May 3, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
WE DESPERATELY NEED GENUINE GRACE IN THIS COVID-19 MOMENTOUS MOMENT
Good first working day morning of this week! Time to roll-up the sleeves of our mind. Check its spiritual oil dipstick first and see to makes sure you have enough oil of the Holy Spirit before starting its engines! Failure to do this has wrecked too many “brand new” Christian “character” cars. It lacks the “lubricating” power and properties of the Holy Spirit!
Let’s prayerfully and humbly turn to Jesus, the light, life, peace, wisdom and healer of our souls as He reveals Himself in the Written Word and ask Him what GRACE IS FOR.
Then “if we still hear His still-small voice speaking to our conscience let us “not harden our hearts!” Now read the following devoid of any preconceived opinions and let the Word talk:
“For the GRACE of GOD that brings salvation has appeared to all all men, TEACHING us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we SHOULD live soberly, righteously, and godly in the PRESENT age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us FROM all lawlessness deed(iniquity/sin, KJV) and PURIFY for Himself His own special people, zealous for GOOD WORKS. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one DESPISE you.” Titus 2: 11-14, NKJV.
“Sin (the transgression of the law, iniquity/lawlessness) has destroyed our peace. While SELF is unsubdued, we can find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart no human power can control. We are as helpless here as were the disciples to quiet the raging storm [Matt. 8:23-27].
“But He who speaks peace to the billows of Galilee, has spoken the word of peace for every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus [not to their fears or the fear of any man or institution] will find deliverance. His GRACE…. quiets the strife of human passions, and in love the heart is at rest.” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 336.
“For every soul struggling to rise from a life of sin to a life of purity, the great element of power abides in ‘the only name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’(Acts 4:12)…The only remedy for vice [and any sin, “big or small”] is the GRACE and POWER of Christ. The good resolutions [as in all the New Year’s Resolutions] made in one’s strength avail of nothing.” Ibid., Ministry of Healing, p. 179.
“Every unholy passion must be kept under the control [this is how ‘God is in control’] of sanctified reason through the GRACE abundantly bestowed of God.
“We are living in an atmosphere of SATANIC WITCHERY. The enemy will weave a spell of licentiousness [especially with the lock-down presenting plenty of ‘idle minds and ‘idle time’] around every soul that is NOT barricaded by the GRACE of Christ. Temptations will come; but if we will watch against the enemy [self, Satan, not the covid-19] and maintain the BALANCE OF SELF-CONTROL AND PURITY, the seducing spirits will have no influence over us.
“Those who do NOTHING to encourage temptation will have strength to withstand it when it comes; but those who keep themselves in an atmosphere of evil [choose your friends and associates wisely, Solomon declared] will have only THEMSELVES [not others!] to blame if they are overcome and fall from their steadfastness.
“Men and women are to watch themselves [not others]; they are to be constantly on guard, allowing no word or act that would cause their good to be evil spoken of. He who professes to be a follower of Christ is to watch himself, keeping himself ‘pure and undefiled’ in thought, word, and deed. His INFLUENCE [‘savor’] upon others is to be uplifting. His life is to REFLECT the bright beams of the ‘Sun of righteousness’[Mal. 4:2]. Eternal vigilance is the price of safety.” Ibid, Counsels to Teachers & Parents, pp. 257, 258.
Most everyone in the world was caught not wearing the universal spiritual shield and protection of “eternal vigilance.” Hence, its “fruits” did not lie. It is only by the redeeming power of GRACE that is still available from the Holy Spirit, who is gradually yet progressively withdrawing silently from the earth, that “can cause our faulty moral characters” to “develop symmetry,” not incongruity, “abundant fruitfulness,” not barrenness of soul.
May this “starter dough” seed thought be leavened by the truth throughout this week, swelling into more enlightenment that brings with it spiritual cleansing, “disinfecting” power over the lethal global pandemic of SIN, the sole “soul-destroyer,” not the corona virus. 1 John 3:2-6. NMF