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51

The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 13, 2023, 07:41:48 AM »

Why did Jesus do what He did? It was all out of love! Jesus loves to see happy, godly marriages and happy families experiencing His will in their lives. Yet in all of His interactions with people in various life seasons, including when He was at the marriage feast, He sought to point their thoughts up to heavenly things that are eternal. As we surrender our whole heart to Jesus, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will flow in our lives as are empowered by God to live in true obedience to God's commandments! What a blessing it is to look to Jesus and grow more like Him day by day!

Jesus reproved self-indulgence in all its forms, yet He was social in His nature. He accepted the hospitality of all classes, visiting the homes of the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and seeking to elevate their thoughts from questions of commonplace life to those things that are spiritual and eternal. He gave no license to dissipation, and no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct; yet He found pleasure in scenes of innocent happiness, and by His presence sanctioned the social gathering. A Jewish marriage was an impressive occasion, and its joy was not displeasing to the Son of man. By attending this feast, Jesus honored marriage as a divine institution.

If we value what God values, then we get to experience the joy of the Lord! While the world seeks to corrupt and confuse the very things God gave for our happiness (especially marriage and the Sabbath, both established in Eden), Jesus sets the perfect example to keep things in their proper perspective! He hallowed the marriage relation by His presence at the wedding as recorded in John 2 and showed that He is Lord of the Sabbath by keeping it according to God's word! While we can gladly look forward to heaven, God desires us in this life to be happy, peaceful and obedient as the kind of witnesses that reflect His character in a way to make His kingdom and service appear attractive--as it really is! Loving and lovable Christians are a some of the most powerful witnesses in favor of the reality of true Christianity!

52

The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 12, 2023, 06:56:29 AM »

By surrendering fully to Christ, let us enter into His experience, for this alone will enable the soul to have all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in the life, leading to true obedience to all of God's commandments! Then the witness of such a life will be winsome like Jesus, wooing souls to heaven in God's appointed way!

The teaching of Christ was the expression of an inwrought conviction and experience, and those who learn of Him become teachers after the divine order. The word of God, spoken by one who is himself sanctified through it, has a life-giving power that makes it attractive to the hearers, and convicts them that it is a living reality. When one has received the truth in the love of it, he will make this manifest in the persuasion of his manner and the tones of his voice. He makes known that which he himself has heard, seen, and handled of the word of life, that others may have fellowship with him through the knowledge of Christ. His testimony, from lips touched with a live coal from off the altar, is truth to the receptive heart, and works sanctification upon the character.

God desires to sanctify and make us holy, for happiness is the result of holiness, enabling us to be more like Jesus each day by beholding His loveliness of character!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 11, 2023, 06:35:32 AM »

We all face temptation, which is a solicitation sin--to do something against God's will and word. But we can resist each temptation by relying upon God's word through fully surrendering to Jesus as a personal Savior! When Christ abides in us, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives as we are empowered to obey His law of love up to the light of truth we have come to understand.

So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us. Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:7, 8. We cannot save ourselves from the tempter's power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand in our own strength, we shall become a prey to his devices; but “the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10. Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.

Let us always find refuge in Jesus, and not yield even by a thought to the devil's lies and temptations!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 10, 2023, 04:35:13 AM »

Trust God's love, and obey His word. If we really believe that God loves us, and means to do us good, we can rely fully on Him in every trial and temptation and walk in harmony with His word as we surrender our life fully into His hands. All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will flow forth from a life that is unreservedly and completely surrendered to God so that true obedience up to the light God has revealed becomes the delight of the soul!

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.

As in Scripture we see Jesus faithfully enduring every trial by relying on His Father's love, we can be encouraged to do the same by abiding in Him. God loves us and never changes, so whatever you face today, remember that if you are truly converted, He will give you the strength and grace to do what is right in each situation because through prayer and reliance on God's promises, He will instruct and teach you in the way you should go!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 09, 2023, 03:33:13 AM »

Happy Sabbath!

As we reflect on the deep significance of Christ's baptism, we see that though He would be misunderstood on earth, He knew His mission clearly from the Scriptures, and pressed on in the way of faith to give us the gift of salvation. We can be so thankful that no matter how sinful or imperfect we may be, the Lord holds out to us the offer of eternal life as we surrender the whole heart to Jesus! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will come into the life that is yielded unreservedly to God's will, for God makes it possible for the converted soul to be cleansed from sin and live in harmony with His law of love!

Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank. A new and important era was opening before Him. He was now, upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of His life. Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired. He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor. He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub. No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude.

Though Jesus walked alone on earth, He trusted the Father's love and chose to believe His mission must be fulfilled in the very way specified by the Scriptures in becoming our sin bearer, dying as our sacrifice, to rise from the grave and offer us His victory over sin and death. As we learn of Him and internalize our mission to give the gospel to the world (Matthew 24:14, Revelation 14:6-12), we find comfort in Jesus' selfless example, as His love constraints us to be willing to go to the ends of the earth in accordance with God's will and plan! Jesus is coming again soon, and He calls all according to our talent and ability to help herald His everlasting gospel, both by the life we live the message we give in harmony with His inspiration!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 08, 2023, 07:04:06 AM »

Why is temperance so important? As we look at the experience of John, the forerunner of Christ, we see that God desires the minds and bodies of His people to be cleansed from defiling addictions and lusts that would becloud the mind and make it impossible to discern the significance of eternal realities.

As a prophet, John was “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” In preparing the way for Christ's first advent, he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our Lord's second coming. The world is given to self-indulgence. Errors and fables abound. Satan's snares for destroying souls are multiplied. All who would perfect holiness in the fear of God must learn the lessons of temperance and self-control. The appetites and passions must be held in subjection to the higher powers of the mind. This self-discipline is essential to that mental strength and spiritual insight which will enable us to understand and to practice the sacred truths of God's word. For this reason temperance finds its place in the work of preparation for Christ's second coming.

Jesus is coming again VERY SOON! Let us be temperate in all of our habits and choices, abstaining from all harmful things and moderately using that which is healthful. Laying aside alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, drugs, and unclean meat, while also seeking to replace animal flesh and dairy with plant foods that are healthier, God desires to have us make every choice in reference to His glory! With proper nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, fresh air, proper rest and trust in God, we can be living witnesses of God's healing power. While we face trials and tribulations in a fallen world, God calls upon us to keep His purposes foremost in our minds. "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). We are called to be holy, that the holy message God desires to give through us may rightly impress our minds and those who hear it (see Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Revelation 14:6-12).

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 07, 2023, 07:31:44 AM »

You have infinite value to God. Jesus sought to help all and reveal the Father's love in a way that people could understand. As we abide in Christ in a full-heart surrender, we can go and do likewise as we let the Holy Spirit manifest thorough us all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as we come into true obedience to all of God's commandments!

He taught all to look upon themselves as endowed with precious talents, which if rightly employed would secure for them eternal riches. He weeded all vanity from life, and by His own example taught that every moment of time is fraught with eternal results; that it is to be cherished as a treasure, and to be employed for holy purposes. He passed by no human being as worthless, but sought to apply the saving remedy to every soul. In whatever company He found Himself, He presented a lesson that was appropriate to the time and the circumstances. He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God. Often He met those who had drifted under Satan's control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear.

As we let Jesus weed all vanity from our lives, we can be filled with the intense purpose to proclaim the everlasting gospel to the whole world in preparation for Christ's soon return (see Revelation 14:6-12, Matthew 24:14). Such a purpose will give depth, stability and Christlike loveliness to the character as God's plans are fulfilled in the converted lives of His children!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 06, 2023, 05:57:45 AM »

By spending time with Jesus, we are SO BLESSED! Then we can go forth to bless others because being with Jesus changes us to  become more like Him! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives as we surrender fully to Christ and walk in humble, affectionate obedience to all of God's commandments!

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be “changed into the same image from glory to glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

God keeps His word. By beholding Christ, we will be changed. Not one need be lost if each will come to Jesus and let Him change our hearts, minds and lives as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in how God leads us day by day in preparation for heaven!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 05, 2023, 05:10:57 AM »

The power of example cannot be underestimated. Let us dwell more on Jesus--especially His early years and the character building experience He revealed!

Jesus is our example. There are many who dwell with interest upon the period of His public ministry, while they pass unnoticed the teaching of His early years. But it is in His home life that He is the pattern for all children and youth. The Saviour condescended to poverty, that He might teach how closely we in a humble lot may walk with God. He lived to please, honor, and glorify His Father in the common things of life. His work began in consecrating the lowly trade of the craftsmen who toil for their daily bread. He was doing God's service just as much when laboring at the carpenter's bench as when working miracles for the multitude. And every youth who follows Christ's example of faithfulness and obedience in His lowly home may claim those words spoken of Him by the Father through the Holy Spirit, “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth.” Isaiah 42:1.

As we look to Jesus, follow in His steps by complete surrender of our hearts, and walk in the path He knows is best for us, we can rejoice to let the Holy Spirit give us clean hearts whereby all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be flowing forth from our lives as we gladly obey God's commandments up to the light of truth He has revealed! Let us humbly seek to please God in all we say and do!

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The Life of Our Savior / Re: The Glory of God

« Last post by Sean James on December 04, 2023, 06:28:31 AM »

What is the next step? God knows! When we surrender fully to God and let Him lead us by faith in complete surrender, not only will our character experience have the infilling of all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, but we will be led in true obedience to His commandments as we follow His providence and plan for our lives! The wise men are a good example of following the light and walking where God led!

As by faith Abraham went forth at the call of God, “not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:; as by faith Israel followed the pillar of cloud to the Promised Land, so did these Gentiles go forth to find the promised Saviour. The Eastern country abounded in precious things, and the magi did not set out empty-handed. It was the custom to offer presents as an act of homage to princes or other personages of rank, and the richest gifts the land afforded were borne as an offering to Him in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. It was necessary to journey by night in order to keep the star in view; but the travelers beguiled the hours by repeating traditional sayings and prophetic utterances concerning the One they sought. At every pause for rest they searched the prophecies; and the conviction deepened that they were divinely guided. While they had the star before them as an outward sign, they had also the inward evidence of the Holy Spirit, which was impressing their hearts, and inspiring them with hope. The journey, though long, was a happy one to them.

Whether our journey in this earthly life is long or short, if we are walking where God leads, we can rejoice to soon see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven at His second coming!