Compiled and Illustrated from The Scriptures & The Spirit of Prophecy September 2014

Presents The Greatest Work on Earth Building with God Part-3 Compiled and Illustrated from The Scriptures & The Spirit of Prophecy September 2014

In part two of “The Greatest Work on Earth” we saw that this work of seeking to save the lost requires unreserved consecration of our minds, our hearts, our souls, to lay hold of Christ Strength for undivided service. And at every advance step heavenward, the renouncing of self is to be renewed. It is said that “Only by a constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely.” For it is by His Power working in and through those, who receive Him that He is able to do His good works in and through those, who constantly depend upon Him. But many do not die to self that Christ may live in them, that they may partake of His nature, to manifest the fruit of His Spirit through them, and give Him glory. They have His Name, but they are representing the ways of the world. They do not take up the cross to follow Christ in the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice, to become one with Him, Who denied and sacrificed Himself to become one with men. It is said that the same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of The Word of God is to be seen in those, who follow after Christ. This brings us to the need of building with GOD, to manifest the same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of GOD’S Word in those, who follow after Christ, to be like Him.

How do we build with God? In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he said, “Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

“This figure represents human character, which is to be wrought upon point by point.” This figure of a church building The human character building which is to be wrought upon point by point. Represents This church building would then be a building of buildings,

stroke upon stroke “Each day God works on His building, stroke upon stroke, to perfect the structure, that it may become a holy temple for Him.” Building to perfection for Him to become a holy temple

“Man is to cooperate with God, striving in His strength to make himself what God designs him to be, building his life with pure, noble deeds.” Man is to cooperate with God building his life with pure, noble deeds. His strength God designs him to be, to make himself what striving in

“Man works and God works.” “Man is called upon to strain every muscle and to exercise every faculty in the struggle for immortality, but it is God who supplies the efficiency.” God works, stroke upon stroke but it is God who supplies the efficiency. Man is called upon to strain every muscle and to exercise every faculty in the struggle for immortality, Man works and

The Son of GOD became GOD sacrificed HIS Son, and… also The Son of Man HIS Son sacrificed His Life For human beings “God has made amazing sacrifices for human beings.”

“He has expended mighty energy to reclaim man from transgression and sin to loyalty and obedience,” God has expended mighty energy to reclaim man loyalty and obedience to from transgression and sin

“…but He does nothing without the cooperation of humanity….” Repent By transgression and sin, to follow self-will, man turned away from GOD’S Will of Life in Christ. But by repentance of sin against GOD’S Will for man, men can turn away from sin, to follow what GOD has designed man to be, to live for Christ in reflecting GOD’S Character, which is revealed in HIS Son.

the temptations of Satan, “It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. . . .” The Victory over endeavor nonstop unending perpetual never-ending continuous constant unceasing It is by that we maintain the victory

By adding to his faith, one is borne upward, “No one is borne upward without stern, persevering effort in his own behalf.” Building to perfection but not without stern, persevering and diligent effort in his own behalf.

“All must engage in the warfare for themselves. Individually we are responsible for the issue of the struggle;” All must engage in the warfare for their own character development against the temptations of Satan. Individually we are responsible to maintain the victory over the issue of the struggle against transgression to sin.

“…though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could deliver neither son nor daughter by their righteousness. . . .” Daniel Noah Job The arrows of Satan’s temptations are aimed at the character development for both children and adults. “It is the love of self that destroys our peace. While self is alive we stand ready continually to guard it from mortification and insult; but when self is dead, and our life hid with Christ in God, we shall not take neglects or slights to heart. . . .” (Reflecting Christ, Pg 263.6)

Christ the Ladder “They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Psalms 94:21, 22). Planted firmly upon the earth, and reaching heavenward to the throne of God, is a ladder of shining brightness. God is above the ladder, and His light is shining along its whole length. This ladder is Christ. Every round that you climb, you are coming step after step into fellowship with the sufferings of Christ, and are becoming fashioned after His divine similitude. The angels of God are constantly ascending and descending this glorious ladder. They will not let you fall, if you keep your eye fixed upon the glory of God which is at the top of the ladder. . . .

Satan is seeking to cast his hellish shadow across your pathway, that he may hinder your journey heavenward. Act as though you had within you a power from above, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth you may resist that power which is working intensely from beneath. To have in the heart the sweet, mellow Spirit of Jesus Christ is of more consequence than any amount of self-sufficiency and self-exaltation, which separate you from Christ. Christ teaches humanity never to be self-sufficient. He says, "Learn of me; . . . I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:29). Learn of the One who was meek and lowly in heart--the One who has promised, "Ye shall find rest unto your souls." This glorious experience will come, and you can say, "I know Him! I know Him! I have tested Him; I have proved Him, and He has never failed me." . . .

If you send up your petition to God, He says He hears you. What is your evidence? Do you feel any better than before? Do you think of and examine your feelings to see if some great change has taken place within? You should step out on the Word of God, and go straight forward, knowing that He answers your prayers, because He has promised to give, if you ask. Thus by exercising faith, [you] bring about the answer to your petitions. As you work to answer your own prayers, you will find that God will reveal Himself unto you. . . . Begin now to reach higher and still higher. Prize the things of heaven above earthly attractions and inducements. . . . Learn how to pray; learn how to bear a clear and intelligent testimony, and God will be glorified in you.

If you trust God, if you commit the keeping of your souls unto Him as unto a faithful Creator, you will have the sweet assurance of His love.--Manuscript 85, Aug. 30, 1901, "Teachers to Have an Abiding Christ," talk given at a church school teachers' institute, Healdsburg, California. By Ellen G. White "The Upward Look", Page 256

“Often the training and education of a lifetime must be discarded, that one may become a learner in the school of Christ.”

“Our hearts must be educated to become steadfast in God.” “We are to form habits of thought that will enable us to resist temptation. We must learn to look upward.” “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45).

“The principles of the Word of God--principles that are as high as heaven and that compass eternity--we are to understand in their bearing on our daily life.” “Every act, every word, every thought, is to be in accord with these principles.”

“The precious graces of the Holy Spirit are not developed in a moment.” “Courage, fortitude, meekness, faith, unwavering trust in God's power to save, are acquired by the experience of years.” For by Christ Spirit, we learn to have… Courage Fortitude Even Christ learned obedience by the things that He suffered. Meekness Faith unwavering trust in GOD’S Power to save.

“By a life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the right the children of God are to seal their destiny.” firmly adhering to do that, which is right, By living a life of holy endeavors and as children of God, we are to seal our destiny heavenward. By Ellen G. White "In Heavenly Places", Page 159 End of Part 3

Compiled and Illustrated from The Scriptures & The Spirit of Prophecy September 2014