Fajardo                          email:[email protected]

Christ’s Humanity Suffered the Superhuman Agony of Soul in Gethsemane

The shedding of the atoning, sin-cleansing blood of the second Adam “for the remission of sins” may also be thought of as a short yet intense process commencing in the night of His last agony in Gethsemane and culminated Calvary. It began when He “sweated blood” through the pores of His noble human brow in His death struggle at Gethsemane as the guilt of the sins of the world were rolled upon His human nature and the Father “hid His face” from His only-begotten Son, causing the dreadful sense of separation and connection between Father and Son.

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