Author Topic: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again  (Read 67031 times)

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Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2018, 07:42:55 AM »
Whenever I read scripture or SOP I ask myself the question, “What message does this reading have for the church today and for me in particular? I was impressed again with the prophecy of the rejected stone in reference to the building of the first temple yet has application for every generation.

"To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and faith in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation.”

But this same Rock will have a different effect on another group.

“To them which stumble at the word, being disobedient. “ “Christ is a rock of offense………And on ‘whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” “The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and their nation destroyed.”

“So it will be in the great final day, when judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God’s grace. Christ, their rock of offense will then appear to them as an avenging mountain. The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire. Because of love rejected, grace despised, the sinner will be destroyed.”

Why would anyone choose to be found in the second group? Why would anyone reject such love as is portrayed in the life of Jesus?
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #21 on: February 21, 2018, 08:26:09 AM »
Why would anyone reject Jesus? I appreciate your questions, Dorine. We see time and again that the answer is always the same--it is because of unbelief (which is manifest in all the other types of sin). Unbelief hardens the heart that should respond; unbelief keeps us from realizing our present privileges and opportunities in God's plan for us. But unbelief can be overcome. If we come to Christ as we are with a willingness to be made willing, beholding the loveliness of Jesus and surrendering all we have and are to Him, He can uproot our unbelief and give us a new heart.

I, too, was impressed by the thought of Christ as our Cornerstone:

"To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and faith in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation."  {The Desire of Ages, page 599, paragraph 3}

As I was reflecting more on this passage, the Holy Spirit impressed my mind with the realization that the experience repeats in each of our lives who repent and turn to Christ. Maybe before our family and friends accepted us because of our similarity to them, or our complicity with the sins they were akin to. But when we turn to Christ, our very presence can at times be a "stone of stumbling" to those who once knew us before we were converted, because now our unwillingness to engage in what is sinful becomes a rebuke to them. We are seeking to bless others and live selflessly, which runs counter to the entire tenor of the world and those whom we may love who are still of its spirit. Let us not be discouraged. Let us look to Christ and the way He was treated, and remember that we are treated better than was He. It is as we realize the privilege of being able to be partakers of His sufferings that we will gladly bear the reproach that comes to us on account of us becoming living stones in His temple, souls who are imbued with all of the fruits of the Spirit (not one missing), for this is the unmistakable evidence that we are partakers of the divine nature. We need Jesus continually, and it is only by a continual faith experience with Christ that we may bless others, even though many may choose to reject us, as Jesus also faced rejection. Glory in tribulations, because through them God is working out His purpose in our lives and revealing His character to those around us. Praise God for His love for us in Christ!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #22 on: February 21, 2018, 09:16:39 AM »
Amen, Pastor Sean. There is no greater sin than unbelief. And, we can learn to believe with the whole heart. We must feed upon Jesus. He is drawing all to Himself, but we must cease resisting that drawing. And, we will if we will learn of Him. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating His love. For beholding we shall become changed. But, more pointedly, to answer Sister Dorine's question, there are two reasons why many will not go to Jesus. They are unwilling to make the sacrifice they know is required, and they are unwilling to give up their pride. Self does not give up easily. Satan is there to tempt and bless in order to achieve his purpose. And, our fallen nature is strong and grows stronger with sin.

What is to be gained by giving up pride and making a sacrifice? A sin polluted heart is exchanged for eternal life and a life in which there is love, joy, peace, long-suffering. gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

In this reading today we find a revelation of God that many do not want to see. God is not only merciful, but He is just. Being just does not do away with mercy. Mercy has its end when the heart is hardened to the point of not being able to hear the Spirit any longer. Many believe we ought not fear God. But, our message includes "fear God". Why would anyone fear such a loving God?

     He who had Himself given these prophecies now for the last time repeated the warning. In fulfillment of prophecy the people had proclaimed Jesus king of Israel. He had received their homage, and accepted the office of king. In this character He must act. He knew that His efforts to reform a corrupt priesthood would be in vain; nevertheless His work must be done; to an unbelieving people the evidence of His divine mission must be given.
     Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated court of the temple. All eyes were turned toward Him. Priest and ruler, Pharisee and Gentile, looked with astonishment and awe upon Him who stood before them with the majesty of heaven's King. Divinity flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had never manifested before. Those standing nearest Him drew as far away as the crowd would permit. Except for a few of His disciples, the Saviour stood alone. Every sound was hushed. The deep silence seemed unbearable. Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest: "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple. The displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire. With authority He commanded, "Take these things hence." John 2:16. 


For those who love Him supremely, there is nothing to fear, lest we forget how God has led us in the past. The meek and lowly ones will be used by God to finish the work and hasten the soon coming of Christ. Moses when being educated in Egypt had much he had to unlearn. It took time for him to give up self and to mature into the leader that God could use. It was through trials and hardship that he was prepared to lead Israel out of Egypt.

     It was not God’s will to deliver His people by warfare, as Moses thought, but by His own mighty power, that the glory might be ascribed to Him alone. Moses was not prepared for his great work. He had yet to learn the same lesson of faith that Abraham and Jacob had been taught—not to rely upon human strength or wisdom but upon the power of God for the fulfillment of His promises. In the school of self-denial and hardship he was to learn patience, to temper his passions. His own heart must be fully in harmony with God before he could teach the knowledge of His will to Israel and exercise a fatherly care over all who needed his help.  EP 171.


Thus we have been given a map for preparing a people to receive Jesus at His second coming. We have yet lessons to learn. Not the least of which are that our sacrifice is so very little compared to that which Jesus has made, and that there can be no hidden pride in the heart. We must give the whole heart to Jesus so He can cleanse it from all selfishness. He has promised us new hearts on which is written the law of  God. What a promise!!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #23 on: May 19, 2018, 03:26:46 AM »
   "In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it "a sure foundation." The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a "tried stone." Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security." {The Desire of Ages, page 598, paragraph 2}

We can come and cast everything upon Jesus--and not think we have to take up those burdens again without Him upholding us step by step! Let us yield the whole heart to Jesus for Him to make it pure by His Spirit, and find the relief that only He can give. When we experience that relief from the clamors of our fallen nature, we experience the divine nature that keeps the body under, so that even though tempted, we need not revert back to our old patterns of sin and selfishness. Christ in the heart is our continual need!   
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #24 on: May 19, 2018, 05:18:05 AM »
"The outer court of the temple was like a vast cattle yard. With the cries of the animals and the sharp chinking of coin was mingled the sound of angry altercation between traffickers, and among them were heard the voices of men in sacred office."

Compare this setting to the following.

"The sound of these happy, unrestrained voices was an offense to the rulers of the temple. They set about putting a stop to such demonstrations. They represented to the people that the house of God was desecrated by the feet of the children and the shouts of rejoicing."

Being blind and not able to see through our eyes is one thing but being blind in heart is quite another.  When our eyes do not see, we still have other senses to rely on but continual, willful blindness of heart closes all avenues for the Holy Spirit to work. What a fearful condition to be found in.  But what a beautiful picture of  Jesus sitting with the children, blessing them, listening to their praises, some falling asleep in His arms, as He brings comfort and hope and healing  to all who are there.  That's the group I want to be in. I love my Jesus. There is joy and peace in His presence.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2018, 12:21:39 PM »
Amen Sister Dorine.  What a contrast!  There is another contrast presented in today's reading. The character revealed in the priests as that seen in Christ. They were to be types of Christ, but misled the people. They were not reflections of Jesus.

I like so much how Jesus revealed wisdom in helping them to see their condition. He did not mean to humiliate them, but he did want them and the people to see the character and error of the priests.

     Repairing to the temple where He was teaching, they proceeded to question Him: "By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?" They expected Him to claim that His authority was from God. Such an assertion they intended to deny. But Jesus met them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject, and He made His reply to them conditional on their answering this question. "The baptism of John," He said, "whence was it? from heaven, or of men?"
     The priests saw that they were in a dilemma from which no sophistry could extricate them. If they said that John's baptism was from heaven, their inconsistency would be made apparent. Christ would say, Why have ye not then believed on him? John had testified of Christ, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. If the priests believed John's testimony, how could they deny the Messiahship of Christ? If they declared their real belief, that John's ministry was of men, they would bring upon themselves a storm of indignation; for the people believed John to be a prophet.
     With intense interest the multitude awaited the decision. They knew that the priests had professed to accept the ministry of John, and they expected them to acknowledge without a question that he was sent from God. But after conferring secretly together, the priests decided not to commit themselves. Hypocritically professing ignorance, they said, "We cannot tell." "Neither tell I you," said Christ, "by what authority I do these things."   
     Scribes, priests, and rulers were all silenced. Baffled and disappointed, they stood with lowering brows, not daring to press further questions upon Christ. By their cowardice and indecision they had in a great measure forfeited the respect of the people, who now stood by, amused to see these proud, self-righteous men defeated.   
     All these sayings and doings of Christ were important, and their influence was to be felt in an ever-increasing degree after His crucifixion and ascension. Many of those who had anxiously awaited the result of the questioning of Jesus were finally to become His disciples, first drawn toward Him by His words on that eventful day. The scene in the temple court was never to fade from their minds. The contrast between Jesus and the high priest as they talked together was marked. The proud dignitary of the temple was clothed in rich and costly garments. Upon his head was a glittering tiara. His bearing was majestic, his hair and his long flowing beard were silvered by age. His appearance awed the beholders. Before this august personage stood the Majesty of heaven, without adornment or display. His garments were travel stained; His face was pale, and expressed a patient sadness; yet written there were dignity and benevolence that contrasted strangely with the proud, self-confident, and angry air of the high priest. Many of those who witnessed the words and deeds of Jesus in the temple from that time enshrined Him in their hearts as a prophet of God. But as the popular feeling turned in His favor, the hatred of the priests toward Jesus increased. The wisdom by which He escaped the snares set for His feet, being a new evidence of His divinity, added fuel to their wrath.
     In His contest with the rabbis, it was not Christ's purpose to humiliate His opponents. He was not glad to see them in a hard place. He had an important lesson to teach. He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to be entangled in the net they had spread for Him. Their acknowledged ignorance in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak, and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position, adding another warning to the many already given. 


Such a simple and powerful response to their attempt to entrap Jesus!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #26 on: August 14, 2018, 05:16:32 AM »
God does not change. "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). God's revelation of mercy and justice is the same reality that in all of its glory will save the righteous and destroy the wicked. The only difference is based upon the character--the thoughts and feelings combined that shape us into who we are, from which flows all of our actions. When we realize that our habitual thoughts, feelings and deeds are out of harmony with God's holy law, we need to flee to Jesus, and He can set us free from the power of sin and give us a new heart and a new mind, cleansed by His blood, and imbued with His Holy Spirit so that all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives--not one will be missing. Apart from a living connection with Christ, the character is still selfish, and we cannot be saved when Jesus returns in all of His glory. But if we are willing to be made willing, and to fall upon Christ and be healed from our selfishness, then Christ will live in us and we, cooperating with Him, will be changed from glory to glory, from character to character!

"And on 'whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.' The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and their nation destroyed. Their glory would be broken, and scattered as the dust before the wind. And what was it that destroyed the Jews? It was the rock which, had they built upon it, would have been their security. It was the goodness of God despised, the righteousness spurned, the mercy slighted. Men set themselves in opposition to God, and all that would have been their salvation was turned to their destruction. All that God ordained unto life they found to be unto death. In the Jews' crucifixion of Christ was involved the destruction of Jerusalem. The blood shed upon Calvary was the weight that sank them to ruin for this world and for the world to come. So it will be in the great final day, when judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God's grace. Christ, their rock of offense, will then appear to them as an avenging mountain. The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire. Because of love rejected, grace despised, the sinner will be destroyed." {The Desire of Ages, page 600, paragraph 2}
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #27 on: August 14, 2018, 07:23:24 AM »
"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it "a sure foundation." The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a "tried stone." Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security." 

I find these words so comforting and assuring as I start this new day. He has given all, endured all and accepts all who come to Him in total surrender. What a Saviour. The matchless charms of Christ are seen throughout His life. His finger is not pointing at us watching for our every failure. His arms are constantly open beckoning us to come and lay our failures at His feet.  In return is freedom from guilt and a heart of peace. What does this world have to offer that is worth more than this?
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #28 on: November 09, 2018, 07:39:04 AM »
Whatever your burdens and struggles, come lay them upon Jesus. His heart can fully bear all you lay upon Him. He will give you grace, healing love, and righteousness in the place of fear, doubt, selfishness, and unbelief. Jesus has a perfect plan and path for our lives, and as we trust Him, He never disappoints us. Even the patient process by which He trains us for heaven is part of His great plan for our blessing and the blessing of all who see what He can do with and through lives that are fully surrendered to Him.

"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it 'a sure foundation.' The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a 'tried stone.' Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security." {The Desire of Ages, page 598, paragraph 2}

Rest is the outflow of a soul yielded fully to Christ, and this rest always leads to His earnest activity for the saving of those around us, that they, too, may have the rest that comes from a full surrender. Such a surrender is manifest by the fruits of His Spirit being revealed in our lives without one missing--so others may be attracted to Christ for all He truly is! 
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #29 on: November 09, 2018, 10:16:39 AM »
Amen Pastor Sean. When you read these beautiful truths about Jesus it is hard to believe that anyone claiming to be Christian would choose to disbelieve what He says. Just as they did in the time of Christ many are repeating the same sentiments.

As important as it is for us to acknowledge and proclaim the love of God it is also important to understand where one stands when they don't obey.  I've been hearing from those around me things like "God's love and mercy is to too strong to destroy anything."  That includes the flood and the fire at the end of time. This is coming from those I would never suspect to be thinking that way. Even among the 'conservatives', I am hearing strange things.

By many illustrations and repeated warnings, Jesus showed what would be the result to the Jews of rejecting the Son of God. In these words He was addressing all in every age who refuse to receive Him as their Redeemer. Every warning is for them. The desecrated temple, the disobedient son, the false husbandmen, the contemptuous builders, have their counterpart in the experience of every sinner. Unless he repent, the doom which they foreshadowed will be his." 

It need not be this way. God has opened the way for every sinner no matter how deep he has gone into sin to be accepted fully into the family of God. This chapter points the way out very clearly.  All of self needs to be surrendered and with an open contrite and obedient heart, we may come boldly into the presence of God. We do the work of submitting; He does the work of cleansing.  Would we want it to be any other way?

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #30 on: November 09, 2018, 09:24:04 PM »
Amen! His part is immeasurably large, our part is immeasurably small. Without our part, we shall be forever lost.

I like seeing how Jesus dealt with people, especially the Jewish leaders who were in apostasy.

     In His contest with the rabbis, it was not Christ's purpose to humiliate His opponents. He was not glad to see them in a hard place. He had an important lesson to teach. He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to be entangled in the net they had spread for Him. Their acknowledged ignorance in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak, and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position, adding another warning to the many already given. 


He "mortified His enemies. Yet, He took no pleasure for what would always be the result when brought into contest with the false leaders.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #31 on: February 04, 2019, 03:56:23 AM »
When you see how sinful you are, do you try to hide it and pretend it is not there? That is never the solution! Flee to Jesus!! Whatever our sin-struggle, we have an all-powerful Savior in Jesus. Nothing is too hard for Him to tackle in our sinful, broken lives. He loves making miracles out of messes, and giving beauty for ashes. When you let Him build you because you have first fallen upon Him and been broken of the love of sin (and instead received the love of Christ that renews the heart and mind), then you have a testimony to share! When we realize what the power of the gospel of His grace has done to take us from degradation and sin to the joy of His salvation, we need continually to keep the focus on Jesus, only letting it be known what He has saved us from for the purpose of it being seen how GOOD God truly is! Paul the Apostle often shared his testimony of how Christ had saved him from being a blasphemer and a murderer--only magnifying the grace of God that was able to save Him! As we become bold to share what Christ has done in our lives, we need not fear what man may say, for we have a Savior who has washed all our guilt away!

 "To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and faith in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation." {The Desire of Ages, page 599, paragraph 3} 

The other day the Lord gave me a way of realizing how we can live the Christian life--either as a life of faith working by love, or doubt working by fear. If the reason we do things is from a renewed heart made clean by the blood of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will find His faith is made active in beholding His love. If we look away from Christ to our sinful selves (for the flesh never gets converted, and we need to realize a continual victory over the tendency to listen to the world, the flesh, and the devil), then we may be professing to walk by faith while really dwelling in the shadows of doubt working by fear. How can we tell the difference? "When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire Ages, page 676, paragraph 4} Such a full surrender of the whole heart always produces fruit, because we are living by the divine nature offered us in His precious promises! 2 Peter 1:4. God calls for us to trust Him entirely and to go where He sends us, to do what He calls us to do--letting Him take care of the consequences! God is faithful!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #32 on: February 04, 2019, 07:08:43 AM »
Amen Pastor Sean. Such is the power of the grace of God. And, for those who continue to resist His love, we read today. There is an end to grace. There is a last warning given. Was that just for the Jews, or is it applicable today?

     He who had Himself given these prophecies now for the last time repeated the warning. In fulfillment of prophecy the people had proclaimed Jesus king of Israel. He had received their homage, and accepted the office of king. In this character He must act. He knew that His efforts to reform a corrupt priesthood would be in vain; nevertheless His work must be done; to an unbelieving people the evidence of His divine mission must be given.
     Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated court of the temple. All eyes were turned toward Him. Priest and ruler, Pharisee and Gentile, looked with astonishment and awe upon Him who stood before them with the majesty of heaven's King. Divinity flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had never manifested before. Those standing nearest Him drew as far away as the crowd would permit. Except for a few of His disciples, the Saviour stood alone. Every sound was hushed. The deep silence seemed unbearable. Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest: "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple. The displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire. With authority He commanded, "Take these things hence." John 2:16.


Unlike Israel, the organized church will see revival and reformation, but not all will be revived. The last warning is sounding today.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #33 on: February 04, 2019, 09:34:29 AM »
"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it "a sure foundation." The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a "tried stone." Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security."

To an open, humble heart these are the most comforting words. All He asks is for a totally surrendered heart and He will be all this to us. I grew up having to be very independent and this truth has been a battle for me. But He is patiently showing me the better way as I daily surrender my life to Him. One of the most important things I've had to learn is to not run away from God when I fall. That's the very time I need to run to Him. It is never safe outside of the will of God.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #34 on: February 04, 2019, 10:03:19 AM »
"IIt was the goodness of God despised, the righteousness spurned, the mercy slighted. Men set themselves in opposition to God, and all that would have been their salvation was turned to their destruction. All that God ordained unto life they found to be unto death. In the Jews' crucifixion of Christ was involved the destruction of Jerusalem. The blood shed upon Calvary was the weight that sank them to ruin for this world and for the world to come. So it will be in the great final day, when judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God's grace. Christ, their rock of offense, will then appear to them as an avenging mountain. The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire. Because of love rejected, grace despised, the sinner will be destroyed."
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 ]In Hebrews 3:14-16 God's word says.... For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 while it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

"By many illustrations and repeated warnings, Jesus showed what would be the result to the Jews of rejecting the Son of God. In these words He was addressing all in every age who refuse to receive Him as their Redeemer. Every warning is for them. The desecrated temple, the disobedient son, the false husbandmen, the contemptuous builders, have their counterpart in the experience of every sinner. Unless he repent, the doom which they foreshadowed will be his." 

God's call is the same to us today as it ever has been.  "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel 18:31
Look up and listen for the shout.

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #35 on: May 01, 2019, 08:24:44 PM »
"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it "a sure foundation." The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a "tried stone." Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test.

The Word of God says in....

Psalm 37:9  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

Isaiah 30:18  And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.


"He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security. "
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #36 on: May 02, 2019, 04:42:03 AM »
Amen, Brother Beacon! I, too, was impressed by the paragraph that you first shared:

"In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it 'a sure foundation.' The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a 'tried stone.' Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security." {The Desire of Ages, page 598, paragraph 2}

As we learn to trust Christ fully, we are restored fully into His image. He does not disappoint our sincere desire to glorify His name, to fulfill His will, and to have all of the fruits of the Spirit manifest in our lives without one missing. Jesus Himself has made promises to us that cannot fail. Let us abide in Him so He can do what He loves to do: transform sinners into saints with you and me as a living exhibition of how great His love truly is!!!

"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #37 on: May 02, 2019, 07:55:10 PM »
Amen Pastor Sean. If we will accept the truth about who we are and our great need of Jesus, He will bring us to repentance and salvation. We need His grace daily, even moment by moment.

Why did the temple need to be cleansed again? Because the nation continued to reject the truth. The leaders were working against God. How did Jesus deal with this? He showed them that they were in rebellion and were unfaithful shepherds. He led them to condemn themselves. One day all will see that Jesus was right. Every knee shall bow before Jesus acknowledging Him to be the King of Kings. Jesus did not rejoice in their defeat, but wanted them to see the truth.

 In His contest with the rabbis, it was not Christ's purpose to humiliate His opponents. He was not glad to see them in a hard place. He had an important lesson to teach. He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to be entangled in the net they had spread for Him. Their acknowledged ignorance in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak, and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position, adding another warning to the many already given. 
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #38 on: July 27, 2019, 07:45:50 PM »
"Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated court of the temple. All eyes were turned toward Him. Priest and ruler, Pharisee and Gentile, looked with astonishment and awe upon Him who stood before them with the majesty of heaven's King. Divinity flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had never manifested before. Those standing nearest Him drew as far away as the crowd would permit. Except for a few of His disciples, the Saviour stood alone. Every sound was hushed. The deep silence seemed unbearable. Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest: "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple. The displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire. With authority He commanded, "Take these things hence." John 2:16"

"In His contest with the rabbis, it was not Christ's purpose to humiliate His opponents. He was not glad to see them in a hard place. He had an important lesson to teach. He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to be entangled in the net they had spread for Him. Their acknowledged ignorance in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak, and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position, adding another warning to the many already given.

As we read the words of this chapter we can again see the earnest compassion of Jesus as He over and over again pleads with them to see where their course of action was leading. From Genesis to Revelation the message is the same as that recorded in Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" The choice is ours!  How will we choose to respond?
Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--65--The Temple Cleansed Again
« Reply #39 on: July 28, 2019, 06:23:39 AM »
Amen, Brother Beacon!! I choose Christ, the only source of life!! May we realize our continual need of Him!!

God has a way to fully harmonize our lives with His—by having us build upon Christ as our foundation! Full surrender to Christ is truest freedom!!

“In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself. He called it ‘a sure foundation.’ The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a ‘tried stone.’ Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam’s guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security.” {The Desire of Ages, page 598, paragraph 2}

Let us go forth this day to abide in Christ and have our characters fully transformed by Christ from glory to glory, for all of the fruits of the Spirit will be manifest in our lives without one missing as long as Christ reigns in our hearts by faith! This experience grows sweeter every day!!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}