The Glory of God

[Sean James]

The cross did it. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were so moved by what Christ experienced on the cross that they were "all in" for Jesus. They chose that FULL SURRENDER! Are you "all in" for Jesus by afresh looking in faith to His crucifixion? Knowing that the One who died for us is also risen and soon to return to take His children home to heaven, let us be deeply be in earnest to share the everlasting gospel so many more can experience the transformation of character that can only come when the truth sets us free and we have Christ abiding in us, the hope of glory! Without one missing, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in the life of one who lives by faith on the Son of God in affectionate obedience to all of His commandments up to the light God has revealed!

Nicodemus, when he saw Jesus lifted up on the cross, remembered His words spoken by night in the Mount of Olives: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14, 15. On that Sabbath, when Christ lay in the grave, Nicodemus had opportunity for reflection. A clearer light now illuminated his mind, and the words which Jesus had spoken to him were no longer mysterious. He felt that he had lost much by not connecting himself with the Saviour during His life. Now he recalled the events of Calvary. The prayer of Christ for His murderers and His answer to the petition of the dying thief spoke to the heart of the learned councilor. Again he looked upon the Saviour in His agony; again he heard that last cry, “It is finished,” spoken like the words of a conqueror. Again he beheld the reeling earth, the darkened heavens, the rent veil, the shivered rocks, and his faith was forever established. The very event that destroyed the hopes of the disciples convinced Joseph and Nicodemus of the divinity of Jesus. Their fears were overcome by the courage of a firm and unwavering faith.

Don't be afraid of the future. Remember all that God has said and taught you from the word of God. Trust Him completely in full surrender continually. He will constrain you to the kind of service that is moved by love because He left heaven to take away your sin and give you a new life with Him that will span eternity. Praise God!!

[Sean James]

Christ did not stop being divine when He died on the cross. His humanity died, but divinity did not. Like a tree that goes dormant in winter, it is still alive. Jesus, still alive in His divinity, went to sleep in the grave, as He experienced the death of His human nature. By doing so, He defeated Satan, and in coming forth from the tomb by the divine original, unborrowed, underived life in Himself came forth in triumph. What Jesus did for us is exceedingly deep and precious. No one but Jesus could have accomplished such salvation for us. As fully God and fully man, Jesus has bridged the gap that sin has made and offers us His life and life more abundantly!

Seeing Jesus' infinite loveliness, our hearts are drawn to Him in true repentance to turn from the sins that have hurt God's heart; confessing and forsaking them in sincere prayer, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness. When the WHOLE HEART is yielded to Christ, supernaturally, our fallen nature can be crucified with Him and the divine nature accessible to us by God's promises will produce all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in a life of true obedience to God's commandments! Praise God that this is all because of Jesus!!

When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ's tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Saviour came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, “I lay down My life, that I might take it again.... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 10:17, 18; 2:19.

Soon Jesus is coming in the clouds of heaven to take His children home. Those who have trusted in Him as the resurrection and life are assured of an eternity with Him. Let the joy and singing begin!!

[Sean James]

Happy Thanksgiving! Grateful hearts are indeed fitting in light of Christ's resurrection!

Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that the eyes might be opened to behold Him, that the ears might listen to His voice! “Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen.” Bid them look not to Joseph's new tomb, that was closed with a great stone, and sealed with the Roman seal. Christ is not there. Look not to the empty sepulcher. Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless. Jesus lives, and because He lives, we shall live also. From grateful hearts, from lips touched with holy fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen! He lives to make intercession for us. Grasp this hope, and it will hold the soul like a sure, tried anchor. Believe, and thou shalt see the glory of God.

Let us surrender the whole heart to Christ, experiencing all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, and living in true obedience to all of God's commandments! We have so much to thank God for, knowing that His love is infinite and Jesus is now preparing a place for us in heaven!

[Sean James]

Try to imagine the joy that thrilled the hearts of the disciples as they truly grasped that Christ was ALIVE!

The night is dark, but the Sun of Righteousness is shining upon them. Their hearts leap for joy. They seem to be in a new world. Christ is a living Saviour. They no longer mourn over Him as dead. Christ is risen—over and over again they repeat it. This is the message they are carrying to the sorrowing ones. They must tell them the wonderful story of the walk to Emmaus. They must tell who joined them by the way. They carry the greatest message ever given to the world, a message of glad tidings upon which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.

As we center our hopes in Jesus for this life and the life to come, God gives us the grace we need to be able to overcome sin and abide in Jesus so that His character--all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing--will be revealed in the converted life manifesting affectionate obedience up to the light of truth God has revealed!

[Sean James]

Happy Sabbath! Are you willing to believe without seeing?

Jesus accepted his acknowledgment, but gently reproved his unbelief: “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” The faith of Thomas would have been more pleasing to Christ if he had been willing to believe upon the testimony of his brethren. Should the world now follow the example of Thomas, no one would believe unto salvation; for all who receive Christ must do so through the testimony of others.

As we look in faith to God's word--full of the testimony of what God did in others' lives, we can be encouraged to CHOOSE to exercise faith in Christ as a personal Savior, come to Him in true repentance for all of our sins, and abide in His love as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to true obedience to all of God's commandments! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing come into the life that lets go of unbelief and simply lives by faith on the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us!

[Sean James]

Follow Jesus. Let Him go before you to guide the path He knows is best for your life. Thankfully, Peter learned that lesson. So can we.

To Peter the words “Follow Me” were full of instruction. Not only for his death, but for every step of his life, was the lesson given. Hitherto Peter had been inclined to act independently. He had tried to plan for the work of God, instead of waiting to follow out God's plan. But he could gain nothing by rushing on before the Lord. Jesus bids him, “Follow Me.” Do not run ahead of Me. Then you will not have the hosts of Satan to meet alone. Let Me go before you, and you will not be overcome by the enemy.

When our faith is the expression of an abiding union and communion with Jesus in complete surrender of our whole heart, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives. We can grow in grace and godliness as our glad response to Jesus saving and leading us is to obey the Ten Commandments up to the light of truth we understand in how they apply to our lives in active service to glorify God!

[Sean James]

Let's all get to work by letting Christ work in us His character and experience--His righteousness by His faith that works by His love and purifies the soul! The gospel work of saving souls is a WAY BETTER focus for each of us than all the distracting ideas that often get discussed, thus wasting precious time, resources and energy while millions of souls are perishing without a saving knowledge of Christ as Savior. While it is true that we are exhorted to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), such contending must ever be for the sake of saving souls! We are to present the word of God--the true faith that "cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17), even "the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12), to help souls break free from delusions and error and be enabled by the word of God received into the life to experience true conversion! Such genuine conversions to the truth always produce disciples that are obedient to God's commandments as the fruit of heaven-born love in a character experience that reveals all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing. The gospel is neutralized in its power when sin is cherished or allowed, when known duties are neglected, and when Christ's purposes are not lived out. Let us plead to God for His mercy to become what the gospel contemplates we will become--like Jesus!! Christ's great commission is to help us always keep our priorities straight!

So it may be now. Instead of man's speculations, let the word of God be preached. Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the “former rain,” and glorious was the result. But the “latter rain” will be more abundant. Joel 2:23.

Oh, let us PRAY and LIVE in harmony with the message and spirit of the latter rain. God desired--yearned--to send the latter rain message to His remnant people (study Revelation 10 and 14 to find out who they are) in 1888 and the years that followed, and thankfully, God foresaw that though in large measure that message and experience was not widely received by many, there were souls who did respond and who did all they could to present Christ in the law in such an efficacious way that souls were won to Him! The truths that blessed those who did receive the latter rain message are STILL ACCESSIBLE TO US TODAY!! "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month" (Joel 2:23). The marginal reading for "the former rain moderately" is "a teacher of righteousness according to righteousness" and this clarifies what God intended to give His people in the latter rain! He desired to teach His people EXPERIENTIALLY the righteousness of Christ! The gospel came to souls as vital energy from God to become new creatures in every way--in the context of the everlasting gospel for the present time (Revelation 14:16-12), which leads up to Christ's glorious return! Satan was enraged and moved upon a legislator to seek to introduce a bill into the US Congress to enact a Sunday Law in 1888 (to understand the import of both the US in prophecy and the enforcement of Sunday, please study Revelation 13). Though that bill was defeated, sadly, the latter rain at that time also did not gain its full effect among God's people, else the whole world would before this have been lovingly, faithfully warned and Christ would have come the second time in power and great glory.

The message and spirit of the latter rain is still accessible to us today. We are not only to pray for the latter rain, but we are to come into harmony with the message God gives us in uplifting Christ our righteousness whereby every soul who is willing to be made willing is enabled to keep all the Ten Commandments by the faith of Jesus and go forth to be one of His final witnesses in a world that is soon to perish! Jesus is coming again VERY SOON!! We can help hasten that day by doing our part to receive the experience of the latter rain and do the very work God has designed for us in His word and ALL His inspired counsel (see Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 19:10), as God's last day people are gifted with "the spirit of prophecy." Let us believe more fully, pray more fervently, and distrust self so we cling completely to Jesus as He who is able to save us to the uttermost and empower us to live as He lived, work as He worked, and soon go home to heaven to meet Him! Praise the Lord!!

[Sean James]

What an amazing homecoming! When Jesus went to heaven after finishing His ministry on earth as our atoning sacrifice, imagine the indescribable experience the Father and the Son had in that warm, longed-for embrace!

The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are “accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6.

The Holy Spirit is impressing our hearts and minds to appreciate these eternal realities! As we appreciate the infinite value of salvation and the incredible gift of being adopted into the Godhead family in Christ as the Lamb's wife, it is SO ENCOURAGING to know and experience true conversion with the vitalizing power of the word of God changing our focus from the temporal things that pass away to the eternal purpose God in repopulating heaven and revealing His character in the universe! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in every converted life that lives in complete surrender to the will of God by having Christ abide in the heart, the hope of glory!

[Sean James]

Our loving God knows all about us. He came to dwell with us to offer us the example of a perfect life and die as our Sacrifice, rising to victory from the grave so we can also become one with God in mind and character! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in our lives without one missing as we surrender fully to Christ in affectionate obedience to all of God's commandments!

Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see “God with us.”

What a blessing it is to have God with us in all the experiences of life! Let us walk with Him in fullness of joy!

[Sean James]

Why were the Jews unprepared to receive Jesus at His first coming?

For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had awaited the Saviour's coming. Upon this event they had rested their brightest hopes. In song and prophecy, in temple rite and household prayer, they had enshrined His name. And yet at His coming they knew Him not. The Beloved of heaven was to them “as a root out of a dry ground;” He had “no form nor comeliness;” and they saw in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” Isaiah 53:2; John 1:11.

Christ came in a manner that the Jews did not expect because they allowed selfish desires to eclipse eternal realities. They wanted THEIR VERSION of a Messiah, rather than the biblical revelation of who Christ would truly be. Christ came the first time to show His people His way of life. "In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6). Just as the heavenly Husband of the church came in humility and simplicity, He calls us to emulate Him. Notice the ascription of the Lamb's wife in prophecy: "In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness" (Jeremiah 33:16). Righteousness is right-doing, and it can only spring from a life in which Christ abides. Are we in danger of wanting God's church to be molded after culture, selfish desires, and human expectations rather than eternal, Bible principles? We need to look to Jesus and live by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Not some words--EVERY WORD! When Jesus lives in the heart completely surrendered to Him, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be seen in the life that is supernaturally affectionately obedient to all of God's commandments! It is as remarkable a miracle as is rising from the dead! So Christ calls upon His church today, desiring to save us from the ruin that Jerusalem of old chose by rejecting Christ. Today, God still has a present-truth message, and if we open our hearts to Christ fully, we shall not only be saved, but we will become Christlike agents with whom all of heaven can cooperate in fulfilling the final hour mission of the remnant church of Bible prophecy (see Revelation 12:17). What is Jesus' call to His people today?

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:14-22).

Repentance is the solution, not changing the Bible principles upon which Christ's church is founded. We are reminded in this message of "the beginning of the creation of God." Satan is seeking to lead the home and the church away from Bible order, and this is leading to great wretchedness. "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" (Isaiah 3:12). It is time for men to rise up and stand true to lead in love, women to fulfill their biblical roles, and children to respect and honor their parents. A departure from Bible order has led so many down confusing paths of rebellion and moral confusion, and only Christ can cure the heart that is steeped in the spirit of selfish indifference, rebellion and the easygoing religion that does not take up the cross and walk where the Savior is leading. God is who He says He is. He has not changed (see Malachi 3:6). And we can come to Him just as we are, and by the transforming power of the gospel, allow Him to change us from the inside out! Praise God!!!

[Sean James]

If it was true before the first coming of Jesus, what about now?

At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people. Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart. While the light of truth seemed to have departed from among men, there were souls who were looking for light, and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow. They were thirsting for a knowledge of the living God, for some assurance of a life beyond the grave.

God has put a longing in every heart for the eternal (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). People may try to fill that longing with false religion, selfish gratification, and worldly distractions, but the soul is unsatisfied. Only in Christ will we find true rest and purpose, for He is "the Desire of all nations" (Haggai 2:7). When we yield fully to Christ in living faith, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing come into the life that is brought into harmony with God's law of love through true obedience. Only in Christ will we find our true purpose and meaning in life. May we go forth to be true missionaries to reach souls who are longing for something this world can never give.

[Sean James]

Happy Sabbath!

Are you thankful for how far Jesus came to save us?

The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.

By His incarnation, His perfect life, His sacrificial death, His glorious resurrection, His effectual high priestly ministry, and His promise to come again to take us home to heaven, we have an INTENSE PURPOSE to share the ONLY GOSPEL that can actually change people's lives for eternity! We cannot save ourselves, for we need Jesus to save us to the uttermost! As we realize how much He gave up to leave heaven to come to our sin-darkened earth, we can rejoice with fullness of joy in appreciating more fully the gift our Heavenly Father gave us in His Son! The Holy Spirit comes into the fully surrendered heart to reproduce Christ's character experience with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in a life of true obedience to God's holy commandments! Let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus day by day so He can lead us in His perfect way!

[Sean James]

Lucifer's rebellion, the incarnation of Jesus to save us and His sacrificial death, His resurrection and promise to save us to the uttermost has not changed the reality of God's character. What God has done simply reveals to the universe the two great contrasting principles--selfishness and selflessness. We get to choose whether we will side with Lucifer by simply living out our fallen nature in rebellion, or whether we will abide in Christ in true surrender and let all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing be revealed in our lives in true conversion so we can experience true obedience to God's law and face the judgment with courage. Let's choose the way of Christ!

In the day of final judgment, every lost soul will understand the nature of his own rejection of truth. The cross will be presented, and its real bearing will be seen by every mind that has been blinded by transgression. Before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim, sinners will stand condemned. Every lying excuse will be swept away. Human apostasy will appear in its heinous character. Men will see what their choice has been. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain. In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be demonstrated that the divine decrees are not accessory to sin. There was no defect in God's government, no cause for disaffection. When the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed, both the loyal and the rebellious will unite in declaring, “Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? ... for Thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15:3, 4.

[Sean James]

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!

[Sean James]

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!