“Morning Star Testimony" - by Pastor Doug Riggs
by John Mark on 04/07/24
This
message was originally recorded October 15, 2003. Though I posted it for the
first time on the website a couple years ago, I believe it is definitely worthy
of revisiting.
What is a ‘morning star’? – What is a
‘morning star testimony?
Why did we choose the name for our local
church “Morning Star Testimony Church”?
My
notes:
o Morning
star testimony – this is what we as a local church sought to become – but never
suggested we’d arrived.
o
Picking up our cross each day relates to our
transformation into the image of Christ.
o
We need to allow (and cooperate with) the Lord
to bring us into conformity to who Jesus is – the revelation given to Peter
when the Holy Spirit clued him in: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God.’
o
Transformation is the hope (joyous, confident
expectation) of the church – it’s the counterpart to Jesus on the mount of
transfiguration where it was revealed in a yet-to-be glorified body prior to
His death, resurrection and ascension.
o
Jesus won’t appear until the 4th
watch of the night to those who are watching for Him – the darkest hours from 3
to 6 a.m. – when the morning star (Venus) appears to announce the promise of
the coming day. This is what the remnant has to look forward to, the morning
star arising in our hearts.
o
We must want to go through to the end of God’s
purpose for the church.
o
Becoming partakers of the divine nature
culminates in transformation (not rapture, but a body not yet glorified).
o
(See 2 Peter 1:5-11) “We need to ask
ourselves, are these virtues of
excellence, knowledge, self-control, are
they increasing? Well, verse 5 says, ‘Now
for this reason, since God has made provision to become a partaker of the
divine nature, applying all diligence,
our part in faith, applying all diligence in faith’, start appropriating the promises of God and
allow the process of becoming a partaker of the divine nature to be a reality in your life.”
o
Our calling is to be transformed into the image
of Christ.
o
We chose “Morning Star Testimony” as the name
for our church because we wanted to make known Jesus in the power of His coming
(see 2 Peter 1:16). “This is the destiny of the Church in the manner and way in
which God will display His final testimony of the principalities and powers to
this world… This has been fought with the greatest satanic opposition that I
could ever imagine. I had no idea what aspiring to becoming this would cost.”
o
Might I say it cost Doug his life. He poured
out his life for 40 years for the flock God made him overseer of, and for those
he ministered to all around the world.
o
The less we feel at home here on Earth is an
indicator we are being transformed into the image of Christ and the morning
star is arising in our hearts.
o
Jesus’ transformation (what was seen by the 3
disciples on the mount of transfiguration) will be seen in transformed saints.
o
Morning STAR – a star is deity making
itself known; a star is also for navigation – it shows where one is and where
one needs to go to reach their destination.
o When
we reach ‘morning star status’, we’re ready to go Home.
Recommended:
Back To Jerusalem: Three Chinese House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to
Complete the Great Commission
Link
to today's audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/MSTC-1.mp3
Maranatha!
John Mark
...hereby committing this unto the
providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is
blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!
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