MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
December 7, 2022
THE ‘ENMITY’ OF GENESIS.3:15 – ‘EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR’ BEGINNING WITH ABEL
The following is quoted from Patriarchs and Prophets by E. G. White, ‘Cain and Abel Tested’ Chap. 5, (all emphasis and words in brackets mine).
“Cain hated and killed his brother not for any wrong that Abel had done, ‘but because his [Cain’s] works were evil, and his brother’s righteous’ (Gen. 4:6, 7).
So in ALL AGES the wicked have HATED those who were better than themselves [note that!]. Abel’s life of obedience and unswerving faith [‘the faith that works by love ‘ Gal. 4:6] was to Cain a PERPETUAL REPROOF. ‘Everyone that doeth evil HATETH the light, neither cometh to the light [of truth and righteousness as revealed in the law as the transcript of God’s character] lest his deeds be REPROVED’ (1 John 3:12).
“The brighter the heavenly light that is REFLECTED in the character of God’s FAITHFUL SERVANTS, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly REVEALED, and the more determined will be their efforts to DESTROY those who DISTURB their [carnal, self-pleasing-justifying] peace.
“The MURDER of Abel was the first example of the ENMITY that God had declared would exist between the SERPENT and the SEED of the woman—-between SATAN and his SUBJECTS and CHRIST and His FOLLOWERS. Through man’s sin [‘the transgression of the law,’ 1 John 3:4], Satan had GAINED CONTROL of the human race, but Christ would ENABLE [and empower] them to CAST OFF HIS YOKE. [The ‘enabling’ of the ‘enmity’ and empowerment of the grace of the Father in His Son, as imparted by the Holy Spirit].
“Whenever, through FAITH in the Lamb of God [not ‘trusting man and making flesh his arm.’ Jer. 17:5]. a soul RENOUNCES [not excuses or justifies] the service of sin, Satan’s WRATH is kindled [see Rev. 12:17; 13:12]. The HOLY LIFE of ABEL testified AGAINST Satan’s claim that it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to keep God’s law [sounds ultra familiar in mainstream Christianity, doesn’t it!]
“When Cain, moved by the spirit of the wicked one [Satan], saw that he could NOT CONTROL Abel, he was so ENRAGED that he destroyed his [own brother’s] life. [Jesus warned His first Disciples, “Your greatest enemies will be your own household,’ both biological and spiritual “household of faith’ or ‘church’ or ‘religion.’ See Matt. 10: 32-39, etc.].
“And WHEREVER there are any who will STAND IN VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW OF GOD, the SAME SPIRIT will be manifested against them [History indeed will repeat itself till the close of man’s probation!]. It is the SPIRIT that through all ages has set up THE STAKE and KINDLED THE BURNING PILE for the disciples of Christ. [Study/review the 1260-day prophecy spanning the Dark Ages when the Roman church ruled Christianity and then the known world, 538-1798 A.D.].
“But the CRUELTIES heaped upon the follower of Christ are instigated by Satan and his hosts [his ‘seed’] because they CANNOT FORCE THEM to submit to their control. IT IS THE RAGE OF A VANQUISHED FOE. EVERY MARTYR OF JESUS HAS DIED A CONQUEROR.
“Says the prophet [John the beloved], ‘They [the saints and martyrs in particular] overcame him [‘that old serpent, called the devil’] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they lived not their lives unto the death.’ (Rev. 12: 11, 9).” -pp. 76-7.
Dear friends, In this our day and time, whose “seed” do you and I belong to? Do not guess or speculate. “Make your calling and election sure” for “By our fruits we are known.” It is either the irrefutable “fruits of the Spirt” and “righteousness” “unto life eternal” (Gal. 5:22-25) or the unmistakable “works of the flesh and sin “unto eternal damnation” (Gal. 5:19-21). In God’s plan of redemption no provision exists for “purgatory,” compromises, “a mixed multitude” of “part wordling-part Christian, amalgamations, mutants, or spiritual synthetic clones of both classes. At the close of our probation at death, we are judged eternally as either one or the other. So “today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
To be continued in the next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.