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Enticements and Desires

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Understanding how we are tempted is helpful in understanding how to overcome temptation. It is important to understand how the devil works and why his temptations are so successful against us. Once we understand that, then we can know how to resist temptation and not yield to them.

“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires [lusts] and enticed.” James 1:14. Although the New Testament typically uses the word lust to describe a very strong, forbidden and unlawful desire, there are a few times when it is used in a different way. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He used lust to express His strong desire to eat the last supper with them. However, most often, the New Testament uses it to describe a strong, forbidden desire for something unlawful.

There are two elements to temptation—the lust that is common within our own nature and the enticement we experience from an outside source. James is saying, and this is an important point to remember, the lust that is involved when we are tempted is our own lust on the inside. To be enticed is to be seduced, lured, or drawn out. Enticement has to do with craftiness, deceit, guile, or subtlety from the outside, to be seduced by promises or persuasions to do something that is evil.

“Temptations from without find an answering chord within the heart, and the feet slide imperceptibly into sin.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 425. This statement brings together the desire of the heart (the carnal, sinful nature within) and the art of enticement (subtle deceit from without). Enticement meets an answering chord in the sinful nature of man, and the result is that we imperceptibly slide into sin unaware that we are yielding to temptation.

I knew a man who was struggling to quit smoking and hadn’t smoked for many days. But one day, while going through a grocery store checkout, the person ahead of him lit up a cigarette and handed one to him. He took the cigarette, and before he even realized it, had smoked the cigarette half through. The enticement came from the outside when the other man handed him the cigarette, but he responded because of the answering chord that existed within his heart.

The temptation from without is the promise of a liar enticing us to sin, but the responding chord from within is our own desire for something forbidden.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; but an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45. It is in the heart that we find the seat of these lustful desires, the emotions of good or evil. How does Inspiration describe the condition of the heart of man?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurably wicked. Who can even know it?” Jeremiah 17:9, literal translation.

Moses said, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5. Because of the sinful nature of man’s heart, the imagination of the thoughts are evil continually.

The word imagination has to do with a forming of or, figuratively, a conception, something framed in a person’s mind. The imaginations of man’s heart are the conceptions and purposes that are formed or framed in his mind. So Moses, talking about the heart, is referring to the mind in these verses when he talks about the imagination of the heart.

Mrs. White says, regarding the heart and the mind, “What is the new heart? It is the new mind.  What is the mind? It is the will.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 210. When the word heart is used figuratively, it is generally associated with the things that we love. “The mind controls the whole man. All our actions, good or bad, have their source in the mind.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 426. “The will is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or choice.” Education, 289. These references reveal the role of the mind in relation to the will.

The mind is the link between the heart (what we love) and the will (what we choose to do). When you understand this, then this next quotation makes perfect sense. “Every mind is controlled either by the power of Satan or the power of God.” The General Conference Bulletin, March 30, 1903

What will happen if Satan is in control of my mind? This is imperceptible to us, so we do not recognize that the intelligence controlling our minds today is not the same as it was in the past, once we experience the “new man” conversion. “Full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:10 (KJV)

What will we do if Satan controls our minds? “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.” John 8:44, first part

So, a quick recap of everything we looked at over the last few issues.

When man was created, God was in control of his mind and his nature was pure and holy, governed by the principles of righteousness. But at the Fall, when Adam, the legal representative and father of our race, yielded his allegiance to Satan by eating the forbidden fruit, Satan took control of his mind, and the natural desire of his heart—now governed by the principles of selfishness—was changed. Everything was changed.

The Bible tells us that they immediately began to find fault with each other. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. But they both, by extension, blamed God. Having sinned, the devil now was in control of their minds and immediately there was contention in their paradise home.

“The carnal mind [the fleshly mind] is enmity against God: it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7. Notice, it is impossible for the carnal mind to be subject to the law of God. When someone says, “I can’t overcome this,” they are telling the truth. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and therefore, it cannot keep the law of God, no matter how much it might want to.

“Human nature could not keep the law, even if it would. Apart from Christ, without union with Him, we can do nothing.” The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895. The carnal mind is now our natural mind, the same one that every son and daughter of Adam possesses. And why is this mind of man hostile toward God?

“When man sinned all heaven was filled with sorrow; for through yielding to temptation, man became the enemy of God, a partaker of the satanic nature. The image of God in which he had been created was marred and distorted. The character of man was out of harmony with the character of God; for through sin man became carnal, and the carnal heart is enmity against God, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Ibid., February 13, 1893. When Adam sinned, he became a partaker of the satanic nature, yielding control to Satan, and as a consequence, all of his descendants bear the same.

Inspiration uses heart, mind, and will synonymously. “You need to drink daily at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord. But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan … .” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 515

Everything that we think, say, and do is formed in and springs from a will, heart, and mind now controlled by Satan. “… And he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man.” Ibid. That’s why, speaking to the people of His day, Jesus said, “O generation of vipers. How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34

“As Satan had done in heaven, so he did on earth—declared God’s government unjust, the restrictions of His law unnecessary, and bade men, as he had angels, to throw aside the yoke and let the dictates of their own nature be their only guide and law.” The Signs of the Times, December 15, 1914

This was a scary statement when he made it to the perfect angels in heaven. But then Satan told man, and continues to tell man, to let the dictates of his own nature be his only guide and law. What a terrible delusion! “I decide what to do with my life because I know what’s best for me.” I might believe that I am in control of my life, but in reality, it is Satan who is controlling me.

Satan is subtle and cunning, using deception and craftiness to lead men astray. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” Genesis 3:1, first part. “That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world; he was cast into the earth.” Revelation 12:9. The devil is a liar, a murderer, a deceiver and it is his determined purpose to deceive the whole world.

How does he achieve this? “Satan must deceive in order to lead away. ‘In vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.’ Underhand work must be done; a deceptive influence must be exerted; pretenses must be set forth as truth; suspicion must be lulled to sleep.” The Review and Herald, September 14, 1897

When the enticement comes from the outside and finds a receptive chord inside our mind and heart, temptation comes with overwhelming power. The devil looks into each of our lives to see our strongest desires and weaknesses. The strength of his outside enticement matches the strength of our inward desire, and we are trapped. The devil intimately knows every single one of us. He puts in our hearts the belief that we can overcome it later, but it’s just too hard to do it right now. He tells us that God won’t hold it against us, that He will forgive us, and seeking justification so that we can do what we want to do, we believe what he says.

But when a man decides to serve God, and no longer be controlled by his inward desires and the devil’s outside enticements, the devil changes his tactics from deception to oppression and persecution. “No man can serve God without enlisting against himself evil men and evil angels. Evil angels well know that one soul accepting the truth as it is in Jesus, will by precept and example weaken their hold upon other souls, for the truth is aggressive. Alarmed because he is losing his prey, Satan will first seek to deceive, next to oppress and persecute.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 3, 118

“The way in which Satan tempted Christ, he is today tempting every soul. He seeks to hold men under his reasoning.” The Review and Herald, May 3, 1906. The devil wants to keep you under his control. He first deceives you to believe that you are a terrible sinner, too weak to overcome, that you are lost. He does this to every soul—including you and me.

Imagine a person whose besetting sin is impatience. After decades of expressing impatience in thousands of circumstances, a habit has developed that holds him like chains of steel, impossible for him to break. He will never be free from the sin of impatience unless he is set free by divine power, nor will he be able to be patient without divine aid.

The standard of the gospel is the same for everyone. But the devil is trying to keep us under the control of his deceptive reasoning. A person intends to overcome, but he may say just not right now. He has not reached the point where he can say, “Lord, I want to overcome today.”

Satan has a very special deception for those who proclaim to be followers of Christ. He has deceived even the most educated Adventists into believing that it may be a sin under these circumstances, but in this case, it is not. The world calls that “situation ethics.” “Satan clothes temptation and sin with the garments of righteousness, and by this deception he wins many to his side.” The Review and Herald, September 14, 1897. Reason all you can, but sin is sin no matter what form it may take. There are no circumstances under which we can justify sin to make it right.

I was in a Sabbath School class many years ago when a young man was trying to prove that in certain situations it was all right to tell a lie. I was young myself and not very tactful. I said, “Listen to this.” And I read him this verse: “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil, that good may come’?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.” Romans 3:8

“Through his deception and delusion, Satan would, if possible, deceive the very elect. His is no minor deception. He will seek to annoy, to harass, to falsify, to accuse, and misrepresent all whom he cannot compel to give him honor and help him in his work. His great success lies in keeping men’s minds confused, and ignorant of his devices, for then he can lead the unwary as it were, blindfolded.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 423

You and I must daily ask the Lord to make clear to us the deceptions that the devil has especially prepared for God’s people. It is his determined purpose to keep us under the control of his deceptive reasoning. He intends to raise up false christs and prophets, to show great signs and wonders so that, if it is possible, he might deceive even the elect people of God. We must beware. We need to stay awake or we, too, will be deceived.

“The nearer we come to the close of this earth’s history, the more delusive will be the snares of the enemy. As time passes, his attacks will grow fiercer and more frequent. Satan’s supreme effort is made to ensnare and deceive if possible the very elect—the church and the ministers of Christ.” The Review and Herald, November 14, 1912. Satan is trying everything he can imagine to deceive the members and ministers of the Adventist church. Sadly, he has been too successful.

“With all their ingenuity he and his agencies are working to deceive if possible the very elect. If he can lull them to indifference to their high calling, his triumph is certain.” Ibid. What is my high calling? The promise of the gospel is that God will reproduce the very likeness of Jesus Christ in my mind if I cooperate. Peter said, “Having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust you might be partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4. John says that we can once again be partakers of the divine nature, having a Christlike character (See 1 John 3:2, 3). That is our high calling. If the devil can lull us to be indifferent toward receiving Christ’s likeness in our own character, or deceive us into believing it has already happened when it has not, or convince us that we are okay as we are, then his triumph is certain.

Webster tells us that indifference is a state of mind in which there is no feeling of anxiety or interest in what is presented to it. Satan’s supreme effort is to lull the very elect to indifference to their high calling. And his great success will be in keeping our minds confused and ignorant of his devices. So how important is it for me to know what my high calling is—for me to be awake to my peril and not to be confused or ignorant about the devices of the enemy working against my soul?

Paul said to the Philippians, “Forgetting those things that are behind, pressing toward those things that are before, I press [I urge] toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, last part, 14. To the Colossians he said, “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26, 27. God has promised that the spiritual image of Christ will be reproduced in every one of His children. I must claim that promise every day in prayer. I see myself as miserable, poor, blind, naked, and completely destitute, but God has promised to reproduce the image of Christ in me, and I can rely on God to keep His word.

Paul continues by saying, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth, and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16–19. “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16

Satan has been misrepresenting the character of God to mankind for 6,000 years. He wants us to doubt and distrust Him. On the one hand, Satan says that God is not loving and merciful, but vengeful; while on the other hand, he posits that if God were loving and merciful, then He would overlook just a little sin. If we fall for the devil’s lies, no matter how they are presented to us, then we will yield to temptation and fall into sin every single time.

I must claim God’s promises, fully surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit, believing that He says what He means and means what He says. Then, through that power, the character of Christ will be reproduced in my character. It won’t matter that I have a fallen human nature where no good thing can be found. It won’t matter that I am assaulted from without by the enticements of the devil or that inside I have an answering chord that strains to respond to them. None of it will matter, because if I surrender and claim the promise, the Lord will work a miracle in my life and I will seek to do His will. I don’t have to be lost.

“You cannot comprehend what a terrible thing it is to be lost. Your conscience has become hardened in sin and transgression and unbelief; but you may, if you will, fall on the Rock Christ Jesus and be broken before it is utterly too late, crying, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me.’ If you do this, God will not leave you to perish. …” Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, 145

“The whole mind must be molded by the Holy Spirit. Divine power will combine with human effort, when we seek earnestly to be complete in Christ Jesus. The Lord will help everyone who seeks Him with all his heart.” Sons and Daughters of God, 285

“By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature.

“It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into the world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord.” God’s Amazing Grace, 246

Whatever suggestions Satan may make to keep your soul bound in sin and despair, no matter how much your inner desires may want to respond to his enticements, go to Jesus, the sin-pardoning Saviour, without delay. The Lord, who is mighty to save, will rescue you from the snare of the devil.

“God is faithful who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Question – Can there ever be true unity?

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Question:

Can there ever be true unity?

Answer:

Of course, there can be no unity with the world or the devil—not in one single thought or action—if our desire is to be saved.

“Satan is rich in this world’s goods, and he is full of cunning to deceive, and his most effective agents are those whom he can lead to take a form of godliness while they deny the power of God by their un-Christlike characters. The children of God are to stand firmly for the right under all circumstances. They are not to be deceived by those who have the mind and spirit of the world.” In Heavenly Places, 168

“Christ and the world are not in partnership. … The slightest diversion from Christ is so much influence, power, and efficiency given to the enemy.” The Review and Herald, August 23, 1892

“Satan’s deceptive workings are constantly being carried on in every place. Those who truly love God will reveal their love for Him in every and under every circumstance. … They will not be persuaded to forget the Lord at any time. …

“We must be as decidedly a peculiar people, holy unto the Lord, as the Israelites were required to be, else we cannot properly represent our wise, compassionate, glorified Redeemer.” Lift Him Up, 146

“When absolute homage is paid to the word of God in matters of doctrine and principle, there will be no easy fellowship with the world.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 4, 412

For those who believe in God and who seek to do His will, there is unity in thought, spirit, action, and purpose.

“A Christian, as described by the Scriptures, is a person who is separated from the world in his aims and practices and is united with Christ … .” In Heavenly Places, 168

“The secret of unity is found in the equality of believers in Christ. The reason for all division, discord, and difference is found in separation from Christ. Christ is the center to which all should be attracted; for the nearer we approach the center, the closer we shall come together in feeling, in sympathy, in love, growing into the character and image of Jesus.” That I May Know Him, 99

“… if all are seeking the meekness and lowliness of Christ they will have the mind of Christ. Then there will be unity of spirit.” Last Day Events, 92

“The animating Spirit of God, working through human agencies, leads the believers to be of one mind, one soul, unitedly loving God and keeping His commandments—preparing here below for translation.” The Review and Herald, October 20, 1904

The Megapode

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The megapode, also called the Australian incubator bird, is a medium-to-large sized, chicken-like bird with a small head, heavy legs, and big feet with sharp claws. The name literally means large foot. They typically live in wooded areas, and are browsers—herbivores that eat leaves and the fruit of shrubs. There are 20 living species of the bird. Found in Oceania—a geographical region including Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding Pacific islands), Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia—their eggs are considered a delicacy. The egg is twice the size of a chicken egg, weighs about half a pound, and the yolk is about four times bigger, making up 50-70% of the egg’s weight. The megapode itself weighs about 3.5 to 4 pounds.

The male megapode builds the nest—a massive nest as much as 50’ across and 20’ high—out of decaying vegetation, like a huge mulch pile.

The female has only two jobs: approving the nest and laying eggs. She digs around in the nest and if it meets with her approval, good for her mate. But if it doesn’t, he builds a new one. Keep in mind the size of the nest in relationship to the size of the bird; this is major craftsmanship. Once the nest is approved, the female will lay 25 to 30 eggs, one egg every 3 days for up to 7 months. The shell is very thick with pores that are shaped like ice cream cones. Once the eggs are laid, she leaves.

The man of the nest now takes over responsibility for the nest and eggs. He tends his nest by adding or removing litter to regulate the internal heat while the eggs develop, keeping the temperature at about 91° F and 99.5% humidity. If the temperature varies much more than 1°, the chicks will die. If it gets too dry, the chicks will die. So much pressure! So each day he digs in the nest and checks the temperature and humidity. If the mound is too hot, too cold, or too dry, he goes to work to cool it off or warm it up or increase the humidity. Once the chicks are hatched, his work is done.

In the egg, as the chicks grow, it eventually can’t get enough air and begins to scrape off the inside of the egg to make the ice-cream-cone-shaped air holes bigger. Unlike other chicks, a megapode chick does not have an eggtooth, the sharp, temporary projection at the end of the beak to chip away at the eggshell until it is able to breathe and ultimately break free. Instead, the chick uses its powerful claws, and once free from the shell, lays on its back, tunneling its way through the sand and vegetable matter to the surface of the mound. It does this by packing the sticks and dirt that fall on its chest under its wings, repeating this for up to three days, until it has reached the surface.

Chicks hatch fully feathered, ready and able to fly, and to live independently of their parents because, well, they’ve already left. So they start to search for and find food. They raise themselves to maturity with no training, and go on to either build a nest or make eggs for the next generation.

So did the megapode evolve or was there some master plan to their design and very specific habits? Let’s see.

How does the female know if the nest is just right? Why is she not involved in caring for the eggs like most other bird species?

How does the male know how to build this complicated nest, and have the ability and knowledge to keep the temperature and humidity precisely controlled?

How were the air vents shaped like ice cream cones with the tip pointing toward the chick? And how does the chick know to scrape at these vents to get more air as it chips away to finally hatch out of the shell?

How does the chick know to dig out of the nest, which way to dig, and how to pack the debris beneath it? How does it know to hunt for food and catch it? Then the next year, the cycle begins again with the mature chicks taking on their roles with no training.

How could all of this be a product of mindless, random, accidental, purposeless chance over a massive time period? These physical attributes, instincts, skills, and knowledge had to be designed and instilled in these birds by a Creator or the whole species would have been extinct with the first pair of birds. Only God, the Creator, could do this.

Sources: Adapted from materials by Dr. Jobe Martin D.M.D., TH.M.; wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapode; beautyofbirds.com/megapodes

Health – Elderberries

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The elderberry is a member of the Sambucus genus of flowering plants. The berries are found in clusters and are typically either black, blue-black or red in color. In its raw state, the elderberry contains glycoside which makes it poisonous, but when cooked, it is edible.

Because of the elderberry’s natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and immune-stimulating properties, it is used for medical purposes. Elderberry syrup is probably one of the best homemade herbal remedies you can make, and is particularly good at fighting colds and flus.

Elderberry Syrup

Put six cups of fresh elderberries (or three cups dried) in a pot with six cups of water.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for about one hour, or until reduced by nearly half. Leaving the pot uncovered while simmering, allows the steam to escape and will help to remove any potential toxins. It will also help the mixture to reduce. If you feel the mixture is reducing too fast, partially cover the pot while it is simmering.

Remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool, but you’ll want it to cool to a warm room temperature so that the honey will easily dissolve, but not too hot or the benefits of the raw honey will be lost.

Strain the elderberries using a fine mesh sieve, pressing the berries to get any extra liquid out. You might want to line the sieve with cheesecloth. This will help squeeze out all the liquid from the berries. You should end up with at least one quart of mixture.

Add 2/3 cup of raw honey and stir until it dissolves. Do not heat again.

Ladle the syrup into a quart jar, placing the lid and ring to fingertip tight. Let it cool completely and refrigerate for up to six months. Elderberry syrup can also be frozen. Discard the berries. With all the beneficial compounds now in the elderberry and water mixture, the berries have no real use at this point.

For medicinal use adults should take 1-2 tablespoons of the syrup 2-3 times per day at the onset of a cold or flu, and throughout the duration of the illness. While you might want to use the syrup for a short time as a preventative if you believe you were exposed to illness, but not yet experiencing symptoms, it is not recommended to take it daily as a preventative, especially for those with autoimmune issues. The syrup is safe for children over the age of one—because of the raw honey in the syrup, it would be harmful for children under the age of one year old. A child’s dose would be 1-2 teaspoons twice a day. The dosage can be increased as the child grows.

Beyond its medicinal uses, elderberry syrup is also delicious and full of vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids! It can be used in moderation as a treat on pancakes, in ice cream and tea, desserts, candies, jams and jellies, or as a nice cold drink on a hot summer’s day.

Black Elderberry Slushie

2 cups ice

1 cup juice (orange, grape, pomegranate)

1 tsp black elderberry syrup

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed.

Pulse a few times, then blend until the consistency of a slushie.

Serve immediately, drizzle with additional black elderberry syrup if desired.

Sources: growforagecookferment.com/elderberry-syrup; Wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus

On Being Perfect

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The Bible tells us that God has a standard of perfection that those who would be ready for heaven will attain. I used to qualify anything I said about what that standard is by saying that we don’t know what it is because so many people have a huge problem with the idea that we can reach perfection in this life. But God knows exactly what that standard is and He promises that we will reach it.

So what is it? It’s been right in front of us the whole time—the life of Jesus Christ. Plain and simple, Jesus lived a perfect life and this is the life we are told that we are to live in the same way and by the same power that He did.

The law of God is our standard and Jesus came to this world, the embodiment of the law, perfectly obeying it, and seeking always to do the will of the Father. His life was an example for us to follow in our own lives.

“If you would have beauty and loveliness of character, the divine law must be written upon the heart and carried out in the life.” Conflict and Courage, 26

Someone might say that it would be impossible for us to live a life like Jesus. And they’d be right if we had to achieve it alone, but we don’t.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22–25

If the law of God is written on our hearts, then everything we do and say will be a reflection of it, an outworking of that principle of righteousness which we do not have, but God promises to give.

“True beauty of character is not something that shines out only on special occasions; the grace of Christ dwelling in the soul is revealed under all circumstances. He who cherishes this grace as an abiding presence in the life will reveal beauty in character under trying as well as under easy circumstances. In the home, in the world, in the church, we are to live the life of Christ. There are souls all around in need of conversion. When the law of God is written upon the heart, and is witnessed to in a holy character, those who know not the power of the grace of Christ will be led to desire it, and will be converted.” Our Father Cares, 298

“As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” Proverbs 27:19

Dear Father, may we, by Your grace and power, work for that perfection of character that You require and promise to give.

Story – Successful Successor

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An emperor had no children. He decided to select a suitable successor to his throne from the boys of his empire. He proclaimed that the interested boys should assemble in the palace in the morning on a specified date. When the boys arrived, he said, “There is a simple test for you. I will give a seed to each of you. You must take it home and carefully plant it in a pot. Tend it giving all possible care and bring the pot to me at the same time next year. I will examine the pots and adopt the one I choose as my successor to the throne of this vast empire.”

The boys carried the seeds home and planted them. One of the boys found that his seed did not sprout even though he gave all possible care. He continued to tend the pot and water it daily, but could not get any result. The others tended their plantlets with the utmost care and grew beautiful and healthy plants in their pots.  Some of their plants developed buds and flowers.

After one year, all the boys reached the palace to proudly display the result of their sustained effort. The poor boy alone sat there without any plant to display. The emperor examined each pot and returned to his throne. He summoned the boy who could not grow the plant to come near him. The other boys laughed at the poor boy who was holding his barren pot. The king stood up and declared, “I had given each of you a seed after cooking it by prolonged and vigorous boiling in water to destroy its viability and to assure that it would not grow at all. But all of you, except this honest young man, have managed to raise plants using your own seeds to impress me and gain the throne by fraudulent means. Honesty, truthfulness, courage, and integrity are the qualities I expected in my successor. Only this boy has succeeded in the test. Hence, I proclaim that he shall be my successor.” The emperor embraced the boy. The other boys left the scene in shame.

It is a good rule that we should be faithful and truthful in every action—both big and small. A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering, or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power, or pleasure. The apostle Paul advises, “Put away lying, and speak truthfully to your neighbor, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:25. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

The Bible reminds us, “The Lord sees everything you do, and He watches where you go.” Proverbs 5:21. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.” Proverbs 15:3

Source: Christian.moral-stories.com

Talk Faith, and Move Forward

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“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”

John 17:1–4

While we know Christ in one sense, that He is the Saviour of the world, it means more than this. We must have a personal knowledge and experience in Christ Jesus, an experimental knowledge of Christ, what He is to us, and what we are to Christ. That is the experience that everyone wants. Now, I cannot have it for any of you, nor can you have it for me. The work that is to be done for us, is to be through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit of God upon human minds and human hearts. The heart must be purified and sanctified. …

What is the matter with us? “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” It shall be given him. There are no “ifs” nor “ands” about it. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5, 6).

You pray, and ask God for wisdom, strength, and efficiency, and feel you must have them. But perhaps, right after that prayer, it will seem as though a hellish shadow of Satan was cast right athwart your pathway, and you see nothing beyond. What was that? Why, the devil wanted to obscure your faith in that cloud. But there is no necessity for you to do that. Is feeling to be our criterion, or is it to be the word of the living God? Are we to sink our faith in the cloud? That is what Satan wants us to do. But we should not give him so much pleasure as that. What are we going to do? …

“Ask in faith, nothing wavering.” Don’t let one single suggestion of the devil come in. It is to be “nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea” (verse 6). The Lord will do great things for us if we will only show our trust in Him. …

When we come to the hardest places, we may know that all heaven is interested and will bear us up, if we will not fail or be discouraged. Cling to the mighty One. Do not talk unbelief at all, because the more you talk unbelief the more unbelief you will have; and the more you talk darkness, the more darkness you will have; and the more you talk light, the more light you will have; and the more you talk faith, you will have faith. …

You must put your foot right on the Word, and say, I believe; I will believe; I will press to the mark of the prize, and everything that hinders me shall be swept away; I will not allow anything to interpose between my soul and God.

No, the dark shadow of Satan will come right across our pathway if we let our faith sink into it. But we must do as the eagle does when he is in the cloud and bewildered in the fog. He does not go one way and another as though distracted, but presses upward through the cloud, until he comes into the light above. And so we should press upward beyond the hellish shadow of Satan, when he tries to eclipse the rays of light that come from God.

Now, we want the life of Christ in our hearts to make us one, and there will be united action. We must press to the mark of the prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; and what we need is that living, active faith that takes God at His word. We must have it, and God will let us have it if we will.

We must not be discouraged. We want to get rid of unbelief; we do not want to talk it, or act it, or think it, but press forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. … I know that the time has come when God’s people should put on their beautiful garments. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” It is the word of infinite power that He wants you to eat and drink. He wants you to eat His flesh and drink His blood, and then the power of God will be in your midst. Then the voice will be touched with a peculiar power. …

… Do not think about your brethren and sisters for fear they are not ready, but think about yourself. You want to know where you are, and to know that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. You want to be constantly singing, and when you do that you will stop your criticizing. If you are beholding Him, you will not have time for anything else. And if you see His face, it will be reflected in your face, and all this mourning and groaning is dishonoring God, for “whoso offereth praise, glorifieth God. …”

Just keep praising God, and when the devil tempts you, sing. When Christ was a child He was tempted in every way, and what did He do? He sang psalms, and praised God, and there was music in His voice. And there was an impression made upon the hearts and minds of those who heard Him. He wants you to have heaven in view, and heaven is a good deal nearer than you think. God’s holy, anointed ones are right by you, and here is His church, the greatest object of His love that it is possible for Him to have. He is watching over every one of us.

I love Him because He first loved me. I love Him because He gave His life for me. And God forbid that I should be a coward. When the children of Israel went out to fight, God told them to sing, and as soon as they began to sing, their enemies fled, for they saw the whole army of heaven before them. They were afraid of their destruction and fled. God wants us to vanquish the enemy. Let us pray as we never prayed before. We do not pray half enough. … May God bless you, and may the Spirit of God be with us. Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 303–311

Jesus and Prayer

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In His earth life, Jesus ever kept in close touch with the Father. This might be expected, for from eternity They had been coworkers, and were one in planning both for creation and for redemption. Of Christ it is written, “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was … . When He prepared the heavens, I was there … . Then I was beside Him as one brought up with Him … .” Proverbs 8:22, 23, 27, first part, 30, first part

God Himself bears this testimony: “But unto the Son He saith, ‘Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. … And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands.’ ” Hebrews 1:8, 10

If any reader is perplexed over the statements just quoted, which attribute Creation to both Father and Son, let him find the solution in Ephesians 3:9, last part: “God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” And again, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. Christ and the Father worked together in the work of Creation.

Having worked closely together in Creation, They were now working closely together in that part of redemption which required Christ to come to this earth, and which would result in His death on the cross. In all that Christ did on earth, He was guided by the pattern outlined in heaven, which was being communicated constantly to Him by the Father. “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38. “ ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.’ ” John 5:19

Even the doctrine Jesus taught, He had derived from the Father. “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.’ ” John 7:16. “ ‘And the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.’ ” John 14:24, last part. “ ‘But as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.’ ” John 8:28, last part. “ ‘For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth … .’ ” and “ ‘For I do always those things that please Him.’ ” John 5:20, first part; 8:29, last part. The prophet had said of Christ, “The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He awakeneth morning by morning, He awakeneth My ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4

The Source of Christ’s Power

We shall not go far astray if we accept the view that in Christ’s prayer, in His communion with the Father, lay His power. When He appeared before the people, He was always calm and composed. The future had been opened to Him; He knew just what He would meet; nothing could come to Him as a surprise, and He was always master of the situation. Nathanael might in surprise ask how He knew him when they had never met before, and Christ quietly answered, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” John 1:48. The woman at the well was so astonished at what He revealed to her that she completely forgot her errand and left her waterpot at the well, while she went into the city and “testified, He told me all that ever I did.” John 4:39. All His power, all His composure, all the authority of His words, all the certainty of His statements and predictions, stemmed from His interviews with His Father. His power lay in His prayer, His communion with God.

It is of interest to note that before important events or decisions, Christ spent the preceding night in the mountains with God. Before His first preaching tour He “departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35, 38, 39. Before He chose the twelve disciples “He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles.” Luke 6:12, 13. At the time of the transfiguration, He took Peter and James and John “and went up into a mountain to pray.” Luke 9:28. On this occasion “the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.” Verse 29. At the time of His baptism, He prayed. Luke 3:21. At the time of the Lord’s Supper, He prayed; in the garden and on the cross, He prayed. Luke 22:19, 41; 23:34. It may safely be said that on every important occasion He prayed, and at times spent the whole night in prayer.

These examples of Christ’s prayers demonstrate the possibilities of prayer. Jesus prayed, and even His garments became glistening. How different from our tame and lifeless prayer!

The disciples could not fail to notice that Christ had sources of strength of which they knew nothing. They would work all day long and, when night came, fall asleep exhausted. Christ would forgo sleep, going out to the mountains alone, and when He came back in the morning He was fully refreshed and ready to minister to the people again. The disciples must have wondered where He got such vitality and how He could keep up His work. He said very little if anything of His night vigils, but it must have become clear to them that there was a close connection between His nights of prayer and His days of strength. No wonder they asked Him to teach them to pray.

We have no record of what took place in those night seasons which Father and Son spent together alone. That it had to do principally with Christ’s work seems evident, but beyond this we cannot go. We know that on the mount of transfiguration Moses and Elijah talked “of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:31. These two men had both been on earth. One had died and been raised again; the other had not tasted death. They were now discussing with Jesus His impending death. They had both been saved and taken to heaven in anticipation of the sacrifice Christ was to make, and truly represented all the saved from all ages, most of whom would taste death, but some of whom would be translated at Christ’s coming.

Beyond these few facts, we know nothing of those night seasons of prayer. They must have been precious occasions, invigorating to body as well as to soul. Christ did not always have eight hours of sleep. He did not always have regular meals. He had meat of which the disciples did not know; He had sources of strength from above.

The last few days of Christ’s ministry on earth were spent instructing His disciples and forewarning them of the events to come. He concluded His instruction with what has come to be called His high-priestly prayer, dedicating them, as well as Himself, to God. Immediately after the prayer, He went to Gethsemane.

This prayer is recorded in John 17 and contains a resume of His work. Lifting up His eyes to heaven and addressing His Father, He said, “The hour is come.” Verse 1. This was the hour that He had looked forward to with apprehension and He had even thought of asking the Father that He might be saved from it. He immediately rejected such a suggestion, saying that it was for this hour He had come into the world (John 12:27). Would He be able to glorify God in His suffering? Could He calmly face torture and death? This weighed on His mind. For this would be His hour of glory if He victoriously could meet it. All creation was vitally and absorbingly interested in this time when Christ should enter the domain of death and through death wrest from Satan his prey. For Christ this would be the supreme hour, and God would be glorified if He triumphantly passed the test. So He prayed, “Father, glorify Thy name.” God answered, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Verse 28

The Hour Had Come

Now the hour had come that would decide the world’s destiny, and Christ prayed, “Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.” John 17:1. This was a prayer not for glory to the Son as such, but a prayer that God would sustain Him in the ordeal, that when the hour of darkness should come, Christ would be enabled to glorify God in His death and that through His death Satan would be defeated. Entering Satan’s stronghold to liberate the prisoners, entering alone to match powers with the evil one and overcome him and take away from him his armor would be a wonderful victory and the deciding one. Should Christ fail, it would be a victory for Satan, and Christ’s work would be in vain. Christ trembled as He thought of the momentous issues depending upon this hour, and He said, “Now is My soul troubled.” John 12:27. But receiving encouragement that God would sustain and glorify Him, He resolutely exclaimed: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” Verse 31

Christ had so far finished the work given Him to do, and He now asked God to sustain Him in the dark hour ahead (John 17:4, 5). He assured the Father, “I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me,” and that they had received them and had believed. Verses 6–8. Then He prayed, “Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.” Verse 11

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name.” “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Verses 12, 15. He prayed that they might be sanctified, and for their sakes He sanctified Himself; and then He made the momentous statement, “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” Verse 18

This means nothing less than as Christ was sent into the world to reveal the Father, to preach the gospel, and to heal the sick, so we are sent. His prayer did not apply to the disciples only, but to them “also which shall believe on Me through their word.” Verse 20. Thus this prayer reaches to the end of time and takes in every soul who shall believe. Christ prayed for Peter. “Satan hath desired to have you,” said Christ, “that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31, 32. And now Christ said that He prayed for all who shall believe on Him “through their word.” John 17:20

If we take this literally, it means that Christ has prayed for us, for you, for me, for all who shall believe. And for what has He prayed?—“That they all may be one: … that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” Verse 21. The unity of the church is here mentioned as being effective in helping the world to believe. How important then, that there be no divisions among God’s people, “all one body we.” “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35

“Father, I will.” Christ wants His church with Him, and He makes a definite demand to that end. Then He closed the prayer with the hope that “the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26. Then came Gethsemane.

It will be noted that Christ’s prayer is concerned with others. He planned and prayed for those whom He loved. He knew what awaited Him. But even in this hour His thoughts were for others.

Prayer, M.L. Andreasen, ©1957, 159–165

[All scripture taken from the King James Version.]

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Peace that Surpasses All Understanding

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The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

It is indisputable that the Lord bestows enumerable blessings on the inhabitants of this world. The greatest blessing is a given, but establishing which of those blessings is the second greatest would be a matter of opinion. The second greatest blessing that the Lord bestows upon His people, in my opinion, is an abiding, inner peace. It is that peace that enables us to cope with life’s daily challenges and with the increasing turmoil that is so prevalent in the world today.

In John 14, Christ states clearly His desire for His disciples to be at peace.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Verse 27

It is notable that He declared this gift just a few hours before He was taken captive in the garden of Gethsemane.

A couple of chapters later, even closer to the time of His arrest, we have record of an interesting exchange between Christ and the apostles.

“ ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.’ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again, a little while, and you will see Me”; and, “because I go to the Father”?’ They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, “little while”? We do not know what He is saying.’ ” John 16:16–18

Then Christ explains in verses 19–28 what He meant—although still a bit cryptically.

The disciples responded to His explanation: “His disciples said to Him, ‘See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.’ ” Verses 29, 30

Then Christ challenges them: “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. …’ ” Verses 31, 32

Then in His continuing determination to provide them with comfort—even though He knew that they still did not understand or realize what was going to happen beginning in just a few hours, He added, “ ‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ ” Verse 33

The events that followed over the following days were the fulfillment of many ancient prophecies. Then at least three times after His resurrection, Christ entreated peace upon His disciples once again. We have a record of those blessings in John 20.

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ ” Verses 19–21

Remember that when this scene occurred, Thomas was not present, and because he did not see the resurrected Christ, he refused to believe. His unbelief led to the third recorded time that Christ promised peace to the apostles.

“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ ” Verse 26

The promise of peace that Christ would reveal, or give, or make possible had been promised hundreds of years before in a prophecy that is very well known and much cherished by the Christian world:

“For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

That promise was repeated when the angels made the grand announcement to the shepherds attending their flocks. They concluded their announcement with the wonderful statement recorded in Luke 2:14 that meant more than we even understand today: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Even in the midst of the chaos of end times, the Lord makes this wonderful promise in a prophecy yet to be fulfilled:

 “For the mountains shall depart

And the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you,

Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,

Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”

Isaiah 54:10

There are equally wonderful promises of peace through Christ in the writings of Paul.

Even though his relationship with Christ began in a way that might be seen as somewhat unsettling, if not even a bit brutal, he nevertheless understood the basis and very foundation of that relationship when he wrote to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1, 2

As evidence of Paul’s conviction of the peace that Christ provides, we need look no further than the salutation of all 13 of his epistles:

Romans 1:7

1 Corinthians 1:3

2 Corinthians 1:2

Galatians 1:3

Ephesians 1:2

Philippians 1:2

Colossians 1:2

1 Thessalonians 1:1

2 Thessalonians 1:2

1 Timothy 1:2

2 Timothy 1:2

Titus 1:4

Philemon 1:3.

All begin with some version of the same salutation: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It should be indisputably clear that there is nothing more in this world that Christ and those inspired by Christ want for His followers than peace—an inner, abiding peace that can only be obtained through faith in the promises in the inspired word.

It is likely that as you read this article, you have at least one, if not many, favorite promises that instill within you a comforting sense of peace. A favorite for many people is found in Philippians 4:6, 7: “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”

Earlier in this article, it was noted that Christ and those inspired by Him consistently wish peace for His followers. In the devotional Our High Calling, there are several passages that refer to the peace that Christ wants His followers to experience.

“Shortly before His crucifixion Christ bequeathed to His disciples a legacy of peace. … This peace is not the peace that comes through conformity with the world. It is an internal rather than an external peace. Without will be wars and fightings, through the opposition of avowed enemies, and the coldness and suspicion of those who claim to be friends. The peace of Christ is not to banish division, but it is to remain amid strife and division. …

“The peace that Christ gave to His disciples, and for which we pray, is the peace that is born of truth, a peace that is not to be quenched because of division. Without may be wars and fightings, jealousies, envies, hatred, strife; but the peace of Christ is not that which the world giveth or taketh away.” Op. Cit., 328

“Sanctification, unity, peace—all are to be ours through the truth. The belief of the truth does not make men gloomy and uncomfortable. If you have peace in Christ, His precious blood is speaking pardon and hope to your soul. Yes, more, you have joy in the Holy Spirit, through accepting the precious promises. Jesus says, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33. Therefore the world shall not overcome you if you believe in Me. It is a world that I have conquered. Because I have overcome, if you believe in Me, you shall overcome. …

“All that Jesus has promised, He will fulfill; and it is greatly dishonoring to Him for us to doubt Him. All His words are spirit and life. Accepted and obeyed, they will give peace and happiness and assurance forever. … Christ declares that He has given us peace; it belongs to us. And He has spoken these things, that in Him we may have that which through infinite sacrifice He had purchased for us—what He holds as ours. This peace we need not seek in the world, for the world has it not to bestow. It is in Christ. He will give it, in spite of the world, notwithstanding its threats and decrees, its alluring, deceiving promises.” Op. Cit., 329

“Mercy and truth have met together;

Righteousness and peace have kissed.”

Psalm 85:10

John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org

Abraham’s Test of Faith

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“Faith claims God’s promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. … Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures. …

“It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. But saving faith is a transaction, by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power.” Gospel Workers, 260, 261

The subject of faith is one of great importance. Let’s begin our study by looking at 14 points about faith:

  1. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God].” Hebrews 11:6, first part
  2. Only those who have faith in God are actually part of the true church, but church membership does not give you faith (Luke 16:19–31). “The closing scenes of this earth’s history are portrayed in the closing of the rich man’s history. The rich man claimed to be a son of Abraham, but he was separated from Abraham by an impassable gulf—a character wrongly developed. Abraham served God, following His word in faith and obedience. But, the rich man was unmindful of God and of the needs of suffering humanity. The great gulf fixed between him and Abraham was the gulf of disobedience. There are many today who are following the same course. Though church members, they are unconverted. They may take part in the church service, they may chant the psalm, ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God’ (Psalm 42:1); but they testify to a falsehood. They are no more righteous in God’s sight than is the veriest sinner.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 269, 270

Mrs. White is describing church members who are not converted; they are members of the professed church, but not of the true church. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy make a very sharp distinction between the true church and the professed church. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’ ” 2 Timothy 2:19, first part. Members of the true church and the professed church all make a profession, but not everyone making a profession is a part of His true church. Mrs. White uses the terminology “the professed church” hundreds of times in her writings, making a distinction between it and the true church.

So how can you know whether you are a professed or true member of God’s church? “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:7. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Verse 26. “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Verse 29

  1. Everyone who has faith in God will be saved. Period. No exceptions. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47
  2. Jesus predicted that in the last days of earth’s history there would be a great lack of faith, a time of prevailing unbelief. “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8, last part
  3. Lack of faith is one of the main problems of the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14–22).
  4. Some have more than others, but every person has a measure of faith. “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3, last part

Researchers have given polygraph tests to some who say they do not believe in God. The results? They failed the test. There are many stories of an atheist or agnostic who, when confronted with a terrible situation, cried out, “Lord, help me!” And the Lord did. God has given every man some faith on which to build greater faith.

  1. The time of Noah was a time of little faith and big unbelief. They did not believe what Noah said, until the rain came. In the last days, just before Jesus comes again, He said it would be just as it was then (Matthew 24:37–39).
  2. If you desire your faith to grow, you must exercise it. Everyone has some faith, but would you like to have more? “How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours. …

“It [faith] grows as exercised in appropriating the word of God. In order to strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the word.” Education, 253, 254. That statement is worth a lot of study. God says to us, “If you will do this, I will do that.” We do our part, He does His; that is when miracles begin happening in our lives.

  1. For faith to become strong, it must be tested. This is true with any endeavor be it spiritual, mental, or physical. If you want to become physically strong, you must exercise and use your muscles. In school, students are tested to determine what they have learned. To become spiritually strong, you must be tested, and, as children of God, we should expect to be tested.

“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” John 6:5, 6. If Jesus already knew what He was going to do, why did He ask the question? To test Philip. Sadly, he failed the test. It is important to be tested so that we can grow spiritually in Christ.

  1. If you desire to have strong faith, you must regularly study your Bible. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Mrs. White says we should study our Bible every morning and evening. Some people say they don’t have time to study their Bible more than once a day. Do you have time to eat more than once a day? Yes, because it is necessary if you’re going to be healthy. For your spiritual health, it is necessary to make the time to immerse your mind in the word of God at least twice a day; and that is the minimum. Think of Daniel. Temptations, trials, and struggles in Babylon led him to study the word three times a day. It was so important to him that he did not stop even when he knew it would mean being thrown into the lions’ den.
  2. Faith always obeys the word of God. No obedience, no faith.
  3. “Every failure on the part of the children of God is due to their lack of faith.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 657. Why do we fail? Lack of faith. Do you realize that if you have enough faith, you never have to fail in your Christian experience?
  4. “Through faith in Christ, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed.” Education, 257. If you have faith in Christ, everything you need for the perfecting of your character will be supplied, and every defilement will be removed.
  5. “Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. …

“… Faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.” Ibid., 253

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8. Faith is best understood when looked at from the standpoint of human experience. Abraham, one of the great men of faith in the Bible, had faith so great that he is called the father of the faithful and the friend of God. There were three big tests of faith in Abraham’s life. Each bigger than the one before it, each requiring greater faith.

When Abraham was around 70 years of age, still a relatively young man in those days, God gave him his first test of faith by directing him to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldees—today the southern part of Iraq—and go to a place that He would reveal to Him. Ur of the Chaldees was a highly civilized city with many “modern” things—running water, street lights at night, paved roads, and masonry buildings. Abraham had lived there all his life with his father and mother and other relatives. Now, God says to him, “Leave your family and all you know, and I will show you where to go.”

Abraham stepped out in faith, gathered his family and herds of cattle and sheep, and headed out to follow God’s instructions. Everyone wanted to know where he was going, but he couldn’t tell them because he didn’t know. The only explanation he could give was that the Lord wanted him to go. They thought he was crazy; it’s possible that Abraham felt a little crazy. Abraham loved his family, but he left them, knowing he would likely never see them again, and he did it because he had faith in God’s direction.

“It was no light test that was thus brought upon Abraham, no small sacrifice that was required of him. There were strong ties to bind him to his country, his kindred, and his home. But he did not hesitate to obey the call. He had no question to ask concerning the land of promise—whether the soil was fertile and the climate healthful; whether the country offered agreeable surroundings and would afford opportunities for amassing wealth. God had spoken, and His servant must obey; the happiest place on earth for him was the place where God would have him to be.

“Many are still tested as was Abraham. They do not hear the voice of God speaking directly from the heavens, but He calls them by the teachings of His word and the events of His providence. … Who is ready at the call of Providence to renounce cherished plans and familiar associations? Who will accept new duties and enter untried fields, doing God’s work with firm and willing heart?” Patriarchs and Prophets, 126, 127

Hard as Abraham’s first test was, the next was still harder. The first recorded promise that God had given Abraham is found in Genesis 12:2, first part, 3, last part. Leave your home, family, all you know, and “I will make you a great nation. … And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

“Then Abram said, ‘Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!’ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.’ Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:3–6

A child. The Lord told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a child and from this child his descendants would be as innumerable as the stars and the sand on the seashore. Abraham was about 85, past the age for begetting children, but the Bible says he believed God. We can always believe that what God says He will do, will be done. But one of the biggest problems for us in developing faith is that when God promises something, we expect to see it happen right now, and God doesn’t always tell us when what He says will happen. Often faith and patience go hand in hand, and that was the case for this particular test.

The time came when Sarah, about 75 years old, passed her childbearing years, and still the promised child had not been born. So she did what was customary in those days. She encouraged Abraham to take a secondary wife, her servant girl Hagar, to bear the child for her. This practice was so common in those days that archeologists have found that a provision was often included in marriage covenants allowing a husband to take a secondary wife in order to preserve the family name—an acceptable practice to them, but not to God.

Abraham followed Sarah’s counsel and Hagar had a son they named Ishmael, which means God will hear. The Bible says that God came down and Abraham told Him about Ishmael and that now he had an heir. But the Lord told Abraham that Ishmael was not the child of promise. He reminded him that the child would be born of Abraham’s wife, not a surrogate, and certainly not a child conceived by fornication.

Both Abraham and Sarah were beyond the age of conceiving children. In fact, it seemed so ridiculous that they would have a child at their ages that Sarah laughed in her heart. The Lord asked her why she laughed. Was there anything too hard for the Lord to do? They soon realized the answer to that question when they did have a son. They named him Isaac, which means laughter.

Abraham had failed his second test of faith. He did not believe that God could fulfill His promise of a child in His time and His way. So, he attempted himself to solve what appeared to be an insurmountable problem for God. Because of this failure, Abraham was given a third and unimaginable test of faith.

“Abraham was directed of God to go up to Mount Moriah, and there offer up his son as a burnt offering. There the Lord tested Abraham by a most fearful trial. In taking Hagar for his wife, he showed distrust in the promises of God. If he had patiently waited for the promise to be fulfilled in God’s own time and manner, and had not sought to make a providence himself, he would not have been subjected to this the closest test that was ever required of man.” The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875

Isaac was about 20 years of age when God sent Abraham to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Can you imagine the confusion in Abraham’s mind? Though, as any man, Abraham had made mistakes, and at times lacked faith in God, he believed God to be merciful and loving. How could He ask this of him?

“Then He [the Lord] said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” Genesis 22:2

Abraham went to Isaac and explained that the Lord wanted them to go to a distant mountain to offer a sacrifice. Before dawn, they and their servants, set out for the land of Moriah. Mrs. White says that the first day was the longest day of Abraham’s life.

Usually when they traveled together, Abraham and Isaac would talk, but it seemed to Isaac on this journey that his father didn’t feel like talking. They walked all day, and when night came, Isaac and the servants went to bed and slept. But Abraham couldn’t sleep; instead he prayed all night. Tormented by the devil, he suggested to Abraham that God couldn’t actually mean for him to kill Isaac; He’d be breaking His own law. But Abraham knew what God had told him to do, and he knew that God could decide anything that He chose. And as a man of faith, he would obey. Remember, faith always obeys the word of God. Abraham asked the Lord to help him to be obedient, if possible, without having to sacrifice Isaac, but there was no answer.

The next morning they got up, ate breakfast, and went on their way again. The second longest day of Abraham’s life began.

By evening, he had not slept for 36 hours. Exhausted, as the others slept, again he pleaded with the Lord to send an angel to explain why He was asking Abraham to sacrifice his son. God had spoken to him many times in answer to his prayer, but again there was no answer.

On the third day, God gave Abraham a sign. He saw a bright, glorious cloud over Mount Moriah. The time had come. He had to obey God. When he saw the sign, he told the servants to remain behind, that he and Isaac would go on alone. Abraham could not bear for anyone but God to witness what was about to happen. He continued to plead with the Lord to take his own life rather than the life of Isaac, but the Lord said that Isaac must be the one.

As they made their way up the mountain, Isaac pointed out that they had wood and fire, but that there was no animal for a sacrifice. Abraham could only answer that Jehovah would provide the lamb. The Hebrew word Jehovah-jireh means, God will provide. At the top of the mountain, they built an altar together. Unable to put it off any longer, Abraham with quivering lip and shaking voice, told Isaac that God had instructed that he was to be the burnt offering. Imagine the fear Isaac must have felt! He was a strong young man and he could have escaped, but Isaac was also a man of faith. He would not violate a command of God.

After helping Abraham place the wood on the altar, Isaac allowed himself to be bound upon the altar. Abraham expressed to him how much he loved him; that his obedience to God in no way indicated a lessening of that love. Father embraced son and they shed what they believed would be the last tears they would shed together in this world.

Mrs. White tells us that Abraham believed that God could restore Isaac’s life. This took genuine faith because God had not yet resurrected a human being and would not do so until He raised Moses, hundreds of years later.

Abraham took the knife, lifted it up, and as he brought the knife down, his hand was suddenly stopped. A voice was heard from heaven. “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ ” Genesis 22:11, 12

“Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” Verse 13

“ ‘By Myself I have sworn,’ says the Lord, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’ ” Verses 16–18. Faith always obeys.

“God estimated Abraham’s obedience and unswerving faith, and gave him the name of ‘Father of the faithful.’ The example of Abraham is recorded in sacred history for the benefit of his believing children.” The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875. Why was this done?

“This great act of faith teaches the lesson of implicit confidence in God, perfect obedience to His requirements, and a complete surrender to the divine will.” Ibid.

Everything that you and I have belongs to the Lord—time, money, talents, ourselves. He has lent these things to us to prove us. God recorded this story in the Bible to give us an example of perfect faith and obedience, so that we might understand and better comprehend how real was the great self-denial and infinite sacrifice made by our Father in heaven when He gave His Son to this world. Unlike Isaac, there was no one to stay the hand when Jesus went to His trial. No one to say, “Enough!” The angels were not permitted to interfere. Jesus Christ was insulted, mocked, and derided. He was given up to die a shameful, violent, torturous death—our death.

Abraham knew that God’s promises were infallible and that it was better to obey God, no matter what, than to disobey. If God had come to Abraham and told him to give up all he owned—gold, flocks, herds, silver, land—that would have been easy for him. If God had asked him to surrender his own life for His sake, Abraham would have given it. Mrs. White says that if God had asked him for any of those things, he would have gladly turned it over, including his own life. But God’s test was harder than surrendering his own life.

I hear people say, “I wish I could obey the Lord and pay my tithe and keep the Sabbath, but I don’t have the money and I don’t have the time” and they think they are going to live with Abraham someday? “The deepest poverty, with God’s blessing, is better than houses and lands, and any amount of earthly treasure, without it.” Ibid. It is God’s blessing that places a value on everything that we possess. Without it, we can have the whole world, but we will be poor. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36

Friend, you are better off obeying God, no matter what your problems might be, than being disobedient and enjoying the blessings of this world for a time. The Psalmist said, “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.” Ecclesiastes 8:12

“Those who profess to be looking for the soon coming of our Saviour, should have Abrahamic faith, a faith that is valued because it has cost them something, a faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. The example of Abraham is left on record for us upon whom the ends of the world have come. We must believe that God is in earnest with us, and that He is not to be trifled with. He means what He says, and He requires of us implicit faith and willing obedience.” The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.