We Will Win The Approval Of Jesus Based On The Love And Fidelity With Which We Do His Work And Not By The Greatness Of The Work I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20) Be Like Jesus - https://youtube/watch?v=2bH8BNpey1Y What really motivates you to work for Jesus? Is it the praise that you will get from men? Is it to satisfy some inner need? Is it to meet the requirements for service which is set out in the word of God? Is it a result of the relationship you have with the Holy Spirit? This morning the Lord is reminding us that the Holy Spirit should be the source of motivation for us to participate in the work set us by God. When the Holy Spirit takes full control of us He will fill our hearts with love for all those who are in need. He will fill our hearts to give God all the honour and glory. He will fill our hearts with fidelity so that our witness to the world will be positive. Our greatest challenge as human beings is to die to SELF daily. SELF is our greatest enemy. The war between the flesh and the Spirit is sometimes so subtle that we are unable to recognize how much we have allowed the carnal nature of dominate our words, thoughts and actions. God is not going to reward any of us because we have participated in evangelistic activities. He is not going to reward us because we sang special music at church on a regular basis. He is not going to reward us because we return a faithful tithe and free will offering. God is not going to reward us because we have been working for the Lord diligently in His vineyard. While all these things have an important part to play in the spreading of the everlasting gospel and the winning of souls for the Kingdom of God, we are going to be saved by grace through faith. We are going to be saved because we surrendered every area of our lives to the total control of the Holy Spirit. We are going to be saved because we depended totally on the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us into the path of righteousness. This morning the Lord is reminding us that if we want to live like Jesus we must do what He did. We must spent time communing with God so that He can create His image within us. Thereby making us true vessels of honour to be used in His service. I pray that we will continue to surrender to the total control of the Holy Spirit so that God can do His work without our heart. This is a work that must be done before we can get into Heaven at the second coming of Christ. It is the glory of the gospel that it is founded upon the principle of restoring in the fallen race the divine image by a constant manifestation of benevolence. This work began in the heavenly courts. There God decided to give human beings an unmistakable evidence of the love with which he regarded them. He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. Christs self-sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. He gave all he had, and then gave himself, that man might be saved. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. This, carried out in actual benevolence and good works, is the true fruit of the Christian life. The principle of worldlings is to get, get, and thus they expect to secure happiness; but, carried out in all its bearings, the fruit is misery and death. The light of the gospel shining from the cross of Christ rebukes selfishness, and encourages liberality and benevolence. It is not to be a lamented fact that there are increasing calls to give. God in his providence is calling his people out from their limited sphere of action, to enter upon greater enterprises. Unlimited effort is demanded at this time when moral darkness is covering the world. Many of Gods people are in danger of being ensnared by worldliness and covetousness. They should understand that it is his mercy that multiplies the demands for their means. Objects that shall call benevolence into action, must be placed before them, or they can not imitate the character of the Great Exemplar. (Review and Herald, October 3, 1907 – Ellen G. White)
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 10:54:45 +0000
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