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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 

Categories
Devotionals

THIS TIME, NO MORE TIME EXCUSES REMAIN

April 6, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THIS TIME, NO MORE TIME EXCUSES REMAIN. 

“Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast Thou made all men in vain? Ps. 89:47. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Ps. 90:12, KJV.

God gives, and takes away but only for our benefit and His glory. This corona virus is taking away a lot but is also “giving back,” depending on how you view it spiritually.

Many who have pleaded the excuse that they “just had no time” in their madhouse daily routine to study God’s Word briefly, much less in depth, just saw “Mr. Excuse” walk out of the door, slammed it shut, leaving them inside their homes alone with a long-ignored VIP guest named “Mr. Time.”

Categories
Devotionals

TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS

November 6, 2019

MID-WEEK MESSAGE FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS.

“The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow, for it will soon be cut off, and we fill fly away…..So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (apply our hearts unto wisdom, KJV).” Psalms 90: 10,12, NKJV.

Without life time has no existence, no meaning, no value. God in Christ alone is the Source, Giver and Sustainer of life, temporal and eternal. Thus we read: “Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory.