The Desire of Ages--30--"He Ordained Twelve"

[JimB]

The first step was now to be taken in the organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to be His representative on earth. No costly sanctuary was at their command, but the Saviour led His disciples to the retreat He loved, and in their minds the sacred experiences of that day were forever linked with the beauty of mountain and vale and sea.

I never noticed this until today. Christ started the organized church 3 years before Pentecost. There are some who don't believe that the organized church will go through to the end but organization is needed. Will we have an organized church as we know it when we are escaping to the mountains? Probably not but there is no need for one then.

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Jim. We must look beyond the difficulties in the church to the promises of God. There will be revival and reformation when the local churches are converted and they elect consecrated leaders. In today's reading we find that the power of God is given to those who will allow Christ into their hearts. The all important question is how does this happen? What must I do in order to have Christ take possession of my heart? How can I be transformed from sinner to a reflection of the character of our Savior?

  God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him. They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image..... By beholding Christ, they (the disciples) became transformed in character.     

It would indeed be good to spend some time with Jesus every day. It is grace that transformed sinners into saints. Grade surrounds us a thick as the air we breathe, but it does no good unless we behold it and allow it into our heart.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Sister Dorine, Brother Jim and Brother Richard!

When unity and truth are needed, how do we get them? Since they do not originate from ourselves, we need to approach Christ and experience His unity, love and truth. Let us pray we experience this in the church and in our relationships with others. God is faithful.

"The apostles differed widely in habits and disposition. There were the publican, Levi-Matthew, and the fiery zealot Simon, the uncompromising hater of the authority of Rome; the generous, impulsive Peter, and the mean-spirited Judas; Thomas, truehearted, yet timid and fearful, Philip, slow of heart, and inclined to doubt, and the ambitious, outspoken sons of Zebedee, with their brethren. These were brought together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit. They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment. Christ is the great center, and they would approach one another just in proportion as they approached the center." {The Desire of Ages, page 296, paragraph 2}

All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives as we trust in God and walk in His will. True obedience, true unity--that comes from a heart renewed by divine grace. God will give us wisdom to experience what Christ prayed for in John 17.

[Beacon]

"With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man."

"When we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love."

Do "WE" realize what a scared privilege has been given to us to be a spokes person for Jesus ??

====================

1
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Lyrics:Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)
Music:Henri Abraham Cesar Malan (1787-1864)

[Dorine]

  All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called "the sons of thunder." While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.
    Jesus reproved His disciples, He warned and cautioned them; but John and his brethren did not leave Him; they chose Jesus, notwithstanding the reproofs. The Saviour did not withdraw from them because of their weakness and errors. They continued to the end to share His trials and to learn the lessons of His life. By beholding Christ, they became transformed in character.

Our future destination depends on the choices we are making everyday. Judas had the same opportunities as the rest of the disciples. Satan tempts and torments each one of us but it's our choice that decides whether we will humbly follow Jesus or choose the way of Judas. That's why we come each day to walk with Jesus and learn of Him because by beholding Him we are changed into His character. If in our reading each day we are not "beholding" Him, Satan will overcome us. Other words for beholding is introspection or self-examination or soul-searching. As we choose to accept Jesus into our hearts each day He then is able to bless us abundantly bringing glory to Him.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brother and sister! What a joy to be in unity of Spirit and doctrine!! We saw this morning that we can be greatly blessed to be channels of light to those who are seeking truth. Our dear sister who has passed has presented this better than I.

      He who called the fisherman of Galilee is still calling men to His service. And He is just as willing to manifest His power through us as through the first disciples. However imperfect and sinful we may be, the Lord holds out to us the offer of partnership with Himself, of apprenticeship to Christ. He invites us to come under the divine instruction, that, uniting with Christ, we may work the works of God.
     "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7, R. V. This is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to erring men rather than to the angels. It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God; and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us. And those who are themselves "compassed with infirmity" should be able to "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." Hebrews 5:2. Having been in peril themselves, they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way, and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril. There are souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ's stead, can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ.
     We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love. DA 297

As we have shared this morning, we invite you to do as we are doing. Don't wait on the pastor or leaders in our churches, go forth yourselves in sharing what God has given you. The Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, else you would not be reading this. Every day as you read to know God, He is educating and training you to go tell the world that there is a Savior that can give love, joy, and peace to all who come to Him, who learn of Him, and who fall in love with Him!

[JimB]

The fields and hills were the favorite resorts of Jesus, and much of His teaching was given under the open sky, rather than in the temple or the synagogues. No synagogue could have received the throngs that followed Him; but not for this reason only did He choose to teach in the fields and groves. Jesus loved the scenes of nature. To Him each quiet retreat was a sacred temple.

Many of times in my backcountry excursions have I entered into a spot that seemed to me to be cathedral. All of the awe and reverence that one gets at church is there. It seems as though Christ Himself is there. Your thoughts are lifted up to Christ and His holiness and loveliness and His ability to make such beauty, whether its among lofty White Pines with a gentle breeze, or among the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges of the autumn colors that can make you want to sing or sitting on the shore and watching the power of the waves crashing against the earth. If you have time I can recommend a good hike in nature.

[Beacon]

"It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God; and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us."

"Those who are themselves "compassed with infirmity" should be able to "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." Hebrews 5:2. Having been in peril themselves, they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way, and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril."

"There are souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ's stead, can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ."

"We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love."

Are "WE" willing to respond to the call of the Master??

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon! Jesus trusts us to rightly represent Him as we seek to save the lost!


 As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took upon Himself humanity, that He might reach humanity. Divinity needed humanity; for it required both the divine and the human to bring salvation to the world. Divinity needed humanity, that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man. So with the servants and messengers of Christ. Man needs a power outside of and beyond himself, to restore him to the likeness of God, and enable him to do the work of God; but this does not make the human agency unessential. Humanity lays hold upon divine power, Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and through co-operation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good.  {DA 296.4} 

[JimB]

In happy contrast to Philip's unbelief was the childlike trust of Nathanael. He was a man of intensely earnest nature, one whose faith took hold upon unseen realities. Yet Philip was a student in the school of Christ, and the divine Teacher bore patiently with his unbelief and dullness. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, Philip became a teacher after the divine order. He knew whereof he spoke, and he taught with an assurance that carried conviction to the hearers.

Slow to believe yet Christ worked with Philip. How patient was Christ with him! Every time I read this chapter I think that maybe Thomas got reputation that Philip should have had. I'm not saying that Thomas didn't doubt, as he did and we are told that Thomas made an unreasonable request because of his unwillingness to believe his fellow disciples but Philip appears to have a similar character flaw.

[Dorine]

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7, R. V. This is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to erring men rather than to the angels. It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God; and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us. And those who are themselves "compassed with infirmity" should be able to "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." Hebrews 5:2. Having been in peril themselves, they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way, and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril. There are souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ's stead, can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ.

It's a wonderful thing to me to know that Jesus takes me where I am but does not leave me there and through His power I become an agent that angels use to uplift and encourage others to trust and obey our heavenly Father.

[Richard Myers]

All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called "the sons of thunder." While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.
     Jesus reproved His disciples, He warned and cautioned them; but John and his brethren did not leave Him; they chose Jesus, notwithstanding the reproofs. The Saviour did not withdraw from them because of their weakness and errors. They continued to the end to share His trials and to learn the lessons of His life. By beholding Christ, they became transformed in character. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Richard!

We live in imperfect world, and we are all affected by sin. But we have a Savior who so values us as to take us in our human weakness and transform us from glory to glory as we yield fully to the Holy Spirit! Not one of the fruits of the Spirit will be missing in our lives as we abide in Christ in humble obedience to His commandments!

"'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.' 2 Corinthians 4:7, R. V. This is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to erring men rather than to the angels. It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God; and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us. And those who are themselves 'compassed with infirmity' should be able to 'have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way.' Hebrews 5:2. Having been in peril themselves, they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way, and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril. There are souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ's stead, can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ." {The Desire of Ages, page 297, paragraph 2}

You can be a true missionary to someone who is struggling to grasp God's love. By letting Christ abide in you, He can give you His words to speak in due season to help one more soul choose the path of right. What a blessing it is to know the value God places upon each of us, and His incredible invitation to ministry as we share His love!