joy

A Hundredfold Now

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There are in the Scriptures thoughts and claims of such a startling nature as to occasionally cause one to do a double take. One such thought is found in the words of Jesus in Mark 10:29, 30: “And Jesus answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.’ ”

Clearly, Jesus’ intention here was for us to know that no one making a sacrifice for His sake would go unrewarded. We can understand to a degree that a believer will be compensated for the loss of his family in this life by joining a larger family of faith. We can even understand the promise of persecutions because the Bible is consistent in teaching that heaven can be gained only through much tribulation. (See Acts 14:22; 2, Timothy 3:12; Matthew 24:21.) But what did Jesus mean by declaring “he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time”? What measure was Jesus using? What currency was He alluding to?

When we consider the lives of the apostles, we realize that every one of them died a martyr’s death – except for John, who barely escaped death being deep fried in a pot of boiling oil. So where was the promise of “an hundredfold” for them? But we know that Jesus never lies. This means, therefore, that each of the apostles did indeed receive “an hundredfold” in this life even though to human vision they suffered the loss of all things, including their very lives. This is of profound interest to us living in the last days because the promise of Jesus clearly embraces all His followers to the end of time even as the crisis of the ages steals relentlessly upon us with its specter of suffering and persecution.

Jesus spoke the promise of the “hundredfold” in the context of losing all things for His sake. Does this suggest that only certain believers may be entitled to the promise, while others may not? The answer is an unequivocal No. All believers, regardless of their ultimate earthly fate, may receive the “hundredfold” in this life by surrendering all by a covenant of sacrifice: “Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice” (Psalm 50:5). Every believer who has ever lived has had in his or her grasp the “hundredfold” promise in this life, because God credits us for the intents of our hearts more than for what is observable to human sight. This great promise is separate from and in addition to eternal life “in the world to come.” Thus, even though not all believers are called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom, all can qualify for the “hundredfold” blessing here and now by being willing to stand unyieldingly for the truth despite the cost.

To grasp the concept of the “hundredfold” we must first understand the economic principles of heaven. In the cashless economy in heaven there is no trading or bartering. All things pertaining to life and well-being are freely available to the inhabitants of that wonderful world. The river of life proceeding from the throne of God and the tree of life represent the inexhaustible supply of all things needed for the perpetuation of life and happiness. No one will ever experience scarcity or want in the great hereafter. It is in this world alone that economies are driven by the forces affecting supply and demand. The reason that precious metals are precious and gems are so expensive is that they are so rare. If rubies and diamonds were as plentiful as pebbles on the seashore, who would try to gain a monopoly on selling them? They would quite literally be “dirt cheap!” It is so in heaven. Nothing of a material nature possesses any intrinsic value because God can call into existence a planet of gold as easily as one of rock and dirt.

What then is of value in the heavenly economy? It is living, intelligent beings endowed with free wills, able to choose their own destinies. In making the will sacrosanct, God has effectively tied His own hands by a policy of strict non-interference, even though the choice may go against Him. He has limited Himself to entreating and reasoning to prompt a response. The reason for this is as profound as it is true. As a God of infinite love, the only option that could possibly harmonize with His character was that of freedom of choice. Since love begets love, and forced love is no love at all, His intent was to demonstrate His love in such a way as to evoke a love response from His creatures. This unforced, voluntary response was of such major importance to Him that He was willing to jeopardize heaven for it. For true love, by its very nature, carries with it the unavoidable risk of rejection. The fact that God had in truth given intelligent beings the ability to reject Him was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt when Lucifer chose the path of rebellion and became His staunch enemy as Satan.

In certain ways the sin experiment, its dire results notwithstanding, was necessary to definitively vindicate the Father’s character, for if rebellion had never arisen, there would always have remained a lingering question as to how free intelligent beings really are. Now that question is settled forever.

Thus, as free moral agents, intelligent beings, by choosing to reciprocate the love of the Father, afford Him that which He prizes most – sincere, heartfelt thankfulness and gratitude manifested in worshipful adoration, praise, and obedience. In the heavenly scales, the value of such a response from His creatures far outweighs the value with which He regards the entire inanimate universe. This is what He really wanted even during the Jewish era with all its bloodletting in the animal sacrifices. Unfortunately, the Jewish church misunderstood and misconstrued the rites and ceremonies by placing much emphasis on that which was truly abhorrent to the Father, while losing sight of the incredible truth they represented – the coming of the great Deliverer.

And oh, the price the Father paid that we might offer Him the genuine love He craves! We will never in eternity fully comprehend the price of our salvation, for in giving Jesus to us, the Father emptied heaven of all that was lovely and precious. If intelligent beings represent the riches of heaven, how much greater would be the worth of the Son of God, the highest of all the intelligences of the universe! The Spirit of Prophecy describes Jesus as the “outshining of the Father’s glory.” (See Education, 131, 132.) Human language cannot express the tender ties that bind the Father’s heart with that of His Son. In a real sense, the Father had to rip His own heart out and hand it to the human race in one unfathomable gift. Is it any wonder He hesitated at the fall of Adam and Eve to implement the plan of salvation? Three times Jesus went before Him in the “counsel of peace” to volunteer to die for the guilty race before the Father finally consented to it. (See Christ Triumphant, 30 and Early Writings, 126.) The hesitation was not due to a lack of love for lost man, but because the cost to Himself was going to be so supremely daunting. But love won the day, while the immutability of His law cancelled all other options. Note the following inspired words with respect to the Father’s mind in consenting to send His Son on the rescue mission:

“When God gave His Son to our world, He endowed human beings with imperishable riches—riches compared with which the treasured wealth of men since the world began is nothingness. Christ came to the earth and stood before the children of men with the hoarded love of eternity, and this is the treasure that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart.” The Ministry of Healing, 37. The hoarded love of eternity! How can we understand this mind-blowing concept?

Notice also in the next quote the infinite love of the Father and the principle of free choice:

“It is God’s will that all shall be saved, that not one shall perish; but He does not compel obedience. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will take advantage of His offer of mercy. In giving Jesus, He poured out all heaven in one gift, making it possible for man to come into possession of eternal riches.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 345. All heaven in one gift! Absolutely unbelievable, amazing love!

Unquestionably, the driving force behind the rescue effort was love of such a degree as to stagger the human mind. The Scriptures affirm the thought: “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

In the parable of the pearl of great price, we see Jesus portrayed as a jewel of incredible value: “The blessings of redeeming love our Saviour compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls ‘who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it’ (Matthew 13:46). Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. … All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 115.

These revelations help us understand the promise of “an hundredfold” benefit now. It is not just for some special class of believers, but for all who will unreservedly accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. So, if Jesus is the riches of heaven poured out in one great gift to humanity – the treasure hid in the field, the pearl of great price, it is He alone who constitutes the “hundredfold” blessing to the believer. Every other benefit is simply a tiny bonus.

But the lesson goes deeper, because in order to obtain the treasure in the field or the pearl of great price, the farmer and merchantman had to “sell all that (they) had.” Short of this, the desired articles would have been out of reach. This teaches the great lesson that salvation can only be received through a complete surrender of the soul to Jesus – a total renunciation of the things of this life. A great exchange must take place with the believer giving up all to receive the priceless gift of all-in-all in Jesus. “But what do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all!” Steps to Christ, 46.

In promising a mere “hundredfold” (10,000%!), Jesus was in fact stating a very conservative return on investment in human terms. For who can estimate the value of the Being around whom all heaven revolved? Jesus was the main attraction of heaven. Without Him heaven would not be heaven. Note the words of inspiration: “The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right. This was no robbery of God.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 247. And so in Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 345, previously quoted, we read again, “In giving Jesus, He (God) poured out all heaven in one gift … .”

Human minds cannot conceive such a fantastic thought, much less can human tongues express it. Who can compute the price of such a gift? We stand speechless, our heads shaking in disbelief, as we try to grasp the thought, but this is what we receive when we accept Jesus into our lives!

The thief on the cross represents those who receive salvation in the last moments of life – a death-bed conversion, as it were. It is only as we comprehend the supreme value of Jesus as our personal Saviour that we can understand how he received the “hundredfold” promise before he died. Notice what he experienced in the dialogue with Jesus: “As Christ spoke the words of promise, the dark cloud that seemed to enshroud the cross was pierced with a bright and living light. To the penitent thief came the perfect peace of acceptance with God. Christ in His humiliation was glorified. He who in all other eyes appeared to be conquered was a conqueror. He was acknowledged as the Sin-bearer.” The Signs of the Times, Oct. 25, 1905.

In acknowledging Jesus as Lord, the thief received the invaluable gift of peace and the assurance of heaven. He was face to face with eternity, but that did not matter. He was ready to die. The world held no attraction for him anymore. He had the Pearl of incalculable worth in his grasp – the “hundredfold” promise “now,” and that was enough. In his next conscious moment, he will hear the call to “awake” and rise to eternal life with Him whose crown of thorns was now exchanged for a diadem of indescribable glory.

Thus it is that the earthly existence of a Christian, whether short or extended, is measured not so much by the quantity of earthly benefits, as by the inestimable quality of peace and joy in Christ that nothing can destroy. This is the “hundredfold” promise that God lavishes on all His true children “now.” We cannot thank and praise Him enough!

[All emphasis supplied.] All scriptures are taken from the King James Version.

Dr. Pandit is a retired cardiologist living in Arkansas with his wife Dorothy. He is proud to call himself a historic Seventh-day Adventist. He, with his wife, is involved in backing two self-supporting ministries in India: 1) Medical Missionary Training and Lifestyle Center in South India and 2) A printing ministry in Western India. They are also founding members of a “home church” located in Hot Springs, AR. He can be contacted via his email address: sudor777@gmail.com, or phone: 870-356-4768.

Bible Study Guides – “What Manner of Persons Ought Ye to Be?”

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June 18-24, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ ” 1 Peter 1:15, 16.

STUDY HELP: Last Day Events, 63–93.

INTRODUCTION: “Enoch was a representative of those who will be upon the earth when Christ shall come, who will be translated to heaven without seeing death. Enoch had temptations as well as we. He was surrounded with society no more friendly to righteousness than is that which surrounds us. The atmosphere he breathed was tainted with sin and corruption the same as ours, yet he lived a life of holiness. He was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may we remain pure and uncorrupted.” Last Day Events, 71, 72.

“Sheep and Goats”

1 What stories did Christ tell to show that mankind will be divided into two groups when He comes? Matthew 25:31, 32. (Read the whole chapter.)

NOTE: See Christ’s Object Lessons, 283.

2 What will be Christ’s words to many who claimed to be His followers? Matthew 7:21–23.

NOTE: “There are persons who believe that they are right, when they are wrong. While claiming Christ as their Lord, and professedly doing great works in His name, they are workers of iniquity. ‘With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.’ He who declares God’s word is to them ‘as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear Thy words, but they do them not.’ Ezekiel 33:31, 32. A mere profession of discipleship is of no value. The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’ they say, ‘and you need not keep the law.’ But a belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption. The apostle John says, ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ 1 John 2:4. Let none cherish the idea that special providences or miraculous manifestations are to be the proof of the genuineness of their work or of the ideas they advocate.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 146.

“Cares of This Life”

3 Against what snares did Christ warn us? Luke 21:34.

NOTE: See Great Controversy, 625, 626.

4 How did Paul amplify Christ’s warning? 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 635.

“For a Witness”

5 Before the end comes, what work must be witnessed by all nations? Matthew 24:14.

NOTE: “‘When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.’ Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 69.

6 How does Paul describe the way the faithful servant of Christ may reveal the truth of the Gospel? Titus 2:10, last part.

NOTE: “The Lord knows the thoughts and purposes of man, and how easily He can melt us! How His Spirit, like a fire, can subdue the flinty heart! How He can fill the soul with love and tenderness! How He can give us the graces of His Holy Spirit, and fit us to go in and out, in laboring for souls! The power of overcoming grace should be felt throughout the church today; and it may be felt, if we take heed to the counsels of Christ to His followers. As we learn to adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour we shall surely see of the salvation of God.” Counsels on Stewardship, 189.

“Blessed is That Servant”

7 How does Jesus describe the faithful servant? Matthew 24:45–47.

NOTE: “It is the faithfulness, the loyalty to God, the loving service, that wins the divine approval. Every impulse of the Holy Spirit leading men to goodness and to God, is noted in the books of heaven, and in the day of God the workers through whom He has wrought will be commended.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 361.

8 What principle will apply in the judgment? Luke 12:47, 48.

NOTE: “God gives to every one sufficient light and grace to do the work He has given him to do. If man fails to do that which a little light shows to be his duty, greater light would only reveal unfaith-fulness, neglect to improve the blessings given. ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.’” Christ’s Object Lessons, 265, 266.

“Be Ye Also Ready”

9 What example may we learn from the people of Capernaum? Luke 8:40.

NOTE: See Great Controversy, 425.

10 How may we be victorious in the battle with temptation? James 4:7.

NOTE: ‘Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together.…Christ says, ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God’s will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received. We need look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most.” Education, 257, 258.

“Enter Thou into the Joy of Thy Lord”

11 What words will be spoken by those who have patiently waited for Jesus? Isaiah 25:9.

NOTE: “Remembering the tender mercies of the Lord, we should cast our care upon Him, and with patience wait for His salvation. Through conflict the spiritual life is strengthened. Trials well borne will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces. The perfect fruit of faith, meekness, and love often matures best amid storm clouds and darkness. ‘The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.’ James 5:7. So the Christian is to wait with patience for the fruition in his life of the word of God. Often when we pray for the graces of the Spirit, God works to answer our prayers by placing us in circumstances to develop these fruits.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 61.

12 With what words will Christ greet His faithful servants? Matthew 25:21.

NOTE: “With unutterable love, Jesus welcomes His faithful ones to the joy of their Lord. The Saviour’s joy is in seeing, in the kingdom of glory, the souls that have been saved by His agony and humiliation. And the redeemed will be sharers in His joy, as they behold, among the blessed, those who have been won to Christ through their prayers, their labors, and their loving sacrifice. As they gather about the great white throne, gladness unspeakable will fill their hearts, when they behold those whom they have won for Christ, and see that one has gained others, and these still others, all brought into the haven of rest, there to lay their crowns at Jesus’ feet and praise Him through the endless cycles of eternity.” Maranatha, 315.

Bible Study Guides – “LORD, Thou Hast Been Our Dwelling Place”

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January 13, 2001 – January 19, 2001

MEMORY VERSE: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.” Deuteronomy 4:9.

STUDY HELP: Evangelism, 357–367.

Introduction

“We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us. 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 by holiness of character, and to send the messages of warning, and of comfort, of hope and love, to those who are in the darkness of error and sin.” Testimonies to Ministers, 31.

“The Eternal God is thy Refuge”

  1. How did Moses describe the unfailing watchcare of God over His people? Psalm 90:1, 2; Deuteronomy 33:27.

NOTE: “Christ is our tower of strength, and Satan can have no power over the soul that walks with God in humility of mind. …In Christ there is perfect and complete help for every tempted soul. Dangers beset every path, but the whole universe of heaven is standing on guard, that none may be tempted above that which he is able to bear.… If we will look to Jesus as the One in whom we may trust, He will never fail us in any emergency.” My Life Today, 316.

  1. Against what danger did Moses warn the people of Israel? Deuteronomy 8:10–14.

NOTE: “How frequently were the waymarks set up by the Lord in His dealings with ancient Israel! Lest they should forget the history of the past, He commanded Moses to frame these events into song, that parents might teach them to their children.…We need often to recount God’s goodness and to praise Him for His wonderful works.” Conflict and Courage, 364.

“My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts”

  1. Of what contrast between God and man should we always be aware? Psalm 90:4–6; Isaiah 55:8, 9.

NOTE: “Our plans are not always God’s plans.… In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition.…” Conflict and Courage, 228.

  1. What effect should this have on our prayers? Ecclesiastes 5:2.

NOTE: “We should have more of a burden for souls, and should pray daily that strength and wisdom may be given us for the Sabbath.” Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 125.

“Teach Us to Number Our Days”

  1. How did Moses recall the brevity of human life? Psalm 90:10.

NOTE: See The Faith I Live By, 158.

  1. In view of the brevity of life, what prayer should be ours? Psalm 90:12.

NOTE: “Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time. The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment.” The Faith I Live By, 158.

“Our Secret Sins in the Light of Thy Countenance”

  1. Of what further fact should we be aware as we come to God in prayer? Jeremiah 16:17.

NOTE: “God has made ample provision that we may stand perfect in His grace, wanting in nothing, waiting for the appearing of our Lord. Are you ready? Have you the wedding garment on? That garment will never cover deceit, impurity, corruption, or hypocrisy. The eye of God is upon you. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker.” God’s Amazing Grace, 24.

  1. What precious promises can we claim in prayer? John 6:37; Psalm 6:9; Micah 7:18-19.

NOTE: “The refining furnace is to remove the dross. When the Refiner sees His image reflected in you perfectly, He will remove you from the furnace.… But it is necessary for you, in order to reflect the divine image, to submit to the process the Refiner chooses for you, that you may be cleansed, purified, and every spot and blemish removed—not even a wrinkle left in your Christian character.… He has promised He will never leave or forsake those who put their trust in Him.” Our High Calling, 312.

“Make Us Glad”

  1. Who is the source of true joy? Psalm 16:11.

NOTE: “The religion of Jesus is joy, peace, and happiness. All Heaven is interested in the happiness of man.” The Faith I Live By, 226.

  1. From what knowledge may we gain joy? Psalm 5:11.

NOTE: “Take God’s word on trust, saying, He loves me: He gave His life for me; and He will save me.… Look away from yourself to Jesus. Embrace Him as your Saviour. Cease to bemoan your helpless condition.… When you feel tempted to mourn, force your lips to utter the praises of God. ‘Rejoice in the Lord alway’ (Philippians 4:4.) Is He not worthy of praise? Then educate your lips to talk of His glory and to magnify His name.” In Heavenly Places, 116.

“Let the Beauty of the LORD Our God be Upon Us”

  1. What was the final thought of Moses’ prayer? Psalm 90:17.

NOTE: “God is a lover of the beautiful, but that which He most loves is a beautiful character.… It is beauty of character that shall not perish, but last through the ceaseless ages of eternity.” My Life Today, 270.

  1. When beauty of character is seen in God’s people, what can we expect to happen? Revelation 19:7, 8; Mark 4:29. (Compare Galatians 5:22, 23.)

NOTE: “If you have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, you are to forget yourself, and try to help others. Talk of the love of Christ, tell of His goodness. Do every duty that presents itself. Carry the burden of souls upon your heart, and by every means in your power seek to save the lost. As you receive the Spirit of Christ—the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others—you will grow and bring forth fruit.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 67, 68.

The Pen of Inspiration – In Relation with One Another

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Many have borne so few burdens, their hearts have known so little real anguish, they have felt so little perplexity and distress in behalf of others, that they cannot understand the work of the true burden-bearer. No more capable are they of appreciating his burdens than is the child of understanding the care and toil of his burdened father. The child may wonder at his father’s fears and perplexities. These appear needless to him. But when years of experience shall have been added to his life, when he himself comes to bear its burdens, he will look back upon his father’s life, and understand that which was once so incomprehensible. Bitter experience has given him knowledge.

The work of many a burden-bearer is not understood, his labors are not appreciated, until death lays him low. When others take up the burdens he has laid down, and meet the difficulties he encountered, they can understand how his faith and courage were tested. Often then the mistakes they were so quick to censure are lost sight of. Experience teaches them sympathy. God permits men to be placed in positions of responsibility. When they err, He has power to correct or to remove them. We should be careful not to take into our hands the work of judging that belongs to God. . . .

The Saviour bids us, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” [Matthew 7:1, 2.] Remember that soon your life record will pass in review before God. Remember, too, that He has said, “Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: . . . for thou that judgest doest the same things.” [Romans 2:1.]

Forbearance Under Wrong

We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed wrong done to ourselves. Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more baleful effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self.

We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls, we cease to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association with one another. Whatever others may think of us, it need not disturb our oneness with Christ, the fellowship of the Spirit. [1 Peter 2:20 quoted.]

Do not retaliate. So far as you can do so, remove all cause for misapprehension. Avoid the appearance of evil. Do all that lies in your power, without the sacrifice of principle, to conciliate others. [Matthew 5:23, 24 quoted.]

If impatient words are spoken to you, never reply in the same spirit. Remember that “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” [Proverbs 15:1.] And there is wonderful power in silence. Words spoken in reply to one who is angry sometimes serve only to exasperate; but anger met with silence, in a tender, forbearing spirit, quickly dies away.

Under a storm of stinging faultfinding words, keep the mind stayed upon the word of God. Let mind and heart be stored with God’s promises. If you are ill-treated or wrongfully accused, instead of returning an angry answer, repeat to yourself the precious promises: [Romans 12:21; Psalm 37:5, 6; Luke 12:2; Psalm 66:12 quoted].

We are prone to look to our fellow-men for sympathy and uplifting, instead of looking to Jesus. In His mercy and faithfulness, God often permits those in whom we place confidence to fail us, in order that we may learn the folly of trusting in man, and making flesh our arm. Let us trust fully, humbly, unselfishly, in God. He knows the sorrows that we feel to the depths of our being, but which we cannot express. When all things seem dark and unexplainable, remember the words of Christ, [John 13:7 quoted].

Study the history of Joseph and of Daniel. The Lord did not prevent the plottings of men who sought to do them harm; but He caused all these devices to work for good to His servants, who amid trial and conflict preserved their faith and loyalty.

So long as we are in the world, we shall meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If Christ dwells in us, we shall be patient, kind, and forbearing, cheerful amid frets and irritations. Day by day and year by year we shall conquer self, and grow into a noble heroism. This is our allotted task; but it cannot be accomplished without help from Jesus, resolute decision, unwavering purpose, continual watchfulness, and unceasing prayer. Each one has a personal battle to fight. Not even God can make our characters noble or our lives useful, unless we become co-workers with Him. Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory.

We need not keep our own record of trials and difficulties, griefs, and sorrows. All these things are written in the books, and heaven will take care of them. While we are counting up the disagreeable things, many things that are pleasing to reflect upon are passing from memory; such as the merciful kindness of God surrounding us every moment, and the love over which angels marvel, that God gave His Son to die for us. If as workers for Christ you feel that you have had greater cares and trials than have fallen to the lot of others, remember that for you there is a peace unknown to those who shun these burdens.

There is comfort and joy in the service of Christ. Let the world see that life with Him is no failure.

If you do not feel light-hearted and joyous, do not talk of your feelings. Cast no shadow upon the lives of others. A cold, sunless religion never draws souls to Christ. It drives them away from Him, into the nets that Satan has spread for the feet of the straying. Instead of thinking of your discouragements, think of the power you can claim in Christ’s name. Let your imagination take hold upon things unseen. Let your thoughts be directed to the evidences of the great love of God for you. Faith can endure trial, resist temptation, bear up under disappointment. Jesus lives as our advocate. All is ours that His mediation secures.

Think you not that Christ values those who live wholly for Him? Think you not that He visits those who, like the beloved John in exile, are for His sake in hard and trying places? God will not suffer one of His true-hearted workers to be left alone, to struggle against great odds and be overcome. He preserves as a precious jewel every one whose life is hid with Christ in Him. Of every such one He says: “I . . . will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee.” [Haggai 2:23.]

Then talk of the promises; talk of Jesus’ willingness to bless. He does not forget us for one brief moment. When, notwithstanding disagreeable circumstances, we rest confidingly in His love and shut ourselves in with Him, the sense of His presence will inspire a deep, tranquil joy. . . . [John 8:28, 29 quoted].

Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings. When tempted to complain of what some one has said or done, praise something in that person’s life or character. Cultivate thankfulness. Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us. It never pays to think of our grievances. God calls upon us to think of His mercy and His matchless love, that we may be inspired with praise.

Earnest workers have no time for dwelling upon the faults of others. We cannot afford to live on the husks of others’ faults or failings. Evil-speaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife, reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. The very act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look. By dwelling upon the faults of others, we are changed into the same image. But by beholding Jesus, talking of His love and perfection of character, we become changed into His image. By contemplating the lofty ideal He has placed before us, we shall be uplifted into a pure and holy atmosphere, even the presence of God. When we abide here, there goes forth from us a light that irradiates all who are connected with us.

Instead of criticizing and condemning others, say, “I must work out my own salvation. If I co-operate with Him who desires to save my soul, I must watch myself diligently. I must put away every evil from my life. I must overcome every fault. I must become a new creature in Christ. Then, instead of weakening those who are striving against evil, I can strengthen them by encouraging words.”

We are too indifferent in regard to one another. Too often we forget that our fellow-laborers are in need of strength and cheer. Take care to assure them of your interest and sympathy. Help them by your prayers, and let them know that you do it.

All who profess to be children of God should bear in mind that as missionaries they will be brought into contact with all classes of minds. There are the refined and the coarse, the humble and the proud, the religious and the skeptical, the educated and the ignorant, the rich and the poor. These varied minds cannot be treated alike; yet all need kindness and sympathy. By mutual contact our minds should receive polish and refinement. We are dependent upon one another, closely bound together by the ties of human brotherhood. . . .

It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has received the divine illumination is to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. Christ is not to be hid away in the heart as a coveted treasure, sacred and sweet, to be enjoyed solely by the possessor. We are to have Christ in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, refreshing all who come in contact with us.

Gospel Workers, 473–480.

One Day at a Time, Part II

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From Hebrews 2:18 we know that sufferings are the sufferings of temptation: “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” That was how Jesus’ character was developed. It was there in the wilderness of temptation where the Holy Spirit led Him, out with the wild beasts and without food or drink or shelter. He was left there where Satan was able to meet Him face to face, tempting Him with misquoted Scripture, testing His faith, and testing His desires for the things of the world. (See Mark 1:13–15; The Desire of Ages, 114–131.) That is where Jesus’ character was developed. Then, throughout the rest of His life, as the devil met Him step-by-step, He conquered every trial and was a little stronger. Conversely, every time we fail, we are a little weaker.

The children of Israel failed their very first test. They hardly even knew it was a test. So many times our great tests we do not recognize as tests, like the people who were following Gideon. When they came up to the river and lapped the water, they did not realize they were being tested. But God was testing their hearts and testing their fidelity. (See Judges 7:4–7.)

So many times it is the little things of life that test the real character. Thus, it was that way back when Moses was called to lead out the children of Israel. God had revealed to the leaders of Israel that Moses was the man whom He had called. He had put him there in Pharaoh’s household to give him an education. Moses was not quite ready spiritually, but neither were the children of Israel. God tested them, and Moses went out and did the best he could. He was not perfect, of course.

When Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite, his heart went out for the Israelites. As their defender and protector under God, he put his job and his career on the line, trusting everything to the children of Israel. He slew that Egyptian and delivered his people from the tyranny that this Egyptian was inflicting upon them. (See Exodus 2:11, 12.) Moses was not satisfied to just protect the Israelites; he wanted to help them to help themselves. The next day he went back to the slave people, one of whom he was choosing to become. “And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, ‘Why are you striking your companion?’ Then he said, ‘Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ ” Exodus 2:13, 14. They were tested. They were expressing the thoughts of the whole congregation of Israel, and they failed their first test. God did not leave them, although He left them for a while because they had rejected His leadership.

He led Moses out and developed his character for 40 years, but 40 years later Moses returned. He came back a little older and wiser. No longer did he have the kingly robes; no longer did he have all of his youth. He was older; he had less riches; he had less prestige; he was less recognized now than he had once been, but he was the same man.

God Does Not Change

God did not change His plan simply because the people did not like it at first. He gave them another opportunity. Moses returned, and this time he came not with a sword, but with a shepherd’s staff. Shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians. Moses first called the leaders of Israel and said, “God is going to redeem you,” and they told the people so they all knew God’s plans. (See Exodus 4:28–31.)

Then Moses, with Aaron his brother, went and performed some signs in front of Pharaoh. Pharaoh became upset, and he commanded, “The people are lazy. Give them more work to do.” And so he made them work with hardship. He did not provide their straw. (Exodus 5:1–19.)

The people got upset again. They came to Moses and said, “Moses, what are you doing to us? You came to free us, but you are giving us more work. Now look at the mess we are in.” (Verses 20–23.) They were not able to go through a little trial, trusting in the Lord to bring them through. They failed their second test.

Every test they failed led them to fail the next test, but God kept coming back, giving them opportunity after opportunity. When you fail the Lord, the most wonderful thing in the world is to have another opportunity to succeed.

Are you glad the Lord does not leave you when you fail? How wonderful that is! It gives you another opportunity to succeed, but the next opportunity is just a little different, a little harder many times. It comes in a little different way, but there it is, all unexpected; while you are going about your daily activities, there is the opportunity.

Count It A Joy

In James 1:2–4, we know, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” This is God’s great purpose for every one of us. “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children.” Education, 18.

As it was with the people of Noah’s day and with the children of Israel, so God is doing today. He is coming soon, much sooner than any of us can imagine. We are going to awaken one day to the startling realization that all the days of peace and prosperity are behind us, and we are in the time of final events. Then we are going to question whether or not our characters are ready. It will be too late then. The character takes a process of time to develop. Today is the day that we have to develop character, not tomorrow. Today Jesus is testing us to see if we will stand. He is giving us opportunity to develop our characters, and today is the only day we will ever have.

Jesus said that many people believe that they are His disciples—those who have eaten and drunk in His presence, partaken of the Lord’s Supper and listened to the words of God being spoken week by week, day by day—and that they are saved because they have followed all the rituals. In Luke 13:23, someone came to Jesus asking, “Lord, are there only going to be a few people saved? Certainly God’s grace is sufficient for all. Are there only going to be a few people saved?” He had been listening to Jesus’ sermons, and the more he listened, the more he became concerned. It sounded like there were not going to be a lot of people saved, so he had to know the answer to this question.

Jesus said, “Strive to enter in through the narrow gate, for many, I say, will seek to enter but will not be able to. When once the Master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence.’ ” Verses 24–26. What do You mean You do not know us? We partook of the Lord’s Supper. We read the Bible and drank of the spiritual drink just like the children of Israel did there in the wilderness. You taught in our streets. We heard Your representatives speak week after week.

“But He will say unto you, ‘I tell you I do not know who you are. I do not know where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” Verses 27–30.

How many today, like the Hebrews who left Egypt and the workers in Noah’s day, are professing to be followers of God, professing to be His people, professing a religious experience, but they are not going through the character development necessary for heaven; they are not conquering day by day each and every trial that God allows to come upon them? In heaven there will not be one jarring word spoken. There will not be one unkind remark, not one proud thought.

One Day

As I look at myself, I have to ask again, “How will I ever make it?” But I have learned the answer. God asks me to simply live one day at a time. Just today. Every day He gives me a clean sheet, and He says, “This is your opportunity. This day is your opportunity.” He gives me that one day to work on my character. That is all I need to do. I do not have to take care of tomorrow’s problems or the next day’s problems or next week’s problems.

Some people say, “I do not think I can live a life like this. I cannot do it. I just do not know how long I can last. I do not know how much more of this I can take.”

And God says, “Just try to take what there is today. Just try to last today. Survive today. That is all that is required of you.”

God is the One who will renew our strength each day. We will never run out of strength as long as we live one day at a time. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the promise is given, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].” God has promised to renew our strength day by day. 11 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

Ellen White gave much counsel regarding this:

“We need to trust in Jesus daily, hourly. He has promised that as our day is, our strength shall be. By His grace we may bear all the burdens of the present and perform its duties. But many are weighed down by the anticipation of future troubles. They are constantly seeking to bring tomorrow’s burdens into today. Thus a large share of all their trials are imaginary. For these, Jesus has made no provision. He promises grace only for the day. He bids us not to burden ourselves with the cares and troubles of tomorrow.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 200.

“The Christian life is a battle and a march. It is to work for today and not for tomorrow. It is to do the duties of today; it is, when you rise in the morning, to think, now I am wholly dependent upon God, and I will ask him to take care of me; and when I ask him to take care of me today, I believe that he will do so. I will lay my burden of care, and my troubles at the feet of Jesus, and he will gather them up. You must trust in his love; and if he has given you a small work, take that up, and do it today; and if you have been faithful in doing that little work today, tomorrow you will be capable of bearing a greater responsibility, and of doing a greater work; and he will give you a greater work and responsibility to bear on the morrow.” The Signs of the Times, January 31, 1878.

“We have only to live one day at a time, and if we get acquainted with God, he will give us strength for what is coming tomorrow, grace sufficient for each day, and every day will find its own victories, just as it finds its trials. We shall have the power of the Highest with us; for we shall be clad with the armor of Christ’s righteousness. We have the same God that has worked for his people in ages past. Jesus stands by our side, and shall we falter?—No, as the trials come, the power of God will come with them. God will help us to stand in faith on his word, and when we are united, he will work with special power in our behalf.” Review and Herald, April 29, 1890.

“We are to live only one day at a time. We do not have to do the work of a life-time in a few hours. We need not look into the future with anxiety; for God has made it possible for us to be overcomers every day, and he will give needed grace, that we may be conquerors. I am glad we have only a day at a time in which to work. We should not undervalue its responsibilities, and devote it to the service of the enemy.” Ibid., March 26, 1889.

You see, the children of Israel were always looking to the future, but the little trials that came each day they did not even recognize as great tests of their lives. Sometimes the greatest tests of our lives come in so subtly and so quietly we do not recognize them. We just slip into some transgression, some hasty speech, some impatience, and we have failed the test of that day. We do not recognize it.

Do you know what the great test was for the children of Israel when Jesus came? The great test was when those lowly shepherds came and announced the Messiah. They did not recognize it. It was just a baby there in Bethlehem, and these were some ignorant, uneducated shepherds that were coming with the message. Who were they? If God really had a message, certainly it would come through the leaders. But that was their test. That was the great test of the children of Israel. Because they failed that test, they were given another test, which they later failed with Anna and Simeon in the temple. And then, a year or two later, they failed the test when the wise men came. After failing the third test, they were ready to fail the next one when John the Baptist came. Every test failed led them to fail the next one. `

God has a test for you and me today. We may not recognize it, but I guarantee that there is some test for us today. That is the test of eternity. It is the daily tests that come today that develop our characters for all eternity. “We should not spend it [the day] in arraying ourselves in fashionable attire, in decorating our homes as if we were to be permanent dwellers upon the earth. We should employ its moments in trading with our intrusted [sic] talents, in using our ability to glorify God, instead of glorifying ourselves. Our whole study should be how we may win the approbation of God. If we are doing His will, with an eye single to His glory, we shall be able to say, ‘ “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” [Job 19:25.] Though heart and flesh should fail, Jesus lives to be my strength and my portion forever.’ One who is ever faithful and true among those who are changeable and false, will be our stay, and will prosper us in all we undertake. We shall find, as we seek to please God, that there is One who is working for us, even He whose name is ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace.’ [Isaiah 9:6.]” Ibid.

“The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day God labors for man’s sanctification, and man is to co-operate with Him, putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication. Our Saviour is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones. Gladly He grants them the blessings they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them.” The Acts of the Apostles, 532.

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

Questions – Fun and Happiness

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Question:

How can a person be a Christian and obey all the commandments and have any fun and happiness?

Answer:

There is a certain amount of pleasure in sin. Moses had to choose which he would rather have—the pleasures of sin for a season or suffer with the children of Israel. Paul tells us about that in Hebrews 11:24, 25. Notice that in this passage it indicates that “there are pleasures of sin for a season.”

Moses made a good choice when he chose to suffer affliction with the children of Israel rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Although his choice cost him many sleepless nights and much heartache, the end results were glorious, and his joys will last forever.

There are many sins that give emotional satisfaction for a short period of time. There are also many sins that give thrills, excitement, and even a certain amount of good exercise. And then there are sins that will make you rich with this world’s goods, such as money or other possessions. But there are no sins that will give you lasting pleasure and a sense of real joy and security.

The pleasures of sin are just the opposite of joy or security. They usually end up in unhappiness, misery, ill health, and a sense of fear and emptiness. When it is all over, there is no hope for the future even if you are rich. The fun and emotional excitement soon pass away, and you are left with no security, but God has an entirely different program.

God’s promises are sure and have results that last throughout eternity. While on this earth, Jesus said, just before He left to return to heaven, these words which were dear to the disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. Is that what we all want? Yes, it is peace and it brings happiness.

From the Bible, we also read: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fullness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.” “but let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Psalms 16:11; 5:11; Galatians 5:22,23.

Then we have this wonderful promise: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:14-18.

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

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There is a burden that is heavy on God’s heart for this church, as well as all churches on earth, and that burden is that most professed Christians are lacking the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and also that we may sense our need for the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

It is by the working of the Holy Spirit that Christ is enthroned in the life of the believer. It is the Holy Spirit that makes a person a Christian, and it is He that cleanses the mind and regenerates the believer. What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and how is it important in the lives of the members of the church?

What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? In Paul’s letter to the Galatian Christians, Galatians chapter 5:22, 23, Paul states: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” The word “fruit” is singular. There is but one fruit of the Holy Spirit, and that one fruit includes all of the Christians graces.

In Manuscript 16, 1892, Ellen White states: “The attribute that Christ appreciates most in man is charity (love) out of a pure heart. This is the fruit borne upon the Christian tree.” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1091. Also in The Review and Herald, June 5, 1888, she states: “Love is a plant of heavenly origin, and if we would have it flourish in our hearts, we must cultivate it daily. Mildness, gentleness, long-suffering, not being easily provoked, bearing all things, enduring all things—these are the fruits upon the precious tree of love.” Also in Ephesians 5:9, Paul again states: “For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” In James 3:18, the apostle shows that, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

“Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God; and ‘God is love.’ It is conformity to the law of God; for ‘all thy commandments are righteousness;’ and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law.’ Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him.” Sons and Daughters of God, 304.

The wise man Solomon mentions that “the wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward. As righteousness [tendeth] to life: so he that pursueth evil [pursueth it] to his own death.” [Proverbs 11:18-19.] It is on this basis that the minor prophet Hosea records in chapter 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

So the result of possessing or bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit which Paul says is love will be made manifest in all acts of righteousness, goodness and truth. But why is this so? In the book Sons and Daughters of God, 80, we are instructed, “A thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of action from his deep heart-love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for Christ springs an unselfish interest in his brethren.”

In the book The Acts of the Apostles, 551, 552, we are also told, “John strove to lead the believers to understand the exalted privileges that would come to them through the exercise of the spirit of love. This redeeming power, filling the heart, would control every other motive and raise its possessors above the corrupting influences of the world. And as this love was allowed full sway and became the motive power in the life, their trust and confidence in God and His dealing with them would be complete. They could then come to Him in full confidence of faith, knowing that they would receive from Him everything needful for their present and eternal good.”

Love becomes the motive power that prompts all actions, and as a consequence righteousness, goodness, and truth are the results.

“The gift of righteousness is communicated to men through the agency of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Herein lies the difference between the ineffective righteousness man seeks through works and the effective righteousness that comes through faith. In the former the Spirit has no part, for the effort is purely human and thus independent of divine grace.” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 977.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the fruit of the Spirit being “Love”, that which naturally develops in the life when the Spirit has control. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is not the natural product of human nature, but of a power wholly outside of man. In Testimonies, vol. 2, 135, we have recorded, “Love is of God. The unconverted heart cannot originate nor produce this plant of heavenly growth, which lives and flourishes only where Christ reigns.”

Selected Messages, Book 2, 187, has recorded, “Love is the fruit that is borne on the Christian tree, the fruit that is as the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations.”

People are referred to as trees in Scripture; Scriptural references: Judges 9:8; Judges 11:16, 17, 19; Judges 17:8; Ezekiel 17:21–24; Daniel 4; Zachariah 11:2; Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:15–22; Matthew 12:33–35; Romans 11:17–24; Songs of Solomon 2:3; Isaiah 61:3 “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

Isaiah 5:1–7 “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”

Matthew 15:13: “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

Love, the fruit of the Spirit, is borne on the Christian tree. In Scripture, human beings are referred to as trees—either a corrupt tree or a good/righteous tree. When the life is wholly surrendered to Christ, the Holy Spirit causes the fruit of love to grow on the human tree. This fruit, in turn, when present in the life of the professed Christian brings forth or bears fruits such as joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. But this is all the product of an indwelling Christ as a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

So the Holy Spirit quickens the sinner; he/she responds positively to the Holy Spirit, at which time the Holy Spirit regenerates the sinner and brings Christ into the life of the born again person. Christ infuses His life into the human tree; the converted person bears the fruit of love and this fruit in turn produces the fruits of joy, peace long-suffering, etc.—the graces of the Holy Spirit. So we all can see why so many professed Christians lack the fruit of the Holy Spirit—Love.

How does man develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Paul states in Ephesians 5:9, “(For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth.)” “As you receive the Spirit of Christ, … you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. More and more you will reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely. …” Sons and Daughters of God, 32.

In John 15:5, Jesus declared to his disciples, as well as us today: “I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

In Testimonies, vol. 2, 48, God’s servant states: “It is only by personal union with Christ, by communion with Him daily, hourly, that we can bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit.” The Faith I Live By, 135.

In The Review and Herald, January 24, 1893, we see this profound statement, “We may leave off many bad habits, and yet not be truly sanctified, because we do not have a connection with God. We must unite with Christ.”

The Desire of Ages, 173, tells us: “When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.” Therefore, it is by a total surrendering of ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allowing Christ to abide in us and we in Him that this heavenly fruit will take possession of us!

“Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.” The Act of the Apostles, 284.

Now all of this is made possible by putting self aside fully and completely. In Gospel Workers, 287, this thought is substantiated: “When one is fully emptied of self, when every false god is cast out of the soul, the vacuum is filled by the inflowing of the Spirit of Christ. Such a one has the faith that purifies the soul from defilement. He is conformed to the Spirit, and he minds the things of the Spirit. He has no confidence in self. Christ is all and in all. He receives with meekness the truth that is constantly being unfolded, and gives the Lord all the glory, saying: ‘God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.’ ‘Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.’

“The Spirit that reveals, also works in him the fruits of righteousness. Christ is in him, ‘a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ [John 4:14.] He is a branch of the True Vine, and bears rich clusters of fruit to the glory of God. What is the character of the fruit borne?—The fruit of the Spirit is ‘love,’ not hatred; ‘joy,’ not discontent and mourning; ‘peace,’ not irritation, anxiety, and manufactured trials. It is ‘long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.’ ”

Also we read in the book Steps to Christ, 58, “Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.’ (Galatians 5:22, 23). They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober, and the profligate pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. Christians will seek not the ‘outward adorning,’ but ‘the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.’ (I Peter 3:3, 4.)”

In his first epistle to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul sets forth the importance of that love which should be cherished by the followers of Christ. We read in I Corinthians 13:1, 2: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

“No matter how high his profession, he whose heart is not imbued with love for God and for his fellow men is not a disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith, and even have power to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality, but should he from some other motive than genuine love bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr’s death, yet if destitute of the gold of love he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 168.

The apostle proceeds to specify the fruits of love: ‘Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not.’ The divine love ruling in the heart exterminates pride and selfishness. ‘Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.’ [I Corinthians 13:4.] The purest joy springs from the deepest humiliation. The strongest and noblest characters rest upon the foundation of patience and love, and trusting submission to the will of God.

“Charity ‘doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.’ Verse 5. The heart in which love rules will not be filled with passion or revenge, by injuries which pride and self-love would deem unbearable. Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love will never needlessly expose the faults of others. It does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but rather seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the one defamed.

“Love ‘rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.’ Verse 6. He whose heart is imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices.

“ ‘Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.’ Verse 7. Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love ‘never faileth.’ Verse 8. It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Discord and strife are the work of Satan and the fruit of sin. If we would as a people enjoy peace and love, we must put away our sins; we must come into harmony with God, and we shall be in harmony with one another. Let each ask himself: Do I possess the grace of love? Have I learned to suffer long and to be kind? Talents, learning, and eloquence, without this heavenly attribute, will be as meaningless as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Alas that this precious treasure is so lightly valued and so little sought by many who profess the faith!” Testimonies, vol. 5, 169.

In the Epistle to the Colossian Christians, Paul counsels: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:12-15, 17.

I John 4: 7-11: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” Let each ask himself: Do I possess the grace of love?

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-822-3900.

A Christian Spirit

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In contemplating the love of God, it must be understood as an indispensable element in the Christian’s life. Fundamentally, it is also the prerequisite to possessing the graces of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul makes this very clear. He affirms that the fruit of the Spirit is love. Essentially, the believer must be controlled and driven by the Holy Spirit in order for him/her to have this divine attribute, this heavenly principle! That’s why the apostle Paul says, “Walk in the spirit,” for when the believer agrees with the Holy Spirit to “walk in the spirit,” the Holy Spirit brings Christ into the life of the person; thus Christ’s love is shed abroad in the life, and it becomes the ruling principle by which all actions are determined.

When the motive power in the life of the Christian is the love of Jesus, it will henceforth bring about the fruit of joy! It is on this basis that Paul speaks, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,” etc.

Joy is one of the graces of the Holy Spirit which dominates the life of the Christian as a result of possessing the love of Jesus Christ! But the question I would endeavor to answer is, What is joy? Webster’s Dictionary states that it is the emotion of gladness; happiness; gaiety; contentment; satisfaction.

In defining joy, the Holy Scripture declares, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10, last part. The Hebrew word chedvah or khed-vaw means “rejoicing, gladness, joy.”

The word strength as used in Nehemiah 8:10, in association with the joy of the Lord, is the Hebrew word maw-ooz which means a fortified place; a defense, fort, rock, “a stronghold.” So the joy, rejoicing, and gladness that the Lord gives is the Christian’s defense, fortified place, his/her stronghold. The New Testament word joy, as used in Galatians 5:22, is chara and comes from chairo, meaning “to be cheerful, calmly happy or well-off.” Joyfulness is the invigorating tonic of the Christian character. The thing that makes you a strong Christian or a weak one is your possession or deprivation of the joy of the Lord.

On hearing the words of the book of the law, all the people wept. Nehemiah exhorts them to prepare themselves for serving the God of their fathers with a cheerful mind. Nehemiah 8:10: “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” These words contain this important truth: to the nature of true religion there belongs an inward joy which animates, strengthens, and supports virtue.

In both Old Testament and New Testament, joy is consistently the mark both individually of the believer and corporately of the church. It is a quality, and not simply an emotion, that is grounded upon God Himself and indeed derived from Him. Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.” Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.” Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,” which characterizes the Christian’s life on earth. I Peter 1:8 reinforces this in saying, “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,” and also anticipates eschatologically the joy of being with Christ forever in the kingdom of heaven, e.g., Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

In the Old Testament and the New Testament God Himself is the ground and object of the believers’ “joy.” Psalm 35:9, “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation”; Psalm 43:4, “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.” Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Luke 1:47, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Romans 5:11, “And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Philippians 3:1, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe.” Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.”

In his book, Conquering the Kill-Joys, 13, Bill Weber made the following remark: “God made each of us with the capacity for greatness and joy, but many people go through life never achieving their full potential. He intends for us to live happy, joyful lives, but so often we are too weighted down with the ‘kill-joys’ of life to even think about being happy. … We were never promised that we would be exempt from problems, but we were assured that our personal faith would be adequate for whatever problems we might face.”

He states further, “It is tragic that so many are missing out on God’s best—even Christians—because they have accepted failure, negative thinking, inferiority feelings, bad habits, and shallow faith as their way of life. They are not receiving all the good things that God has planned for them.

“Jesus wants us to win at life. He promised that if we would follow Him, He would give us abundant life. I believe that abundant life is a life full of joy, full of success and satisfaction—a contagiously happy life. He really wants us to reach our highest potential and maximize every opportunity that He gives us.” Ibid., 13, 14.

Dr. Weber lists eleven negative emotions or forces that definitely kill our joy; they are rejection, anger, resentment, stress, poor self-image, frustration, mediocrity, poor values, isolation, discouragement, and loneliness.

Then there is what I call a counterfeit joy that Satan gives. The servant of the Lord penned the following, “Those who indulge in chaffing, mirth, levity, and vanity of spirit, which arise from a superficial, cheap experience, have no real, solid foundation for hope and joy in the love of God and belief of the truth. The giddy, the heedless, the gay, the jovial spirit is not the joy which Paul is anxious that Christ’s followers shall have. This class spends their time in frivolity and excessive levity.” In Heavenly Places, 245.

Speaking to the Battle Creek Church, Ellen White outlined to them what God had revealed to her. Commenting on what she was given, she said, “But there has been a class of social gatherings in Battle Creek of an entirely different character, parties of pleasure that have been a disgrace to our institutions and to the church. They encourage pride of dress, pride of appearance, self-gratification, hilarity, and trifling. Satan is entertained as an honored guest, and he takes possession of those who patronize these gatherings. A view of one such company was presented to me, where were assembled those who profess to believe the truth. One was seated at the instrument of music, and such songs were poured forth as made the watching angels weep. There was mirth, there was coarse laughter, there was abundance of enthusiasm, and a kind of inspiration; but the joy was such as Satan only is able to create. This is an enthusiasm and infatuation of which all who love God will be ashamed. It prepares the participants for unholy thought and action. I have reason to think that some who were engaged in that scene heartily repented of the shameful performance.” Testimonies to Ministers, 82, 83.

It is indeed true that we live in a world that is entrenched and saturated with these negative emotions and counterfeit joy that do not and cannot bring about real joy, real happiness. People are very sad, unhappy, frustrated, depressed, discouraged, lonely, stressed and distressed, isolated—needing someone who cares. Every day they pass us by, on the street, in church, at the work place and even at home. Their eyes speak to us of their lack; our eyes speak to people of our lack. There is no joy in the Lord. For years many of us as humans, including professed Christians, have not truly smiled or laughed; we are purely artificial, and we do so much to cover up our deficiency. Many are looking for happiness in the wrong places, wrong things, and wrong persons. The youth are being drawn away from the true source of joy and happiness because of their hunger for true joy.

At least one out of every ten people in America today experiences some form of depression and discouragement.

“Hi, how are you?”

It is a standard greeting, said quickly with a smile and slight nod as two acquaintances pass hurriedly along their way. But those words, although usually well-intentioned, ring hollow; void of genuine care about how you really are. The words are superficial, said simply to acknowledge another. Any response other than “fine” would be socially unacceptable. In saying it, one is being friendly—but not a friend.

In his collection of essays, Sir Francis Bacon described this societal solitude in a work entitled, On Friendship:

Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth.

For a crowd is not a company, and faces are but a gallery of

pictures and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

“Meaningful friends are so needed today. We all need friends who care enough to dip beneath the surface, to truly care how we are inside.” Conquering the Kill-Joys, 114.

“Today, the vast majority of people are frustrated because they feel they have been turned into ‘machines’ that have to be turned on at eight and then turned off at five. Just flip the switch! As one writer lamented:

“I work, work, work without end.

Why and for whom, I know not.

I care not. I ask not.

I am a machine.

“In the modern-day age there is a prevalent sense of desperation about the future of our society that also is creating a deep sense of frustration. Many people hold jobs that are so tightly connected to the economic health of the nation that the slightest fluctuation can either cause great despair or bring needed financial relief.” Ibid., 82, 83.

Americans are more prone to tenseness and stress than any other people on the earth. Americans wear too much expression on their faces. They are living with all their nerves in action, according to one author.

“A visiting nineteenth-century French author once wrote and told his countrymen that an American had ‘invented a chair called a rocking chair, in which he can move while he sits.’ We have been called the ‘uptight generation,’ and rightly so. This is indeed,

“The age of the half-read page

And the quick hash and the mad dash.

The bright night and the nerves tight,

The plane hop, and the brief stop,

The brain strain and the heart pain.

The cat naps till the spring snaps,

And the fun’s done.” Ibid., 56.

There is but little joy left on this earth and the sad fact is that so many professed Christians are not truly joyful or happy. They do not have the anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll.

But we all need to remember that we have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows of anger, rejection, resentment, stress, frustration, discouragement, grief, loneliness, sadness, etc., roll, fastened to the rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in our Savior’s love. The joy of the Lord is our strength, our stronghold, our defense, our fortress. David said it right, “God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.

“John Wesley, a great Methodist preacher, arose at four o’clock every morning and often preached up to five times a day. In fifty years of ministry, he preached more than forty thousand times, which averages fifteen sermons a week! He traveled more than 250 thousand miles to spread the gospel. Yet, he never hurried, he never worried, and he never suffered the wear and tear of stress.” Conquering the Kill-Joys, 59.

How could this preacher do this? He made the Lord his trust, and today he says to us in his beautiful hymn,

“Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed.

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves and clouds and storms, God gently clears thy way;

wait thou God’s time; so shall this night soon end in joyous day.

Leave to God’s sovereign sway to choose and to command;

so shalt thou, wondering, own that way, how wise, how strong this hand.

Let us in life, in death, thy steadfast truth declare,

and publish with our latest breath thy love and guardian care.”

Paul Gerhardt, 1653. Translated by John Wesley, 1739.

How can we receive this joy that keeps the soul under all circumstances? Jesus invites us, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part—the brain, the heart, the nerves—it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care, that crush the life forces. With it come serenity and composure. It implants in the soul, joy that nothing earthly can destroy,—joy in the Holy Spirit,—health-giving, life-giving joy.

“Our Saviour’s words, ‘Come unto Me … and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28,) are a prescription for the healing of physical, mental, and spiritual ills. Though men have brought suffering upon themselves by their own wrongdoing, He regards them with pity. In Him they may find help. He will do great things for those who trust in Him.” The Ministry of Healing, 115.

“Believing brings peace, and trusting in God brings joy.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 319, 320.

“The only way to gain peace and joy is to have a living connection with Him who gave His life for us, who died that we might live, and who lives to unite His power with the efforts of those who are striving to overcome.” In Heavenly Places, 33.

“In Christ is fullness of joy forevermore. The desires and pleasures and amusements of the world are never satisfying nor healing to the soul.” Testimonies to Ministers, 390.

“We should never give to the world the false impression that Christians are a gloomy, unhappy people. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we shall see a compassionate Redeemer, and shall catch light from His countenance. Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides. And there will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God.” The Desire of Ages, 153.

“Is it possible to have joy in obeying Christ? It is the only real joy that any soul can have.” Sons and Daughters of God, 195.

“He [Christ] says, ‘If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ John 15:10, 11. In Him there is joy that is not uncertain and unsatisfying. If the light that flows from Jesus has come to you, and you are reflecting it upon others, you show that you have joy that is pure, elevating, and ennobling. Why should not the religion of Christ be represented as it really is, as full of attractiveness and power? Why should we not present before the world the loveliness of Christ? Why do we not show that we have a living Saviour, one who can walk with us in the darkness as well as in the light, and that we can trust in Him?” That I May Know Him, 142.

“The life in which the fear of the Lord is cherished will not be a life of sadness and gloom. It is the absence of Christ that makes the countenance sad and the life a pilgrimage of sighs. … But Christ dwelling in the soul is a wellspring of joy. For all who receive Him, the keynote of the Word of God is ‘rejoicing.’

“Why should not our joy be full—full, lacking nothing? We have the assurance that Jesus is our Saviour, and that we may freely partake of the rich provision He has made for us. … It is our privilege to seek constantly the joy of His presence. He desires us to be cheerful and to be filled with praise to His name. He wants us to carry light in our countenances and joy in our hearts.” Ibid.

For many, many Christians there is something that has been and is destroying their joy, and that something is trial.

The book, The Upward Look, 252, records for our benefit the following: “When trials come to us, let us not dwell upon the greatness of the difficulties and feel that we cannot have joy in the Lord. It is true we will have changes of feelings. There will come to us times of discouragement and depression. But shall we live by feeling or by faith? When our brethren and friends speak unadvisedly, and cause us grief, let us not be cast down. Let us remember that we are in a world of trial and grief, of sorrow and disappointment. When these experiences come to us, they should drive us to Christ. If they do not, we meet with loss.

“When tempted to give up under discouragement and difficulty, let us study the life and experiences of Christ. He had to contend against the powers of darkness that He might not be overcome. We have the same battle to fight, the same victories to win. ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16. It is our privilege to lay hold on the strength of One who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. He invites you to present your case at the throne of grace, and cast your helpless soul on Him.

“The purging is not pleasant, but let us remember that Christ came to our world and took humanity that He might bear the afflictions that humanity must bear and be an example of faithful endurance under every form of trial. God wants us to realize that we are a part of the great human family, and that we must bear its tests. …

“Let your humanity lay hold of divinity. Go to the footstool of God’s grace, and say, ‘Lord, I hang my helpless soul on Thee. Help me to control my speech. Teach me to overcome.’ Christ will give you a spirit of overcoming. ‘They overcame him,’ we read, ‘by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.’ Revelation 12:11.”

Listen to the reason why we should not sink under trials, “Trials are Christ’s workmen to perfect the Christian graces. … These tests are not to sink the believers’ faith, but raise it equal to the occasion, that unto all it may be made to appear more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire. Every trial permitted is designed to exalt the truth to a higher appreciation, that praise to God alone shall be upon the lips of the true disciple of Christ. And the growth in grace is to the honor and glory of God 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: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.’ I Peter 1:8–10.” The Upward Look, 324.

“We grieve the Spirit of Christ by our complaints and murmurings and repinings. We should not dishonor God by the mournful relation of trials that appear grievous. All trials that are received as educators will produce joy. The whole religious life will be uplifting, elevating, ennobling, fragrant with good words and works.” God’s Amazing Grace, 325.

“So far from causing grief, persecution should bring joy to the disciples of Christ, for it is an evidence that they are following in the steps of their Master.

“While the Lord has not promised His people exemption from trials, He has promised that which is far better. He has said, ‘As thy days, so shall thy strength be.’ ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Deuteronomy 33:25; II Corinthians 12:9. If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for His sake, Jesus will be by your side even as He was with the faithful three in Babylon. Those who love their Redeemer will rejoice at every opportunity of sharing with Him humiliation and reproach. The love they bear their Lord makes suffering for His sake sweet.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 30.

No real joy can be found in disobedience. “Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best, and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression leads to misery and destruction; but wisdom’s ‘ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’ Proverbs 3:17.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 600.

When king David sinned his great sin, he prayed a prayer that we all need to pray. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.” Psalm 51:12.

In Testimonies, vol. 3, 481, is recorded these wonderful words, “The sweetest joy comes to man through his sincere repentance toward God because of the transgression of His law, and faith in Christ as the sinner’s Redeemer and Advocate.”

There are three things that constitute the greatest joy, namely, “To honor Christ, to become like Him, to work for Him, is the life’s highest ambition and its greatest joy.” Education, 297.

So why is it so necessary that we experience this joy that comes from knowing Christ? Because we are planning to make heaven our home and, “Heaven is full of joy. It resounds with the praises of Him who made so wonderful a sacrifice for the redemption of the human race. Should not the church on earth be full of praise? Should not Christians publish throughout the world the joy of serving Christ? Those who in heaven join with the angelic choir in their anthem of praise must learn on earth the song of heaven, the keynote of which is thanksgiving.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 244.

The chorus goes like this,

I have a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart.

I have a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart.

I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

(By George Willis Cooke)

Is the joy of the Lord your strength? Do you have the joy of the Lord down in your heart?

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers at the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Life Sketches Series – Joy from Suffering

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The entrance of the gospel for the first time into Europe occurred when the apostles Paul and Silas entered into a ship at Troas to go to Philippi. This was accompanied by great suffering. It was in regard of his own experience that the apostle Paul wrote about the purpose of suffering.

“It happened, as we (Paul and Silas) went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities” (Acts 16:16–19).

The girl’s masters had been using her to earn money and feared that if people accepted the preaching of the apostles their source of income would cease; so they made many false charges against them: “They brought them to the magistrates, and said, ‘These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.’ Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks” (verses 20–24).

One of the most dangerous situations that any human being can get into is to be the victim of mob action. For Paul and Silas there had been no trial, no justice, no opportunity to have council or to defend themselves in a court. Their clothes were stripped off them, they were beaten until bruised and bloody before being taken into prison where their feet were put in the stocks. There they were chained to prevent them from escaping.

By night, with their feet in stocks unable to move and in great pain and with no refreshment, the Bible says, “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here’  ” (verses 25–28). Through the influence of the apostle Paul, when all the chains were loosed and the doors were opened, the prisoners did not flee. “Then he (the jailer) called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And He brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved’ ” (verses 29, 30)?

This jailor had been impressed by the conduct of his new prisoners. They acted differently from any prisoners he had ever held before. He realized that God had delivered them from prison, but they had not run away having regard for the jailer’s life. He realized that he owed his life to Paul and Silas and a desire rose in his heart to know their God. He had heard something about what they were teaching, about the gospel, and now he wanted to know about the God that they served. Who was this God they prayed and sang to? He wanted to know what he must do to be saved. The most important question that any human being can ask is that same question, “What must I do to be saved?”

Immediately the answer came. “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’ ” (verse 31). It was not complicated, just believe!

The Greek word translated believe means much more than just a mental assent of believing that something is true in your mind. It means to believe something enough that you make a commitment to that belief. John 2:24 says, “Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.”

That word commit is the same word that is translated believe, or to have faith. To believe means to make a commitment. To whom was the jailer to commit? He was to make a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a phrase was very significant, for people in those days knew exactly what a lord was. Today, we who live in free countries are ignorant of the position of a lord because we are all free. But in the Roman Empire where approximately 2/3 of the people were slaves and only about 1/3 were free, they knew exactly what a lord was. A lord was somebody who had total authority or sovereignty over your life. If you want to be saved you must believe in Jesus as your Lord. “Believe in the Lord.” If He is the Lord of your life you will follow Him and you will do what He says.

Believe on the Lord Jesus, the most wonderful name in the English language that comes from the Hebrew word which means Saviour, Deliverer. Believe on Him as your Saviour, as the Lord of your life and if you do, you will be saved. It is not complicated. Anyone, at any time of their life, can choose to make that decision. But friends, it is not by just giving a mental assent that the gospel is true, or that Christianity is true, not at all. It is by making a commitment to follow Jesus in holy living. Sadly, that is what keeps people from following Christ.

John says, “He who says he abides in Him must walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6, literal translation). The Philippian jailor accepted the call. He believed in Him as his Lord and Saviour from sin. He had seen evidence of what the gospel could do in the lives of Paul and Silas. He wanted the same thing, he wanted the same Lord and Master. Acts chapter 16:32–34 says, “Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”

God brought beauty out of ashes; a wonderful thing happened because of the way Paul and Silas reacted to their suffering. One of the reasons that God allows suffering among His children is so that other people can see what the religion of Christ does in a person’s life. It changes the way they react, even to bad situations. The apostle Paul and Silas sang songs in the prison after they had been beaten and tortured, with their feet in the stocks, chained and in agony. As a result of their reaction to their suffering, others saw that they were different from the other criminals in the prison. Though they were looked upon as criminals, they did not manifest criminal behavior. Their demeanor as they sang and prayed had such an effect on the jailor that his whole household became Christians.

God may allow His children to suffer, that through their suffering others may find salvation, creating friendships that will last throughout eternity.

With all that had happened overnight, the magistrates had second thoughts about the night’s events. They had found out what had happened to the girl who had been possessed of an evil spirit and been freed, and wondered if they had done the right thing. They decided that they should let Paul and Silas go free. The Bible says, “The magistrates sent the officers, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.’ But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly’ ” (verses 35–37)?

Paul and Silas did not want to be looked at as criminals by slinking away. While they insisted on their innocence and that they had been treated illegally, being Roman citizens, the magistrates were afraid they would be relieved of their jobs if an appeal were made to the Roman emperor.

“ … the magistrates … were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city” (verses 38, 39). Before they left the city, the Bible says, “They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed” (verse 40).

After they left the city the whole story spread throughout that region. As a result, a large number of people became Christians and the church in Philippi was organized. Later, when Paul was in prison again, he wrote to the church. You can read his letter to the Philippian church in the New Testament.

Paul understood that many would suffer persecution for Christ’s sake. He said, “To you it has been given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in His name, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me” (Philippians 1:29, 30, literal translation).

There is a reason that we go through suffering in this world. Peter described it this way: “This is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:19–24).

Later, the apostle Peter, who was told by Jesus Himself, that at the end of his life he would be crucified (John 21), wrote to the Christians: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? … Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:12–17, 19).

Some people have wondered how they could endure the suffering that they find themselves in. The Bible is full of many wonderful and precious promises to those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. Here are two. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12, 13).

Paul tells of the thorn in his flesh, referring to the bodily trouble he suffered that he wanted to be relieved of. He wrote, “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

These Bible promises are not just for the apostle Paul; they are promises for every person who is suffering.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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.

Children’s Story — The Head Nurse’s Story

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When little Jem was first brought to the hospital, it was in a carriage with liveried servants.

His father was a mill-owner in Pennsylvania, and Jem was an only child. He had the largest room in the private ward.

His parent’s brought the boy fruit, flowers, and books. “Please take them to that cripple in the next room, and to children in the free wards, with my love—little Jem Bruce’s love,” he would say, raising himself in bed, with flushed cheeks and shining eyes.

In two months he recovered and went away, but two years afterward Mrs. Bruce brought him back. She was dressed in black, and asked for a cheap room. Mr. Bruce, I heard, was dead, and had left his widow little money.

Jem’s knee was worse than ever, but what a cheery, happy fellow he was! He soon learned the story of all the patients in the neighboring rooms, as he had done before. And when his mother brought him a bunch of pinks or a basket of apples, he would eagerly divide them.

“Maybe they will make some one feel happier just for a minute,” he would say, with his rare smile.

His right leg was taken off at the knee. Then I lost sight of Jem for three or four years. Last winter he applied for admission to the free ward. His mother was dead. The disease had appeared in the other leg some months before. Jem had been supporting himself by typewriting, but was now no longer able to work.

He met me as if I had been his old, dear friend, —as indeed, I was, —and then hobbled round the wards to see if he knew any of the patients, stopping to laugh and joke and say some kind word at each bed.

The doctors amputated the other leg that day. It was the only chance for his life, but in a week they knew that it had failed.

“Make the boy comfortable,” the surgeon said to me; “it is all that can be done for him now.”

Jem knew the truth from the first. But he never lost courage. This was his bed (pointing to the middle one of a long row of white cots in the great ward). He learned to know all the men, and took keen interest in each case.

When Johnny Royle died, Jem took out the few dollars remaining in his pocket, and gave them to me. “They’re for his little children,” he whispered. “They have nothing.” And when old Peter was discharged, cured, he came to Jem’s bed to say good-bye as if he had been his brother. Jem wrung his hand, and said: “Take my overcoat, Peter; yours is gone, and—I’ll never need mine again.” He waved his hand, and cheered feebly as Peter went away.

He had nothing left to give now—I think that cut him sharply, but one day he began to sing. He had a remarkable voice, clear and tender; it would force the tears to your eyes. Every head in the ward was turned to listen. That delighted Jem. “I can sing for them occasionally,” he said, “if the doctors will allow it.”

So, whenever it was possible, Jem’s sweet voice was heard, sometimes in a humorous song, sometimes in a hymn. I used to think he was at heaven’s gate when he sang those hymns. But one morning his voice was gone, and before night everyone in the ward knew he was dying. The patients were silent, many of them crying, for they all loved the boy. He died at sundown, sitting up in bed, leaning against my shoulder. He glanced around the ward, and they nodded, and smiled.

“Give them,” he whispered, then stopped, remembering, poor child, that he had nothing to give. Then he said, suddenly, aloud, his eyes brightening, “Give them my love—Jem Bruce’s love.”

Taken from The Youth’s Instructor, January 29, 1903.