The Desire of Ages--31--The Sermon on the Mount

[Dorine]

"Christ’s first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing. Happy are they, He said, who recognize their spiritual poverty, and feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to the poor. Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit." {DA 299.4}

The beatitudes present the steps of conversion in such a positive, promising way. The first step is not what the proud heart wants to accept. Jesus is looking for those that feel their great need of redemption and with a humble contrite spirit accept His way for their lives. As we respond to the call of Christ He will make us fit vessels for the Holy Spirit to work through us to influence those who are poor in spirit and share with them what the Lord has done for us.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

It is so sweet to trust in Jesus and to take Him at His word in the most trying moments of our lives! As we learn of Christ, our anxiety and fear are replaced with His self-sacrificing love that seeks to bless others in all situations!

"Christ’s first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing. Happy are they, He said, who recognize their spiritual poverty, and feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to the poor. Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit." {The Desire of Ages, page 299, paragraph 4}

We need Jesus--continually. Apart from Him, our fallen nature inevitably sprouts right back like a weedy garden. Only in Christ can we find the true fruit of holiness--the overflow of abiding in His will and plan for us day by day! As we learn of Him, He not only imbues us with all of the fruits or attributes of His character by the Holy Spirit, but He empowers us to desire to sacrifice and be strong for His sake and to consider it a privilege to partake of fellowship with Him in His sufferings for the salvation of those around us! Moses chose the better way when He decided to forsake the pleasures of sin for a season and live a life fully consecrated to God. If Moses would have never lost sight of Jesus, remaining humble and teachable even in the heated moment of temptation, Moses need not have struck the rock and marred the record of his life in ministry. While the consequence was the Moses did not enter the promised land immediately with the children of Israel at that time in their wilderness sojourn, God showed Him mercy in not only resurrecting Him but giving Him the privilege of being one of the witnesses with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration to encourage Jesus before going to die for us on the cross! God loves to go above and beyond what we can ask or think! God is just and merciful, freely pardoning us as we only acknowledge our iniquity, so we may be victorious in Christ by a living faith surrender!

[Richard Myers]

Perfection of Christian character is not well understood in churches. Defects of character reveal a need to surrender the heart to Christ.
God reveals our defects of character through affliction.

And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God. The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself. They appear dark and joyless to our human nature. But God’s ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation. Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life, and prayed that he might die. The Lord in His mercy did not take him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent into the dust of death, but the ascent in glory, with the convoy of celestial chariots, to the throne on high.

God wants the heart, the whole heart. Many are holding back things that will keep them out of heaven. God's grace will forgiven all who will give up their pride and surrender the heart. It is by seeing God's grace that transforms the heart. Jesus tells us that we need to drink His blood and eat His flesh. It is when we spend the thoughtful hour a day that we see His great love for us and our great sinfulness.

[Dorine]

Christ’s first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing. Happy are they, He said, who recognize their spiritual poverty, and feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to the poor. Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit. {DA 299.4}
The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15. {DA 300.1}

Many times the only way to realize spiritual poverty is through trials and tribulations. That is why we should rejoice in them for they develop character and strengthen our faith in Jesus who is constantly working for our salvation. God's ways and timing are perfect. When we give all to Him He pours out His blessings of peace, joy and a life that reveals all the fruit of the Spirit. Coming to the foot of the cross every day and gazing on our suffering Lord that took the punishment that we deserve so that we may go free melts the hardest hearts when fully surrendered.

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear sister!  When we are not fully surrendered, the trials reveal what it is that shuts Jesus out of the heart. When fully surrendered, we see our weak spots (not sin) that need to be strengthened. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but He surely does measure a trial for us each day that we might more perfectly reflect the character of our God. Jesus learned obedience through suffering, so it will be with all who are truly converted. Jesus was always obedient, then what means this truth? All of the fruits of the Spirit are in the life when we give the whole heart to Christ. Then how do we learn to be obedience as did our Savior? We grow in our strength of character. The fruits become more abundant. We become more patient, are able to bear a greater trial than ever before. Jesus was not ready for Gethsemane when He was 12. He had to be strengthened, and so it with us. And the trials are for others as well. When things are going well, we are His witnesses. But, when things are not well and the storm rages, then the heathen will know there is a God because they will see Him in the truly converted Christian. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.

Today's reading reveals that the lessons taught by Jesus on the mount are lessons for us also. It is very sad to realize that God's church today need to learn "the foundation principles of the kingdom of God."

Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness. In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. He saw the misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness. He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. The truths He taught are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him. We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God.

Why was this so necessary in Christ's day, and why is it necessary in our day? "In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education..." What a blessing it is to have the truth unfolded in a manner that a child might understand the power of grace to transform the life of the sinner.

[Beacon]

"The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character. Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above."

"Each fiery trial is God’s agent for our refining. Each is fitting them for our work as colaborers with Him. Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and each will add to the joy of our final triumph. Having this in view, the test of our faith and patience will be cheerfully accepted rather than dreaded and avoided. Anxious to fulfill our obligation to the world, fixing our desire upon the approval of God, His servants are to fulfill every duty, irrespective of the fear or the favor of men."

In essence it boils down to whether or not we are willing to make Jesus First & Last in our lives and to TRUST & OBEY. The Honor & Glory which belongs to our Saviour we must be wiling to exemplify and demonstrate during every moment of every day."

Matthew 28;18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

HAPPY SABBATH TO ALL GOD'S CHILDREN IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD. --- WE ARE LOVED!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon!  God wants us to have peace that passes all understanding no matter what happens to us.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” The peace of Christ is born of truth. It is harmony with God. The world is at enmity with the law of God; sinners are at enmity with their Maker; and as a result they are at enmity with one another. But the psalmist declares, “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165. Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for the purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will fail of producing peace, because they do not reach the heart. The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.

It is so very important that we accept the truth that until we are converted, born again of the Spirit, we are at enmity with God. We can do no good thing unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit. "The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ." And while that grace surrounds us as thick as the air we breathe, we must allow it into the heart. When "implanted" in the heart, then we are converted and the evil passions will be gone. We must drink of His blood (grace) daily. God does not give us grace for tomorrow, only for today. By beholding Jesus we shall see this grace and living water will fill our souls. Let us on this Sabbath Day spend time with Jesus that we might know Him better and received grace for our souls.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Sister Dorine, Brother Richard, Brother Beacon! And Brother Richard, again your second post was a blessing!!

What a miracle takes place as we behold the loveliness of Jesus and surrender fully to Him on a continual basis!

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” The sense of unworthiness will lead the heart to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and this desire will not be disappointed. Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus will realize His love. All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. The pure element of love will expand the soul, giving it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” {The Desire of Ages, page 302, paragraph 1}

What a blessing to have the Holy Spirit not cease to work in our hearts the transformation and gracious work that He alone can accomplish! When the whole heart is yielded to Christ, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives without one missing, but indeed these fruits--traits of the divine nature accessible to us by God's word--will be richer and more abundant the more we commune with Christ in every life experience!

[Beacon]

"The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control".

He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character..

Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above."

"Each fiery trial is God’s agent for our refining. Each is fitting them for our work as colaborers with Him. Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and each will add to the joy of our final triumph"...

..Having this in view, the test of our faith and patience will be cheerfully accepted rather than dreaded and avoided. Anxious to fulfill our obligation to the world, fixing our desire upon the approval of God,

..His servants are to fulfill every duty, irrespective of the fear or the favor of men."

Does this sound like an impossible requirement?? Remember and Claim this promise....

Matthew 19:26..."But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!

Hungry? Your deepest soul hunger can only be satisfied by Jesus. He alone is the true Bread of Life, and He will fill us with His words so our hearts are renewed by divine grace so that all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest through us as we are partaking of the promises of His word that nourish our souls unto eternal life, making partakers of the divine nature!

“'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.' The sense of unworthiness will lead the heart to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and this desire will not be disappointed. Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus will realize His love. All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. The pure element of love will expand the soul, giving it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness. 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.'” {The Desire of Ages, page 302, paragraph 1}

God will fill you just in proportion to your capacity to receive, and the more you receive to impart of His infinite loveliness, the more you will be given to share with others, for by God's word we are freed from sin and born again unto the joy of eternal life!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon and Pastor Sean!  God will empower us to reflect His character if we will behold His grace daily!

 While those who yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit begin war with themselves, those who cling to sin war against the truth and its representatives.
Thus strife is created, and Christ’s followers are accused as troublers of the people. But it is fellowship with God that brings them the world’s enmity. They are bearing the reproach of Christ. They are treading the path that has been trodden by the noblest of the earth. Not with sorrow, but with rejoicing, should they meet persecution. Each fiery trial is God’s agent for their refining. Each is fitting them for their work as colaborers with Him. Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and each will add to the joy of their final triumph. Having this in view, the test of their faith and patience will be cheerfully accepted rather than dreaded and avoided. Anxious to fulfill their obligation to the world, fixing their desire upon the approval of God, His servants are to fulfill every duty, irrespective of the fear or the favor of men.

Amen!! We are not to dread persecution.  The fiery trials are for our good and God's glory as we abide in Jesus and He in us!!

[Dorine]

“Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.” Matthew 6:34, R. V. We are to follow Christ day by day. God does not bestow help for tomorrow. He does not give His children all the directions for their life journey at once, lest they should become confused. He tells them just as much as they can remember and perform. The strength and wisdom imparted are for the present emergency. “If any of you lack wisdom,”—for today,—“let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. {DA 313.4}

Isn't our Lord so gracious! I love this paragraph. He provides for our every need and gives help and strength each moment of the day. Our cup is full and overflowing with His tender love and grace. There is no one else that will or can supply our daily needs with such completeness. If we do not understand this we can never help others get to know Him.

[Richard Myers]

I was so blessed with today's reading, that I kept reading. Can't wait to comment tomorrow and to read what others have been blessed to see in this most fantastic revelation of gospel truth. One cannot read this and come away believing a lie about the gospel message unless they do not hear the Holy Speaking to them. Prayerfully study this chapter and you will not be deceived by the false gospels that have flooded the church.

[Beacon]

"Each fiery trial is God’s agent for our refining. Each is fitting them for our work as colaborers with Him. Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and each will add to the joy of our final triumph"...

..Having this in view, the test of our faith and patience will be cheerfully accepted rather than dreaded and avoided. Anxious to fulfill our obligation to the world, fixing our desire upon the approval of God,

..His servants are to fulfill every duty, irrespective of the fear or the favor of men."

Does this sound like an impossible requirement?? Remember and Claim this promise....

Matthew 19:26..."But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

[Richard Myers]

Amen brother Beacon! We have no excuse for sin, for God has provided a remedy that we might be transformed into His image. What a wonderful revelation of the Gospel message that we have in today's reading. As it was in the days of Jesus when He came to His people and they knew Him not, so it is today in His church. Israel was in a Laodicean condition as are we today. What brought Israel to that condition? It was false teaching, and so it is today in His church. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His Kingdom and His own character.

[Dorine]

The Sermon on the Mount presents the way to the kingdom of God in clear distinct lines. There is nothing mysterious about the teachings of Jesus. So why do so many reject the plain words of truth?

The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experience a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. A jealous regard for what is termed theological truth often accompanies a hatred of genuine truth as made manifest in life. The darkest chapters of history are burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religionists. The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. They thought themselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so-called orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory. {DA 309.2}

The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life. They have not believed and loved it, therefore they have not received the power and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men may profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their influence it is a curse to the world. {DA 309.3}

New blessings and insights come with each reading of this chapter.

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear Sister Dorine!   Profession of faith means nothing to God, He wants obedience that comes from a new heart. It is God's grace that gives us a new heart, and then our repentance will be a true repentance.

We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves, but this is not repentance real sorrow for sin is a result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Savior, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh, and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.

[Philip T]

True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts. Our profession of faith may proclaim the theory of religion, but it is our practical piety that holds forth the word of truth. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example,—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world.

Amen Sister Dorine, and Brother Richard.

There was so much in this chapter that strikes the heart, I found this quotation most striking. We do not shape our own character, but rather it is shaped from within by God as we surrender our lives to Him, Jesus then works to complete the good work he has begun in us. And unless we are showing forth this transformation in our lives, shinning forth God's character that is now ours to the world around us, we are not shinning forth God's love to the world. It is God's transformation of our character that we should be seeking, not our own transformation of self.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

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

What is character? Our thoughts and feelings that spring from our motives that lead to our actions are what constitute our character, and we need Jesus CONTINUALLY to have His character wrought out in our lives, blotting out our sins as we continually surrender fully to Him, as He is able to keep us from falling, so that all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be radiating from within and shining upon the life path of all around!

"True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts. Our profession of faith may proclaim the theory of religion, but it is our practical piety that holds forth the word of truth. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example,—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world." {The Desire of Ages, page 307, paragraph 1}

When we have Jesus living in us, how can we not show forth His glorious praise? Let us allow His light to shine out from our lives to bless others today!

[Richard Myers]

True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts. Our profession of faith may proclaim the theory of religion, but it is our practical piety that holds forth the word of truth. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example,—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world.

 We do not shape our own character, but rather it is shaped from within by God as we surrender our lives to Him, Jesus then works to complete the good work he has begun in us. And unless we are showing forth this transformation in our lives, shinning forth God's character that is now ours to the world around us, we are not shinning forth God's love to the world. It is God's transformation of our character that we should be seeking, not our own transformation of self.

Amen Brother Philip. It is Christ not I that has the power to apply to our effort. But, where issue lies most importantly is that there are two kinds of righteousness in Biblical terms, imputed and imparted. In your quote, we are looking at imparted righteousness as I understand. Imputed stands in place of ours for past sins that we cannot undo. And, for sins that we do not know are sins (some but not all). Imparted is not in place of ours, but is actually given to us, imparted.  How? First, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we are given love, joy, and peace plus all of the other fruits of the Spirit, not one is missing if truly converted. These are imparted not imputed. As above they radiate from within because they come from the heart which is now the dwelling place of God's representative, the Holy Spirit. So with the mind, "let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus. We have given our wills to God and He is in control of the mind and heart with our permission, desire. So, what happens to our outward actions and words? The heart is pure and holy, so the motives are pure and holy. Thus, we may keep the wrong day, but for the right reason we think. God's imputed righteousness covers this sin if we do not understand.

As we obey what we know to be right  because we love God and He is giving us the power to keep the law, we are forming habits which are character. It is true it all begins in the heart, but we are cooperating with God and when the trial comes, it requires effort on our part, and we must cling to Jesus, and our character is made stronger. We cannot do it without God, it radiates from within, but we must do our part in order to grow in sanctification empowered by God. Thus, we are becoming more fit for heaven while always being obedient. I know I am preaching to the choir, but there are so very many who do not understand this important subject. Thank you for allowing me to comment.

Lastly, if we do not keep our eyes on Jesus, which Jesus does not force, we will not have His power to resist temptation. Thus, it all begins with yielding to the Spirit's prompt to not forget Jesus, to drink His blood and eat His flesh daily. For man needs grace for each day.

Have a blessed Sabbath dear friends.