How I was taught to OBTAIN <25>agapos <26>agape
In 1991 my family and I relocated from Kentucky to Nashville, then on down to Theodore AL. My wife & I had been trained as missionaries at Wildwood in the early 70's. I had wandered away from God and took the whole family down with me.
God used circumstances to convict me and my wife, and as unconverted's still on the books but fully worldly - we recognized we were not ready.
Once reconverted I was worse than helpless. I remembered enough that I was in too deep to pull myself out I no longer remembered how to pray, study, or know God - my candlestick had before that, been moved out of it's place. (EGW look up - removed candlestick Solomon )
I dimly remembered that Jesus is the best teacher a human could relate to, He is the Prince of teachers. I could not agape / agapos love and I remembered the text "he that loveth <25> (5723) not knoweth not God." And I remembered that Jesus said to the lost rejected in His parable "I don't know you" "I know not whense ye are".
I was desperately being crushed. I could not force myself to love <25> <26> like He does in His perfected humanity, and I was tempted to see it as hopeless.
Then the thought came to me - I remembered a passage from yrs ago "obtained like precious faith", and like a life preserver thrown to a drowning man overboard in a storm - I realized - I must cry out to Jesus and ask Him to teach me to OBTAIN this love from Himself alone, and believe He will do it, because I trust Him, and am helpless in my need. The promise of John 6:63 would be my lifeline and preserver .... I would see that later.
I asked Jesus to tutor me and so He started ............ continued later........
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How I was taught to OBTAIN <25>agapos <26>agape ....... continued
Jesus would bring to mind various passages of scripture and I asked Him to open my understanding and show me what to pray for and teach me how to find out and what to do with what the Bible said. Since Scripture says that the writings of prophecy = the testifying the testimony of Jesus, I asked Him to tutor me using that too, and direct and guide my reading and cause me to find the things He wanted me to see and investigate.
Sometime after that I was reading Christ's Object Lessons in conjunction with Scripture. many places stood out, but one page did more - I started to see and understand a process. A supernatural process.
On the next installment I will tell why this process would come from a background that would be very meaningful for me and why none of this could be just an unused theory; it would have to become a living experience of supernatural realities; or it could not do me or anyone any good.
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At that time my need was too pressing to have any confidence in authors who were not prophets, I needed what came from God according to His official agencies that had supernatural power to change existing realities. Hence that would for my needs be, as John 6:63 puts it - words with supernatural life and power in them because God sent the words and stands to fulfill those words.
Other authors did not demonstrate that they had overcome and conquered Satan, so I had to only go by the words of the one person in humanity Who did. it wasn't that I felt others were bad authors, but they had not been there and done that and so I only felt that I could trust the instruction and testifying and tutoring of the One Who had proved conclusively that He did get it right 100% and I could trust my present survival and eternal hope on whatever He said, lived, and taught back then and now.
When a contract is written, it is spelled out who has power to set terms and perform actions. Those persons only can edit, modify, maintain, fulfill their end of the terms of the contract. The contract also spells out the other person involved (me).
The conviction was too strong to trust mortals with. The conviction because of the Holy Spirit's work - covered not just my past but my present and also who and what I had become and following and filled with - not just my behavior.
I was being caused to remember pieces of quotes and texts and passages, and my wife through all our moves steadfastly kept all her SOP books, and I still had a Bible, and between us a Young's and or Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (I don't remember if we had both or not. )
I was pleading with Jesus to teach me and reminding Him that since I had spent 6 yrs so darkening my self I did not trust coming to my own conclusions - please guide me to where He testified and set forth His conclusions both in the Bible and His testifying for me in these last days - the SOP. To cause me to read pivotal things in both and have those things jump out - to impact me grab my attention and then start opening my mind to their worth and how He wanted me to apply them in my life because I remembered James says the do-ers get the life and blessings within - not the reading forgetters.
I was convicted more and more strongly what the NC State motto talks about - "TO BE RATHER THAN TO SEEM"
I seemed to be drawn to the book wherein Jesus explains His lessons behind the parables. Reading Scripture, going to Christ's Object Lessons, after heartfelt prayer - self examination comparing myself with how Jesus is represented - then reading - praying - cross referencing - reading - attempting to put to use what I would find as He would lead and gradually open my mind.
(using standardized paging)
I read p- 384-385 of Christ Object Lessons. Here was a pivot point - a make it or break it cross roads, this jumped out at me with lasting and unfolding force, (as well as corroborating Scripture texts and passages as time went by.)
I was and still am convinced certain things regarding the love/compassion dwelling in the humanity of Jesus that He obtained from His Father. And also convinced I did not have that and convicted I must have those things no matter what it cost to get them.
But now that I knew basically what I must have, I did know how to get it; trying and trying harder and harder did not work, because what is approved of in 1st Corinthians Ch 13, and what moved the humanity of Jesus - is INTERNAL AND FROM ABOVE - NOT ALREADY INSIDE - or I would not be empty of it and in desperation because of that emptiness through the conviction sent by the Holy Ghost.
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I felt I must have as much of the portion of the life that is in the humanity of Jesus in me that I could hold in my present humanity. His words could do that in me, and Bible & SOP are His words - so seeing my circular 5 yr old's logic was in harmony with the Bible - I started reading Christ's Object Lessons - again after years - in prayer, faith, hope in Him to both be and do.
1st Corinthians ch 13; John ch 17; Ephesians 3:14-21; 2nd Peter 2:1-12; Love <25> <26> in 1st, 2nd, 3rd John
Here is the quote that jumped out at me from Christ's Object Lessons
"The sanctification of the soul by the working of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity. Gospel religion is Christ in the life--a living, active principle. It is the grace of Christ revealed in character and wrought out in good works. The principles of the gospel cannot be disconnected from any department of practical life. Every line of Christian experience and labor is to be a representation of the life of Christ. {COL 384.1 }
Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}
It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {COL 384.3}"
This caught my attention, I read it over and over , I would bookmark it and read it repeatedly and ask to be empowered to soak it in to have my understanding open to grasp it. This is what I must have ....here it was .....written in my language .......plainly spoken
Daniel prayed 3 times a day and there was a process that was opening to my mind ........
( I didn't know to do it or how to go about it then, but did do a Strong's number search with Bible software <25> <26> pulling up all the texts and ignoring the translators definitions (too watered down and biased ). Good preparation to examine - what moved the humanity of Jesus - even though HE HIMSELF SAID - "I of mine own self can do nothing" . Where did He get <25> <26> because He was forbidden to pull it from His Divine Christ nature - His eternal SELF - His Godhood was 100% off limits for Him to use, in however He had to live as one of us.
So my quandary was that Jesus is shown in Scripture over and over - loving the sinner though He knows all about the sinner inside and out, always moved with superhuman uncorrupted compassion. This did not come from His Godhood, it did not come from innate humanity - (seed of Abraham), so where and how did He get it ? The Scripture was brought to memory...."AS I LIVE BY MY FATHER....that's where He got it but then how do I get it ?? Memory continued ....."whoso eateth...(that’s what I want His life in me - but how ? ) ......live by me John 6:54-57.
Now I saw the beginning of the answer - get <25> <26> as a gift that every believer is expected to go to God and lawfully obtain that through what ever God's process was to get it .
But I was not sure of the process needed to get it, I assumed prayer ..... so I started praying ....and continued reading the inspired things God had said.
I found other quotes about God's views of the purpose of what He calls love in the gospel process of internally recreating the believer.
" Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, "Love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts. {DA 641.3}"
"The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour's glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. . . . For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." Christ could say, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." John 5:30. To Him it is declared, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Heb. 1:9. The Father "giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." {DA 180.1}
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Col. 2:9, 10, R. V. {DA 181.1}"
Along with this 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6 and Ephesians 3:14-21 (reading KJV) was jumping out at me as I read them - in reinforcement of DA 181 quote.
I kept on asking Jesus to tutor me.......and so He was........
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Things I was reading in Steps to Christ p-94-99 convinced me that prayer and acting on what was prayed was the basic nature of the process. Below the line is offered as both the basic process I learned to follow, and can be freely used as a printout witnessing handout by anyone - freely received - freely give - this concludes the testimony - meant to inspire hope - God convicts a person to elicit heartfelt interchange.
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I found the way to get the attitude of the "golden rule" implanted in me. It is not something any person either has or does not have, it is a gift from above. Therefore anyone can get it if they do these basic things.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
1. Ask for God to implant and cultivate and develop His Love (Agape, Agapous, Philio) and, Compassion and His own personal yearning to look for opportunities and to help and bless others, in prayer several times a day (even quietly from the heart while working - without speaking-Heaven hears) Ask to be made willing and taught how to deny self, take up own personal cross and what it represents, and how to follow Jesus.
2. Pray till you really want it, at first it is usually prayed without much desire to get it, prayer changes the person
praying - the concept "fake it till you make it" - works. Keep asking till it is desired and it happens.
3. Act as though you have it already, after asking for it, the Red Sea and the Jordan River didn't open till people whom God told to step forward, did go forward in faith and stepped into the edge of the water.
4. If you have a family, get them all joining you in asking, and acting on it; everyone will get the similar attitude = happy family unity - otherwise only you will get the attitude and they won't = family disunity.
This is generically what I asked for after reading the quote below.
Please cause my self to be merged in Christ, please implant and cultivate in me the impulse to help and bless others constantly, please cause the sunshine of heaven to fill my heart and is revealed in my countenance. I asked this 3 times a day - and started acting as though I had it and thanking Heaven for receiving it - then started progressively getting it. The internal benefits are long lasting. This transcends ideologies, anyone can have it. The Golden Rule process is for sharing freely.
Acts 10:
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them. (Biblically, name = character)
If desired here is a link to COL = the book "Christ's Object Lessons". It is part of a series of nine books, written from
1880's - 1915.
To download these books as freeware in e-book format for PC, Laptop, PDA, Blackberry, Ipod, I-phone, etc - go
to this link
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/ebooks/help/mobibooks.htm
For , Kindle, e-reader, I-Pad, MP3, etc go to
https://egwwritings.org/singleframe.php
click on ebooks or more at top of page.
First download freeware mobipocket reader using the link.
Second download freeware Mobi-prc files of the entire books. Set of column of mobi-prc files on the left .
Third go to your downloads section and install the mobipocket reader by right clicking on it and clicking open.
Fourth import the mobi-prc files of those whole freeware books into your mob i-pocket reader by clicking on import and browsing the download area to find the mobi-prc book files then click on open or import.
Fifth click on the book title you want to read, use the right side tabs to go forward and the left side tabs to go backward.
Click the X in the upper right corner to exit, and click on mobipocket reader icon to open it and the book title, start
reading from where you stopped at.
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Actually this is the personal experience I had after our family moved to Theodor AL just before the first gulf war started. This is a boiled down summary of the personal need I was convicted of, and God's way to give me what would satisfy that need.
It is the story of how God caused me to become aware of His simple process that would put me in position to both obtain the desire to receive agape/ agapous - and once desiring it with my whole heart and acting on His promises - start obtaining as much agape / agapous as I could hold in my human nature and put to use.
My mistake was that I did not get my wife and kids to start this process with me. I became ignited by a joy that found it's greatest fulfillment and contentment in living out the golden rule, being only motivated by agape/agapous, striving to do what Desire of Ages p-181 talks about - "to all who do this.........measure."; and ministering to friends, enemies, strangers, who ever God introduced me to and prompted me toward. They not being mutually ignited were at home while I was helping and blessing others, they felt left out and a lot of my time was not focused on them, unless I was bringing home hitchhikers to feed or folks who needed a place to stay for awhile.
This created a reaction that would not have existed if I had been wiser.
That's why I said in the generic outline of the process, get your family members praying for it, till "faking it till they make it" - they are changed enough by the repeated requests to be submerged in Christ - as inspiration and He teaches them - till He causes them to want it with their whole heart too. Explain to them that the Red Sea opened when the people marched down till their feet got wet, the Jordan stopped and piled up when the feet of the priests touched the water. Action motivated by hoping God will honour His word and action taking action to put that trust in action - seems to be the ignition switch, and clutch, and gears.
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God has helped me interest others, SDA & Non SDA & non Christian in obtaining the compassion that moved Jesus. It is written that in the last days "primitive godliness' will be revived. It is probably a safe estimate that being filled with agape, agapous, philio - will be part of that godliness. It might be a topic worth examining from Scripture & Jesus's testifying about it.
Ps 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Matthew 25: 1-46 same parable 3 different facets
(Oil-less virgins = agape-less Church Members espousing a pure message), their foolishness is Biblically being fools = turning away from intimate union with Christ. And they are not interested in soul winning, only status quo, or doctrine alone, or social relationships and socializing in Church in God’s house on God’s sacred time.
(Talents = Church members who are filled with God’s gifts, and Heaven sent agape, agapous, philio that compels them to put what God implants, and offers to use, and calls to fill needs. God qualifies the people called, and finally strips away what was given from the people who remain willfully inert. )
( sheep= professed Christians who do obtain and have and put to use, or, goats=professed Christians who do seek to obtain from Christ, and thus do not have the compassion of the Golden Rule moving them out of their ruts in order to unselfishly minister to others in need.)
Message & doctrine is refereed to, but the driving force and tone is within them because of the union with God and the resulting Agape, agapous, Philio, Compassion that compels them to minister to others as naturally as it was for Jesus.
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Quote
“ Christian workers who succeed in their efforts must know Christ; and in order to know Him, they must know His love. In heaven their fitness as workers is measured by their ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked. {AA 550.3}
"Let us not love in word," the apostle writes, "but in deed and in truth." The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. {AA 551.1}
Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another --this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. "We love Him, because He first loved us." In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. {AA 551.2}
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. "Herein is our love made perfect," he wrote, "that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." {AA 551.3}
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conclusion of post just above this one
1. Quote
Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}
It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {COL 384.3}
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Gal. 5:22, 23. This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life. {COL 68.1}
"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. {COL 69.1}
2nd Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1John 4:
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The ability to love AS Christ loved is a gift obtained on loan from Heaven.
........notice the phrase "But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously."
Quote
“Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}
It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {COL 384.3}
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Gal. 5:22, 23. This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life. {COL 68.1}
"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. {COL 69.1}
2nd Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1John 4:
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The ability to love AS Christ loved is a gift obtained on loan from Heaven.
........notice the phrase "But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously."
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Happy news at a sermon given recently at the Hendersonville TN Seventh Day Adventist Church - speaker Frank Webb, Biblically identified and linked receiving the Agape / Agapous / Philio that comes from Father God and Christ through the indwelling and work of the Holy Ghost - to Biblically restoring the image of God in an individual, and preparing to not only be in harmony with Heaven but spiritually and culturally fit in there.
He covered things I had not considered, and validated the things I was setting forth about the necessity of obtaining this love from God as the foundation of having His divine image recreated within. He showed from Scripture & SOP that the image of God in humans is spiritual, not just physically having bodies patterned after the physical forms of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
I wish I had a transcript, or CD, or DVD of the sermon - plus his notes. He is not a minister, but an SDA believer. Using Scripture & SOP resources, believers can discover more of the things of God, in direct proportion as their faith and devoted heartfelt searching attracts the Holy Spirit's attention and is hand in hand with His sympathies.
Agape and it's derivations does not replace the need for and specific focus given by the Bible's doctrines. Without obedience all forms of indwelling love erode, and leave the person as the presence of the Holy Ghost and His work is quenched. Without truthful doctrines there is no common ground of obedience and harmony with the source of truth.
Truth is more than an attitude or honesty, it is also faithful absolutes of reality, for the Creator of Truth is also the Creator of Reality. Truth is a function of Who the Creator is, and the functions of the absolutes of reality; but too often we are not looking or do not comprehend either with the heart or mind or conscience. Too often the reasons are disobedience due to rejection of some facet(s) of God's truths and love, in favor of some other cherished idol(s) following misplacing affections upon them .
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Quote
Among the Jews was a remembrance made of sins every year, and they felt that sin needed a fresh sacrifice. Sins forgiven in Christ are remembered no more. Saith God, "I will remember their sin no more" (Jer. 31:33). The Lord accepts the sinner that comes to Him in contrition, repenting of His sins; and treats Him just as if he were innocent. Again, He says our sins are covered. Will the youth think seriously and begin to inquire, What shall I do to be saved? "Behold! The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The more your mind is educated and trained to think of Jesus, to talk of Jesus, the less power will Satan have over your mind. He cannot bear to belong in the company of those who will meditate upon the love of God, and Jesus Christ.--Letter 43, 1892, pp. 5,6. (To Elder S. N. Haskell, Sept. 18, 1892.) {11MR 364.1}
The obvious question is then - how do I educate and train my mind to - think & talk about Jesus, and Heaven's Principles & teachings, and the love of God ?
1. First ask Jesus to set up a personalized education, tutoring, training program for you personally.
2. Second Ask Jesus to grasp and hold your interest in learning how to do your part in educating and training your mind to - think & talk about Jesus, and Heaven's Principles & teachings, and the love of God - so that you won’t give it up before He has time to produce results in you.
3. Third - this kind of stuff is in the Bible & SOP, lead me to what is written there to teach me to educate and train my mind and cause it to "jump out at me" so plainly that I will not miss it.
4. Fourth - ask Jesus to give you the "vital transfusion" of Himself that will enable and move you to act on what you learn, and awaken trust that He will not only empower and motivate you, but finish what He starts.
5. Fifth - Recognize that our hearts and minds are by nature carnal, we WILL rebel against God and His Love expressed through ALL His Doctrines ( Teachings ), during this process several times and in different spots along the way your heart will scream NO I REFUSE to give it up, I refuse to surrender and follow THAT, God can not mean THAT............... reduce your prayer focus to that one issue, ask for conversion RE that thing or things, ask to be lead to Bible & SOP promises that (that show how God feels about those sins) and convicts, showing God's promised punishment toward those things on one hand, and Bible & SOP promises that promise removing of those sins and the reasons they are there inside you and healing of those sins on the other hand and recovery from them and a replacing of them with God’s good choices for you, in their place .
The whole nature of what I learned that was already present in The Bible & SOP that outlines and explains this process :
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Looking up words and terms in those verses, Bible & SOP plainly explain what denying self means and how it is done, what a personal cross is, how to lift it, how to follow .
Doing a Strongs number search in Bible software, What God’s love is, is identified in all the parts it is made of, Pistis (faith) <4102> from root word Peitho<3982>, Grace <5485>, peace <1515>, the knowledge <1922> of God, godliness <2150>, diligence <4710>, virtue <703>, knowledge <1108>, temperance <1466>, patience <5281>, godliness <2150>, brotherly kindness <5360 & 5361 & 5384>, charity <26>( Agapous and Agape).
<25>Agapous, <26> Agape, <5384>Philos, <4697>splagchnizomai, and the other facets of God’s love are identified, like precious faith Pistis/Peitho, Grace, Peace, Knowledge of, knowing God, Godliness, Diligence, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Brotherly Love & Kindness, God’s Divine Compassion and Love.
The Bible & SOP combined teach how to put yourself spiritually and physically in position to receive them for yourself. When it is human nature to be stressed and in desperation, and empty of having them .
How to obtain God's gift of spiritual peace within, knowing from the Bible that God approves and in His own timetable His Divine schedule for you, implants these things enough to move you to turn to Him and with educated intelligent Biblically literate efforts cooperate with Him in getting more and more of them.
Pistis from root word Peitho(God’s gift of faith and trust and willingness to obey),
Grace (God’s power to obey and attributes of indwelling mercy within that is extending mercy outwardly to others ),
Peace ( assurance of being right with God and in His favor),
the Knowledge of God ( knowing God- union and harmony with Him and understanding Him) ,
Godliness (becoming like God in lifestyle and heart and mind), Diligence ( persistently staying with God and continuing to follow Him despite temptations, stumbling into sin, getting up leaving those sins conquering those temptations resuming following God) ,
Virtue (God’s progressively implanted purity and holiness ),
Knowledge ( knowing God- union and harmony with Him and understanding Him) ,
Temperance (the learning and understanding and doing in all matters, of doing what you should and should not, as much as you should but no more, because it would over extend you to your injury ),
Patience ( cheerfully enduring) ,
Godliness (becoming like God in lifestyle and heart and mind),
Brotherly Love & Kindness (making them near kin to you and them and their needs preferred to you in your heart above your own self and needs),
Agapous-Agape ( Divine love implanted), Philos ( Brotherly love), Splagchnizomai pronounced as splangkh-nid’-zom-ahee (Divine compassion that moved the humanity of Jesus to do the things He did just because it was right and good, no matter what it cost Him.)
Obtaining these things from God gives us Heaven’s way of escape from the traps the principles of evil set up to ensnare our lives and hearts, when it is human nature to be stressed and in desperation, and unable to do the right thing for the right reason, because the heart gets fired up with wrong thoughts and feelings and motives, due to the beginnings of entering into what ever the present temptations are.
1. The Theodore AL process ( basics of that process is the post above here.)
2. Pride > Envy > Evil Speaking > ( lookup in Scripture & SOP search engines ............like onlinebible.net & EGW CD Rom disk, both loaded on your PC or lap top or smart phone . )
("1 Sam. 24:6 - And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.). How to Be Stronger Than Kings or Conquerors.--Is Christ using cutting words, stern criticism and unkind suspicion toward His people who commit faults? No. He takes every infirmity into account; He acts with discernment. He knows every one of our failings; but He uses patience; for otherwise we would have perished long ago on account of our bad treatment of Him. The greatest insult we can inflict upon Him, is to pretend to be His disciples while manifesting the spirit of Satan in our words, our dispositions and our actions. It does not behoove those from whom Jesus has so much to bear, in their failings and perversity, to be ever mindful of slights and real or imaginary offense. And yet there are those who are ever suspecting the motives of others about them. They see offense and slights where no such thing was intended. All this is Satan's work in the human heart. The heart filled with that love which thinketh no evil will not be on the watch to notice discourtesies and grievances of which he may be the object. The will of God is that His love shall close the eyes, the ears and the heart to all such provocations and to all the suggestions with which Satan would fill them. There is a noble majesty in the silence of the one exposed to evil-surmising or outrage. To be master of one's spirit is to be stronger than kings or conquerors. A Christian leads one to think of Christ. He will be affable, kind, patient, humble and yet courageous and firm in vindicating the truth and the name of Christ (MS 24, 1887). {3BC 1160.7}
We must not consider as our enemies all those who do not receive us with a smile upon their lips and with demonstrations of love. It is much easier to play the martyr than to overcome a bad temper. {3BC 1160.8}
We must give others an example of not stopping at every trifling offense in order to vindicate our rights. We may expect that false reports will circulate about us; but if we follow a straight course, if we remain indifferent to these things, others will also be indifferent. Let us leave to God the care of our reputation. And thus, like sons and daughters of God, we shall show that we have self-control. We shall show that we are led by the Spirit of God, and that we are slow to anger. Slander can be lived down by our manner of living; it is not lived down by words of indignation. Let our great anxiety be to act in the fear of God, and show by our conduct that these reports are false. No one can injure our character as much as ourselves. It is the weak trees and the tottering houses that need to be constantly propped. When we show ourselves so anxious to protect our reputation against attacks from the outside, we give the impression that it is not blameless before God, and that it needs therefore to be continually bolstered up (MS 24, 1887). {3BC 1160.9}
Avoid Intoxication Through Wrath.--One class have come up without self-control; they have not bridled the temper or the tongue; and some of these claim to be Christ's followers, but they are not. Jesus has set them no such example. When they have the meekness and lowliness of the Saviour, they will not act out the promptings of the natural heart, for this is of Satan. Some are nervous, and if they begin to lose self-control in word or spirit under provocation, they are as much intoxicated with wrath as the inebriate is with liquor. They are unreasonable, and not easily persuaded or convinced. They are not sane; Satan for the time has full control. Every one of these exhibitions of wrath weakens the nervous system and the moral powers, and makes it difficult to restrain anger or another provocation. With this class there is only one remedy,--positive self-control under all circumstances. The effort to get into a favorable place, where self will not be annoyed, may succeed for a time; but Satan knows where to find these poor souls, and will assail them in their weak points again and again. They will be continually troubled so long as they think so much of self. They carry the heaviest load a mortal can lift, that is self, unsanctified and unsubdued. But there is hope for them. Let this life, so stormy with conflicts and worries, be brought into connection with Christ, and then self will no longer clamor for the supremacy (YI Nov. 10, 1886). {3BC 1161.1}
(in SOP look up pride envy ------------- "of mercy---------------- was found looking up "darkness is
"Let us not love in word," the apostle writes, "but in deed and in truth." The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work. {AA 551.1}
Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another--this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. "We love Him, because He first loved us." In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. {AA 551.2}
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. "Herein is our love made perfect," he wrote, "that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." {AA 551.3}
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When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {AG 145.4} It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. . . . It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {AG 145.5}
The law of God requires that man shall love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself. When through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is perfectly done, we shall be complete in Christ. {AG 145.6}
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There are many who complain of their doubts, who lament that they have no assurance of their connection with God. This is often attributable to the fact that they are doing nothing in God's cause. Let them seek earnestly to help and bless others, and their doubts and despondency will disappear. --5T 395 (1885). {2MCP 679.1} Those who are perpetually talking doubts and demanding additional evidence to banish their cloud of unbelief do not build on the Word. Their faith rests on circumstances; it is founded in feeling. But feeling, be it ever so pleasing, is not faith. God's Word is the foundation upon which our hopes of heaven must be built.--Lt 11, 1897. {2MCP 679.2}
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All can do something in the work. None will be pronounced guiltless before God unless they have worked earnestly and unselfishly for the salvation of souls. The church should teach the youth, both by precept and example, to be workers for Christ. There are many who complain of their doubts, who lament that they have no assurance of their connection with God. This is often attributable to the fact that they are doing nothing in God's cause. Let them seek earnestly to help and bless others, and their doubts and despondency will disappear. {5T 395.2} Many who profess to be followers of Christ speak and act as though their names were a great honor to the cause of God, while they bear no burdens and win no souls to the truth. Such persons live as though God had no claims upon them. If they continue in this course they will find at last that they have no claims upon God. {5T 395.3}
He who has appointed "to every man his work," according to his ability, will never let the faithful performance of duty go unrewarded. Every act of loyalty and faith will be crowned with special tokens of God's favor and approbation. To every worker is given the promise: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." {5T 395.4}
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The righteous should associate with the wicked only to restore the principles of truth which have been almost obliterated. He who seeks to help and bless others must depend wholly upon the unseen yet all-essential supply of grace and strength. He must cooperate with God if he would be successful in saving the souls ready to perish. He must associate closely with divine agencies, drawing by faith the grace so much needed to resist the elements of unrighteousness. {UL 123.3} Christ saw Satan patterning after heaven by the use of human association, thus extending the contagion of evil, and He determined to make His church a resisting element. His people are not to borrow the forms and customs of the world, but are to be instinct with the principles which make the church on earth a symbol of the church in heaven, a channel through which heaven's rich blessings can flow. {UL 123.4}
Untold good may be accomplished by the righteous working with and for the wicked; but too often those who ought to lead sinners to God do not draw with Christ. . . . Church members are under a solemn pledge to form characters different in every way from the characters of worldlings. If a change does not take place in them prior to their union with the church, there is danger that, though they have joined the church, they will assimilate with worldlings. Satan triumphs when he sees the leaven of the world working in the church, to the destruction of its purity and holiness. {UL 123.5}
It is God's plan that in His church heavenly influences shall be reinforced and stimulated by the cooperation of the members with Him. His people are to increase in strength and efficiency, knowing that the atmosphere which surrounds the souls of righteous believers is the same as the atmosphere in the heaven of purity and light and love. Through Christian fellowship they are to form their characters, assimilating them to the character of Christ. According to their faith will be their Christlike meekness and lowliness. As God's people seek to fulfill this plan, they are answering the prayer of Christ, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."--Manuscript 27a, April 19, 1900, "God's Purpose for His People." {UL 123.6}
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When the grace of God reigns in the heart, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, the completeness, the fulness of the Gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. When self is submerged in Christ, true love springs forth spontaneously. The impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. Toil for others' good is not regarded as drudgery. It is a cheerful work, done with a glad heart. Sympathy with Christ, participation in His joy, sweetens all toil. It braces the will. It nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. The soul is surrounded with an atmosphere of faith and courage and Christ-like love, an atmosphere invigorating to the spiritual life of all who inhale it. {AUCR, June 1, 1900 par. 48}As the light of Christ is received into the soul, the spirit is softened. The gentleness of Christ is expressed in the life. The personal influence of the humble, consecrated soul, like the fragrance of a flower, extends far beyond himself. There is something about him that does not consist in display. It is a spiritual power which he receives from the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth. The Holy Spirit, coming from God to the instrumentality He employs, flows forth into other lives, making others labourers together with God. {AUCR, June 1, 1900 par. 49}
Did this spiritual power pervade the lives of all who profess to be Christians, what a work might be accomplished! Thousands who now reject the message of salvation would accept Christ if they could see reflected in His followers the beauty of His character. E. G. White. {AUCR, June 1, 1900 par. 50}
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Having acknowledged Christ as the Saviour of the world, the disciples were charged to prove before men their claims, by representing in their lives the beauty and purity of His character. They had been called to repentance, and had been baptized in His name. In His name they were to call others to repentance. And all who would accept the offer of forgiveness were to be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. By this ordinance believers were to be admitted to church fellowship; and from this time of open profession, a divine change was to be revealed in their lives. As members of Christ's church on earth they were to represent the principles of His church in heaven. {17MR 164.1}
Speaking to His church Christ said, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." The professing Christian who is not a Christian in practice, is not included in this promise. It is only when the voice of the church becomes the voice of Christ, that the promise can be received in its fulness. {17MR 164.2}
The upbuilding of the kingdom of God is retarded or urged forward according to the unfaithfulness or fidelity of human agencies. The work is hindered by the failure of the human to cooperate with the divine. Men may pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in "heaven"; but if they fail of acting out this prayer in their lives, their petitions will be fruitless. {17MR 164.3}
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As the light of Christ is received into the soul, the spirit is softened. The gentleness of Christ is expressed in the life. The personal influence of the humble, consecrated soul, like the fragrance of a flower, extends far beyond himself. There is something about him that does not consist in display. It is a spiritual power which he receives from the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth. The Holy Spirit, coming from God to the instrumentality He employs, flows forth into other lives, making others labourers together with God. {AUCR, June 1, 1900 par. 49}
Did this spiritual power pervade the lives of all who profess to be Christians, what a work might be accomplished! Thousands who now reject the message of salvation would accept Christ if they could see reflected in His followers the beauty of His character. E. G. White. {AUCR, June 1, 1900 par. 50}
The love that was manifested toward him in the death of Christ, awakens a response of thankful love, and in answer to sincere prayer, the believer is brought from grace to grace, from glory to glory, until by beholding Christ, he is changed into the same image. {OFC 27.1}
The perfection of our Saviour's character awakens the admiration of angels and of men. Here is an exhaustless theme for thought. The brightest and most exalted of the sons of the morning heralded his glory at creation, and announced his birth with songs of gladness. They veil their faces before him as he sits upon his throne; they cast their crowns at his feet, and sing his triumphs as they behold his resplendent glory. Our souls are cold and dull because we do not dwell upon the matchless charms of our Redeemer. If we occupy our thoughts in contemplating his love and mercy, we shall reflect the same in our life and character; for by beholding, we become changed. Oh, the mysteries of redemption! Only by exalting Jesus and abasing self can we celebrate aright the birth of the Son of God. {ST, January 4, 1883 par. 11}
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The Apostle john was not naturally of himself like Jesus in character.
Many claim to love God while they fail to cherish love toward their brethren; but genuine love to God will testify to its real existence by love to our fellow-men. Those who love God will reveal the tender, compassionate spirit of Jesus to all that are around them. They will love their brethren, because they are the members of the body of Christ. They will love the sinner, because he is the purchase of the blood of Christ; and this love, abiding in the heart, will display itself by earnest labor to benefit and bless all with whom they associate. They will yearn for the salvation of men, and will lead others to the fountain that has refreshed their own souls. {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 5}
The love of Christ will not make us less fit for actual life, but will enable us to adapt ourselves to the wants of others, and will develop highly practical fruit in our daily experience. It is not a weak sentimentalism. It is not of that cheap order that is earthly and sensual, leading to debasement of the soul and defilement of the character. It is not of earthly, but of heavenly origin. This love is elevating in its nature, enduring and ennobling, shedding rays of beneficence upon all within the circle of its influence. God, through his Son, has sent down this heavenly love to unite us with himself. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." Let us ponder this divine love, that we may become changed, and may reflect this precious attribute of the character of our Redeemer. We shall be in less peril of placing our affections on unworthy objects. {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 6}
The disciple John became a possessor of this divine love. The regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit renewed his heart. He came under the power of the love of Christ, and the knowledge of this love awakened a depth of affection that, by its infusion through his heart, wrought a transformation of character. The warm affection of John was not the cause of Christ's love for him. The Saviour had loved him before this affection had an existence; but the unmerited kindness of his Lord had kindled love in the breast of the disciple. {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 7}
John's natural character was marked with imperfections. He was impetuous, and resentful under injuries. When the Samaritans refused to entertain his Lord because they thought he favored the Jews more than he did them, John wanted the insult to receive immediate retribution. His spirit was stirred with revenge, and he said to his Master, "Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" Jesus looked upon John, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 8}
Revengeful thoughts and words are contrary to the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus. It is not always easy to bring our feelings under control. The human heart needs to be guarded continually, that we may not cherish a spirit unlike that of our divine Lord. It will be impossible for us to bear insult and harshness with loving forbearance and patience unless we drink of the spirit of Him "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again." It is natural for us to think when we are falsely accused that we must retaliate and show our contempt of the traducers, but this is foreign to the meekness of our Redeemer. We must not allow one revengeful thought to arise. Sorrow and indignation may fill our hearts for a season, because souls are deceived and misled by these falsehoods; but it will not help matters to cherish unholy anger, and it will not be cherished where the forgiving love of Christ has imbued the soul. {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 9}
This is the sure result of association with Jesus. As we meditate upon his character our hearts are drawn out in love, desire awakens to become like him whom we love, and, by beholding, we become changed. When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Everything that defileth is banished from the soul's temple. Lust, base passions, impure thoughts, pride, inordinate affections, revenge, retaliation, covetousness, envy, all these are prohibited; and what we once loved, now we hate; for we become new creatures in Christ Jesus. Christ's Spirit, Christ's love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, and raise the thoughts and desires toward God and Heaven. {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 11}
The truth we claim to believe should make us better men and women in our home life, in our church relations, in our business, and in our intercourse with our friends and neighbors. Unless this result is manifested, we should examine ourselves to see what is hindering the sanctifying influence of the truth from accomplishing its work of purification in our lives. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Our characters must be moulded after the divine model, that we may have an elevating influence on all with whom we associate. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." {ST, January 13, 1888 par. 12}
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