A Seat Upon His Throne

We can overcome. Yes; fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every fault, resist every temptation, and sit down at last with Him in His throne.

It is our privilege to have faith and salvation. The power of God has not decreased. It would be just as freely bestowed now as formerly; but the church have lost their faith to claim, their energy to wrestle, as did Jacob, crying, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Enduring faith has been dying away. It must be revived in the hearts of God’s people. They must claim the blessing. Faith, living faith, always leads upward to God and glory; unbelief, downward to darkness and death.

Many are so absorbed in their worldly cares and perplexities that they have little time to pray, and feel but little interest in prayer. They may observe the form of worship, but the spirit of true supplication is lacking. Such have departed widely from the Pattern. Jesus our example was much in prayer; and oh, how earnest, how fervent were His petitions! If He, the beloved Son of God, was moved to such earnestness, such agony, in our behalf, how much more need that we, who are dependent upon Heaven for all our strength, have our whole souls stirred to wrestle with God.

We should not be satisfied until every known sin is confessed, then it is our privilege and duty to believe that God accepts us. We must not wait for others to press through the darkness and obtain the victory for us to enjoy. Such enjoyment will not be lasting. God must be served from principle instead of from feeling. Morning and evening we should obtain the victory for ourselves, in our own families. Our daily labor should not keep us from this. We must take time to pray, and as we pray, believe that God hears us. We may not at all times feel the immediate answer, but then it is that faith is tried. We are proved to see whether we will trust in God, whether we have living, abiding faith.—The Review and Herald, September 4, 1883.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 367
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Prayer Requests
—-Please keep E and children in prayer. R
—-Need prayers for my granddaughter Destiny. She was involved in a accident today, she was t-boned and taken to the hospital. Please pray for a swift recovery and for her needs to be met. We have no idea yet how she is doing as we are waiting for the evaluation. BP
—-Requesting prayers for my Director, Bernice this Tuesday as she goes to surgery! Please keep her in your prayers that God will guide the hands of the surgeon and comfort her! S
—-Steve finally got to the Dr today. She went over some issues with his diabetes. She is ordering labs for his weight loss. Shes screening for colon and pancreatic cancers. Could you pray for him. I know he’s worried about it. So am i. He goes back in 4 weeks to get results. Please pray everything is ok. Heather
—-Please pray for Richard who has cancer and his wife Sarah who is caring for him. Pray for complete healing. Rose
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Dear Friends,

What a time of wonder Christmastime was for me when I was a child. We always had a huge tree that would reach nearly to the ceiling and my grandparents lived in a house with very tall ceilings! I always went with my mother when she would pick out the tree. She would spend a lot of time looking for a perfectly shaped one. She was an artist and only a perfectly proportioned tree would suit her. Then we would drag it home through the snow.

When the ornaments were brought from the attic, where they had been stored all year, I would admire each one. I was not allowed to touch them as they were very old, but I would stand there and look. I spent hours studying each item that had been placed on that tree. They do not make Christmas decorations like those anymore. There were glass bells painted with scrollwork of various colors, balls glitter painted with many designs, delicate ornaments shaped like birds, candles, streetlights, icicles, and snowflakes. My mother would carefully arrange them all until the tree became a work of art under her artistic hand.

As I think of the delight I had looking at those Christmas ornaments, I think of the delight we should get reading God’s Holy Word. Think of it! We have in our hands a letter from the Creator of the Universe! He has put everything in its pages that we need to know in order to obtain salvation. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut 29:29 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 1 Cor 15:1,2 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15

Jesus tells us, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 From the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation the love of God is revealed. We read of the One Who was willing to give “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 We learn of a Saviour “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:6-8

As we read God’s Word over and over again, we discover new things that we had not noticed before. Truths that were always there, but the Holy Spirit waits until we are ready to receive them before He drives them home to our mind. We experience the truth of the parable Jesus taught, “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt 13:52 The Bible is God’s voice speaking of His love and care for us! What joy we have as the Holy Spirit instructs us in the way of the Lord!

May we take even greater delight over each discovery He reveals to us in His Holy Word than I did over those Christmas ornaments of long ago.

Rose