MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 30, 2025
The Faith ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit
BAPTIZED DAILY BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, THE JUST LIVE BY THE FAITH OF JESUS
Only those who are baptized by water immersion in “John’s baptism of repentance,” followed by the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit “with fire” unto sanctification, are empowered to “keep the commandments of God because they “have the faith of Jesus.” It is “the faith that works by love” (Gal. 5:6) and sanctifies the soul. Such saints manifest without pretense the “faith fruit” of an indwelling Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s only Vicegerent on earth. They are “justified by faith” and sanctified by following Christ’s life example of obedience.
In Prophets & Kings, pp. 386-388, E. G. White wrote of the experience and testimony of one of a so-called “minor” yet faithful “prophet” regarding the “major” faith of the true saints, past, present, and future (all emphasis and bracketed words
mine):
“On one occasion when meditating concerning the FUTURE, Habakkuk said, ‘I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me.’ Graciously the Lord answered him: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. . . . The just shall live by faith.’
“The FAITH that strengthened Habakkuk and ALL THE HOLY AND JUST IN THOSE DAYS OF DEEP TRIAL WAS THE SAME FAITH THAT SUSTAINS GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY [the time of the Dispensation of the Holy Spirit!].
“In the darkest hours, under circumstances the most forbidding, the [genuine] Christian believer may keep his soul styled upon the source of all light and power [of truth and righteousness]. DAY BY DAY, THROUGH FAITH IN GOD, his hope and courage may be renewed [refreshed; reinvigorated; recharged; re-energized by the abiding and indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit]. . . .
“We must cherish and cultivate THE FAITH OF WHICH PROPHETS AND APOSTLES HAVE TESTIFIED—-the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and WAITS for deliverance in His APPOINTED TIME AND WAY. The SURE WORD OF PROPHECY [as assured by the Spirit of prophecy, which is the Testimony of Jesus, Rev. 19:10] will meet its fulfillment in the glorious Advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords.
“The time of waiting may SEEM long, the soul may be OPPRESSED by discouraging circumstances, MANY in whom confidence has been placed, may FALL BY THE WAY [never ‘once saved, always saved!]; but with the prophet who encouraged Judah in time of UNPARALLELED APOSTASY, let us confidently declare, ‘The Lord is in His holy temple [in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, closing up His final work of investigative judgment]: let all the earth keep silence before Him.’ Habakkuk 2:20. . . . The just shall live BY HIS FAITH.” (end quote).
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.