Author Topic: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life  (Read 17805 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #40 on: October 26, 2018, 09:12:20 AM »
Amen and amen! How does one turn to the Sun of Righteousness? That is to ask, how does one come to repentance? Or, how does one become saved? Jesus tells us.

 3:6   That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
 3:7   Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 
 3:8   The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 
 3:9   Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 
 3:10   Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 
 3:11   Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 
 3:12   If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things? 
 3:13   And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven. 
 3:14   And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 
 3:15   That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 


He pointed Nicodemus back to Israel's wandering in the wilderness. There was no mystical power in the uplifted serpent. It was a representation of Christ uplifted on the cross. If we would spend a thoughtful hour a day looking upon Jesus on the cross, we would be healed by His stripes which He took upon Himself, which belonged to us.

I love how each chapter points us to the loveliness of Jesus while revealing our great continual need of His grace in order to do any good thing. Like in the books Steps to Christ and Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, we see each day a revelation of the simplicity of the gospel. That which Satan has perverted within our church, Christ makes so plain a child may understand the power of grace transforms the character at conversion and is needed daily to maintain that transformation. To commit sin is to reveal a separation between man and God.

     Jesus looked upon these men, the slaves of malice, whose thoughts were bent upon revenge, and sadly answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." They were in the worst kind of bondage,--ruled by the spirit of evil.
     Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness. Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" sets us "free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2.
     In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.
     The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12. 



Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3002
  • Following the Lamb
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #41 on: January 21, 2019, 05:04:25 AM »
What do you need? We often mistake wants for needs, but truly our greatest need is to continually experience the converting, transforming grace of God and to abide in Christ. God desires to help us--so He lovingly shows us our need, and offers to give us His Spirit and character in the place of our sins. While He will not force us to choose Him, He draws upon our hearts to help us deeply sense that what He is offering is better than what we have been choosing or would choose for ourselves. Let us look to Christ and be given true sight, seeing His loveliness of character, our sinfulness, and our need of Him to abide in the heart and mind to make and keep it pure, imbued with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing so our fallen nature is kept crucified, and not allowed to contaminate our lives or the lives of others by even a thought!

"The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus answered, 'If ye were blind, ye should have no sin.' If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. "But now ye say, We see." You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, 'Your sin remaineth.'" {The Desire of Ages, page 475, paragraph 1}
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2704
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #42 on: January 21, 2019, 08:32:14 AM »
"Many a man who delights to quibble, to criticize, seeking for something to question in the word of God, thinks that he is thereby giving evidence of independence of thought, and mental acuteness. He supposes that he is sitting in judgment on the Bible, when in truth he is judging himself. He makes it manifest that he is incapable of appreciating truths that originate in heaven, and that compass eternity. In presence of the great mountain of God's righteousness, his spirit is not awed. He busies himself with hunting for sticks and straws, and in this betrays a narrow and earthly nature, a heart that is fast losing its capacity to appreciate God. He whose heart has responded to the divine touch will be seeking for that which will increase his knowledge of God, and will refine and elevate the character.

Every sentence, every paragraph, every chapter rings of the loveliness of Jesus and plainly reveals to us the path we are to travel. If Satan tempts us to question God's word it is counsel such as this that will keep us from straying from the plain word of truth and bring us back to the foot of the cross where in humilty we lay our sins at His feet.  He then will clothe us with His righteousness and change the spirit of our hearts into His.  May none of us be hunting for sticks and straws that would only prove our low esteem of God.

"As a flower turns to the sun, that the bright rays may touch it with tints of beauty, so will the soul turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may beautify the character with the graces of the character of Christ."
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #43 on: January 21, 2019, 08:44:03 AM »
Amen Pastor Sean. "God desires to help us--so He lovingly shows us our need, and offers to give us His Spirit and character in the place of our sins." 

Amen, Sister Dorine. It is the loveliness of Jesus that wins our hearts. Jesus loves us. He wants to help us. It is when we know of His love that we will trust Him with the whole heart. The Pharisees did not know of His love. They did not want to know. "If their minds had been open to God's love, they would have received Jesus."

The blind man was thankful for what Jesus had done, but He had never seen Jesus until He approached him. It is the loveliness of Jesus that causes us to love Him. His character, His countenance, all speak of an unfathomable love. When the man whom Jesus had healed looked upon Him, He was transformed.

    For the first time the blind man looked upon the face of his Restorer. Before the council he had seen his parents troubled and perplexed; he had looked upon the frowning faces of the rabbis; now his eyes rested upon the loving, peaceful countenance of Jesus. Already, at great cost to himself, he had acknowledged Him as a delegate of divine power; now a higher revelation was granted him.
     To the Saviour's question, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" the blind man replied by asking, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" And Jesus said, "Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee." The man cast himself at the Saviour's feet in worship. Not only had his natural sight been restored, but the eyes of his understanding had been opened. Christ had been revealed to his soul, and he received Him as the Sent of God.


It is our privilege to look upon Jesus every day that we might be continually transformed into His image continually (2 Cor. 3:18).

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #44 on: January 21, 2019, 10:08:32 AM »
" In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God. "

Satan wants us to believe that we are not worthy enough to come to Jesus - That our record of sinfulness bars us from salvation. This is the voice of the enemy. We must not listen to this sneaky snake . Jesus said,  Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28  We only have to by faith open the door and let him in and He will come in this is His promise.... Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

 "The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12."

Look up and listen for the shout.

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #45 on: January 22, 2019, 06:25:16 AM »
Amen Beacon!   When we understand this, then we seek out a Savior. If we do not understand we have a fallen nature when we come in to this world, we are in grave danger that the snares of Satan will keep us in bondage. In Romans seven Paul explains what it is like after discovering who he was without knowing there was a Savior. He was, and we are, helpless apart from Christ. Romans eight explains how we can be delivered from the bondage of sin and death. And, if we have not the Spirit, we are none of His (Romans 8:9 ).  Thank God that we have His Son who knows us by name, comes into the world and rescues us from self and sin!!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #46 on: April 17, 2019, 08:01:44 PM »
The people who beheld the Saviour at His advent were favored with a fuller manifestation of the divine presence than the world had ever enjoyed before. The knowledge of God was revealed more perfectly. But in this very revelation, judgment was passing upon men. Their character was tested, their destiny determined..... To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth."[/u]

To those of us living in the climax of this earth's history having before us such STRONG, POWERFUL, SPIRIT FILLED EVIDENCE that Jesus truly emptied all that Heaven could possible give to show men and women the true pathway to everylasting life but if we continue to refuse to humble ourselves and confess our great need of His Love and Forgiveness we to shall also be "Left in Blindness." We cannot sit on the fence with one hand reaching for Heaven and the other for the World. Jesus said " Either you are for me or against me" ...."Chose ye this day whom ye will serve."  To those who respond to the invitation of Jesus in a positive way there are many great promises. Here are two examples.

"One day alone is ours, and during this day we are to live for God. For this one day we are to place in the hand of Christ, in solemn service, all our purposes and plans, casting all our care upon Him, for He careth for us. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 30:15. {MB 101.2}...

"If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved." {MB 101.3
 
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3002
  • Following the Lamb
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #47 on: April 18, 2019, 06:24:36 AM »
Amen, Beacon!!

As we discover the goodness of God, we can truly rejoice in His character no matter how great the sufferings we face. God overrules suffering for purposes of mercy--which is so encouraging!

"God had given a lesson designed to prevent this. The history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy. But Israel did not understand the lesson. The same error for which God had reproved the friends of Job was repeated by the Jews in their rejection of Christ." {The Desire of Ages, page 471, paragraph 3}

God knows what is best for each of us, and even the sufferings He allows are those things God can work together for good--also bringing others to Christ!!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #48 on: April 18, 2019, 11:14:42 AM »
Amen Pastor Sean. And as Brother Beacon has pointed out The knowledge of God was revealed more perfectly. But in this very revelation, judgment was passing upon men. We today have even greater knowledge of God which brings to us the responsibility to walk in this light of love and grace.

    The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, "Are we blind also?" Jesus answered, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin." If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. "But now ye say, We see." You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth." 
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #49 on: July 13, 2019, 07:15:45 PM »
"In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of "In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God."

"The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12."

The Word of God says in John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."


The devil will try to tell you that you are too sinful, that you are beyond the limit of God's Forgiveness and Grace - We must learn not to listen to Satan - He is the farther of all lies and deception.  We must cry out to Jesus as did the farther for his child and claim Mark 9:23-25 where it says..." 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Jesus is just as capable now as He was when that story took place 2,000 years ago. He is just waiting for us to "ASK "
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3002
  • Following the Lamb
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #50 on: July 14, 2019, 06:08:41 AM »
Amen, Brother Beacon!

When we ask for a fresh revelation of Jesus, He will bless us in beholding His character, and we shall be transformed! What a marvelous experience the man who was healed from blindness had when he first looked upon Jesus! May we surrender the whole heart to Christ so that our countenances also will reveal the light of heaven (for the fruits of the Spirit also affect our countenances!), and others will be drawn to the one who can heal all!

"For the first time the blind man looked upon the face of his Restorer. Before the council he had seen his parents troubled and perplexed; he had looked upon the frowning faces of the rabbis; now his eyes rested upon the loving, peaceful countenance of Jesus. Already, at great cost to himself, he had acknowledged Him as a delegate of divine power; now a higher revelation was granted him." {The Desire of Ages, page 474, paragraph 5}

Not only did the blind man (whose sight was restored) see Jesus, but with the eyes of faith this precious man accepted Jesus as Savior! No matter what seems to be hindering us from Jesus, we can remember that HE SEEKS US OUT, and all we need to do is yield the whole heart to His drawing love, and let Him abide in us as our Shepherd, Lord, and Strength. He is the Light of the world, and He will give light to your path today as to what He would have you to do for His glory!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2704
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #51 on: July 14, 2019, 06:55:41 AM »

"The fact that Jesus spoke the truth, and that with certainty, was why He was not received by the Jewish leaders. It was the truth that offended these self-righteous men. The truth exposed the fallacy of error; it condemned their teaching and practice, and it was unwelcome. They would rather close their eyes to the truth than humble themselves to confess that they had been in error. They did not love the truth. They did not desire it, even though it was truth."

I sometimes wonder why some hear the truth and accept it wholeheartedly and others hear it and are offended. Sin in any form is sin and will keep us from entering our heavenly home. After reading this chapter it is easier to understand the seriousness of rejecting truth. Sins of the flesh are forgivable but the sin against the Holy Spirit is not. Unless we confess our sins they will not be forgiven. Compare Jesus' attitude toward the self righteous leaders to that of the woman taken in adultery. Both were sinning. What made the difference? Was it because the leaders didn't know they were sinning or didn't care and the woman knew she was sinning but didn't want to which opens the way for the Holy Spirit to work on her heart.

I pray that my heart will be putty in God's hands. I want Him to mold me and shape me into His image. I realize that sometimes this can be grueling but when we hang on to Jesus through it all He will bring us safely home.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #52 on: July 14, 2019, 08:19:53 AM »
Amen Sister Dorine!  Do we want truth, even if it exposes error we have believed? Yes, we want the truth. There is no peace in a lie. But, those who love the truth, will love God. Then we shall have peace that passeth all understanding. It is humbling to acknowledge we have been wrong. God will give us grace to do so. It will glorify God. When Peter rebuked Peter three times by asking him if he loved Him, it gave Peter the opportunity to reveal he was converted and repentant for his sin of denying Christ.

  The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12. 


Amen!!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #53 on: October 06, 2019, 06:07:20 PM »
"To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth."

Human pride and self-righteousness can have no place in the family of God.  Jesus said..." Without me ye can do nothing "  but with me " All things are possible."  Having our names recorded on the church registry will not save us unless we, as the song says, are willing to say... "All To Jesus  I surrender - All to Him I freely give. "

"If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved." {MB 101.3
 
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3002
  • Following the Lamb
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #54 on: October 07, 2019, 06:45:01 AM »
Amen, Brother Beacon! I too was moved by that beautiful paragraph:

"The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus answered, 'If ye were blind, ye should have no sin.' If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. 'But now ye say, We see.' You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, 'Your sin remaineth.'" {The Desire of Ages, page 475, paragraph 3}

The blind man accepted sight from Jesus, while the Pharisees chose blindness by rejecting the light. God gives us freedom of choice because He loves us. As we behold Jesus in His true character and realize that His offer to give us spiritual sight is not meant to be an attack on us but an offer of mercy, may we not harden our hearts against the light of His truth when He shows us our need. If someone was dying of cancer and felt offended that the doctor told them that they were sick and needed healing, leaving the doctor in a huff of anger because "the doctor dared to tell me I am not okay" we would regard it as a very unreasonable response. But how much more unreasonable is it for us to respond to Christ who alone can heal the sin-disease of our souls who shows us the ailments of our lives and convicts of us sin, and then turn away from Him? To whom else can we go for remedy and forgiveness? Only in Christ will we truly find the healing that our souls need, the spiritual sight that alone can avail to life everlasting. It was Satan who moved upon the hearts of the Pharisees to reject Christ, and how sad it is that they partook of his proud, unyielding spirit. May we not feel like God is attacking us when He shows us our sins, but rather accept the reproof (no matter how unpleasant the experience may be) and yield the whole heart to Him to cleanse and purify. Anything less is rejecting the healing and salvation that He alone can impart. Let us walk in Christ by continual surrender so He may manifest forth through us the attributes of the divine nature: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance--for not one of these precious graces will be missing when Christ truly abides in our souls!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #55 on: October 07, 2019, 03:08:55 PM »
Amen dear brothers!  The decision is ours as to whom we shall follow. But, we need to know how it is that our hearts can be changed that our decisions will be correct. For we do not have it within our selves to choose correctly. We cannot change our hearts, so our actions will always be selfish until we receive a new heart.  It seems as if we are left in an impossible situation since we can't choose correctly in and of ourselves.  And, God will not compel us to choose Him. I like so much the truth that follows:

     In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.

It is the revelation of the goodness of God that transforms sinners into saints. There is no compulsion, only the goodness of God brings about true repentance.
 
     The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12. 


Have we seen the loveliness of Jesus? Then don't we want to serve Him!! We are not compelled to do so, but there is a great desire to want to bless the One who has so greatly blessed us.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #56 on: December 31, 2019, 07:48:11 PM »
"To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth."

"If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved." {MB 101.3

"Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12." He whose heart has responded to the divine touch will be seeking for that which will increase his knowledge of God, and will refine and elevate the character."

2020 is now in effect -- What will it hold for You - for Me? Do we want to have a closer walk with Jesus and be prepared to meet Him?? Remember --- Our lives lay before us like a field of Pure White snow - We must daily be careful how we step on it - FOR EVERY STEP WILL SHOW either for Good or for Evil.

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH JESUS - FAMILY & FRIENDS.
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3002
  • Following the Lamb
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #57 on: January 01, 2020, 03:55:50 AM »
Amen, Brother Beacon!!

Jesus healed the blind and is still today doing miracles in hearts and lives that are fully yielded to Him. The great need we have as we begin this year is to recognize our CONTINUAL need of Jesus to do any good thing, and to accept the help and strength that He provides us! As we yield the whole heart to Him to cleanse and purify from sin, we experience true conversion whereby the Holy Spirit spontaneously produces in the soul all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, simultaneously giving us a willing, cheerful obedience to all of God's Ten Commandments! God is love and His light is a revelation of His love! May that light of God's loving character shine from your life this day into 2020!

"The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus answered, 'If ye were blind, ye should have no sin.' If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. 'But now ye say, We see.' You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, 'Your sin remaineth.'" {The Desire of Ages, page 475, paragraph 3}

As we realize our need, what a joy it is to experience the infinite help Jesus so gladly offers us!! Let us allow Him to do His miracles in our lives this year and this new decade!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #58 on: January 01, 2020, 07:14:31 PM »
Amen Pastor Sean! We come into this world in need of being transformed in nature. We are evil until we become partakers of God's divine nature.


"If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved." {MB 101.3

Amen Brother Beacon! We need to be reconverted every day. And, unless we are, we do not have salvation, for we need Christ all the time in order to not sin.

     Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness. Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" sets us "free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2.


In Romans chapter seven, Paul was sharing his experience prior to his conversion when he was "captive" to the law of sin and death.

In this new year may we all be blessed more than we ever thought we could be! We are one year closer to the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1844
Re: The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life
« Reply #59 on: March 27, 2020, 06:52:33 PM »
"The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. "The truth shall make you free;" and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one's self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is "the law of liberty." James 2:12."

The Word of God says in John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

" In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God. "

God is offering us True Freedom in this life and in the New Earth. The choice is " Our Own " Who's voice will we listen to, Jesus Or Satan? I'm hoping and trusting that each of us will be willing to listen to the voice of love coming from the heart of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Even in the miidst of our C-19 Crisis I wish you all a very HAPPY SABBATH & PEACEFUL REST for Jesus said in.... John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Look up and listen for the shout.