Jesus Calls Us

To the multitude, however, it seemed impossible that the One designated by John should be associated with their lofty anticipations.  That many were disappointed, and greatly perplexed.

The words which the priests and rabbis so much desired to hear thatJesus would now restore the kingdom to Israel, had not been spoken.  For such a king they had been waiting and watching; such a king they were ready to receive. But one who sought to establish in their hearts a kingdom of righteousness and peace, they would not accept.

On the following day, while two disciples were standing near, John again saw Jesus among the people. Again the face of the prophet was lighted up with glory from the Unseen, as he cried, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The words thrilled the hearts of the disciples.  They did not fully understand them. What meant the name that John had given Him,--"the Lamb of God"? John himself had not explained it.  Leaving John, they went to seek Jesus.  One of the two was Andrew, the brother of Simon:  the other was John the evangelist.  These were Christ's first disciples, moved by an irresistible impulse, they followed Jesus,--anxious to speak with Him, yet awed and silent, lost in the overwhelming significance of the thought, "Is this the Messiah?"

Jesus knew that the disciples were following Him.  They were the first fruits of His ministry, and there was joy in the heart of the divineTeacher as these souls responded to His grace.  Yet turning, He asked only, "What seek ye?"  He would leave them free to turn back or to speak of their desire.

Of one purpose only were they conscious.  One presence filled their thought.  They exclaimed,"Rabbi,. where dwellest Thou?"  In a brief interview by the wayside they could not receive that for which they longed  They desired to be alone with Jesus to sit at His feet, and hear His words.

"He saith unto them, Come and see.  They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day."

If John and Andrew had possessed the unbelieving spirit of the priests and rulers, they would not have been found as learners at the feet of Jesus.  They would have come to Him as critics, to judge His words  Many thus close the door to the most precious opportunities.  But not so did these first disciples.  They had responded to the Holy Spirit's call in the preaching of John the Baptist.  Now they recognized the voice of the heavenly Teacher.  To them the words of Jesus were full of freshness and truth and beauty.  A divine illumination was shed upon the teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures.  The many-sided themes of truth stood out in new light. 

It is contrition (repentance) and faith and love that enable the soul to receive wisdom from heaven.  Faith working by love is the key of knowledge, and everyone the loveth "Knoweth God." 1 John 4:7.

(Do you think Jesus is calling us to have a deeper and fuller relationship with Him.  I believe He is and I want to respond to that love and grace so freely given by Him.  Just like the disciples responded so many years ago.  Tomorrow we will learn how some of the other disciples responded to His call.  He is calling you and calling me, what will our answer be?  Grandma Joan.)  Taken from chapter 14 of the Desire of Ages.

Are You Tempted?

Mark 14:38  "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many a defeat.  Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation.  Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us.  But it was the Spirit's leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.  When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good.  Jesus did not presume on God's promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him.  "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  He says, "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." 1 Corinthians 10:13.  Psalm 50"14,15.

Jesus was victor in the second temptation, and now Satan manifests himself in his true character.  But he does not appear as a hideous monster, with cloven feet and bat's wings.  He is a mighty angel, though fallen.  He avows himself the leader of rebellion and the god of this world.

Placing Jesus o a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him.  The sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and fruit laden vineyards.  The traces of evil were hidden.  The eyes of Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity.  Then the tempter's voice was heard:  "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine."

Christ's mission could be fulfilled only through suffering.  Before him was a life of sorrow, hardship, and conflict, and an ignominious death.  He must bear the sins of the whole world.  He must endure
separation from His Father's love.  now the tempter offered to yield up the power he had usurped.  Christ might deliver Himself from the dreadful future by acknowledging the supremacy of Satan.  But to do this was to yield the victory in the great controversy.  It was in seeking to exalt himself above the Son of God that Satan had sinned in heaven.  Should he prevail now, it would be the triumph of rebellion.

When Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world to Christ if He would just worship him, Christ's answer was, "Get thee behind Me, Satan; for it is written, Thous shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

To men he offers the kingdom of this world on condition that they will acknowledge his supremacy.  He requires that they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness.  Christ bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; but Satan walks by their side and says:  Whatever may be true in regard to life eternal, it order to make a success in this world you must serve
me.

Satan had questioned whether Jesus was the Son of God.  In his summary dismissal he had proof that the could not gainsay.  Divinity flashed through suffering humanity.  Satan had no power to resist the command.  Writhing with humiliation and rage, he was forced to withdraw from the presence of the world's Redeemer.  Christ's victory was as complete as had been the failure of Adam.

So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us.  Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God and by the apostle He says to us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  James 4:7,8.  We cannot save ourselves from the tempter's power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand in our own strength, we shall become a prey to his devices; but "the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous  runneth into it, and is safe."  Proverbs 18: 10.  Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.

(We can find refuge in that mighty name too.  We can also use the verses in the scriptures and tell him It is Written and he will flee from us.  So we have no excuse to fall before the tempter, do we?  Let's be faithful to all God's requirements and we will come off victorious.  Grandma Joan.)  Taken fro Desire of Ages, chapter 13.

This Victory is Ours.

Just a quick synopsis of the second temptation.  Satan took Him to the pinnacle of the temple and quoted scripture to Him.  Satan said, "If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written--"He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee:  And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, Lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone."  First, he uses the word, 'IF' which was an expression of doubt that Jesus was the Son of God and Jesus knew by this little word that it was not an angel of light and He did not succumb to Satan's insinuations.

The tempter thought to take advantage of Christ's humanity, and urge Him to presumption.  But while Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin.  He can never compel us to do evil.  He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control.  The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us.  But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold.  Every point in which we fail o meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us.  And every failure or defeat on our part gives occasion for him to reproach Christ.

When Satan quoted the promise, "He shall give His angels charge over Thee," he omitted the words, "to keep Thee in all Thy ways;"  that is, in all the ways of God's choosing.  Jesus refused to go outside the path of obedience.  While manifesting perfect trust in His Father, He would not place Himself, unbidden, in a position that would necessitate the interposition of His Father to save Him from death.  He would not force Providence to come to His rescue, and thus fail of giving man an example of trust and submission.

Jesus declared to Satan, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." These words were spoken by Moses to the children of Israel when they thirsted in the desert, and demanded that Moses should give them water, exclaiming, "Is the Lord among us, or not?"  Exodus 17:7.  God had wrought marvelously for them; yet in trouble  they doubted him and demanded evidence that He was with them.  In their unbelief they sought to put Him to the test.  And Satan was urging Christ to do the same thing.  God had already testified that Jesus was His Son; and now to ask for proof that He was the Son of God would be putting God's word to the test,--tempting Him.  And the same would be true of asking for that which God had not promised. It manifest distrust, and be really proving, or tempting, Him.  We should not present our petitions to God to prove whether He will fulfill His word, but because He will fulfill it; not to prove that He loves us, but because He loves us.   "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  Hebrews11:6

But faith is in no sense allied to presumption.  Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption.  For presumption is Satan's counterfeit.  Presumption also claims the promises, but used them as Satan did, to excuse transgression.  Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands.  Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin.  It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted.  Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.

Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in leading us to presumption. If he can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is his. God will preserve all who walk in the path of obedience; but to depart from it is to venture on Satan's ground.  There we are are sure to fall.  The Savior has bidden us, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  Mark 14:38.  Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many a defeat.

(Do you see how to have victory over Satan?  By the word of God.  Memorize and use the promises of God to defeat Him.  It really does work.  God does give us the victories that we need, just when we need them.  Grandma Joan) Taken from chapter 13 of Desire of Ages.

By the Word of God

"The prince of this world cometh," said Jesus, "and hath nothing in Me."  John 14:30  There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry.  He did not consent to sin.  Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation.  So it may be with us.  Christ's humanity was united with divinity;  He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature.  So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us.  God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection character.

And how is this accomplished, Christ has show us.  By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan?  By the word of God.  Only by the word could He resist temptation.  "It is written," He said.  And unto us are given "exceeding great and precious promises" that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."  2 Peter 1:4.  Every promise in God's word is ours.  "By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" are we to live.  When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the word.  All its strength is yours.  "Thy word," says the psalmist, "have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  "By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer."  Psalm 119:11; 17:4.

(This was short but the message is so powerful that I am willing to shorten it.  We need to contemplate this message and memorize the promises in scripture and then we will have the same means of overcoming Satan as Jesus had in the wilderness.  I believe it's time to be an overcomer, how about you?  I'm tired of being overcome and want to be victorious over each temptation that Satan puts in my way.  I am memorizing scripture that I can throw in Satan's face when he tries to cause me to stumble.  It really does work.  Try it, it just might be the means of a new life for you.  Grandma Joan)  Thoughts were at the end of chapter 12, of the Desire of Ages.

How We Live

When Christ said to the tempter, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," He repeated the words that, more than fourteen hundred years before, He had spoken to Israel: "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness.  And He humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord  doth man live."  Deuteronomy 8:2,3.  In the wilderness, when all means of sustenance failed, God sent His people manna from heaven; and a sufficient and constant supply was given.  This provision was to teach them that while they trusted in God and walked in His ways He would not forsake them.  The Savior now practiced the lesson He had taught to Israel.  By the word of God succor had been given to the Hebrew host, and by the same word it would be given to Jesus.  He awaited God's time to bring relief.  He was in the wilderness in obedience to God, and He would not obtain food by following the suggestions of Satan.  In the presence of the witnessing universe, He testified that it is a less calamity to suffer whatever may befall than to depart in any manner from the will of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but y every word of God."  Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises.  Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support.  Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions.  But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God.  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness' and all these thing shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33  Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven.  When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives.  Our only questions will be, What is God's command?  and what His promise?  Knowing these, we shall obey the one and trust the other.

Of all the lessons to be learned from our Lord's first temptation none is more important than that bearing upon the control of appetite and passions.  In all ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most in effectual in corrupting and degrading mankind.  Through intemperance, Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers God gave to man at a priceless endowment.  Thus it becomes impossible for men to appreciate things of eternal worth.  Through sensual indulgence, Satan seeks to blot from the soul every trace of likeness to God.

In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature.  Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us.  Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being, to take advantage of hereditary weakness, and by his false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God.  And by passing over the ground which man must travel our Lord has prepared the way for us to overcome.  It is not His will that we should be placed at a disadvantage in the conflict with Satan.  He would not have us intimidated and discouraged by the assaults of the serpent.  "Be of good cheer," He says; "I have overcome the world."  John 16:33.

Let him who is struggling against the power of appetite look to the Savior in the wilderness of temptation.  See Him in His agony upon the cross, as He exclaimed, "I thirst,"  He has endured all that it is possible for us to bear.  His victory is ours.

(Satan is working full time to destroy us and we must know what God's will is in our life and we must trust His promises.  Read the scriptures to know His will and read the scriptures to know His promises.  It's all there for us if we will but read and believe what we read.  Let's live for God regardless of what our friends, relatives or whoever might try to influence us away from trusting God's word.  It is so important, it's a matter of life and death. To live for God is life.  Remember the texts Philippians 1:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24. Read these daily, they are promises for you as you struggle to let God lead in your life. Grandma Joan.)  Thoughts taken from Desire of Ages chapter 12.

Our Victory in the Balance

Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation.  Then He could not have been placed in Adam's position; He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain.  If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us.  But our Savior took humanity, with all it liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation.  We have nothing to bear which He has not endured.

With Christ, as with the holy pair in Eden, appetite was the ground of the first great temptation.  Just where the ruin began, the work of our redemption must begin.  As by the indulgence of appetite Adam fell, so by denial of appetite Christ must overcome.  "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stoned be made bread.  But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

From the time of Adam to the time of Christ self-indulgence had increased the power of the appetites and passions, until they had almost unlimited control.  Thus men had become debased and diseased, and of themselves it was impossible for them to overcome.  In man's behalf, Christ conquered by enduring the severest test.  For our sake He exercised a self-control stronger than hunger or death.  And in this first victory were involved other issues that enter into all our conflicts with the powers of darkness.

When Jesus entered the wilderness, He was shut in by the Father's glory.  Absorbed in communion with God, He was lifted above human weakness.  But the glory departed, and He was left to battle with temptation.  It was pressing upon Him every moment.  His human nature shrank from the conflict that awaited Him.  For forty days He fasted and prayed.  Weak and emaciated from hunger, worn and haggard with mental agony, "His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men."  Isaiah 52; 14.  Now was Satan's opportunity.  Now he supposed that he could overcome Christ.

There came to the Savior, as if in answer to His prayers, one in the guise of an angel from heaven.  He claimed to have a commission from God to declare that Christ's fast was at an end.  As God had sent and angel to stay the hand of Abraham from offering Isaac, so, satisfied with Christ's willingness to enter the bloodstained path, the Father had sent an angel to deliver Him; this was the message brought to Jesus. The Savior was faint from hunger He was craving for food, when Satan came suddenly upon Him.  Pointing to the stones which strewed the desert, and which had the appearance of loaves the tempter said, 'If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread'.

Though he appears as an angel of light, these first words betray his character.  "If Thou be the Son of God."  Here is the insinuation of distrust.  Should Jesus do what Satan suggests, it would be an acceptance of the doubt. Satan plans to overthrow Christ by the same method that was so successful with the human race in the beginning.  How artfully had Satan approached Eve in Eden!  "Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1. Thus far the tempter's words were truth; but in his manner of speaking them there was a doubt of the divine truthfulness.  Satan sought to instill into the mind of Eve the thought that God would not do as He had said; that the withholding of such beautiful fruit was a contradiction of His love and compassion for man.  So now the tempter seeks to inspire Christ with his own sentiments.   "If Thou be the Son of God."  The words rankle with bitterness in his mind.  In the tones of his voice is an expression of utter incredulity.  Would God treat His own Son thus?  Would He leave Him in the desert with wild beast, without food, without companions, without comfort?  He insinuates that God never meant His Son to be in such a state as this.  "If Thou be the Son of God," show Thy power in relieving Thyself of this pressing hunger.  Command that this stone be made bread.

(This was just the first temptation.  Can you see what Christ went through in the wilderness just to give us the power to overcome appetite?  We can do it, but not in our own strength.  We have no power of ourselves to meet Satan on his grounds.  We must have Christ's power within us to be able to resist Satan's temptations, and believe me, he has one or more for every one of us on the grounds of appetite.  I have been through so much over this very sin.  Of ourselves we cannot overcome this hideous sin that Satan has blinded us with.  We must be filled with the fullness of God to be able to meet Satan with "It is Written".  Two good verses for this is Philippians 1:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24.  Also Jude 24.  There are so many promises to give us the power over Satan, we just need to put them to memory in our hearts so we have them as Christ did.  Grandma Joan)  Taken from the Desire of Ages, chapter 12.

The Rescue

Not without hindrance was the Commander of heaven to win the souls of men to His kingdom.  From the time when He was a babe in Bethlehem, He was continually assailed by the evil one.  The image of God was manifest in Christ, and in the councils of Satan it was determined that He should be overcome.  No human being had come into the world and escaped the power of the deceiver.  The forces of the confederacy of evil were set upon His track to engage in warfare against Him, and if possible to prevail over Him.

At the Savior's baptism, Satan was among the witnesses.  He saw the Father's glory overshadowing His Son.  He heard the voice of Jehovah testifying to the divinity of Jesus.  Ever since Adam's sin, the human race had been cut off from direct communion with God; the intercourse between heaven and earth had been through Christ; but now that Jesus had come "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Romans 8:3) the Father Himself spoke.  He had before communicated with humanity through Christ; now he communicated with humanity in Christ.  Satan had hoped that God's abhorrence of evil would bring an eternal separation between heaven and earth.  But now it was manifest that the connection between God and man had been restored.

Satan saw that he must conquer or be conquered.  The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels.  He must personally conduct the warfare.  All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God.  Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.

Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest.  But within the domain of very human heart this controversy is repeated.  Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan. The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand.  They were urged upon him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours.  With a terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him, Christ withstood the test upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon that love of display which leads to presumption.  These were the temptations that overcame Adam and Eve, and that so readily overcome us.

Satan had pointed to Adam's sin as proof that God's law was unjust, and could not be obeyed.  In our humanity, Christ was to redeem Adam's failure.  But when Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him.  He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body.  He was surrounded with the glories of Eden, and was in daily communion with heavenly beings.  It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan.  For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity.  Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation.

(I am sure that if you consider your life, you will see where Satan has had many controversies with Christ over who is going to be the Lord of your life.  Christ or Satan.  I can surely see many times that Christ lost the battle and many times when He gained the battle and as the years have gone by, they are still battling for my soul and I believe Christ is the winner now, not to say that I don't succumb to Satan, but Christ is always there to lift me up.  Praise the Lord that He was the overcomer for us.  We have the assurance that because He overcame in His life, He will be the Victor in ours. Will you let Him be the Victor in yours?  I hope so.  Grandma Joan)  Thoughts taken from the Desire of Ages chapter 12.