Amen, Brother Beacon!!

What did Jesus first need to go through, in order to save us?

"But before the crown must come the cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as king, but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference with Jesus. Bearing the weakness of humanity, and burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone in the midst of men. As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him, He was in loneliness of spirit, in a world that knew Him not. Even His loved disciples, absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes, had not comprehended the mystery of His mission. He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven; but in the world that He had created, He was in solitude. Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: 'Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.' Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview." {The Desire of Ages, page 422, paragraph 2}

Christ offers us His kingdom today to be established in our hearts as we surrender fully to Him; all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest in our lives as we are strengthened by grace through faith to obey God out of an intelligent appreciation of His loveliness of character! Let us appreciate all that Jesus did for us on earth and all He is doing for us now as our High Priest in the sanctuary in heaven, for He is SOON to return as our King!!

Amen my dear brothers! It is a hard lesson to learn, but to be partakers in the sufferings of Jesus is the highest honor and the most weighty trust God can give to us.  When we understand, we will glory in our tribulation knowing it will increase our ability to rightly represent Jesus and even more important we will in the midst of the battle reveal the love of God to those whom we are witnesses of the power of God's grace.

     It was to Peter a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly, that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. The disciple shrank from fellowship with his Lord in suffering. But in the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its blessing. Long afterward, when his active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he wrote, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12, 13. 

     Jesus now explained to His disciples that His own life of self-abnegation was an example of what theirs should be. Calling about Him, with the disciples, the people who had been lingering near, He said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." The cross was associated with the power of Rome. It was the instrument of the most cruel and humiliating form of death. The lowest criminals were required to bear the cross to the place of execution; and often as it was about to be laid upon their shoulders, they resisted with desperate violence, until they were overpowered, and the instrument of torture was bound upon them. But Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their submission to the most bitter humiliation,--submission even unto death for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour's words have pictured. But all this He had accepted for them. Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desired while we were lost. He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame. He who was rich in heaven's priceless treasure, became poor, that through His poverty we might be rich. We are to follow in the path He trod. 

Amen my dear brother! We live to glorify our Lord. All who are filled with the Holy Spirit will reveal the fruits of the Spirit and thus glorify God. A good tree cannot help but glorify God, there is no bad fruit on a good tree, no matter who teaches otherwise. Conversion brings forth a new life where there is  no known sin. It is true that one may allow his mind to wander away from Jesus. What happens then? We end up in the water just as did Peter when his eyes turned back to his friends still in the boat. We do not believe in once saved always saved. Moses sinned and as a result God laid him to rest that none could say, "even Moses sinned." Never do we hear this from the false teachers.

Where is Jesus when we sin? Where was Jesus when Peter sinned? Jesus does not forsake us, He came to save us, even if we sin after conversion. I say this not to lead you to sin, but to encourage you that if you sin, we still have an Advocate, Jesus Christ who stands at the door of your heart wanting back in. Soon, Jesus will throw down His censor. Why? Because there will be no more forgiveness of sin. He will have finished His work in the sanctuary. There will be no more forgiveness extended to the sinner. He who is holy will remain holy and he who sins will forever remain filthy.  The new birth does not guarantee salvation. We must die to self daily as Paul taught. "I die daily." Each day God's grace taken into the heart produces a new heart which is a heart cleansed whiter than snow. Be aware of the Pharisees and Sadducees  who teach otherwise.

  When the message of truth is presented in our day, there are many who, like the Jews, cry, Show us a sign. Work us a miracle. Christ wrought no miracle at the demand of the Pharisees. He wrought no miracle in the wilderness in answer to Satan's insinuations. He does not impart to us power to vindicate ourselves or to satisfy the demands of unbelief and pride. But the gospel is not without a sign of its divine origin. Is it not a miracle that we can break from the bondage of Satan? Enmity against Satan is not natural to the human heart; it is implanted by the grace of God. When one who has been controlled by a stubborn, wayward will is set free, and yields himself wholeheartedly to the drawing of God's heavenly agencies, a miracle is wrought; so also when a man who has been under strong delusion comes to understand moral truth. Every time a soul is converted, and learns to love God and keep His commandments, the promise of God is fulfilled, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Ezekiel 36:26. The change in human hearts, the transformation of human characters, is a miracle that reveals an ever-living Saviour, working to rescue souls. A consistent life in Christ is a great miracle. In the preaching of the word of God, the sign that should be manifest now and always is the presence of the Holy Spirit, to make the word a regenerating power to those that hear. This is God's witness before the world to the divine mission of His Son. 

It is so very sad to listen to teachers who teach otherwise. Today, there are those who tell us about the character of the 144,000, but deny that we can be transformed today, that Christ "imparts" His character to us today. The change in character at conversion is God's greatest miracle!! Enmity against Satan is not natural to the human heart; it is implanted by the grace of God. It is imparted to us when we love the Lord our God  with the whole heart.

Amen dear brother!! It is so very sad that many who profess to serve Christ have never experienced the joy of helping others and pointing them to Jesus. The love, joy, and peace that God wants to give is in and of itself reward enough for giving up the things of this world.

     In faith the woman of Phoenicia flung herself against the barriers that had been piled up between Jew and Gentile. Against discouragement, regardless of appearances that might have led her to doubt, she trusted the Saviour's love. It is thus that Christ desires us to trust in Him. The blessings of salvation are for every soul. Nothing but his own choice can prevent any man from becoming a partaker of the promise in Christ by the gospel.

She was a very smart woman! And free from the pride that would have denied her prayer for her daughter. The leaders in Israel appear for what they are in contrast to the faith of Phonenician woman. Let us be smart and learn from her example!