The Glory of God

[Sean James]

What do you choose? Salvation is freely offered to EVERY human being, and only YOU can make the final choice regarding whether you accept the gift of Jesus and His truth! Let us abide in Him by a complete surrender so He can supernaturally bring forth in our lives all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! Gladly we can obey God's law up to the light we have received and thus glorify God by a life that accepts the salvation He gave us at infinite cost to Himself! We can see in the eager desire of the Syrophoenician woman to receive help from Jesus for healing for her daughter--with His salvation--that God is drawing all to Him, and we can know He freely receives each one, if we will but accept His word as the foundation of our faith! 

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.

Christ is gracious to each and knows the needs of each soul. As we learn of Christ in humility, day by day we can grow in grace and strength to joyfully experience salvation and then go forth as Christ has commissioned us, extending His saving love to those we meet in preparation for heaven!

[Sean James]

Let God perform the greatest of all miracles in your life--making you like Him in mind and character!

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.

As we experience the transforming power of the gospel by complete, continual surrender to Christ in which all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest in our lives, let us be encouraged in Christ to obey Him up to the light He has shed upon us in harmony with His law (the Ten Commandments--the universe's constitution of life and freedom), as we go forth to bless others in His appointed way!

[Sean James]

While it keeps getting tried over and over again by sinful humanity, sin does not bring lasting pleasure (it's only for a short season, and then fades). Since selfishness is death, it follows that selfless love is life! Only by abiding in Christ and surrendering fully to Him will we experience the fullness of joy and purpose that we were created to fulfill. God loves us and wants us to be saved even more than we are desiring it, for He alone can see the full potential of each soul completely restored from sin. Let us open the heart to Jesus and His word so we can be guided into all truth and unique, beautiful plan God intends for each of us!

“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Selfishness is death. No organ of the body could live should it confine its service to itself. The heart, failing to send its lifeblood to the hand and the head, would quickly lose its power. As our lifeblood, so is the love of Christ diffused through every part of His mystical body. We are members one of another, and the soul that refuses to impart will perish. And “what is a man profited,” said Jesus, “if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

As we impart what we receive from Jesus, we experience joy in seeing the joy of others! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will flow through the life that is fully surrendered to Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us! Obedience up to all the light He has revealed is possible only by a continual, complete surrender to Jesus! Let's value what heaven values--moral worth revealed in love and purity of character empowering the life to reach others for God's eternal kingdom!

[Sean James]

Let's be wide awake to what God desires to tell us from His word and the experience He is offering us! God knows the best for us and is able to save us from being spiritually lethargic and indifferent to what He has for us. Peter, James and John could have chosen to stay awake on the mount of transfiguration and been much better prepared to understand the nature of Christ's agony on Calvary--but they largely missed it. Could we do the same thing by being asleep when God has more to teach us? By consistency spending time with Jesus, by yielding all we have and are to Him, we can experience thorough conversion whereby all of the fruits of the Spirit are seen in our lives without one missing! We are empowered by Christ to live in obedience to all of His commandments, growing in grace to be more like Him and better prepared for the future that leads up to the time of trouble that immediately precedes the second coming of Christ! Oh, let us appreciate God's love and grace and grow in His will as we abide in Jesus!

Through being overcome with sleep, the disciples heard little of what passed between Christ and the heavenly messengers. Failing to watch and pray, they had not received that which God desired to give them,—a knowledge of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. They lost the blessing that might have been theirs through sharing His self-sacrifice. Slow of heart to believe were these disciples, little appreciative of the treasure with which Heaven sought to enrich them.

God loves us. It is because He loves us that He desires to teach and shepherd us in His will and way so we can be better prepared for what is yet future. Jesus is coming again!

[Sean James]

We need a vital connection with God in true consecration to be able to succeed in doing God's work to reach souls and help them break free from Satan's power. In true conversion, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives without one missing as we are empowered to obey God up to the light as we are privileged to have received from Him!

In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith—faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work—can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.

Victory is available to each of us, and when we love God who first loved us, the victory God gives us in character is an experience that can lead us to extend victory to others, too! Jesus is coming soon and invites us to walk in His ministry of love to bless others!

[Sean James]

Happy Sabbath!!

When God created us, He made us all with a unique individuality. While we can have sweet unity of doctrine, judgment and spirit as we abide in Christ and learn of Him daily, we need to learn to be gracious towards others in our walk with Christ, recognizing that God is drawing them and is willing to use them at the very point that they are in their experience, even as He guides into all truth by the Holy Spirit. All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be manifest in the life of one who is fully surrendered to Christ and truly converted, for the abiding presence of God in the soul makes it possible to be obedient up to the light He has shed on our pathway.

The fact that one does not in all things conform to our personal ideas or opinions will not justify us in forbidding him to labor for God. Christ is the Great Teacher; we are not to judge or to command, but in humility each is to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. Every soul whom God has made willing is a channel through which Christ will reveal His pardoning love. How careful we should be lest we discourage one of God's light bearers, and thus intercept the rays that He would have shine to the world!

Let us allow God to work with people in such a way that we are encouraging people to go directly to God and experience the healing, winning and transforming love of Christ. In Him is life, and life more abundantly!

[Sean James]

He gets you. Jesus understands. And He offers you what REALLY satisfies!

Jesus knew the wants of the soul. Pomp, riches, and honor cannot satisfy the heart. “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me.” The rich, the poor, the high, the low, are alike welcome. He promises to relieve the burdened mind, to comfort the sorrowing, and to give hope to the despondent. Many of those who heard Jesus were mourners over disappointed hopes, many were nourishing a secret grief, many were seeking to satisfy their restless longing with the things of the world and the praise of men; but when all was gained, they found that they had toiled only to reach a broken cistern, from which they could not quench their thirst. Amid the glitter of the joyous scene they stood, dissatisfied and sad. That sudden cry, “If any man thirst,” startled them from their sorrowful meditation, and as they listened to the words that followed, their minds kindled with a new hope. The Holy Spirit presented the symbol before them until they saw in it the offer of the priceless gift of salvation.

Christ, the living water, can renew the soul in true conversion to make each one who fully surrenders to Him a well of blessing overflowing with all of the fruits of His Spirit, without one missing! He leads in true obedience to His commandments all who accept His divine grace and strength to walk even as He walked. Even in the most trying situations and circumstances, such as what led up to Him being at the feast of tabernacles, at just the time He did attend it, Christ had the Father's presence surrounding Him and guiding Him to do what pleased Him--for He was always living by faith! He offers us His living-faith victory as well!

[Sean James]

What are you looking for? If you go to Christ and acknowledge His word as truth, allowing Him to sanctify and transform your character by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit, your desire and capacity for knowing and loving God will only increase! He will enable you to be a true missionary to bless others! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing, in connection with true obedience in the life up to the light Christ has revealed, will be reflected in the character and life!

He whose heart has responded to the divine touch will be seeking for that which will increase his knowledge of God, and will refine and elevate the character. As a flower turns to the sun, that the bright rays may touch it with tints of beauty, so will the soul turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may beautify the character with the graces of the character of Christ.

We can rejoice in the grace and power of Christ to encourage and transform the life in ways that glorify Him!

Praise the Lord!!

[Sean James]

How well do you think you are known? There is Someone who knows you better than you even know yourself, for, Solomon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prayed to God these true words: "Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men" (1 Kings 8:39). Since we have a God of love and truth who desires to shepherd us safely into our heavenly home, well would it be for us to respond to the Good Shepherd, Jesus, and go where He leads us! It is in complete surrender to Him that all of the fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in our lives without one missing as we are empowered by His grace to obey His law up to the light He has revealed! Let's praise God for such a wonderful Savior in Jesus and ever walk with Him!

Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto Himself. He bids them, “Follow Me,” and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows who they are. He also knows who gladly hear His call, and are ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” He cares for each one as if there were not another on the face of the earth.

Let's go where the Shepherd leads--in glad, self-sacrificing service to seek and to save others! Praise the Lord for His unfailing love!

[Sean James]

We are warmly invited by Jesus to come to Him. And He works in many ways to seek to woo us to receive Him so that our lives may be restored from the ruin of sin. But He does not force the will. He invites us to choose Him. May we learn continually of how much we need Jesus to do any good thing, surrendering fully and continually to Him so He can manifest through us all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as He empowers us by His love to obey Him from the heart renewed by His divine grace. Let us not neglect so great salvation as is offered us by God and His holy word!

The True Witness says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” Revelation 3:20. Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God or through His messengers is a knock at the door of the heart. It is the voice of Jesus asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, the disposition to open becomes weaker. The impressions of the Holy Spirit if disregarded today, will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of life, and of the great eternity beyond. Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.

Let us not neglect heaven-sent opportunities for learning truth, but gladly accept the truth as it is in Jesus and walk in His ways. By His grace we are to go forward through the providential doors He opens for us! "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

[Sean James]

Let the light shine--the light of God's truth revealed in character--to shine forth to bless others!

The way to dispel darkness is to admit light. The best way to deal with error is to present truth. It is the revelation of God's love that makes manifest the deformity and sin of the heart centered in self.

As Christ commended the unselfish ministry of the Samaritan who revealed a kind heart towards the man left by the road by robbers, Jesus invites us to receive from Him a new heart whereby we also can go forth to bless others. All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in the life completely surrendered to Christ and abiding in Him! He empowers us to obey Him because we love Him, walking in all the light that He has revealed to us by His love and grace! So when God gives you a divine appointment to help someone, gladly accept the opportunity and do what Jesus would have you do!

[Sean James]

Happy Sabbath!! Let's value what heaven really values and teach and practice God's word so many can be saved in God's appointed way!

Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. Here is the only power that can work the uplifting of mankind. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and practicing of the word of God.

Receiving God's word in complete surrender means that all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives without one missing, empowering us to obey God up to the light of His truth revealed in our path! Praise God!!

[Sean James]

Let us follow Christ's method alone in reading souls--especially the precious children He loves with infinite tenderness!

As you win their confidence in you as followers of Christ, it will be easy to teach them of the great love wherewith He has loved us. As you try to make plain the truths of salvation, and point the children to Christ as a personal Saviour, angels will be by your side. The Lord will give to fathers and mothers grace to interest their little ones in the precious story of the Babe of Bethlehem, who is indeed the hope of the world.

As we surrender fully to Christ in a living-faith surrender, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be seen in our lives, and we will be enabled to obey God up to the light He has shed on our path, walking in Jesus' victory!!

[Sean James]

Because Jesus knows you perfectly, it follows that whatever He tells you to do is for your highest good. In the case of what Jesus told the rich young ruler, it was imperative that he follow exactly what Christ said, for to fail to do so would reveal a lack of surrender, holding on to the idol of riches. We all need Jesus to help us see our plague spots of character so He can help us renounce anything that would get in the way of fully following Him.

Christ's words were verily to the ruler the invitation, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15. The choice was left with him. Jesus was yearning for his conversion. He had shown him the plague spot in his character, and with what deep interest He watched the issue as the young man weighed the question! If he decided to follow Christ, he must obey His words in everything. He must turn from his ambitious projects. With what earnest, anxious longing, what soul hunger, did the Saviour look at the young man, hoping that he would yield to the invitation of the Spirit of God!

When we do yield FULLY to the Holy Spirit, He converts us and makes us partakers of His divine nature; all of the fruits of the Spirit will be revealed in the life and we will be enabled to bear much fruit to the glory of God, heeding all of His commandments because we love Him who first loved us. We need to remember that Jesus loved the rich young ruler--but sadly, he turned away from Jesus. May we learn the lesson and not turn from Jesus, even if what Christ calls us to do seems trying for us. Let us remember that Christ calls for the WHOLE heart and an entire life surrender in which we put His teachings into practice!

In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's children unless we are such entirely.

[Sean James]

Let's try to imagine the conversation that Martha is having with Jesus, just moments before He resurrected Lazarus (you can catch the whole story in John 11). What Christ did for Lazarus He will do for ALL THE DEAD IN CHRIST at His second coming, raising them to immortal life with Him to enjoy the ceaseless ages of eternity in His presence where there is fullness of joy!

Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life. “He that believeth in Me,” said Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life.

As we can walk in Christ's victory over sin and death by a full-heart surrender, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing--as an expression of His life abiding in us--will lead us in an overflowing witness of His love in true obedience to all of God's commandments! There is no limit to what God can do in and through us as we abide in Jesus!!