March 23 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE “LITTLE FLOCK” IS GOD’S ARMY.
“Watch ye. stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 17:4, KJV (See 1!Sam. 4:9). “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” Isa. 60:3.
The Holy Spirit woke me up early this morning by these verses. Lest we forget, we are as it were, on the very borders of the eternal world. We are entering the last conflict for which we should have been training for all these long years. This is the time to manifest strength and courage amidst conflict and calamity. This is no longer boot-camp. We are facing live-fire. The confrontation between the “little David’s” versus the giant Goliaths in the actual field of battle is about to take place. By this time, we should, like David, have already left guarding the sheep in the pasture against wolves and stepped to the greater challenge of facing the giant Goliaths of the last days.
This is the time to arise and shine and show “men, angels and the world” that we are marching under the banner of the Commander-in-Chief of the hosts of heaven. This is the time to put on the whole, not just parts, armor of God. See your checklist on Eph. 6:10-18. By this time, we should be very comfortable in it- if we had trained in it earlier. and should be familiar and adept in knowing what each was designed for and how they work in actual combat. If we don’t we may have been playing truant in school and not doing our homework as the The Teacher-Trainer required and expected.
I had an opportunity to speak briefly to two of our neighbors here at home. I personally obtained courage, inspiration and affirmation in what I believe. stand for and am doing. They both do not have the most advanced light of prophecy ever entrusted to mortals (as the remnant) but the calmness and common-sense and rational ideas they expressed regarding the fear, confusion and desperation displayed by the nation and world around us (as Catholics, convicted me). I responded and quickly imparted the knowledge we should have, as moved and brought to mind by the Holy Spirit, and we went our own ways for the day with an ebullient spirit.
Dear church family, we are not just a church family organized for Sabbath worship and ministry of the three angels messages within our assigned sphere, not just a little flock in the pastures guarded by the Gentle Shepherd, but we are, in fact and truth, members of the Lord’s Army trainee to “fight the battles of the Lord where champions are few” and “to draw strength and courage from the lukewarmness, coldness and even apostasies and departures from the faith once delivered to the saints. I encourage and exhort you as an undershepherd if the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls to: “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men.’ Ask Him who suffered reproach, insult and mockery for your sakes this question: Not what will we do or where will we hide, but Lord, wilt Thou have me to do?!
Now is the shining moment to bring forth all the learning and training we went through in Jesus boot-camp. Let us not disappoint and thus betray our loving Savior. Look away from all the discouraging things around and within you and Look and Live to Jesus as revealed in what is written. By constantly beholding you will become changed, from grace to grace, glory to glory, strength to strength and victory to victory! Pastor Nat