Learning From Christ

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31.

We had a very precious season of prayer in our little tent [at the Fresno, California, camp meeting] this morning. I felt my soul drawn out in earnest prayer for you [her husband, James White] and for myself. The dear Saviour seemed very near and very gracious, full of mercy and love. I feel like serving Him with my undivided affection....

Divine power must be combined with human effort or this terrible paralysis of indifference, this deathlike sluggishness will never be broken from the souls of those in darkness and error. Jesus is our strength. He is our Righteousness. We must pray more and exercise faith continually. I feel the necessity of drawing nearer and closer to Jesus. I see I must labor to the point to keep my mind ascending to God continually if I would maintain the victory over Satan's temptations.

Oh, I have been shown how he exults when we are overcome and the spirit of impatience and faultfinding is indulged. He is in an exultation of triumph, for he knows that this grieves the Spirit of God and separates us from our Strength. Our words must be faultless, our spirit patient, and kind, forbearing, long-suffering, and we manifesting by our words and actions that we have learned of Jesus and are still learning in the school of Christ....

We are, dear husband, building for eternity. God is rich in strength and power, and we may have His shining countenance beaming upon us and we reflecting the light to others.... God will not excuse us in sin who have had so great light. We have not one atom of righteousness of our own to stand upon. All we have ever done is because Jesus has given us His strength and His power, not because there was any inherent goodness or wisdom or righteousness in us. We are sinful and weak and imperfect, and we must feel this strongly enough to reach up for a stronger help and holier power than we possess. Jesus' life is perfect model. We must not build upon the sand. If we do, there will be a terrible down-tumbling by and by of our house. Ye are God's building. Let us show this in a harmonious character.—Letter 25, April 23, 1880, to James White.

Jesus is the Bread not the Bakery!

It has been said that African religions are anthropocentric, meaning that the ancestors or even God exists for the sake of the people. Most Africans continue to view God in this way even when they become Christians. When they are sick, God must coming running and heal them, when they are hungry the same should happen. God literally becomes a Divine-Waitor. 

While it may true that God does meet our needs - He must not be construed as the God of our needs. Jesus did supply the bread to the crowd but this was to teach them that He is the bread and not the bakery. He not only answers our questions but helps us to frame our questions correctly by asking us why we want those answers. The woman at the well asked Jesus for water, but Christ asked her a question -- where is your husband? Christ reserves the right to critique and condemn our needs by showing us what our souls really desire.

One of these days when you feel that Christ does not answer your question, remember that He could be asking you the question about your supposed need. So it is best to sit at His feet and get to know HIm better and learn to live with unanswered questions and unfulfilled needs. As the song goes - "My Jesus knows just what I need"

God'S Suprises

There are times God surprises us by doing the unexpected, the amazing. Consider the experience of the early church in Acts 12.
The despot Herod slaughtered James, the brother of John, and threw Peter into prison (verses 2, 3). The Scripture records: “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (verse 5). The New Testament church recognized the seriousness of the situation. Without divine intervention Peter’s fate was certain.

In answer to their heartfelt intercession, God sent an angel to deliver Peter. Commenting on the role of angels and answers to prayer, Ellen White noted, “Ministering angels are waiting about the throne to instantly obey the mandate of Jesus Christ to answer every prayer offered in earnest, living faith” (Selected Messages, book 2, p. 377). What an awesome thought! As our prayers ascend to heaven, Jesus commissions angels to answer our earnest pleas. Angels, mighty in strength and full of wisdom, are our allies in the struggle between good and evil.

Peter was amazed when an angel touched him and said, “Quick, get up” (verse 7). He was amazed when the chains that bound him to two Roman guards fell off his wrists (verse 7). He was amazed when the angel led him past the sleeping guards and when the huge iron gate leading to the city swung open miraculously (verse 10). These supernatural events were proof positive that God had sent His delivering angel.

The story ends with Peter arriving at the door of the house where the disciples were praying, and his insistent knocking captured the attention of the praying disciples.

A young woman named Rhoda answered the door. When she heard Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she failed to open the door. She instead ran to tell the others of this miraculous answer to prayer. Their response is surprising. They were praying for Peter’s deliverance; they were seeking God for a miracle; but they did not have faith to believe that Peter was actually at the door. Their response to Rhoda is classic: “You’re out of your mind” (verse 15). God had worked a miracle, and they still did not believe. The evidence was before them, and still they questioned.

This story has at least three vital lessons for God’s last-day people.

First, when the church prays, something happens that would not happen if we did not pray. Unusual power is available when church members are on their knees seeking God. Prayer is not simply a ritual to make us feel good. In the controversy between good and evil it enables God to enter the arena of human affairs and work miracles (seeThe Great Controversy, p. 525). A local congregation that places a priority on prayer becomes spiritually alive. Vital godliness runs through the current of its veins. Without prayer and an intimate connection with God, the church can easily become cold, formal, and irrelevant.

Second, we don’t need superhuman faith to receive answers to our prayers. Faith is a gift of God (Rom. 12:3). When we exercise the faith that God has already put in our hearts, however small, that faith will grow. God works in spite of our human weakness. As we come to Him with the limitations of human frailty, trusting His goodness, He will work in ways we cannot imagine.

Third, God works His miracles in our lives every day. He answers our prayers in ways we may not see. Initially Peter did not recognize God’s awesome work in delivering him. The praying disciples were baffled when Rhoda excitedly declared that Peter was standing outside the door. Their faith did not grasp the reality of answered prayer. For a moment they were blinded to God’s marvelous miracle.

Maybe God is telling us something here. Could it be that unnoticed answers to prayer are all around us? Is it possible that God is moving in our lives and the lives of our families, but our vision is dim and our comprehension dull?

Why not pause for a moment right now and consider what God is doing in your life. You may be amazed, because, after all, God is an awesome God, overflowing with surprises for those who have eyes to see them.