The Morning Dew In Our Walk With Christ

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“I will be as the dew unto Israel” (Hosea 14:5).

morning dew (Hosea 14:5)
morning dew (Hosea 14:5)

The dew is a source of freshness. It is nature’s provision for renewing the face of the earth. It falls at night, in the dark. And without it the vegetation would die. It is this great value of the dew which is so often recognized in the Scriptures. It is used as the symbol of spiritual refreshing. Just as nature is bathed in dew, so the Lord renews His people. In Titus 3:5 the same thought of spiritual refreshing is connected with the ministry of the Holy Spirit– “renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Many Christian workers do not recognize the importance of the Heavenly dew in their lives, and as a result they lack freshness and vigor. Their spirits are wilting for lack of dew.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ. We all recognize the folly of a working person attempting to do their day’s work without eating. In a similar way, we can recognize the folly of a Christian attempting to minister to others without eating of the heavenly manna themselves. How could it suffice to have spiritual nourishment, just occasionally? Every day we must receive the renewing of God’s Holy Educating Holy Spirit. We all know when our whole being is pulsating with the vigor and freshness of Divine life, and sadly too, when we feel wore down and depleted.

God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}

Quietness and absorption bring the dew. At night when the leaf and blade are still, the vegetable pores are open to receive the refreshing and invigorating bath; so too does spiritual dew come from the quiet moments in the Master’s presence. It is everyone’s privilege to be still before Jesus. Our hurrying and rushing will prevent us from receiving the desperately needed morning dew. Wait before God until you feel saturated with His presence; then go forth to your next duty with the conscious freshness and vigor of “the truth as it is in Jesus.”

“…those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.(Isa 40:31, AFV)

Dew will never gather while there is either heat or wind. The temperature must fall, and the wind must cease. The air must come to a point of coolness and rest– absolute rest, so to speak– before it can yield up its invisible particles of moisture to water the herb or flower. So too, the grace of God does not come forth to rest our soul until the still point is fairly and fully reached.

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, (Isa 30:15, ESV)

In today’s hectic world of craziness and turmoil we may wait for him “in quietness and confidence.” No amount of fast talking or aggressive, hasty activity will ever speed up God’s grand design. As Christians today, we have nothing to say to God but thank you. Salvation comes from God alone. Because he has saved us, and because Christ alone empowers us, we can trust him and be peacefully confident that he will give us strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our well-laid plans and allow God alone to act.

We need a calm waiting upon God. The need of this is all-important. It is not the noise and bustle we make in the world which proves our usefulness. Let us by our own, personal experience see how silently God works. We cannot usually hear the noise of His steps, and yet He is walking about us, laboring for our good. (Gen 3:8) Jesus did not seek for notoriety; His life-giving virtue was going out to the needy and the afflicted , as the fresh morning dew,through His silent actions, whose influence ended up extending far into all countries of the world, and was felt and expressed in the life of millions of people. Those who desire to labor with God have need of His Spirit every day; they need to walk and labor in meekness and humility of spirit, without seeking to accomplish extraordinary things, satisfied to do the work before them and doing it faithfully. Other people may not see or appreciate their efforts, but the names of these faithful children of God are written in heaven among His noblest workers, as scattering His seed in view of a glorious harvest.

“Ye shall know them by their fruits” {4BC 1144.1}

The Truth About Present Truth

Reading Time: 11 minutes

Therefore, I will not neglect to make you always mindful of these things, although you already know them and have been established in the present truth. (2 Pet 1:12)

present truth is eternal
present truth is eternal

The first chapter of Second Peter is full of instruction, and strikes the keynote of victory. The truth is impressed upon the mind by the way it is presented in this chapter. Let us more abundantly recommend the study of these words, and the practicing of these precepts (Letter 43, 1895). {7BC 942.9}

When it comes to Present Truth, we are not merely to preach new truths which people do not know, but we are also to preach the old truths with which they are already familiar. The doctrines in which they are well established are still to be proclaimed to them. Every wise preacher brings forth from the treasury of truth things both new and old; –new, that the hearers may learn more than they knew before; old, that they may know and practice better that which they do already know in part.

Traditionally, when people talk about present Truth, they get very busy detailing their latest beast watching, Pope speaking, Sunday Law panic and abject fear. Present Truth to most people is simply an aggressive diatribe of fear-mongering and stinging criticisms. The many people who loosely use quotes from Christian writers to “prove” their clouded theology seem to have no idea what the Bible actually says about present truth. They would rather use quotes from anywhere but the Bible to force their pain and misery on everyone around them. People who dare to question such things are quickly whipped with labels like “rejecting present truth,” just because they question the party line, and dare to suggest that present truth is about Jesus. Present truth is about the cross.

The Bible has only one place where the phrase Present Truth is mentioned. It is found in 2 Peter

Therefore, I will not neglect to make you always mindful of these things, although you already know them and have been established in the present truth. (2 Pet 1:12)

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Pet 1:1-4)

What a grand theme this is for contemplation–the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Contemplating Christ and His righteousness leaves no room for self-righteousness, for the glorifying of self. In this chapter there is no standstill. There is continual advancement in every stage of the knowledge of Christ {7BC 942.10}

By the looks of Scripture alone, it is starting to appear like “Present Truth” is primarily about “the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Yes, Jesus is involved in a great controvery between good and evil, between Himself and Satan. Yet the thins of Satan are not what God’s people are to dwell upon. By making the devil, the Pope, or Sunday law babble primary in our message, we are ruining present truth and turning it into somthing that it is not. Some of us so love to condemn others by stinging accusations of having rejected “present truth” just because they will not go for our personal version that is filled with religious invectives and fear-mongering that is not in the Bible.

According to Gal 6:14, and Eph 2:13, there is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the scriptures, and that must be “Christ and Him crucified.” All other truths are invested with power and influence, according to their relationship to this theme.

Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised; (Heb 10:23)

God Behind All His Promises.

Promises are estimated by the truth of the one who makes them. Many people make promises only to break them, to mock the heart that trusted in them. Those who lean upon such people lean upon broken reeds. But God is behind the promises He makes. He is ever mindful of His covenant, and His truth endures to all generations {7BC 942.12}

2 Peter, chapter one is about present truth. It is the only place in the Bible where the phrase present truth is mentioned. Christians would do well to pay closer attention to these words. Now, in 2 Pet 1:12,the Apostle is saying that”for this reason” he will not be negligent to “remind us always of these things.” So let us briefly examine two items from that verse.

1/ “For This Reason” The Bible is telling us that we are to make our calling and election sure. Making our calling and election sure is what present truth is all about. When Peter says “for this reason,” he is referring to our calling and election in Christ:

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1:8-11)

That very entrance into the eternal kingdom, according to the next, has everything to do with God’s precious promises and the Bible calls them. We experimentally have a personal relationship experience with Jesus by His divine promises (2 Pet 1:4) which do give us even right now “a way to partake of the divine nature, and to escape all the corruption that is now in the world through wrong desires.

2/ The other thing that our text talks about here (2 Pet 1;12) is how even though we are already established in all of the present truth mentioned before Verse 12, we still need reminding, because in our mortal humanity, thats just how we are. And according to 2 Pet 1:16-21, Christ’s glory also is shown through the prophetic word, some of which we have yet to learn. This is why the Apostle says more than once in this chapter, that we need constant reminders. (see 2 Pet 1:15)

The reason that we need those “precious promises,” is also revealed to us in this chapter of the Bible.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1:5-8)

How can this transformation mentioned in 2 Pet 1:5-7 be accomplished without God’s precious promises? As one Christian writer puts it, “we must NOW acquaint ourselves with God by proving His precious promises.” (Great Controversy, pg 632) THAT my friends is PRESENT TRUTH. Present truth is truth for right now. present truth is for the people of God now. Present truth is how we relate personally to Jesus and get to know Him.

Present Truth And The Prophetic Word

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own private interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of humanity, but people spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet 1:19-21)

Even when it comes to Bible prophecy, Present truth is always primarily about our Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness. Christ and Him crucified is the hallmark of all doctrines. Especially Bible prophecy. Could this be why God’s people say things like “Prophecy is not so much about History, as it is “HIS – Story.” This is why Peter said:

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Pet 1:16-18)

Here in 2 Pet 1:16 the Apostle talks about “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and it is this glory and righteousness that He and the disciples had seen with their own eyes. (2 Pet 1:16-17) is where he says that they saw the confirmation by the Holy Spirit of Christ’s power and glory.

For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Pet 1:17-18)

Its truly a sad state of affairs to see all the beast watchers, Pope Sayers, and Sunday law groupies making such a big push with all their F.E.A.R (False Evidence Appearing Real) because they are rarely in the mood to discuss the central point of Present Truth. They prefer, like our modern media factories, to feed us with fear, and all of the great powers of our enemy, the devil. You can see this all over the internet.

In conclusion, the Apostle calls Bible prophecy “a light that shines in a dark place.” (2 Pet 1:19).

And we need to be careful what we tell people when it comes to Bible prophecy. As one Christian writer puts it, in some cases, we need to refrain from mentioning the more fearful aspects:

In these meetings we should not at first present doctrinal subjects, of which the hearers have no understanding. Hold the attention of the people by presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. The very first and most important thing is to melt and subdue the soul by presenting our Lord Jesus Christ as the sin-pardoning Savior. Keep before the people the cross of Calvary. What caused the death of Christ?–The transgression of the law. Show that Christ died to give men an opportunity to become loyal subjects of his kingdom. {GCDB, March 2, 1899 par. 23}

The Truth About Present Truth

It is always about Jesus. Jesus Himself is present truth.

The Truth as it is in Jesus

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. Ephesians 4:21. {LHU 153.1}

When prophets stood in defense of the truth, it was the word of God that was given to them. They understood the work of salvation to be accomplished by the Messiah to come. But after Christ came, after He died as man’s sacrifice, after the typical sacrifices were fulfilled by the Antitype, the old truth in the typical service was revealed more clearly. In Christ, the representative of the Father, a wonderful truth was revealed to the world. The light from the cross of Calvary, reflected back upon the Jewish age, gives character and significance to the whole Jewish economy; and on this side of the cross, in a special manner, we have the truth as it is in Jesus. Truth communicated through our Redeemer becomes indeed present truth. {LHU 153.2}

What a truth is presented as we gaze upon Jesus in connection with the cross of Calvary, as we see this Wonderful, this Counselor, this mysterious Victim, stooping beneath the amazing burden of our race! That the transgressor might have another trial, that people might be brought into favor with God the Father, the eternal Son of God interposed Himself to bear the punishment of transgression. One clothed with humanity, who was yet one with the Deity, was our ransom. The very earth shook and reeled at the spectacle of God’s dear Son suffering the wrath of God for man’s transgression. The heavens were clothed in sackcloth to hide the sight of the Divine Sufferer. {LHU 153.3}

It was the transgression of the law of God that made this suffering necessary. And yet men harbor the thought, and give expression to the suggestions of Satan through those who trample upon the law of God, that all this suffering was to make that law of none effect. Deceived and blinded by the great transgressor, they tell the people that there is no law, or that, if they keep the commandments of God in this dispensation, they have fallen from grace. What a delusion is this that Satan has fastened upon human minds! {LHU 153.4}

When the theory that the law of Jehovah is not binding upon the human family is adopted and taught, man is blinded to his terrible ruin. He cannot discern it. Then God has no moral standard by which to measure character, and to govern the heavenly universe, the worlds unfallen, and this fallen world. Could God have abolished the law in order to meet man in his fallen condition, and yet have maintained His honor as Governor of the universe, Christ need not have died. But the death of Christ is the convincing, everlasting argument that the law of God is as unchanging as His throne {LHU 153.5}

Present Truth is always about “Christ and Him crucified.”

It is not the ready speaker, the sharp intellect, that counts with God. It is the earnest purpose, the deep piety, the love of truth, the fear of God, that has a telling influence. A testimony from the heart, coming from lips in which is no guile, full of faith and humble trust, though given by a stammering tongue, is accounted of God as precious as gold; while the smart speech and eloquent oratory of the one to whom is intrusted large talents, but who is wanting in truthfulness, in steadfast purpose, in purity, in unselfishness, are as sounding brass and a tinkling symbol. He may say witty things, he may relate amusing anecdotes, he may play upon the feelings; but the Spirit of Jesus is not in it. All these things may please unsanctified hearts, but God holds in his hands the balances that weigh the words, the spirit, the sincerity, the devotion, and he pronounces it altogether lighter than vanity. {PH028 26.1}

The truly converted soul is illuminated by the light shining from the Sun of Righteousness. That light tells upon hearts, lightens the pathway, dispels the darkness, because it comes from Him who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Let everyone, to a man, now rise, and let his “light so shine before men that they may see his good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.” Do what you can, and do it at once, cheerfully, heartily, prayerfully, joyfully, not as unto men, but unto God. Settle it in your hearts that you are not on the earth to exalt self, to make a great name, but to sink self wholly out of sight in Jesus Christ. Let Jesus be lifted up. Let the great truths connected with the salvation of man be the theme of your meditation day and night. Your work, both by precept and example, is to hold forth the word of life, to seek with all your power to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth. {PH028 27.1}

Remember, Bible prophecy is called “a light in a dark place.” That kind of light has to be Jesus! In Christ alone will present truth be made known in all it’s fullness!

As the rays of the sun penetrate to the remotest corners of the globe, so God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth. . . . At this time, when the enemy is working as never before to engross the minds of men and women, we should be laboring with increasing activity. Diligently, disinterestedly, we are to proclaim the last message of mercy in the cities–in the highways and byways. All classes are to be reached. As we labor we shall meet with different nationalities. None are to be passed by unwarned. The Lord Jesus was the gift of God to the entire world–not to the higher classes alone, and not to one nationality, to the exclusion of others. His saving grace encircles the world. Whosoever will, may drink of the water of life. A world is waiting to hear the message of present truth. {AG 338.5}

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (Heb 13:8-9)

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Pet 3:17-18)

Our Shelter In The Storm

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Our Shelter In The Storm

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (Mark 4:37)

"by the still waters"
“by the still waters”

The waves were probably excited by Satan, who, having got the author and all the preachers of the Gospel together in a small vessel, thought by drowning it, to defeat the purposes of God, and thus to prevent the salvation of a ruined world. What a good opportunity this must have appeared to be to the enemy of the human race!

No doubt they baled out the boat with all their might, and did their best, as well seasoned fishermen and sailors, to prevent it from sinking. Yet “ it was now full of water.” But where was their Lord and Master, and what was he doing while the storm was raging?

And he waves in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: (Mark 4:38)

So too, the Christian life may have more stormy weather than calm seas. The disciples needed rest, but they encountered a terrible storm. As Christ’s followers today, let us be prepared for the storms that will surely come. Do not surrender to the stress, or the terrors, but remain resilient and steadfast. Recover from setbacks through Christ. With faith in Christ, you can pray, trust, and move ahead. Push through. When a brutal storm approaches, lean right into the wind and trust God.

Many that have true faith, are weak in it. Christ’s disciples are very prone to be disquieted with fears and terror in a stormy day; to torment themselves that things are getting really bad with them, and with dismal thoughts that they will be worse. Great storms of doubt and fear in the soul, under the power of the spirit of bondage, sometimes end in a wonderful calm. Created and spoken by the Spirit of adoption. They were astonished. They never saw a storm so turned at once into a perfect calm. Our Jesus that can do this, can do any thing, which encourages confidence and comfort in the most stormy day, within or without.

Jesus keeps us in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because we trust in Him. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isa 26:3-4)

We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but when we fix our thoughts on God, we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. As we focus our mind on God and his Word, we become steady and stable. Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos Do you want peace? Keep your thoughts on God and your trust in him.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (see John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God’s peace guard your heart against anxiety.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:4-8)

More Than Conquerors

Reading Time: 6 minutes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Rom 1:16-17, NKJV)

nothing can separate
nothing can separate

The open path, the safe path of walking in the way of God’s commandments, is a path from which there is no safe departing. And when people follow their own human theories dressed up in soft, fascinating representations, they make a snare in which to catch souls. In the place of devoting your powers to theorizing, or to your own preconceived opinions, Christ has given you a work to do. His commission is, Go throughout the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Before the disciples shall compass the threshold, there is to be the imprint of the sacred name, baptizing the believers in the name of the threefold powers of the heavenly world. (Mat 28:19) The human mind is impressed in this ceremony, the beginning of the Christian life. It means very much. The work of salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human agent. The eternal Godhead (Rom 1:20) the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is involved in the action required to make assurance to the human agent, confederating the heavenly powers with the human that humanity may become, through Heavenly efficiency, partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4) and workers together with Christ.

Our capabilities can multiply through the connection of human agencies with divine agencies. United with the heavenly powers, the human capabilities increase according to that faith that works by love Gal 5:6) and purifies, sanctifies, and ennobles the whole person. {UL 148.3-5}

“Partakers of The Divine Nature”

In the religious life of every soul who is finally victorious there will be scenes of terrible perplexity and trial; but his knowledge of the Scriptures will enable them to bring to mind the encouraging promises of God, which will comfort their heart and strengthen their faith in the power of the Mighty One.

We read: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward;” “that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The trial of faith is more precious than gold.

All should learn that this is a part of the discipline in the school of Christ, which is essential to purify and refine them from the dross of earthliness. They must endure with fortitude the taunts and attacks of enemies, and overcome all obstacles that Satan may place in their path to hedge up the way. He will try to lead them to neglect prayer and to discourage them in the study of the Scriptures, and he will throw his hateful shadow athwart their path to hide Christ and the heavenly attractions from their view. {5T 578.1}

None should go along shrinking and trembling, under continual doubt, sowing their path with complainings; but all should look up to God and see His goodness and rejoice in His love. Summon all your powers to look up, not down at your difficulties; then you will never faint by the way. You will soon see Jesus behind the cloud, reaching out His hand to help you; and all you have to do is to give Him your hand in simple faith and let Him lead you.

As you become trustful you will, through faith in Jesus, become hopeful. The light shining from the cross of Calvary will reveal to you God’s estimate of your soul, and, appreciating that estimate, you will seek to reflect the light to the world. A great name among people are as letters traced in sand, but a spotless character will endure to all eternity. God gives you intelligence and a reasoning mind, whereby you may grasp His promises; and Jesus is ready to help you in forming a strong, symmetrical character. Those who possess such a character need never become discouraged because they have not success in worldly affairs. They “are the light of the world.” Satan cannot destroy or make of none effect the light that shines forth from them. {5T 578.2}

Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant. There will always be someone out there who needs what you have to give. God loves you with an everlasting love, and His promise is for you

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13, NKJV)

God did not forget his people, even though they were captives in Babylon. He planned to give them a new beginning with a new purpose—to turn them into new people. In times of dire circumstances, it may appear as though God has forgotten you. But God may be preparing you, as he did the people of Judah, for a new beginning with him at the center.

According to God’s wise plan, his people were to have a future and a hope, and that is why they could call upon him in confidence.

In all your conflicts, in all the trials and perplexities of life, seek counsel from God. The path of obedience to God is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Follow step after step in the path of duty. Steep places may have to be climbed, but go forward in the path of humility, of faith and self-denial, leaving the clouds of doubt behind you. Sorrow not in a hopeless way, for the living need your care and love. You have enlisted in the Lord’s army; be brave soldiers of Jesus Christ. Let words of penitence and grateful praise come up before God as sweet incense in His heavenly sanctuary.

Although we are often in a difficult place and time, we need not despair because we have God’s presence, the privilege of prayer, His precious promises, and God’s grace. If we seek him wholeheartedly, he will be found. Neither a strange land, sorrow, persecution, nor physical problems can break our fellowship with God.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39)

The true followers of Christ can never be forsaken by him. And his Church, which is founded on the rock, can never be shaken down by the tempests of persecution. And what God does for his Church in general, (the collective body of those who believe in the Lord Jesus, love, and obey him), he does for every individual in that body: no man that trusts in him can be confounded. While the love of God is in his heart, and the work of God in his hand, he may be as fully persuaded as he is of his own being, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other thing whatsoever, shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church. As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salvation, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience.-Fundamental Beliefs, 11

With great clearness and power the apostle presented the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ. He hoped that other churches also might be helped by the instruction sent to the Christians at Rome; but how dimly could he foresee the far-reaching influence of his words! Through all the ages the great truth of justification by faith has stood as a mighty beacon to guide repentant sinners into the way of life. It was this light that scattered the darkness which enveloped Luther’s mind and revealed to him the power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin. The same light has guided thousands of sin-burdened souls to the true Source of pardon and peace. For the epistle to the church at Rome, every Christian has reason to thank God. {AA 373.3}

The Statutes Of The Lord

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I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Phil 4:10-12, NIV)

more to be desired than gold
more to be desired than gold

We can trust that God will always meet our needs. Whatever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death as Paul did. Whatever we need in heaven he will supply. We must remember, however, the difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him.

In every generation and in every land the true foundation for character building has been the same–the principles contained in the word of God. The only safe and sure rule is to do what God says.

“The statutes of the Lord are right,” and “he that does  these things shall never be moved.” Psalms 19:8; Psalms 15:5.

It was with the word of God that the apostles met the false theories of their day, saying, “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid.” 1 Cor 3:11. {AA 475.2}

Eye Has Not Seen

Reading Time: 5 minutes

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.(Isa 64:4)

"eye has not seen"
“eye has not seen”

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.(1 Cor 2:9)

The world fears the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God of the universe, who not only created that atomic power but also raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God’s incomparably great power is available to help you. There is nothing too difficult for him.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Eph 1:16-21)

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—

These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:6-16)

[We]need to dwell upon the assurances of God’s Word, to hold them before the mind’s eye. Point by point, day by day, repeat the lessons there given, over and over, until you learn the bearing and import of them. We see a little today, and by meditation and prayer, more tomorrow. And thus little by little we take in the gracious promises until we can almost comprehend their full significance. {6BC 1085.2}

How much we lose by not educating the imagination to dwell upon divine things, rather than upon the earthly! We may give fullest scope to the imagination, and yet,

“eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Fresh wonders will be revealed to the mind the more closely we apply it to divine things. We lose much by not talking more of Jesus and of heaven, the saints’ inheritance. The more we contemplate heavenly things, the more new delights we shall see, and the more will our hearts be brimful of thanks to our beneficent Creator {6BC 1085.3}

It is the duty and privilege of all to use reason as far as humanity’s finite faculties can go; but there is a boundary where our mortal resources must cease. There are many things that can never be reasoned out by the strongest intellect or discerned by the most penetrating mind. Philosophy cannot determine the ways and works of God; the human mind cannot measure infinity. {6BC 1079.7}

Jehovah is the fountain of all wisdom, of all truth, of all knowledge. There are high attainments that people can reach in this life through the wisdom that God imparts; but there is an infinity beyond that will be the study and the joy of the saints throughout eternal ages. We can now only linger upon the borders of that vast expanse, and let imagination take its flight. Finite humanity cannot fathom the deep things of God; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The human mind cannot comprehend the wisdom and power of God {6BC 1079.8}

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Avoiding Guesswork in the Quest for God.

Human talent and human conjecture have tried by searching to find out God. But guesswork has proved itself to be guesswork. Man cannot by searching find out God. This problem has not been given to human beings. All that man needs to know and can know of God has been revealed in His Word and in the life of His Son, the great Teacher. {6BC 1079.9}

God cannot be understood by humans. His ways and works are past finding out. In regard to the revelations that He has made of Himself in His Word, we may talk, but other than this, let us say of Him, Thou art God, and Thy ways are past finding out. {6BC 1079.11}

There is a knowledge of God and of Christ which all who are saved must have. “This is life eternal,” Christ said, “that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
{6BC 1079.12}

The question for us to study is, What is truth–the truth for this time, which is to be cherished, loved, honored, and obeyed? The devotees of science have been defeated and disheartened in their effort to find out God. What they need to inquire is, What is truth {6BC 1079.13}

To Know Christ Is to Practice His Words.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

These words mean much. It is only by knowing Christ that we can know God. The Sent of God calls upon all to listen to these words. They are the words of God, and all should give heed to them; for by them they will be judged. To know Christ savingly is to be vitalized by spiritual knowledge, to practice His words. Without this, all else is valueless {5BC 1145.11}

His Glory In The Church

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 1 Sam 11:12, NIV)

His glory in the church
His glory in the church

The Israelites had great difficulty with the Philistines, but God rescued them. In response, the people set up a large stone as a memorial of God’s great help and deliverance. During tough times, we may need to remember the crucial turning points in our past to help us through the present. Memorials can help us remember God’s past victories and gain confidence and strength for the present.

There are thousands of souls willing to work for the Master who have not had the privilege of hearing the truth as some have heard it, but they have been faithful readers of the Word of God, and they will be blessed in their humble efforts to impart light to others. Let such ones keep a diary, and when the Lord gives them an interesting experience, let them write it down, as Samuel did when the armies of Israel won a victory over the Philistines. He set up a monument of thankfulness, saying

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

This is exactly what the Apostle was doing when he said

“what we have seen and what we have hear and what we have handled of The Word of life, that’s what we are telling you now.” (1 John 1:1-3)

And during the end times this is exactly how God’s people will become over comers:

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Rev 12:11, ESV)

“Brethren, where are the monuments by which you keep in view the love and goodness of God? Strive to keep fresh in your minds the help that the Lord has given you in your efforts to help others. Let not your actions show one trace of selfishness. Every tear that the Lord has helped you to wipe from sorrowful eyes, every fear that has been expelled, every mercy shown,–trace a record of it in your diary. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be” {2BC 1012.3}

All who will can be over comers. (John 7:17) Let us strive earnestly to reach the standard set before us. Christ knows our weakness, and to Him we can go daily for help. It is not necessary for us to gain strength a month ahead. We are to conquer from day to day {7BC 974.3}

The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant

In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.

We are now a strong people, if we will put our trust in the Lord; for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have everything to be thankful for. If we walk in the light as it shines upon us from the living oracles of God, we shall have large responsibilities, corresponding to the great light given us of God.

We have many duties to perform, because we have been made the depositories of sacred truth to be given to the world in all its beauty and glory. We are debtors to God to use every advantage he has entrusted to us to beautify the truth of holiness of character, and to send the message of warning, and of comfort, of hope and love, to those who are in the darkness of error and sin. {GCDB, January 29, 1893 par. 5}

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:14-21, ESV)

The Grace of God

Reading Time: 4 minutes

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11-12, NIV)

follow the same path as Jesus no matter where He leads
follow the same path as Jesus no matter where He leads

I cant think of a better theme to dwell upon in this new year, 2025 that we are all entering now.

Paul brings out two aspects of Christian living that must be stressed today. “We should live in this evil world . . . while we look forward with hope.” Both aspects of living and looking forward are essential to our Christian sanity in this present evil age. The living is made bearable because we live for God—seeking to build his Kingdom with whatever gifts he has given us. And it is that very Kingdom to which we are looking forward. As we live and look forward, we anticipate three great benefits of Christ’s return:

(1) Christ’s personal presence—we look forward to being with him.

(2) Redemption from our sinful nature—we long for the end of the battle with sin and our perfection in Christ.

(3) Restoration of creation—we anticipate the complete rule of grace when the image of God will be fully realized in people and when the created order will be restored.

Looking for that blessed hope – Expecting the grand object of our hope, eternal life. See Tit 1:2. This is what the Gospel teaches us to expect, and what the grace of God prepares the human heart for. This is called a blessed hope; those who have it are happy in the sure prospect of that glory which shall be revealed.

The Lord purifies the heart very much as we air a room. We do not close the doors and windows, and throw in some purifying substance; but we open the doors and throw wide the windows, and let heaven’s purifying atmosphere flow in. The Lord says, “Anyone  that does  truth comes  to the light.” The windows of impulse, of feeling, must be opened up toward heaven, and the dust of selfishness and earthliness must be expelled. The grace of God must sweep through the chambers of the mind, the imagination must have heavenly themes for contemplation, and every element of the nature must be purified and vitalized by the Spirit of God {7BC 940.4}

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, (Eph 6:13-19, NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isa 30:21)

Like Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ to the finish line, the cross may have slipped away from your agenda. It may interfere with our personal plans and objectives. It may even seem impossible to walk in the blood-stained path of Jesus. But let us always remember:

The cross stands alone, a great center in the world. It does not find friends, but it makes them. It creates its own agencies. Christ proposes that men shall become laborers together with God. He makes human beings His instrumentalities for drawing all men unto Himself. A divine agency is sufficient only through its operation on human hearts with its transforming power, making men colaborers with God {5BC 1138.1}

The path of grace that Jesus would have you walk upon in this new year will be made clear to you as soon as you put your first foot forward to walk therein. One step at a time is how God operates. (Mat 6:33-34)

God’s Promise Is Sure

“Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. (1 Kings 8:56, NIV)

Some day we shall understand that God has a reason in every NO which He speaks through the slow movement of life. “Somehow God makes up to us.” How often, when His people are worrying and perplexing themselves about their prayers not being answered, is God answering them in a far richer way! Glimpses of this we see occasionally, but the full revelation of it remains for the future.

May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need…(1 Kings 8:57-59, NIV)

No Light In Being Busy

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“…Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening… (Gen 24:63)

light only in Christ
light only in Christ

Surely, we would be better Christians if we were alone more often. We could likely do a lot more if we attempted less and spent more time in retirement, and quiet waiting upon God. The world is far too much a part of us. We are afflicted with the idea disease that unless we are frenetically running around, then we are “doing nothing.” We have been trained to not believe or to practice “the calm retreat, the silent shade.” The shadow of the cross pales in our experience in favor of the “light” of our busyness, our getting, and our building bigger barns to keep our stuff in. Bigger house. Fancier car. The list is endless. We have been duped into believing that we must have “all of our irons in the fire,” as if to cover every eventuality, and we even consider that any times spent between the anvil and the fire as “lost time.”

And here we are, all caught up in our getting and our doing and our accomplishing to the point where we have little or no quality time that is set apart for quiet thinking, for talking with God as to a Friend, for looking up to heaven from where our Help and Comfort comes. We are all created to have these wide open spaces in our life. Precious moments where we leave our soul open to any sweet influence or thought which God is pleased to send us through His Word. His Voice, on earth today. How lost is the art and science of being with Jesus. Spending quality time in communication with Him and acknowledging and experiencing the fact that our life will always be better and our hearts beat with new joy and hope as we accept that His presence will go before us. And that’s not so that we can ignore Him in all our busyness and our getting. This new joy and hope that we can have in Christ will never truly be ours unless we get it to impart it to others.

My friends, the place in this picture is such a beautiful spot to stand. Yet there is a better place for us to stand as we celebrate “Immanuel, God With Us.” As God’s children, we stand at the foot of the cross, where His love ran red and our sins washed white. Praise His holy name for that is the entire reason that Jesus came to us in Bethlehem that beautiful morning long ago. As Isaiah puts it in Isaiah 60:1

“Arise, shine, for thy Light is come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.”

For the true Christian, this is something that happens every day of the year.

Arise! Arise from your quiet times with God and help make the very loud noise spoken of in Rev 14:6-7 where we find the true Christmas message, and the entire reason that Jesus came to us in the first place:

And I saw another angel flying in heaven: and with blood, he had the everlasting gospel, to proclaim to dwellers on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;saying with a loud voice, Worship God, and give glory to him; because the hour of his judgment is come; and adore ye Him, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water. (Rev 14:6-7, Murdock)

When was the last time that you spent serious time with Jesus to ask Him His thoughts for you personally, regarding these verses of Scripture?

This year, as we celebrate “Immanuel, God With Us,” even at this late stage in God’s judgment hour, we may rejoice that Jesus continues to offer everlasting life to the world (John 3:16). Today, the gospel message still beseeches unbelievers to give glory to God that they might escape the penalty of our sin, and arise to others in our daily life with the everlasting gospel by which we ourselves would be saved.

It’s Not on The Agenda!

Reading Time: 18 minutes

There was a man from Cyrene named Simon walking into the city from the fields. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Mark 15:21, ERV)

light in the clouds for Christmas
light in the clouds for Christmas

Today’s message is simply called: It’s Not on The Agenda.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut 31:6, NKJV)

I am so thankful for the assurance in Deuteronomy 31, where God says he’ll never leave us nor forsake us. it’s good news to just be reminded that God is our refuge and our strength. God is a very present help in the time of trouble, and sometimes you we just need to be reminded how that during our hard times, that God is there.  God is already at work in your situation, and he causes all things to work together for good to them who love God and are called according to our purpose, to his purpose.

There was a man from Cyrene named Simon walking into the city from the fields. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Mark 15:21, ERV)

The Bible says they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by to bear his cross. Let’s think about that for a minute. At that time, they compelled he didn’t volunteer for this he didn’t sign up for this they compelled a certain man Simon a Cyrenian the father of Alexander and Rufus and as he was coming out of the country, and he was what just passing by to bear his cross for just a little while today I want to talk to you about the subject Not on The Agenda. That wasn’t on the agenda! It just wasn’t on the agenda so what is going on here now?  May we all see the glory of the cross in a whole new way. May we shift to a place where the cross is not just theology, but where the cross is our lived reality.

The story of Simon of Cyrene is fascinating to me, one, because there is so little detail that is given. All that I know is that he is a brother from the eastern part of Libya, which is in the northern continent of Africa. We know that he has two sons, Alexander and Rufus, and we know that he was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus.

But one of the things that really stands out here is that this was not on his schedule for the day. The Bible says that Simon just happened to be passing by. In other words, Simon had a circumstance that required him to come around and to be a part of God’s divine plan. And it’s amazing because he becomes a historical figure because it seems that he happened to be in the right place at the right time. How many of us know that when some see coincidence, believers ought to always see providence. In other words, this was not on Simon’s agenda. He perhaps comes to Jerusalem to spend time with his sons who live there. And remember that Simon is an outsider to the Jewish tradition. Simon is an outsider to their feasts. Simon has no dog in this fight that he encounters along the way.

In other words, the night before, as Simon prepares for the day, he decides I’m going to do some work before I leave. I’m going to travel at a certain time. I’m going to stop by the wall of Jerusalem. I’m going to stop by the market to get some supplies. My goal is to get to the house by sunset. But Simon does not know that the invisible hand of God has been guiding him every step of the way that he might be a blessing to the son of the living God. And as I look at this text, the first thing I learned is that whenever there is a need, God is already guiding help in that direction. when God sees your need, he is always sending help in the direction of your need.

Think about Simon. Jesus needs Simon to help him, not because he is weak. Jesus needs Simon because he is depleted. Remember that Jesus took his last supper with the disciples the night before. So, it’s been about a day since he has eaten. in the last 24 hours, he’s gone from Aenus to Caiaphas to Pilate and back to Caiaphas and back and forth. It’s been a day since he has eaten.

It’s about a day and a half since he has slept. And now we have a bloodied and wearied and depleted Jesus who is now loaded up with the weight of a horrible cross. without complaint, our Jesus carries the cross through the streets of Jerusalem as far as he can take it. It’s no coincidence that Simon gets stuck in traffic and appointed to help Jesus carry the cross as soon as his body craters under the weight of that cross.

Simon, who was Jesus’ helper, was not there waiting for Jesus the entire time. Simon did not make an appointment to say let me stand at right here and wait for Jesus to show up. In other words, God ordains it, that his help passes by as soon as our strength runs out. Jesus could not see where his help was going to come from. Jesus could not see if there was going to be any help because just like us Jesus had to carry his burden by faith and it’s amazing that God allows his strength to completely run out, but the good news is that in the moment when he could not carry it any further his help just happened to be passing by.

God had been orchestrating every step that Simon had taken. God ordained what time he would leave Cyrene. God ordained when he would run into traffic along the way. God ordained when he would have to stop and tie his sandals. God ordained how long the line would be in the market. God ordained how long it would take him to get his hair cut. Because if Simon got there five minutes early, he would have already passed by the Savior. if he got by five minutes late, then Jesus would have already passed by. So that when the son needed help, he would be right there in the rightful place. Even when Jesus is being falsely arrested, guess what? Gods help is moving in his direction. When Jesus is being beaten, help is moving in his direction. When Jesus is being flogged, help is moving in his direction. So that in the moment where Jesus falls to the ground, help is already in place.

We must get to a place where you don’t assess God’s faithfulness based upon what you can see with our five senses. In other words, your help may not always be obvious, but your helper is always faithful. Your provision may not always be obvious, but your provider is always faithful. In other words, friends, Abraham’s ram was already in the thicket and God just pointed it out with the help that had already moved in his direction. Does this mean that Jesus was already in the fiery furnace before the three Hebrew boys ever showed up? Help was moving in their direction from the moment the death decree went forth.

Do you realize that the raven didn’t stockpile food for Elijah to eat.  The raven simply showed up with food to eat each day and so we see that God is already moving help in anticipation of your need. Even if you need help financially, know that somewhere somebody’s writing a check with your name on it and putting it up just in the nick of time. Somewhere somebody’s about to move to another job has. In about a month somebody’s going to put a house on the market that God is going to preserve just for you to close on. somewhere your future spouse is breaking up with their boyfriend or girlfriend and he is setting them apart so a year from now they will be ready for you that God is not sitting and watching the world in unfold in real time but God is sitting in the future waiting for the present to catch up and he knows where your needs are going to show up and guess what he is already sending supply God sends what you need in anticipation of your burden.

Jesus even told us that we will have things happen to us that are not in our agenda:

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18)

Peter was now humble enough to understand the words of Christ, and without further questioning, the once restless, boastful, self-confident disciple became subdued and contrite. He followed his Lord indeed–the Lord he had denied. The thought that Christ had not denied and rejected him was to Peter a light and comfort and blessing. He felt that he could be crucified from choice, but it must be with his head downward. And he who was so close a partaker of Christ’s sufferings will also be a partaker of His glory when He shall “sit upon the throne of his glory”

The second thing that this story teaches us is that sometimes we must carry burdens we didn’t ask for. This second detail we are given is that Simon does not ask for the cross. The Bible says that they compel him to carry the cross. He does not volunteer to carry the cross. The cross is essentially assigned to him. When you read Desire of Ages page 781, the author  says that Simon when he sees the mob shouting ugly statements at Jesus and he notices the visage of the Savior he begins to show compassion and sympathy toward him outwardly and when those see his compassion to Jesus then they thrust the cross upon his shoulders Simon has to carry this cross not because of any wrong action of his own this cross was initially framed for the notorious Barabbas it was eventually assigned to Jesus our Savior but it is Simon that carries the cross to the finish line.

BUT this is not why Simon came to Jerusalem. He is there perhaps to see his kids and his grand kids. He’s just there to kick it and get some kosher meat and lamb. He just wants to spend a little time. He just wants to get a little R and R, Simon personifies that on the journey of providence, how sometimes you’ve got to carry some burdens that you didn’t ask for. Carrying that cross was NOT on Simons agenda!

How many of us understand that in the army of God, sometimes it’s not a sign up. Sometimes it’s a draft. sometimes we operate under the faulty notion that God is only going to assign to us the things that we normally feel comfortable doing, but the devil is a liar, sometimes the things that we want are about our comfort, but the things that God assigns are about his glory.

I wonder…. have you ever been drafted by God? where you’ve just been given some tasks and assignments that were nowhere on your agenda, they were not a part of your preference, hey were not what you prayed for, but somehow providence led circumstance to lay some burden at your feet. For example, there are some of us who have raised our kids, and it wasn’t in your plans to raise grandchildren or nobody else’s kids.

There are some of us that did not sign up to be the leader of a ministry, but somehow, we got drafted and that burden was laid upon our shoulders just the same. There are some where when you got married, you did not sign up to be a caretaker/caregiver of a sick husband or wife. You didn’t sign up to be a caretaker of a sick parent. You didn’t sign up to be an ambassador for cancer.

You didn’t sign up to be an ambassador for this hurt. For the pain. For the loss. For the tragedy.

People of God, sometimes the greatest ministries are not the ones that you volunteer for, sometimes it is when God drafts us into a particular service and puts an assignment on our shoulders. The one thing I know about God is that when God puts a burden upon you, he’ll never put a burden on you that’s greater than what you can bear. The only temptations that you have are the same kinds of temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13, ERV)

Church, if God brought you to it, if God brought you to it, God is going to bring you through it.

God is a tailor who doesn’t give you clothes too big for you. He has measured your specifics. He has measured the height of your faith, the depth of your resilience. He knows the width of your character and he’ll never place something on you that he has not first measured.

There were times when I was raising my two boys, when we came home from getting groceries, and me and the kids would go to unload the groceries from the back of the car. I would go and I’ll get the things out of the trunk, but I didn’t just start taking stuff and just dispersing it to the first person in line. What happened was when I grabbed something, I would first weigh it by holding it myself. weigh it in my arms…then decide which child is going to carry it.

If it was heavy, I would give it to my oldest son. If it’s a little less heavy, I’d give it to my youngest son. If it’s snack food, I can’t give it to the youngest cause he’s going to get distracted. I got to reassign it to somebody that can handle it.

As a diligent parent I don’t just start blindly or randomly dispensing burdens. I measure burdens and I give them to the one that can handle them.

If a fallen, sinful Dad like me knows how to measure burdens for his children, what about our Father in Heaven? Before he dispenses it, he measures it. He weighs it and decides that you’re able to carry it. sometimes it’s the heavy burden that you didn’t ask for, that you don’t want, that brings you close to Jesus. if you were not given something heavy to carry, Jesus would have just kept on passing by. If we were sometimes not given a heavy burden, we would have just been living our version of the best life. If some of us were not given something heavy to carry, we probably would have lived a prosperous earthly life, but if we were not given something heavy to carry, we might even miss out on eternal life. some of us would have never made it to the foot of the cross if God didn’t give us, like he did Simon, something heavy to carry.

One of the things I’ve learned through both study and my personal experience and observation is that a life without burden is going to be a life without God. there is something about humanity’s fallen nature that needs something to disrupt our crazy sinful nature and draw us into relationship with Jesus. The one common thread between deeply spiritual people, the one thing that all spiritual folk have in common, is that somewhere along the line they had to carry something heavy. Our fallen nature is so powerful. It is so strong. So, desensitize that it cannot be trained just by choice and good intention.

Sometimes it is the burden that trains the person. It is the burden that disrupts the plans. It is the burden that God lays upon us that moves us into a posture of prayer that we would not seek outside of that burden. every now and then God has to kind of draw you outside of yourself so that you can become intensely interested in the salvation of others because in a life where you don’t have to lift something for somebody else and you don’t have to carry something for somebody else and you don’t have to bear something for somebody else what happens is we live a self-centered life that leaves us estranged from the most high.

Simon a Cyrenian and a stranger coming from the country meets Jesus at the cross. There he hears the taunts of rivalry and to the crowd and he hears the words contentiously repeated make way for the king of the Jews he stops in astonishment at the scene, and he expresses his compassion as they seize him and place a cross upon his shoulders. Simon had heard of Jesus his sons were believers in the Savior but he himself was not a what? Bearing the cross to Calvary. It was a blessing to Simon. He was ever after grateful for this providence. It led him to take upon himself the cross of Christ from choice and ever cheerfully stand beneath its shadow. In other words, it was carrying the cross that made Simon choose the cross

How does Simon decide?

By carrying the cross Simon becomes a lifelong disciple

Simon meets Jesus at the cross not in a crisis. Simon lived in a time where most people did not travel more than 20 miles outside of where they lived. It is a crisis for Jesus, but it is not a crisis for Simon.

Simon meets Jesus at the cross not in a crisis

We meet Jesus in a crisis but all too often, as soon as the crisis is averted, then guess what? Your need for the Savior wanes.  Friends, a crisis can lead you to Jesus, but it’s the cross that fastens you to Jesus! The difference for Simon is that he, like Nicodemus, like Mary, who was there at the resurrection. What compelled them to become lifelong followers of Jesus is that they had an experience that was beyond an uncomfortable circumstance. A bigger picture than the current trial they were in. They had an experience that had its genesis or its roots in the foundation of the cross. In other words, friends, it didn’t begin with a need. Or a creed.

It began with the cross. Miracle saints will shout for a season, but crucified saints shout for a lifetime.

But why does our spiritual life fluctuate so much? why is there so many ups and downs in our walk with God? Why aren’t we steady with God? Why is it one step forward on Sabbath and six steps backwards on the other days of the week? why is there so much back and forth and hot and cold? why is there no consistent incline in the walk of our pilgrimage with Jesus? 2 Pet 3:18 does tell us to “grow in grace.”  So why don’t we? Why does the church keep shrinking?

I think from my own experience that some of us, have met Jesus in a crisis. Some have met Jesus just through a religious cultural upbringing.  but the reason sometimes it never sticks is because we’ve never met Jesus at the foot of the cross. for most of us religion is only about what Jesus can do but real religion is about what he already did.

For most of us our praise is put on hold, if you will, because we’re waiting with great trepidation and fear to see what Jesus is going to do next, but I got a reason to praise him every day of my life because of what he’s already done.

Within all the miasma of religion and churchianity and doctrinism I don’t want to let the cross get lost in all that stuff that I keep hanging onto. There’s no room for the cross where I store all my religion…some of us that read that book of Revelation, well we do know the signs and we know the plagues and we know the hundred and forty-four thousand and we know the beast, but we don’t know the Lamb which takes away the sins of the world! (John 1:29, John 17:3)

We have some folk that profess to understand the sanctuary, it’s intricacies we know, the veil, we know how tall it was and how wide it was, but we have not ever been to the altar in some cases! The cross is not on my agenda! It’s amazing to me that that for most Christians the cross is kind of like an accessory not just in our style and sacraments, but also in our theology. Maybe the cross is just something I put around my neck, or a tattoo on my arm. Maybe I just let my cross shine instead of letting my light shine? But until the cross becomes the object of your constant meditation, it will have no transforming effect upon your life.

When I look at a lot of contemporary gospel music, it says a lot of stuff about everything but the cross. Most contemporary music AND worship are about my blessing and my harvest and my breakthrough and me reaching out and getting mine. Where are the songs that sing about the old rugged cross? They are fast disappearing. So, the question then becomes, how then do I know, if I’m experiencing genuine conversion? People, if you’re being converted, guess what? It doesn’t begin with a need or a deficit. It doesn’t begin with an unpaid bill or a disease or even if it starts that way, it’s only completed when you experience crucifixion! (Gal 6:14) Let put it this way Church…are our intentions and our practices more so that we can be crucified or so that we can all feel exalted and peaceful and undisturbed?

What should our ambition and our desire be in Christ?

The Bible says

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ that lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I now live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is such a shocking verse. It is telling us that we haven’t been converted if after we met Christ, then all we did was amend our life. We usually prefer to just modify ourselves a bit. Some ever so slight adjustments. As little as possible but enough so that we can say “I am saved.” The truly good news is that our former life must be crucified and then we can get a new start and the life that I live in this body, it is the Spirit of God residing in me and I’m a new person in him. (2 Cor 5:17)

IS my goal to glorify myself or to crucify the flesh? IS Crucifixion on my agenda? Do I want to be like the people in Isa 4:1 who mournfully whine “We will do what we want but please let us be called by your name that our reproach might be taken from us.” Imagine! People know they are doing wrong. And not wanting to change. Rejecting the cross. Denying Jesus before the world!

For the believer, it’s not about my empire, it’s not about my name, it’s not about my reputation. It’s not about my blessings. It’s not being in the right church or even in believing correct doctrine. It’s not about any of my problems being solved!

But God forbid that I should boast. God forbid if I boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus’ death on the cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. (Gal 6:14)

Remember that you were at one time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12-13)

Your boasting ought not be about what you drive. Your boasting ought not be about what you wear. Your boasting ought not be about how many letters are behind your name. We have got just one boast, and it is in the work that Jesus did. The thing that Jesus accomplished when He said, “It is finished!” At the cross is where it all happened. At the cross is where it is all happening now. At the cross is where it will all happen in the future!

One of the ways you know you’re being converted is that you use the right principles to establish whether you’re saved. Most of us, when I ask you, are you saved, first start thinking about how good you’ve been. When I ask people, are you saved? They immediately begin to start weighing their good versus their bad. Do you realize that it is a faulty system of measurement to measure how saved you are? It is not by our deeds that we are saved. When I’m trying to figure out how saved I am, I don’t look at how good I’ve been, I look at how good Jesus is.

The reason we don’t have the joy of salvation is because we don’t have any assurance in salvation. When you have no assurance of salvation what happens is you go from being saved to lost seven times in the same day based upon how good or bad you have been. But how many of us know that if you have the Son then guess what you have life. (1 John 5:11-12)

The Bible says for God so loved the world in this good news. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus is in front of Simon in chains and Simon is carrying the cross behind him so every time Jesus turns Simon turns so that because the weight of the cross is so heavy, he can’t even really hold his head up. All he can do is look and step in the footprints of Jesus Christ. in this story, you see both justifications, he’s crucified, then you see sanctification as he follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. So, when Jesus turns, Simon turns. When Jesus moves, Simon moves. Simon cannot just look up and figure out his own way. All he can do is follow in the bloody footsteps of Jesus Christ and one of his first spiritual lessons here is not to follow the crowd but to follow Jesus. you got to follow Jesus more than you follow the people. Because if you don’t follow Jesus, you’ll get offended by people and leave. Simon didn’t start out following Peter because when he found out Peter was a bigoted racist good-for-nothing. He would have walked out of the church, but he didn’t come to the church after Peter. He came in following Jesus! Simon first went to the cross! You must follow Jesus. Jesus walks this path in front of Simon. And Simon following.

Remember Jesus has been beaten, flogged all night with the cat of nine tails so Jesus has wounds and scars Jesus is fatigued most people would actually live on the cross for days but one of the reasons that Jesus only lasts on the cross is a few hours is because he’s been bleeding all night long when your heart is pumping because of movement the more blood begins to gush from your body. So, we just talk about a bloody cross.

But Jesus has also created a bloody path leading up to the cross. leading up to the finish line. Simon is not just walking in Jesus’ bloody footsteps but his own feet or his sandals are getting covered from toe to heel in the blood of Jesus Christ. Why is that important? So, his whole foot, his entire sandal has blood all over it, it’s crazy because when he goes home later that day and he gets to his son’s house, guess what? The servant is going to meet him at the door and get ready to wash his feet.

And I learned that ancient servants then and even now where they still do it, they are so skilled at their job that they can tell where you’ve been by looking at what kind of dirt is on your feet. So that if he had come through Egypt, he would have dark soil all over his feet. If he had come by the Dead Sea, he would have orange soil over his feet because of where he came from.   If he had come through Damascus, he would have bright red soil all over his feet. If he had come by Jericho, he would have powdery white soil all over his feet. But when he sits down to get the dirt washed off his feet, guess what? The servant is getting ready to guess where he’s coming from by seeing what kind of dirt he has. But the servant can’t see any dirt. Can’t see where it’s come from, because it’s all covered in the blood of Jesus.

As sinners, we are essentially committed for trial. We must answer to the charge of transgressing God’s law. Their only hope is to accept Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin–a curse–for mankind. Nothing but his grace is sufficient to free the transgressor from bondage. And by the grace of Christ all who are obedient to God’s commandments are made free.

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

May this Christmas be about your personal redemption. May the cross be on your Christmas agenda! May your walk with Christ be by the blood-stained way of the cross both at Christmas and the entire rest of the year is our prayer In Jesus’ name.