This quote was very meaningful to me and helped me to not throw out the need for health nuggets.
As a people we have been given the work of making known the principles of health reform. There are some who think that the question of diet is not of sufficient importance to be included in their evangelistic work. But such make a great mistake. God's word declares, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." [1 COR. 10:31.] The subject of temperance, in all its bearings, has an important place in the work of salvation. {GW 347.1}
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Oink 5
Great Controversy finished
This book has helped me in so many ways. I could probably put a hundred different quotes, but I think there are two that I will share. First, is a personal blessing. I have secretly carried an inward resentment towards God, because he commands, receives, and adores our worship. I inwardly found this very self seeking and prideful. I thought how could anyone receive such praise. Too my surprise Satan addressed this very issue in heaven. In fact, it was one of his major points illustrating that God was selfish, unjust, and tyrannical. In response to this attack on God Ellen White writes these words:
Satan's lying charges against the divine character and government appeared in their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely the exaltation of Himself in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, and had declared that, while the Creator exacted self-denial from all others, He Himself practiced no self-denial and made no sacrifice. Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which love could make; for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. It was seen, also, that while Lucifer had opened the door for the entrance of sin by his desire for honor and supremacy, Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled Himself and become obedient unto death. {GC 502.2}
Second, is a quote so often used to prove perfectionism after the close of probation. You will probably recognize these words:
In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. GC 614
The lack of an intercessor as it reads is not saying that we have to live perfectly now, because Jesus is not in the sanctuary (although this may happen). It is saying that because Jesus is not in the sanctuary the WICKED will be unrestrained. If you read the more of the passage, you can see that results of a lack of an intercessor cause the wicked to go crazy.
In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. {GC 614.1}
But so long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. It still controls to some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions with unanswerable arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble. {GC 610.3}
"These are they which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. {GC 648.3}
So in summary. Jesus stops being intercessor. God's spirit leaves. The wicked go crazy. God's judgments fall on the wicked. The righteous make it out alive. A vastly different view than is taught by many.
This book has helped me in so many ways. I could probably put a hundred different quotes, but I think there are two that I will share. First, is a personal blessing. I have secretly carried an inward resentment towards God, because he commands, receives, and adores our worship. I inwardly found this very self seeking and prideful. I thought how could anyone receive such praise. Too my surprise Satan addressed this very issue in heaven. In fact, it was one of his major points illustrating that God was selfish, unjust, and tyrannical. In response to this attack on God Ellen White writes these words:
Satan's lying charges against the divine character and government appeared in their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely the exaltation of Himself in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, and had declared that, while the Creator exacted self-denial from all others, He Himself practiced no self-denial and made no sacrifice. Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which love could make; for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. It was seen, also, that while Lucifer had opened the door for the entrance of sin by his desire for honor and supremacy, Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled Himself and become obedient unto death. {GC 502.2}
Second, is a quote so often used to prove perfectionism after the close of probation. You will probably recognize these words:
In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. GC 614
The lack of an intercessor as it reads is not saying that we have to live perfectly now, because Jesus is not in the sanctuary (although this may happen). It is saying that because Jesus is not in the sanctuary the WICKED will be unrestrained. If you read the more of the passage, you can see that results of a lack of an intercessor cause the wicked to go crazy.
In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. {GC 614.1}
But so long as Jesus remains man's intercessor in the sanctuary above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. It still controls to some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions with unanswerable arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble. {GC 610.3}
"These are they which came out of great tribulation;" they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. {GC 648.3}
So in summary. Jesus stops being intercessor. God's spirit leaves. The wicked go crazy. God's judgments fall on the wicked. The righteous make it out alive. A vastly different view than is taught by many.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Oink 4
Christ's Object Lessons Finished!
The Reward of Grace was so powerful and very instructive for me:
There are many who have given themselves to Christ, yet who see no opportunity of doing a large work or making great sacrifices in His service. These may find comfort in the thought that it is not necessarily the martyr's self-surrender which is most acceptable to God; it may not be the missionary who has daily faced danger and death that stands highest in heaven's records. The Christian who is such in his private life, in the daily surrender of self, in sincerity of purpose and purity of thought, in meekness under provocation, in faith and piety, in fidelity in that which is least, the one who in the home life represents the character of Christ--such a one may in the sight of God be more precious than even the world-renowned missionary or martyr.
Christ Object Lessons pg 403
The Reward of Grace was so powerful and very instructive for me:
There are many who have given themselves to Christ, yet who see no opportunity of doing a large work or making great sacrifices in His service. These may find comfort in the thought that it is not necessarily the martyr's self-surrender which is most acceptable to God; it may not be the missionary who has daily faced danger and death that stands highest in heaven's records. The Christian who is such in his private life, in the daily surrender of self, in sincerity of purpose and purity of thought, in meekness under provocation, in faith and piety, in fidelity in that which is least, the one who in the home life represents the character of Christ--such a one may in the sight of God be more precious than even the world-renowned missionary or martyr.
Christ Object Lessons pg 403
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Oink 2
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings finished!
New Rule: Tell something you learned about the book.
From Steps to Christ:
Christ's Glory is to heal and bind up our wounds:
Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It is His glory to encircle us in the arms of His love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity.
SC 52
From Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing:
Just as the devil has principalities and powers in different areas Eph 6:12, Dan 10, so does God. The only difference is that instead of angels God uses man to be his representatives!
In all ages the "Spirit of Christ which was in them" (1 Peter 1:11) has made God's true children the light of the people of their generation. Joseph was a light bearer in Egypt. In his purity and benevolence and filial love he represented Christ in the midst of a nation of idolaters. While the Israelites were on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land, the true-hearted among them were a light to the surrounding nations. Through them God was revealed to the world. From Daniel and his companions in Babylon, and from Mordecai in Persia, bright beams of light shone out amid the darkness of the kingly courts. In like manner the disciples of Christ are set as light bearers on the way to heaven; through them the Father's mercy and goodness are made manifest to a world enshrouded in the darkness of misapprehension of God. By seeing their good works, others are led to glorify the Father who is above; for it is made manifest that there is a God on the throne of the universe whose character is worthy of praise and imitation. The divine love glowing in the heart, the Christlike harmony manifested in the life, are as a glimpse of heaven granted to men of the world, that they may appreciate its excellence.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing pg 42
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Race
The Race:
Read all of Ellen G. White's major writings, which include Steps to Christ, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, Christ's Object Lessons, The Sanctified Life, The Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, Education, Prophets and Kings, Acts of the Apostles, Christ our Savior, The Ministry of Healing, Redemption, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6, Vol. 7, Vol. 8 and Vol. 9, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 and Vol. 4., Early Writings, Testimonies to Ministers, A Word to the Little Flock, Fundamentals of Christian Education, Life Sketches, Christian Service, Counsels on Health, Healthful Living, Gospel Workers, Sketches from the Life of Paul, and Selected Messages, Vol. 1, and Vol. 2.
The Contestants:
Jeff
Thomson
The Spoils/Prize/Goal/Crown:
For Jeff: Vitamix
For Thomson: Pig*
Commencement:
When Jeff comments "Go"
Finale:
When we finish.
*Juicer
Read all of Ellen G. White's major writings, which include Steps to Christ, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, Christ's Object Lessons, The Sanctified Life, The Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, Education, Prophets and Kings, Acts of the Apostles, Christ our Savior, The Ministry of Healing, Redemption, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6, Vol. 7, Vol. 8 and Vol. 9, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 and Vol. 4., Early Writings, Testimonies to Ministers, A Word to the Little Flock, Fundamentals of Christian Education, Life Sketches, Christian Service, Counsels on Health, Healthful Living, Gospel Workers, Sketches from the Life of Paul, and Selected Messages, Vol. 1, and Vol. 2.
The Contestants:
Jeff
Thomson
The Spoils/Prize/Goal/Crown:
For Jeff: Vitamix
For Thomson: Pig*
Commencement:
When Jeff comments "Go"
Finale:
When we finish.
*Juicer
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