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| Q31: 38. Come Rest Awhile Show the Desire of Ages is inspired.. (1) We are trained The disciples came to Jesus and told Him all things. Their intimate relationship with Him encouraged them to lay before Him their favorable and unfavorable experiences, their joy at seeing results from their labors, and their sorrow at their failures, their faults, and their weaknesses. They had committed errors in their first work as evangelists, and as they frankly told Christ of their experiences, He saw that they needed much instruction. He saw, too, that they had become weary in their labors, and that they needed to rest. The SOP phrase "Their intimate relationship with Him" is a reference to the meaning of the Hebrew word "yada" which means to be "intimate" with one, to know them in relationship like the "back of your hand". A casual reader would miss these Hebrew translated gems of the SOP, and the Author misses alot too, because one does not know Hebrew that well. But the SOP does. The Holy Spirit inspired the words of English to be words of Ancient Hebrew thought ! When you begin a relationship of witnessing for Jesus, expect mistakes in what we do. We are only learning how to allow Jesus to flow through us. My faviourite phrase is:- Notice these three things are also following the "Science of Salvation" or the "Science of Witnessing":- (1) Ho 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: Here once you are saved by Jesus, we daily take His words or teachings There are three sources of Jesus' words: (2) Ho 14:2...say unto him,... Prayer opens the channel for the voice of Jesus to flow into our conscience, and we hear His voice. We must fill our minds with prayers of His WORD in prayer, and listen to the still small voice through prayer. This communion of relationship is similar to reading His WORD, except our eyes see to read, it is our ears that listen. We speak and listen. Not see and read. Thus a different aspect of our senses are in an intimate relationship with Jesus. (3) Ho 14:2 ...so will we render the calves of our lips. And finally we develop fruits of the Father, via communion with Jesus, via the Holy Spirit in us. This fruit is given to others in witness. This is a difference aspect of our senses, we use our hands of touch and our legs to walk. Thus our fruits of character become active and practical. "Fruits of character" is "spiritual food", and such food is meant to be eaten... not only by yourself, but your family and others who are hungry. Food that is not eaten is soon spoiled by enemies that eat the food and make it decay. Thus it is important the qualities of our character, which is food, is readily given to others. And as others perceive something worthy in you of GOD they will come automatically to take and eat, for they see a wonder that is not made by human power alone. In the latter rain of Jesus (NT), Paul speaks of the Science of Salvation or the Science of Witnessing as:- Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the s acrifice of praise to God continually... What is a sacrifice of praise? This is a sacrifice or offering to Jesus, to bring us up to Him in relationship, something we could do in faith, to allow us to come in a literal and spiritual way to Jesus, whom we cannot see and touch. Thus the sacrifice of offering was a literal thing we could do to get us connected in relationship to Jesus... In OT types this offering was a slain animal for sin-offering, in the NT type this offering is flat bread for sin-offering, both object lessons are found in the OT orginally, and both used for sin-offering. Le 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering (chataah), so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. In the latter rain of Jesus (NT), since Jesus becomes the animal sacrifice, the animal sacrifice waxes away, and plant sacrifice as a type continues instead. Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new (chadesh) "renewed" covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. The salvation system of Jesus for sin-offering is NOT brand new, but renewed, and the earthly system is replaced with a heavenly system, a temple that was there in heaven all along, but had no high priest fully complete for service until Jesus died as our sin-offering, as a sinless human. Every week the early assemblies in Acts held ordinances of bread and grape juice to Jesus, so Jesus could come to them in a literal and spiritual way. Why? Because Jesus had gone back to heaven to be with His Father, as our High Priest for our salvation, so now Jesus can only be seen and heard via the Holy Spirit, so the object lessons of latter rain (the bread and grape juice) are ordinances of Jesus' love-feast as memorials of Jesus living in us daily and continually. Another method of sacrifice is offering the WORD as praise to Jesus. Jesus said unless you eat my WORD and drink my WORD, there is no life in you. The OT Jews who lived in OT types saw this meaning as eating Jesus flesh and drinking His blood, they did not see the NT type meaning at all. You can read words in the Holy Writings, but they do not become flesh and blood unless you pray for the Holy Spirit to breathe Jesus life into those words, He is the WORD, the flesh and blood, behind the WORD. Was not our universe created by Jesus simply by saying the WORD? And the Holy Spirit empowered those WORDS into action and life? Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath(ruwach) "Holy Spirit" of his mouth. Notice the creation of our earth was done by the words of Jesus, using power flows from the Father, via the Holy Spirit. Love is always a community effort. Thus these object lessons of sacrifice come with power and praise, as we offer them continually to Jesus. Heb 13:15...the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Paul finishes this process as fruits of our lips, which is a object l esson of food from our character, the overflow of GOD reproduced in us... we speak well of Jesus before others. Heb 13:16 But "well doing relationship" forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Paul's climax is the "Well doing relationship" we need to uphold, the intimate relationship with Jesus, GOD is well pleased. This is what the SOP is speaking about the "intimate relationship with Him". So salvation, like witnessing, is NOT a once off event...we are daily trained and daily saved by the breath of salvation... There are some theories of faith that say Jesus never pre-existed. They say we have Jesus atone for our sinning, and thus as a sinless human Jesus died. But once this has happened, where is the daily continual power of salvation to grow up our character into the character of Elohiym? Can this happen by faith directly to a heavenly Father? As JEHOVAH Witnesses claim ? As Muslims claim direct faith to live as Allah wishes ? Is there any Holy Writing evidence that such faith is possible for one sinful being? ; or humans that might occassional do sinning or missing connecting to the Father? Could the Father receive them again through a Father's grace? There is not a single OT text saying the heavenly Father has grace for those who are missing the relationship with our heavenly Father. Once we have missed relationship once, it cannot be restored. This means that the Fathers power cannot touch those missing as well, for they would be destroyed by the touch...this is why the wicked burn up when the Father touches them with His love, the wicked are not fire proof, but the righteous are fire proof and endure the firey love of the Father for eternity. How do the righteous grow into such character to endure the Father, if they were once missing? Because we have to have Jesus as Elohiym, growing up in His power as the breath of salvation that comes by Jesus grace for us. The Father has grace only because the Father sent His Son who freely wanted to die for sin-offering, and thus restore those who want such a character restoration back to enduring Elohiym in fullest glory. Such grace is possible only because Jesus is also Elohiym who died for us in our fallen humanity as a sacrifice, thus Jesus offers grace for sinners, and power to grow up into an image of Elohiym with character that will endure the Father's glory and Jesus glory for eternity. Jesus could not empower us to grow into sinless character if He was only a sinless human being like we humans are, He would have no creative power for character, so while we might be saved from condemnation by sacrifice, we have no way of growing into characters that become sinless for eternity. Thus we need Jesus to also be Elohiym. And indeed the Holy Writings do declare Jesus to be heavenly Elohiym as the Father is heavenly Elohiym and the Holy Spirit is heavenly Elohiym as well. How else could love be generated if the Father was all alone? For more Jesus pre-existed. For more Father is not alone. (2) They did wonders... They had found much encouragement in their work; for Christ did not send them away without His Spirit, and by faith in Him they worked many miracles; but they needed now to feed on the Bread of Life. They needed to go to a place of retirement, where they could hold communion with Jesus and receive instruction for future work. The disciples who went witnessing for Jesus, did many wonders of power in Jesus' Name. The SOP calls the miracles because the NT KJV translations translate the Hebrew word as "miracle". Joh 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw h is miracles which he did on them that were diseased. We should be able to do the same, showing Jesus wonders of power projected unto others in witness, because many diseases are no longer the fault of sinning. The Masons inflict the common people with terrible diseases through no fault of the common people, such as vaccine damage, GMO damage and chemcial cancer from foods which damage us internally. Even genetically our DNA is rapidly becoming corrupted so many are inherited with terrible diseased conditions. These kind of problems should respond to a request by Christians who can pray with faith for a wonder of Jesus to happen. (3) Learning to avoid self... "And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." Christ is full of tenderness and compassion for all in His service. He would show His disciples that God does not require sacrifice, but mercy. They had been putting their whole souls into labor for the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest. As the disciples had seen the success of their labors, they were in danger of taking credit to themselves, in danger of cherishing spiritual pride, and thus falling under Satan's temptations. A great work was before them, and first of all they must learn that their strength was not in self, but in God. When we experience Jesus' power and wonder flowing through us for others, there is a danger that we become swelled in pride because of success, and we take the credit upon ourselves rather than God. We must remember we are yoked in relationship, we are not alone. Jesus carries the biggest burdens and the power, and we are only the vessel in which this occurs, the humble soil, where Jesus grows in us for His Father's glory. The concept of "self" does not exist in the Holy Writings as a Hebrew word, so what concept is the SOP referring to perhaps? It must be the Hebrew word "baal" which means "master". Can this word also imply "self" ? Nahum 1:2 The Strong Authority is jealous, and Father-YHWH revengeth, Jesus-YHWH revengeth, and is "Master" (baal), the LORD -YHWH will take vengeance on his adversaries... This is the only verse in the Holy Writings that says Jesus-YHWH is a Master. Jesus is both our Master power and our foundational LORD power, because we are saved through His grace, we grow up using the power of Jesus character, until we become as Jesus' character and thus we are completed by Jesus, able to endure the Father's character and Jesus character and the Holy Spirit for eternity in heaven, without fainting. All the other contexts of Baal as a Hebrew word for Master, are about ourselves using our own human power of mastering ourselves...in other words as the SOP explains, we empower self. For more Master of ourselves. Notice the way to stop ourselves being our own Master, and allowing Jesus to Master and Lord over us, we have to come away from others and cease God's work of witness, and rest. We must spend time in the relationship with GOD, through prayer, study and communion. Shalom Let us now look at the Desire of Ages for the SOP way "master" and "Self" are treated, to see how these words are used. (1) But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. "I do nothing of Myself," said Christ; "the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father." "I seek not Mine own glory," but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All thi ngs Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life. In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, Page 22 DA We can we here that our own inherited power of mastering ouselves, must be subdued..( see the next SOP below on 'subdue' ) and we allow the power of relationship with GOD to come over us via faith in Jesus. This is why Jesus said "I can do nothing of Myself".. He was always in a relationship to His Father's power, not His own, that is how love works. Love is highly relational. The Father is a single source of love, that flows from a FAMILY, in which Jesus makes the circuit of loving complete. Being our own master (baal) in self powering ourselves, we abandon relationship and miss being connected with GOD. (2) God's glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men might behold it. So Christ was to come in "the body of our humiliation" (Phil. 3:21, R. V.), "in the likeness of men." In the eyes of the world He possessed no beauty that they should desire Him; yet He was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth. God's glory was subdued. Amazing ! Jesus took up mankind, allowing us to walk again personally with Him in relationship. If Jesus can subdue His glory for us, why is it so difficult for us to subdue our master powers of self? We must give it all to Jesus, just as Jesus gave up all for us. And in relationship use that relational power of Jesus' love, that flows from the Father, via the Holy Spirit, that Jesus promises us daily as we are yoked in relationship to Him. (3) Moses delivered his message; but the proud king's answer was, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." Ex. 5:2. The Lord worked for His people by signs and wonders, sending terrible judgments upon Pharaoh. At length the destroying angel was bidden to slay the first-born of man and beast among the Egyptians. That the Israelites might be spared, they were directed to place upon their doorposts the blood of a slain lamb. Every house was to be marked, that when the angel came on his mission of death, he might pass over the homes of the Israelites. Ex 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. The SOP adds more meaning not found in the Holy Writings directly or easily. Where does it say a destroying angel came? Who is this? The Shadday or Holy Spirit? Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Jer 51:1 � Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the mid st of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind (ruwach) "Holy Spirit"; Da 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Ho 13:9 � O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thine help. How uncanny and how inspired the SOP are !!!! How many would know the "destroyer" is the "Holy Spirit" who is referenced in the SOP as a "destroying angel". In other SOP this angel is referenced as a "she" with "her wings", and also as the Shadday, which in Hebrew is a Being expressing femaleness-love. If the Holy Spirit empowers the breath of salvation, than pastors who lack the Holy Spirit, also lack the breath of salvation administrated unto them, hence the so called believers destroy themselves because we lack the functional powers of administration from Elohiym via the Holy Spirit. {DA 352.2} Their warfare is not to be waged against flesh and blood, but "against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12, R. V. They are to contend with supernatural forces, but they are assured of supernatural help. All the intelligences of heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in the ranks. The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord's host, comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our sins and mistakes grievous; but the grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition. The power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust in God . Isa 13:6 � Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty (Shadday). When the destroying angel goes about it's work of removing life from certain living things, the power of YHWH also functions with this angel, as "his mission", "he hops over the homes of the Israelites"... So while the Holy Spirit might be considered as "a she" it is "his mission" that is accomplished. For more see SOP comments on Holy Spirit (4) By the life and the death of Christ, the thoughts of men also are brought to view. From the manger to the cross, the life of Jesus was a call to self-surrender, and to fellowship in suffering. It unveiled the purposes of men. Jesus came with the truth of heaven, and all who were listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit were drawn to Him. The worshipers of self belonged to Satan's kingdom. In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. And thus everyone passes judgment on himself. Page 58 DA Here the SOP places self-surrender in contrast to fellowship...thus relationship to Jesus is opposite to doing one's own thing, or being a master of self. He distrusted his own power to withstand temptation, and shrank from constant contact with sin, lest he should lose the sense of its exceeding sinfulness. Page 102 DA Jesus did not, could not use his own master powers in Himself...than the relationship would die, and self would empower actions.. love does not work in this way... He looked upon the King in His beauty, and self was forgotten. When we look to Jesus in a relationship, we do not rely on the master of self, which tramples upon the relationship with Jesus... We must always be yoked to relationship with Jesus, and use His power through us. Why does the SOP say, when we look to Jesus, our own master of self dies and Jesus as our master empower us? Because that is what the Hebrew word of "master" means.. The word "Self" is a good substitute but this word is not a verb, so it is hard to use Hebraically. There are in Jeff Benner's Lexicon two Hebrew words translated into the same English word "master"... not good...Hebrew would not have words with the same meaning... "The home seeing authority" can be a "man" or "woman" - there are different Hebrew words for each gender, the verb sense is used as the pagan idol of Baal, and the noun sense as the Master of Self. The Author does not know a good English word here, as the word "Master" has both verb and noun forms in "Master" suits our purposes well. The other Hebrew word is "rabbi" also means "Master" not "Teacher" as translations often show, and is the "Head of the Home" What is interesting is Jesus is referenced as both of the two Hebrew words, as "Master rabbi" and Master baal" in the OT and NT. The English word "self" is what the SOP chooses to convey for "Master baal" as a term, although not a good Hebraic fit, nevertheless; the word "self" is a word that in English culture, people of English understand. And for a child in child like faith, this level of truth, is all that matters to GOD... one is not expected to know all things, for such knowledge can be too high for us... Ps 131:1 ... neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. (5) At the Saviour's baptism, Satan was among the witnesses. He saw the Father's glory overshadowing His Son. He heard the voice of Jehovah testifying to the divinity of Jesus. Ever since Adam's sin, the human race had been cut off from direct communion with God; the intercourse between heaven and earth had been through Christ; but now that Jesus had come "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8:3), the Father Himself spoke. He had before communicated with humanity through Christ; now He communicated with humanity in Christ. Satan had hoped that God's abhorrence of evil would bring an eternal separation between heaven and earth. But now it was manifest that the connection between God and man had been restored. Page 117 DA In the former rain of Jesus, in the OT, the Father communicates to mankind through His messenger "malak" His Son, Jesus. But in the latter rain of Jesus, in the NT, the Father communicates to mankind, in Jesus, as His Son becomes a human in fallen flesh, and forever retains humanity, thus the Father can forever forgive humanity, because His Son took up and added humanity to Himself. Love is highly relational, and Elohiym adds even more community to themselves, the redeemed in Jesus, who took up our shape and redeems us continually with His scars and wounds for eternity. (6) Pointing to the stones which strewed the desert, and which had the appearance of loaves, the tempter said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Though he appears as an angel of light, these first words betray his character. "If Thou be the Son of God." Here is the insinuation of distrust. Should Jesus do what Satan suggests, it would be an acceptance of the doubt. Notice Satan wanted Jesus to use His own powers as a Master of self, to make stones into bread, if thou be a Son of GOD. But such an act is a lack of faith, in relationship, which one's power should come from. By doing things on one's own and using our master powers of self, we distrust relationship. (7) Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul that is "dead in trespasses." Eph. 2:1. He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin. Page 204 DA Interesting term the SOP uses.. (8) Love for his Master, shame for his own unbelief, gratitude for the condescension of Christ, above all, the sense of his uncleanness in the presence of infinite purity, overwhelmed him. While his companions were securing the contents of the net, Peter fell at the Saviour's feet, exclaiming, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Notice Peter calls Jesus Master(rabbi) and YHWH (Lord). (9) Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive Secret sin is a reference to masturbation... (10) They have Christ's joy, the joy of being a blessing to humanity. They have the honor of being accepted for the Master's use; they are trusted to do His work in His name. " No man can serve two masters." We cannot serve God with a divided heart. A reference to Master baal, we can only have one Master in Relationship. (11) There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:20, 21. Sin has destroyed our peace. While self is unsubdued, we can find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart no human power can control. We are as helpless here as were the disciples to quiet the raging storm. But He who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee has spoken the word of peace for every soul. Page 337 DA If our master power of self is unsubdued we remain under the relationship with Satan. (12) Be careful lest self-sufficiency come in, and you work in your own strength, rather than in the spirit and strength of your Master. Self is ever ready to take the credit if any measure of success attends the work. Self is flattered and exalted, and the impression is not made upon other minds that God is all and in all. The apostle Paul says, "When I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12:10. When we have a realization of our weakness, we learn to depend upon a power not inherent. Page 493 DA When Jesus works a wonder through us, we must be careful lest we take credit for Jesus working in us...and become our own master power of self. (13) "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called master: for One is your Master, even Christ." He also reproved the vanity shown in coveting the title of rabbi, or master. We must in relationship have Jesus as our Master, not ourselves as master. (4) Learning must be more simple and powerful... "Come ye yourselves apart," He bids us. If we would give heed to His word, we should be stronger and more useful. The disciples sought Jesus, and told Him all things; and He encouraged and instructed them. If today we would take time to go to Jesus and tell Him our needs, we should not be disappointed; He would be at our right hand to help us. We need more simplicity, more trust and confidence in our Saviour. The Scriptures too need to be more simple, more faithful, more consistent and more powerfully proclaiming Jesus Christ. The Strong flow of Words during prayer needs more simple claim of Jesus words, more child like faith and trust and more relationship connection to Jesus, our Saviour. (5) Learning must be more prayerful... We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, "Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10. When we speak prayers to Jesus, we must listen for the still small voice of Jesus speaking back to us...often He speaks His WORD back to us, sometimes other messages... Spend time in His WORD.... in the Bible are whole chunks of the Science of Salvation:- Thus the Bible details the entire Science of Salvation, and every aspect of what to do is recorded for mankind to learn from and do as the Holy Writings teach. Praise Jesus for His teachings. Praise Him, our Teacher! Shalom The next chapter of Desire of Ages..we look at "Give Ye Them to Eat" |
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