The Desire of Ages--34--The Invitation

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers! Knowing God is everything. All else will fall into place when we truly know God. How is it that we can truly know Him?

   It is the love of self that brings unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest place. We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. We shall understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls. 

[Beacon]

" It is the love of self that brings unrest."

"When we are born from above, the same mind will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved."

"Then we shall not be seeking the highest place."

"We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him."

We shall understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our own strength." The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit."

"Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls.."
" Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude.

"Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence."

"In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest."

"The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3."

"Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory--character--of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God."

"A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy."

How thankful "WE" should be that Jesus can do a "Complete Make Over!! "for anyone of "US",  If We are willing.!!  The "BIG QUESTION IS: ARE WE WILLING  TO LET GO OF THE EARTHLY TRANSITORY PLEASURE OF SIN IN EXCHANGE  FOR THE SAVING GRACE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR WHICH WILL LAST FOR ALL ENTENITY ??

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1
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
  That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
  Was blind, but now I see.
2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed!
3
The Lord hath promised good to me,
  His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
  As long as life endures.
4
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
  Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
  Than when we first begun.

Lyrics:John Newton (1725-1807)
Music:Traditional American melody

[Dorine]

"Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory--character--of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God. A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy."

When ever we may feel that life is too hard or the burden too heavy, come back to this chapter and digest the precious truths presented. All the promises of God are for us to claim if we meet their conditions. As we move through this day may the words of Jesus ring in our hearts and minds and give us the assurance of His love for each one of us.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon and Sister Dorine!

Praise God for what Jesus gives as we come to Him in faith!

"'Learn of Me,' says Jesus; 'for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest.' We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.” {The Desire of Ages, page 330, paragraph 2}

When Jesus sets us free from sin as we surrender completely to Him, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in the life, for Christ living in us makes it possible to live in obedience to His law of love!

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear friends! We may have peace in this world! Such a promise!!!

     There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world's standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet. 

[Beacon]

"As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence."

"All that human nature can bear, we may receive here."

"But what is this compared with the hereafter? "

"There are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' Revelation 7:15-17."

I want to be there in a place where Jesus will wipe away ALL TEARS don't "YOU"  and it comes with an ironclad guarantee!!

===========================
1
Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
  There’s mercy with the Lord;
And He will surely give you rest
  By trusting in His Word.
    Only trust Him! Only trust Him!
  Only trust Him now!
He will save you! He will save you!
    He will save you now!
2
For Jesus shed His precious blood
  Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
  That washeth white as snow.
3
Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,
  That leads you into rest;
Believe in Him without delay,
  And you are fully blest.
4
Come then, and join the holy band,
  And on to glory go;
In Christ’s redemption take your stand,
  And all His goodness know.

Lyrics:John Hart Stockton (1813-1877)
Music:John Hart Stockton (1813-1877)

May You and Yours have a blessed New Year

[Dorine]

How appropriate for this chapter to fall on the first day of a brand new year. Time after time I have been strengthened and uplifted by the following paragraph.

"The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord "telleth the number of the stars;" and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:4, 3. "Come unto Me," is His invitation. Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden Bearer. The rest that Christ offers depends upon conditions, but these conditions are plainly specified. They are those with which all can comply. He tells us just how His rest is to be found.

We are loved. We don't know how much longer we have on this earth but we know that time is running out. The more I read of Jesus the more I want to be like Him and the more I learn of heaven the more I want to be there. May our daily thoughts be on heavenly themes. May 2024 be a year that will bring us even closer to our Saviour so that we will consistently abide in Him moment by moment. Then when everything around us is crumbling we will have an anchor in Jesus that will keep us safely in His care.

[Philip T]

  "Learn of Me," says Jesus; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest." We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.

The only way to peace on this earth, and to walk through the gates of heaven is total and complete surrender to God, transformation through faith, salvation through faith, peace through faith, all through faith in Jesus.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Sister Dorine, and Brother Philip!

Happy new year 2024!

We can start having heaven in our hearts by inviting Jesus to live in and through us! What a joy and privilege it is to be adopted into the royal family by grace through faith in a surrendered continual union and communion with Christ! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives as we are empowered to obey God from the heart renewed by His word!

"As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. All that human nature can bear, we may receive here. But what is this compared with the hereafter? There 'are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' Revelation 7:15-17." {The Desire of Ages, page 331, paragraph 3}

So when we finally get to the location of heaven when Jesus takes us there at His second coming, it will be but the continuation of the relationship of heaven that we have already begun in this life! Praise God it will just get better and better forever and ever! Hallelujah!

[Beacon]

"Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

"He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal."

"The Lord "telleth the number of the stars;" and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:4, 3. "

"Come unto Me," is His invitation."

"Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty."

"The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden Bearer."

Will "YOU" & "I" accept His Invitation?? Let us come TODAY and Grab Hold of this Life Line while the door of mercy is still open!! We know that time is fast running out as we witness the Final Events of this world unfolding at an acierated rate!!

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1
I’ve wandered far away from God,
  Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
  Lord, I’m coming home.
    Coming home, coming home,
  Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love;
    Lord, I’m coming home.
2
I’ve wasted many precious years,
  Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
  Lord, I’m coming home.
3
I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
  Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy word;
  Lord, I’m coming home.
4
My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
  Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore:
  Lord, I’m coming home.
5
My only hope, my only plea,
  Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me;
  Lord, I’m coming home.
6
I need His cleansing blood, I know,
  Now I’m coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow;
  Lord, I’m coming home.

Lyrics:William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
Music:William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, but Satan ever seeks to lead souls away from the only true source of soul rest, into different ditches of distraction that do not produce the character depth and growth that only comes through union and communion with Jesus! Sin intercepts that connection, and that is why Satan seeks to lead the human race into sin--to separate us from God, the ONLY source of joy and purpose that really matters! Not only will we be filled with joy in divine communion in a fully surrendered and converted relationship with Christ, but we will be filled with ALL of the fruit of the Spirit without one missing, given strength to live up to the light of God's law, and enabled to use the spiritual gifts God has given us to edify the church and save souls! Praise God!

"Scribes and rabbis, with their punctilious attention to religious forms, had a sense of want that rites of penance could never satisfy. Publicans and sinners might pretend to be content with the sensual and earthly, but in their hearts were distrust and fear. Jesus looked upon the distressed and heart burdened, those whose hopes were blighted, and who with earthly joys were seeking to quiet the longing of the soul, and He invited all to find rest in Him." {The Desire of Ages, page 328, paragraph 3}

In Jesus' day, there were and still are the religiously lost people and also the openly sinful lost people (and everyone in whatever way they are lost). But sin is sin as the transgression of the law of love and rest, so whether it is religious pride, or sensual indulgence of immorality--or any other work of the flesh, it separates the soul from God and by the love of self brings unrest. The gospel offers us the remedy in Jesus! Jesus yearned for ALL of them to be truly converted and come to Him. So today the offer still stands, as He years over all the human race to come to Him: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Will you come and surrender to Him? He will give you rest in His service!

[Dorine]

"Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory--character--of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God. A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy."

By God's grace I want to meet you there.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers and sister!  What more can Jesus offer us than His precious invitation to come to Him just as we are!

Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory--character--of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God. A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy.   

Yes, our sister and I selected the same quote. We not only may have peace, but will reflect the character of our Lord!