Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight 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.

Offering

Part 2 of a 3 Part Series
Saturday, December 08, 2012

More In This Series

12/01/2012
Part 1 of a 3 Part Series
12/22/2012
Part 3 of a 3 Part Series

“The Morning Star Rises: O Holy Night”

www.pmchurch.tv

Jesus’ gift of the Morning Star—Revelation 2:18-29

  • □  Stipulation #1—You must this.
    •   Revelation 2:18-20
    •   James 4:4-5
    •   The 2nd Commandment: “For I, the LORD your God, am a God.” (Exodus

      20:5)

    •   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.
  • □  Stipulation #2—You must this.
    •   Revelation 2:24-28
    •   Revelation 14:12
    •   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.
  • □  But how can Jesus give the Morning Star when He is the Morning Star?
    •   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)

    •   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)
      •   “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!” 

Offering for December 20, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

My then six-year-old son came up to me and said, “Dad, I need a lot of money, and I need to make it fast!” I smiled and inquired, “Why do you need a lot of money quickly?” I didn’t know what my son was thinking of doing with all this fast cash and why he needed the funds so urgently. I thought maybe he wanted to buy a new toy or bike for himself. He said, “Well, Mom’s birthday is coming up and I want to buy a nice gift for her!” That sure cheered my heart, and so I gave him the funds! My son was asking for money, not for selfish reasons but out of love for his mom.

When I think about church offerings, every gift we give should be measured by the unfathomable Gift of heaven. The greatest offering we received from God is Jesus, and there is no way we can measure His love and sacrifice for us. Anything we give would appear as nothing in comparison. “How vain the endeavor to measure with mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice that is measureless and incomputable!” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.4, p.119). Let’s return our tithes and offerings in response to the abundance of God’s love for us. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Church Office Holiday Closure: 12/22-12/26 & 12/29-01/02

Please note that the church office will be closed from December 22 to 26 and again from December 29 to January 2 for the holiday season. We will reopen on January 5. Our church services will proceed as always. If you have any announcements, please submit those no later than December 19. Thank you for your understanding. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

Christmas Blessing Opportunity

Be part of a Christmas blessing this year! Chiang Mai Adventist Academy, which serves primarily Buddhist students from around the country, is looking for a set of Bible story felts to use in teaching the Bible in their Sabbath schools. FARM STEW missionaries will be going to Thailand in January and deliver them. If you have a felt set you would like to donate or would like to donate towards buying a new set, please contact Deby Andvik. (andvik@andrews.edu or call/text 269-277-4145

Pioneer Women's Ministries 2025 Advent Devotionals

Pioneer Women’s Ministries’ Advent devotionals will highlight a few of the promises of Jesus. To receive the “Red Letter Promises” daily devotionals by email for the first 25 days of December, text the word “ADVENT” to 269-281-2345. You can also receive a short daily text message preview of each day's devotional by providing your cell phone number when you register. We pray you will sense the nearness of Jesus during this holy season through these devotionals.

House of Prayer
Pioneer Earlyteen Loft

Please join us for House of Prayer Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the Earliteen Loft for a time of singing, Bible study and prayer.