Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9.
There is a world to be warned, and every effort must now be made to exalt the truth…. The great Teacher held in His hand the entire map of truth. In simple language He made plain to His disciples the way to heaven, and the endless subjects of divine power. The question of the essence of God was a subject on which He maintained a wise reserve, for their entanglements and specifications would bring in science which could not be dwelt upon by unsanctified minds without confusion. In regard to God and in regard to His personality, the Lord Jesus said, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Christ was the express image of His Father’s person.
The open path, the safe path of walking in the way of His commandments, is a path from which there is no safe departing. And when men follow their own human theories dressed up in soft, fascinating representations, they make a snare in which to catch souls. In the place of devoting your powers to theorizing, Christ has given you a work to do. His commission is, Go throughout the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Before the disciples shall compass the threshold, there is to be the imprint of the sacred name, baptizing the believers in the name of the threefold powers in the heavenly world. The human mind is impressed in this ceremony, the beginning of the Christian life. It means very much. The work of salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human agent. The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is involved in the action required to make assurance to the human agent, … confederating the heavenly powers with the human that man may become, through heavenly efficiency, partakers of the divine nature and workers together with Christ.
Man’s capabilities can multiply through the connection of human agencies with divine agencies. United with the heavenly powers, the human capabilities increase according to that faith that works by love and purifies, sanctifies, and ennobles the whole man.—Manuscript 45, May 14, 1904, “That They All May Be One.”
The Upward Look p. 148
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Prayer Requests
—-Please lift up an 11 yr old boy who is battling the flu. His mother says he isn’t able to keep anything on his stomach including his meds…as of this morning he’s still vomiting and trying to sleep. Please pray for God’s relief and for His healing in this situation. Monica
—-Please pray for for my friend Carol and her family. She has been sent home on hospice and not expected to survive long. Kathy
—-Please pray for my dad who has a kidney scan the 13th of March. Mike
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Dear Friends,
Often brothers and sisters do not get along well. Thankfully, that is not the case with my three children. Ronnie Jay and Esther had always been especially close. Five days after his third birthday, she was born. I had been afraid that he would be jealous, but that was not the case. Ronnie Jay was delighted and wanted to hold and cuddle her. He just beamed with happiness. From that moment, a special friendship developed between them.
As Esther grew and was able to play, Ronnie Jay’s joy knew no bounds. They were constant companions. They had wonderful times together throughout their life. When she got a little older and I would tell her to pick up her toys, Ronnie Jay would pick them up for her. If I told her to clean her room, he would do it for her because he loved her so much. Like all children, Esther Marie would sometimes disobey and had to be punished. Ronnie Jay would beg me not to punish her and offer to take her punishment. Of course, I did not grant him his request, but I marveled at his love for his sister.
Greater love than the love my two youngest children had for each other, is the love of Our Dear Saviour, Who “loves us with an everlasting love” and freely volunteered to take our punishment. Jer 31:3 Think of it! The Great Ruler of the Universe, the One equal with the Father, left all of the glories of Heaven, “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. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Phil 2:5-10
The One Whom all Heaven adored humbled Himself and lived a life of constant self-denial, a life of service, a life of humility. From the time of His birth, the Romans tried to destroy Him. The priests and rulers plotted to kill Him, although they could not until the right time had come. Daniel prophesied, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” Daniel 9:26,27 What an important prophetic week that was! For three and a half years, our Dear Saviour walked through the land preaching “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 3:2 He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God [His Father] was with him.” Acts 10:38 Then, in the midst of the week, He laid down his life for us, that we might have live eternally in His glorious kingdom. What love! What wonderful love!
May we love Him Who first loved us, turn away from the things of this world which will soon pass away, and accept His great sacrifice. 1 john 4:19 May we serve Him with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength putting Him first in everything. Luke 10:27 May we do always those things that please Him Who gave His life for us that we might dwell with Him eternally.
Rose