MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 6, 2022
THE LAST STATE (CONDITION) IS WORST THAN THE FIRST
Jesus solemnly said to the religious leaders of the Jewish nation in His day (and in our day): “When the unclean spirit [fallen angels; demons; evil spirits] is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth NONE. Then he [the demon] saith, I WILL RETURN into my house from whence I came out, and when he [the demon] is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself, SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS MORE WICKED THAN HIMSELF [as in a ‘legion’], and THEY enter in and dwell there: AND THE LAST STATE OF THAT MAN IS WORST THAN THE FIRST. Even so shall it be unto this WICKED GENERATION.” Matt. 12: 43-45, KJV. See also Luke 11: 24-26; compare to John 5: 14, 1-47.
Now let all prayerfully read the verses below, then carefully and honestly examine our own (not others) spiritual condition or “state” today, compared to “when we first became “believers” or were “converted” (Rom. 13: 11-14):
“While they promise them LIBERTY [or ‘freedom’], they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of that same is he brought into BONDAGE. For IF after they have ESCAPED , the POLLUTIONS of the world [the defilement of sin; ‘love of the world and things of this world’] through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME, THE LATTER END WITH THEM IS WORSE THAN THE BEGINNING. For it had been BETTER for them NOT to have known the WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, than, after they had known it, to TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT delivered unto them. But it happened unto them ACCORDING to the true proverb [cf. Prov. 26:11], The DOG is turned to his OWN VOMIT again, and the SOW [female pig] that was washed [already] to her WALLOWING in the mire [filthy mud].” 2 Pet. 2: 19-22, KJV.
These verses clearly explain why the claim “once-saved-alway-saved” is not a sound doctrine but the doctrine of modern soothsayers, deceivers, false prophets, the “children of darkness and disobedience,” who are either willing or unwitting agents of Satan, “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning,” the prince of this world,” the “prince of the power of the air,” the master tempter and “accuser of the brethren.”
To be continued next MWM, God willing. NMF
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