Author Topic: The Desire of Ages--24--"Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?" (Read 15686 times)

Dorine · « **Reply #40 on:** June 17, 2019, 08:59:29 AM »

"Unbelief, having once been cherished, continued to control the men of Nazareth. So it controlled the Sanhedrin and the nation. With priests and people, the first rejection of the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power was the beginning of the end. In order to prove that their first resistance was right, they continued ever after to cavil at the words of Christ. Their rejection of the Spirit culminated in the cross of Calvary, in the destruction of their city, in the scattering of the nation to the winds of heaven."

May our heart's be ever open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We are individually responsible for our own choices which have a direct impact on the lives of others for good or for evil. We see here the progression of not heeding the Spirit's leading. It may start with one voice then like the ripples in a pond spreading out in all directions to eventually destroy a whole nation.

I'm so thankful that in the midst of all the warnings there is mercy and hope for those who cling to Jesus, and by beholding Him every day are protected from evil and changed into His image. We say it often. Do we really believe it? Sin is powerful but God's grace and mercy are many times more powerful to keep us from going astray.

Richard Myers · « **Reply #41 on:** June 17, 2019, 12:18:39 PM »

Amen Sister Dorine. One reason why the sinner does not receive power to turn away from sin is because they do not behold God's grace, they do not know Him intimately. Why do they not take time? Many do not think they need to, for they think they are "rich and increased with goods" just as they are. They think a profession of faith is enough for salvation.

Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received, but upon the use we make of what we have. Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light, and profess to serve God, but who disregard the light, and by their daily life contradict their profession.

JimB · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2019, 05:51:56 PM »

Quote from: Dorine on June 17, 2019, 08:59:29 AM

I'm so thankful that in the midst of all the warnings there is mercy and hope for those who cling to Jesus, and by beholding Him every day are protected from evil and changed into His image. We say it often. Do we really believe it? Sin is powerful but God's grace and mercy are many times more powerful to keep us from going astray.

Dorine, I love this and others who read it will find encouragement in it. Reminds me of the following...

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #43 on:** September 10, 2019, 07:33:25 AM »

As we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us, we will see our continual need of Jesus, and will be moved by an irresistible impulse of the tide of His divine love to yield all that we have and are to Him. But when we yield to deception and cherish sin, the bright light of Christ to us becomes as darkness, and we find truth unpopular and unpalatable. May we realize that daily we are either feeding the divine nature (by believing and appropriating the promises of God) or the fallen nature (by consenting to sin). Let us learn of Christ in humility, be still and know that He is God, and realize experientially the power of the gospel that can recreate our evil hearts into new hearts imbued with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! We shall delight in obedience for Christ lives within us, the hope of glory, by continual surrender of the will to Him!

"Oh, how Christ longed to open to Israel the precious treasures of the truth! But such was their spiritual blindness that it was impossible to reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom. They clung to their creed and their useless ceremonies when the truth of Heaven awaited their acceptance. They spent their money for chaff and husks, when the bread of life was within their reach. Why did they not go to the word of God, and search diligently to know whether they were in error? The Old Testament Scriptures stated plainly every detail of Christ's ministry, and again and again He quoted from the prophets, and declared, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.' If they had honestly searched the Scriptures, bringing their theories to the test of God's word, Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence. He need not have declared, 'Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.' Luke 13:35. They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted. But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time." {The Desire of Ages, page 241, paragraph 4}

The more clearly we see Jesus in all His loveliness and glory, the more we will see the depth of our need of repentance and grace to be changed. May we not yield to the discouragement of the devil who wants us to give up when we see how vile we really are! May we instead look upon Calvary and realize that God wanted us, or else He would not have sent Jesus to this sin-darkened earth to live and die to save us to the uttermost. Thankfully, the more we see and feel our need, and the more we find in Christ to see in His beauty of character, the sweeter will be our union and communion with Him, for we shall become more like our Savior!

Dorine · « **Reply #44 on:** September 10, 2019, 10:15:10 AM »

......So, in all ages, angels have been near to Christ's faithful followers. The vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against all who would overcome; but Christ would have us look to the things which are not seen, to the armies of heaven encamped about all who love God, to deliver them. From what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been preserved through the interposition of the angels, we shall never know, until in the light of eternity we see the providences of God. Then we shall know that the whole family of heaven was interested in the family here below, and that messengers from the throne of God attended our steps from day to day.

No matter how dark and gloomy things may look let's never doubt God's love, care and protection for each one of us. I look forward to that day in eternity when these things will be revealed to us and how thankful we will be that we clung to Christ and His promises so that doubt would not discourage and lead us away from that eternal home with Jesus.

Beacon · « **Reply #45 on:** December 04, 2019, 04:57:53 PM »

"During that sad night on the lake, when they were separated from Christ, the disciples were pressed hard by unbelief, and weary with fruitless toil. But His presence kindled their faith, and brought them joy and success. So it is with us; apart from Christ, our work is fruitless, and it is easy to distrust and murmur. But when He is near, and we labor under His direction, we rejoice in the evidence of His power. It is Satan’s work to discourage the soul; it is Christ’s work to inspire with faith and hope."

"The deeper lesson which the miracle conveyed for the disciples is a lesson for us also,—that He whose word could gather the fishes from the sea could also impress human hearts, and draw them by the cords of His love, so that His servants might become “fishers of men.”

Let us try to always remember that when the strong winds blow and it looks like all will be lost what it says in Mark 10:27

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible!!

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #46 on:** December 05, 2019, 07:15:08 AM »

Amen, Brother Beacon!!

Let us be teachable, and let Christ instruct us in His appointed way. True Christian character as manifested in Jesus is the pattern of life we are invited to receive as a precious gift today, so we may share testimonies of what God's grace has done in our hearts and minds to manifest forth all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing!

"Because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice, they could not harmonize the power of Christ's convicting words with the humility of His life. They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can dispense with outward show. This Man's poverty seemed wholly inconsistent with His claim to be the Messiah. They questioned, If He was what He claimed to be, why was He so unpretending? If He was satisfied to be without the force of arms, what would become of their nation? How could the power and glory so long anticipated bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that Israel was to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error?" {The Desire of Ages, page 242, paragraph 3}

I love how real greatness doesn't need outward show to prove itself. Jesus was great because He had a continual union and communion with God and did the Father's will. We also may attain to such a character as we let Christ live His life in us, and we yield our will to Him continually!

Richard Myers · « **Reply #47 on:** December 05, 2019, 09:37:26 PM »

Quote from: Beacon on December 04, 2019, 04:57:53 PM

"During that sad night on the lake, when they were separated from Christ, the disciples were pressed hard by unbelief, and weary with fruitless toil. But His presence kindled their faith, and brought them joy and success. So it is with us; apart from Christ, our work is fruitless, and it is easy to distrust and murmur. But when He is near, and we labor under His direction, we rejoice in the evidence of His power. It is Satan’s work to discourage the soul; it is Christ’s work to inspire with faith and hope."

"The deeper lesson which the miracle conveyed for the disciples is a lesson for us also,—that He whose word could gather the fishes from the sea could also impress human hearts, and draw them by the cords of His love, so that His servants might become “fishers of men.”

Let us try to always remember that when the strong winds blow and it looks like all will be lost what it says in Mark 10:27

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible!!

Amen brother Beacon. Christ came into the world to help us. To transform Sinners into Saints. If we love him supremely, we will love others for him he died also.

But when Jesus announced, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears," they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them. They, Israelites, children of Abraham, had been represented as in bondage. They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil; as in darkness, and needing the light of truth. Their pride was offended, and their fears were roused. The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired. Their deeds might be investigated too closely. Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies, they shrank from inspection by those clear, searching eyes.

Jesus came to set us free from the law of sin and death. He came to cleanse our heart and take away our pride and sin.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #48 on:** March 01, 2020, 03:29:14 AM »

I pray that we will not have hearts closed to the light that God sends us, but will be willing to receive Jesus in His infinite purity and holiness. As He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up, the people there rejected Him because His holy life did not harmonize with their own desires for national greatness. What Jesus came to do was to establish a spiritual kingdom of grace that could transform their sinful hearts into new hearts imbued with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in humble, sincere lives of obedience to all of the commandments of God.

But as it was then, so it is still. The choice remains with us. Will we yield all to Christ? By beholding we become changed, and so if we will look upon Him in His goodness and love, we may have hearts melted and subdued and be willing to be anything or nothing as His providence indicates. Let us look and live and profit from the lessons of the life and ministry of Jesus, that we may be happy, peaceful and obedient Christians who follow on to know the Lord in all the ways of His leading!

"But it was not simply the absence of outward glory in His life that led the Jews to reject Jesus. He was the embodiment of purity, and they were impure. He dwelt among men an example of spotless integrity. His blameless life flashed light upon their hearts. His sincerity revealed their insincerity. It made manifest the hollowness of their pretentious piety, and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. Such a light was unwelcome." {The Desire of Ages, page 243, paragraph 1}

May Christ live out His life in us today, so that others will see in and through us a living invitation to the life that is wholly devoted to God's glory and the good of others!

Richard Myers · « **Reply #49 on:** March 01, 2020, 06:56:04 AM »

Amen Pastor Sean. It is true that we can do no good thing until the heart is fully given to Christ, but we can do the right thing even if it is for the wrong reason. Selfishness can lead one to realize that it is one's best interest to study the Bible to escape fire and brimstone. In so doing, they can find a solution to their deficiencies of character. But, too often truth is not wanted and this blocks the reception of truth.

Oh, how Christ longed to open to Israel the precious treasures of the truth! But such was their spiritual blindness that it was impossible to reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom. They clung to their creed and their useless ceremonies when the truth of Heaven awaited their acceptance. They spent their money for chaff and husks, when the bread of life was within their reach. Why did they not go to the word of God, and search diligently to know whether they were in error? The Old Testament Scriptures stated plainly every detail of Christ's ministry, and again and again He quoted from the prophets, and declared, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." If they had honestly searched the Scriptures, bringing their theories to the test of God's word, Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence. He need not have declared, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Luke 13:35. They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted. But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time.
Truth was unpopular in Christ's day. It is unpopular in our day.

Even in the church.

Beacon · « **Reply #50 on:** March 01, 2020, 12:38:12 PM »

Amen Pastor Sean. Brother Richard, I too was impressed with a portion of this same paragraph
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"If they had honestly searched the Scriptures, bringing their theories to the test of God's word, Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence. He need not have declared, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Luke 13:35. They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted.

"But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time."

Truth was unpopular in Christ's day. It is unpopular in our day.

According to Bible Prophecy we are living in a time when Bible Truth is going to become VERY, VERY UNPOPULAR. We must prepare NOW or we will be swept away by delusions and persecution. Remember " HE WHO FAILS TO PREPARE - PREPARE'S TO FAIL."

Beacon · « **Reply #51 on:** May 26, 2020, 07:03:19 PM »

"If they ( The Children of Israel ) had honestly searched the Scriptures, bringing their theories to the test of God's word, Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence. He need not have declared, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Luke 13:35. They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted. But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance."

"If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time."

"Truth was unpopular in Christ's day. It is unpopular in our day. It has been unpopular ever since Satan first gave man a disrelish for it by presenting fables that lead to self-exaltation."

Do we not today meet theories and doctrines that have no foundation in the word of God? Men cling as tenaciously to them as did the Jews to their traditions.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #52 on:** May 27, 2020, 07:13:48 AM »

Jesus is our Savior and perfect Pattern! The humility of His life is an invitation for us to dispense with outward show and cultivate what God truly values: holiness of heart, purity of life and consistency purpose for His glory. The only way we can have this experience is through a complete, continual surrender of the entire heart to Jesus Christ, so that He can fill us with the Holy Spirit!

“Because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice, they could not harmonize the power of Christ’s convicting words with the humility of His life. They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can dispense with outward show. This Man’s poverty seemed wholly inconsistent with His claim to be the Messiah. They questioned, If He was what He claimed to be, why was He so unpretending? If He was satisfied to be without the force of arms, what would become of their nation? How could the power and glory so long anticipated bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that Israel was to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error?” {The Desire of Ages, page 242, paragraph 3}

“But it was not simply the absence of outward glory in His life that led the Jews to reject Jesus. He was the embodiment of purity, and they were impure. He dwelt among men an example of spotless integrity. His blameless life flashed light upon their hearts. His sincerity revealed their insincerity. It made manifest the hollowness of their pretentious piety, and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. Such a light was unwelcome.” {The Desire of Ages, page 243, paragraph 1}

Let us learn from the records of the past in Jesus‘ experience with the Jewish people. Let us open our hearts to all God desires to give us!

Marelis · « **Reply #53 on:** May 27, 2020, 03:32:52 PM »

Such a wonderful chapter. I am blessed for having read it just now.

Richard Myers · « **Reply #54 on:** May 29, 2020, 07:10:25 AM »

Amen Marelis! So many lessons to learn. I was especially impressed with the thought that we don't only have our fallen flesh to contend with, but we have an enemy that is so very successful in blinding the eyes of humanity as we see he did with Israel.

As they opened the door to doubt, their hearts became so much the harder for having been momentarily softened. Satan was determined that blind eyes should not that day be opened, nor souls bound in slavery be set at liberty. With intense energy he worked to fasten them in unbelief. They made no account of the sign already given, when they had been stirred by the conviction that it was their Redeemer who addressed them.

Beacon · « **Reply #55 on:** August 22, 2020, 08:49:19 AM »

"Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received, but upon the use we make of what we have. Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light, and profess to serve God, but who disregard the light, and by their daily life contradict their profession. "

"Our Prayer should be the same as David when he said in Psalm 51:9-11 King James Version (KJV)

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

DOES OUR DAILY LIFE CONTRADICT WHAT WE PROFESS?? IF WE ARE HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN WITH OUR RIGHT HAND AND ONTO THE THINGS OF EARTH WITH OUR LEFT HAND -- NEVER COMING TO A FULL SURRENDER FOR JESUS---THEN SOMEDAY WE WILL HEAR THOSE VERY SAD WORDS - DEPART FROM ME I NEVER KNEW YOU.

However our God Allows U-Turns John 10:27 says...."My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Won't you come today???

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.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #56 on:** August 22, 2020, 11:07:56 AM »

Amen, Brother Beacon!! Let us turn to Jesus fully!!

Christ is being SUPER patient with us—let us avail ourselves of these closing seconds of earth’s history and receive and exercise the gift of true repentance offered us in Him by a total surrender!!

“Not without one more call to repentance could He give them up. Toward the close of His ministry in Galilee, He again visited the home of His childhood. Since His rejection there, the fame of His preaching and His miracles had filled the land. None now could deny that He possessed more than human power. The people of Nazareth knew that He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. About them were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house; for He had passed through them, and healed all their sick. The mercy revealed in every act of His life testified to His divine anointing.” {The Desire of Ages, page 241, paragraph 1}

We see Jesus’ character that attracts us to Him! May this Sabbath be filled with His presence in your experience!!

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #57 on:** November 17, 2020, 04:10:04 AM »

The only real greatness is humility. Entire surrender to Christ motivated by beholding His loveliness of character (grace) moves us to surrender completely in true repentance (faith working by love) so we may walk in constant union and communion with Him! Then He brings forth all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing from our lives that are joined to Him!

"Because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice, they could not harmonize the power of Christ's convicting words with the humility of His life. They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can dispense with outward show. This Man's poverty seemed wholly inconsistent with His claim to be the Messiah. They questioned, If He was what He claimed to be, why was He so unpretending? If He was satisfied to be without the force of arms, what would become of their nation? How could the power and glory so long anticipated bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that Israel was to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error?" {The Desire of Ages, page 242, paragraph 3}

Yes, many a time religious leaders are in error--not simply because they are religious leaders, but because if they do not surrender fully to Christ on a moment-by-moment basis, then the heart is not open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to lead each one of us and teach us so we will uplift Christ and then humanity also will be uplifted in beholding Him!

Richard Myers · « **Reply #58 on:** November 17, 2020, 09:00:02 PM »

Amen Pastor Sean. Without the Holy Spirit we have no wisdom. And if we have not the spirit, we are none of His. Therefore we can do no good thing. We must be born again of the Spirit. Having a knowledge of truth does not make one good. It is surrendering our will to God that will enable man to walk in the light that God has so graciously given us.

In the days of Elijah, Israel had departed from God. They clung to their sins, and rejected the warnings of the Spirit through the Lord's messengers. Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which God's blessing could come to them. The Lord passed by the homes of Israel, and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land, with a woman who did not belong to the chosen people. But this woman was favored because she had followed the light she had received, and her heart was open to the greater light that God sent her through His prophet.
It was for the same reason that in Elisha's time the lepers of Israel were passed by. But Naaman, a heathen nobleman, had been faithful to his convictions of right, and had felt his great need of help. He was in a condition to receive the gifts of God's grace. He was not only cleansed from his leprosy, but blessed with a knowledge of the true God.
Our standing before God depends, not upon the amount of light we have received, but upon the use we make of what we have.

Dorine · « **Reply #59 on:** November 18, 2020, 04:41:48 AM »

"If Christ had called attention to the Pharisees, and had extolled their learning and piety, they would have hailed Him with joy. But when He spoke of the kingdom of heaven as a dispensation of mercy for all mankind, He was presenting a phase of religion they would not tolerate. Their own example and teaching had never been such as to make the service of God seem desirable. When they saw Jesus giving attention to the very ones they hated and repulsed, it stirred up the worst passions of their proud hearts. Notwithstanding their boast that under the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5), Israel should be exalted to pre-eminence over all nations, they could have borne the disappointment of their ambitious hopes better than they could bear Christ's reproof of their sins, and the reproach they felt even from the presence of His purity."

As we examine our own hearts today may God reveal to us any hint of pride and self-satisfaction. His love for us never changes but unless we receive Him into our hearts and lives we will reflect the same attitudes we see in the Jewish leaders. We are all sinners. Nothing we can do will change that but Jesus died for sinners and by abiding in Christ, spending quality time with Him, His grace will keep us from sinning. It took me a long time to figure that out but what a weight of guilt was lifted when the light came on. If only the Jewish nation would have opened their hearts and given Jesus a chance they would have embraced Him with hearts of love and devotion. We have an opportunity today through our words and our lives to bring souls to Christ in a way that will melt hearts and pave the way for the Holy spirit to take possession.