Keepers of the Kingdom - Standing Strong in Today's Battle for Truth. July 14-18, from 9 - 11:45 AM at Niles Westside Adventist Church (1105 Grant St, Niles) for kids in Pre-K (age 4) - 6th grade. Please register early online at www.nileswestside.org. Email nileswestsidevbs@gmail.com or call 269-683-5998 with questions.
The Morning Star Rises
The Morning Star Rises: O Holy Night
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
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More In This Series
“The Morning Star Rises: O Holy Night”
Jesus’ gift of the Morning Star—Revelation 2:18-29
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□ Stipulation #1—You must this.
- Revelation 2:18-20
- James 4:4-5
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The 2nd Commandment: “For I, the LORD your God, am a God.” (Exodus
20:5)
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When Jesus in His letter to His friends in Thyatira warns about “sexual immorality” He talks
like a wounded Lover who is heartbroken over the spiritual of those who try to have an affair with while they declare themselves children of !
- 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
- Stipulation #1—You must get over this: with the Dark Knight.
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□ Stipulation #2—You must this.
- Revelation 2:24-28
- Revelation 14:12
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Revelation 2:26 The Message: “‘Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone
who at it, to give up.”
- Stipulation #2—You must hang onto this: with the Morning Star.
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□ But how can Jesus give the Morning Star when He is the Morning Star?
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Embedded in this letter to Thyatira are two clues that link the Morning Star here to the returning Christ as depicted in the Apocalypse’s most spectacular and detailed portrayal of the Second Coming.
Revelation 19:11-16
Clue #1—“eyes like a .” (2:18/19:12) Clue #2—“rule them with a .” (2:27/19:15)
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Revelation 19:13—“[The returning Christ] is clothed in a robe dipped in .”
- The Great Controversy: “In the Saviour’s expiring cry, ‘It is finished,’ the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then , and the final eradication of evil was made certain.” (503)
- “. . . when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, and doubt, resist his suggestions. Tell him of the of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin. You cannot save yourself from the tempter’s power, but he trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged.” (5T 317)
- “Prayer and faith place the sinner on vantage ground, where the hand of faith can grasp firmly the hand of the Saviour. In and through Christ we may come off more than conquerors.” (Upward Look 322)
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“When [we are] in fellowship with God, that unswerving purpose which preserved Joseph and Daniel amidst the corruption of heathen courts will make [ours] a life of unsullied . [Our] robes of character will be spotless. In [our] life the light of Christ will be undimmed. The bright and morning Star will appear shining steadfastly above [us] in changeless glory.” (Ministry of Healing 136)
“O holy night, O holy day!”
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Embedded in this letter to Thyatira are two clues that link the Morning Star here to the returning Christ as depicted in the Apocalypse’s most spectacular and detailed portrayal of the Second Coming.
Michigan Advance Partners
Author Melvin Santos Speaking: For the longest time, in my early years, I quietly disagreed with this Bible passage in Acts 20, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NKJV).
I wondered how people can say, “I receive a blessing when I give.” On the contrary, in my younger years, I always enjoyed receiving gifts. To pay for the gift and give it to someone wouldn’t bring me joy. That would cost me time and money.
When I fell in love, got married, and had children, I finally learned that when you’re in love, there is a greater joy in giving gifts to your wife and children. I would do anything for them because I love them.
Then I understood that this is the Spirit of Christ, who sacrificed all to share His love with us. When I participate in giving, or helping someone in need who cannot reciprocate the deed or pay me back, I’m sharing the love of Jesus. Now, that’s the heart of Jesus.
Just seeing the smiles on my family’s faces was enough for me to experience this passage, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Today, let’s share our gifts with a generous heart.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries