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Steps to Christ: A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (Chapter 9)

2009-07-20T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (Chapter 9)

This chapter, A Knowledge of God, is a compliment ofchapter 1. In both chapters Ellen emphasizes both the lessons learnedabout God through nature and the Bible. She states that “The Poet andthe naturalist have many things to say about nature, but it is theChristian who enjoys the beauty of the earth with the highestappreciation, because he recognizes his Father’s handiwork andperceives His love in flower and shrub and tree” (88-89 YouthEdition). Like I always say, if you don’t have faith in God, you needto go get some. While I believe that faith is actually a gift fromGod, I believe that He supplies things in our lives that assist us onthe journey to build our faith. If you are wrestling with faith, Iwould challenge you to consider taking some time to go sit out innature somewhere. I am not a transcendentalist, but I do believe, as Ellen insinuates, that God can speak to us through the things that He has created.

What I really valued most from this chapter was the emphasis on studying the Word to get to know Jesus better. Listen to this:

Jesus said of the Old-Testament Scriptures,--and howmuch more is it true of the New,--"They are they which testify of me,”the Redeemer, him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. Yes,the whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record ofcreation,--"for without him was not anything made that was made,"*--tothe closing promise, “Behold, I come quickly,” we are reading of hisworks and listening to his voice. If you would become acquainted withthe Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures.
Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the livingwater, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread fromheaven. Jesus declares, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” And he explains himselfby saying, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and theyare life.” Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and asin the natural economy, so in the spiritual economy: it is what wemeditate upon that will give tone and strength to our spiritual nature.

Imagine what your life may look like if you were regularly, dailydigging into the Word of God, especially focusing on the life andteachings of Jesus. I hear it all the time of how boring or confusingthe Bible is, but Ellen is quick to state that “The Bible… was designedfor the common people.” Could it be that Satan wants you to think ofthe Bible in such terms? Have you tried reading the Gospel accordingto John lately? If not, would you consider joining me in thechallenge? If you email me, I will commit to reading all 21 chapterswith you. The bottom line is that I am ready to get real with Jesus! To grow in a knowledge of God, which is what this chapter is all about.

Simply put, if you are desiring a knowledge of God, there are twogreat places to start: 1) In creation; and 2) In His divinely inspiredWord! Whether in nature on in the Word, pray to God that He would giveyou the Spirit to guide you into all truth! After all, “The Spirit oftruth is the only effectual teacher of diving truth.” Go to Him now onyour steps to Jesus!

Blessings,

Matthew

Steps to Christ: THE WORK AND THE LIFE (Chapter 8)

2009-07-19T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: THE WORK AND THE LIFE (Chapter 8)

WOW! Yet again, another amazing chapter. Here we move from “we are saved bygrace through faith” to “faith without works is dead.” The focus ofthis chapter is simply that when Jesus is living in you, there isnothing that you will desire more than to serve others with anunselfish love! This is so powerful! Why? Because I believe that ifyou were honest with yourself, you would agree that your greatestmoments of happiness and sense of fulfillment came at a moment when youwere serving someone else. It may have been a mission trip or helpingsomeone who was in need in your own neighborhood. When we actselflessly, we are living the life that Jesus not only modeled for us,but called us to live.

Our Saviour’s joy was in the uplifting and redemption offallen men. For this he counted not his life dear unto himself, butendured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged inworking for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That whichselfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering tothose who are wretched, and in every way inferior in character andrank, is the work of the sinless angels. The spirit of Christ’sself-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven, and is thevery essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ’s followerswill possess, the work that they will do.

As we put our faith, hope and trust into Jesus, He will live in us. All we need to do is simply allow Him to come in (Revelation 3:20). AsHe does so, He will start living out His “self-sacrificing love” in andthrough our lives.

The Saviour’s life on earth was not a life of ease anddevotion to himself, but he toiled with persistent, earnest, untiringeffort for the salvation of lost mankind. From the manger to Calvaryhe followed the path of self-denial, and sought not to be released fromarduous tasks, painful travels, and exhausting care and labor. Hesaid, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). This was theone great object of his life. Everything else was secondary andsubservient. It was his meat and drink to do the will of God and tofinish his work. Self and self-interest had no part in his labor.

I can honestly attest that the greatest joy in my life is ministeringto others on behalf of Jesus! On the contrary, I will tell you thatwhen I am not ministering to others or focused on serving other peoplebut focused on myself, I am often miserable, depressed, andunmotivated. Can I get a witness?

No sooner does one come to Christ, than there is born inhis heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend hehas found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut upin his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, andare filled with the joy of his indwelling Spirit, we shall not be ableto hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good,we shall have something to tell.

Is this your experience? It certainly is mine. When I first metJesus, I couldn’t stop talking about Him. And guess what? I haven’tstopped. Sometimes when I will study the Bible and something willreally leap of the page, I just have to tell someone about it. Iremember on a couple of occasions going into a restaurant after a Biblestudy and telling the cashier everything that I had just studied. Thisis what I would liken to the living water that is spoken of in John 4. The woman at the well went back into her town and said, “Come meet aMan!” When you’ve met Jesus, you can’t help but tell other people aboutHim.

And the effort to bless others will re-act in blessingsupon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to actin the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege ofbecoming partakers of the divine nature, and, in their turn, ofdiffusing blessings to their fellowmen. This is the highest honor, thegreatest joy, that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Thosewho thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest totheir Creator.

Can you imagine for a moment that you are God? Would you ever in amillion years choose someone like you to represent perfect Majesty,Dominion, Holiness, Glory, Love, Power, etc? Maybe you are shackingyour head yes, but for me, if I were God, there is no way that I wouldever choose someone like myself to represent me. We must remember thatGod’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Simply put, the way I/we roll is not the way that God rolls. Hechooses people like you and me, broken, sinful, selfish people torepresent Him. Why? Because it reveals to the world what our God isreally like. His divine character/nature sees in you a pearl ofinfinite value and invites you to partner with Him in the plan ofsalvation! WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!

Here’s where Ellen flips the script,

Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life bypassively accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace,and doing nothing for Christ, are simply trying to live by eatingwithout working. And in the spiritual as in the natural world, thisalways results in degeneration and decay. A man who would refuse toexercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use them. Thus theChristian who will not exercise his God-given powers, not only fails togrow up into Christ, but he loses the strength that he already had.

I reiterate again, that faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Ifyou are finding yourself frustrated in Jesus, the church, yourchristian experience, before you give up on it all, try taking a stepof faith and serving someone else in the name of Jesus. I will promiseyou that it will be the greatest experience of your life. Go on amission trip, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, help an elderly personwith yard work, go visit folks in a retirement home or prison. Putyour faith into practice.

The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus canbe a blessing to others. They may not realize that they are doing anyspecial good, but by their unconscious influence they may start wavesof blessing that will widen and deepen, and the blessed results theymay never know until the day of final reward. They do not feel or knowthat they are doing anything great. They are not required to wearythemselves with anxiety about success. They have only to go forwardquietly, doing faithfully the work that God’s providence assigns, andtheir life will not be in vain. Their own souls will be growing moreand more into the likeness of Christ; they are workers together withGod in this life, and are thus fitting for the higher work and theunshadowed joy of the life to come.

My friend, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, what youdo. We are all called by God to serve in His name! Choose this daywho you will serve. As for me and my household, I will serve theLord!

Blessings and courage!

Matthew

Steps to Christ: Growing Up Into Christ (Chapter 7)

2009-07-18T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: Growing Up Into Christ (Chapter 7)

This is an aside, but if you are following along via the Youth Editionof Steps to Christ, I have just realized that some of the chaptersappear to be reprinted (unless my copy is just a misprint). If anyonecan explain this to me, holla!

So I am basing the rest of the agenda on the original manuscript. Again you can find that version online by simply going to www.stepstochrist.us.

To begin with, this chapter identifies the simple reality that a personmust be born again (John 3) in order to become a child of God. As aresult, we start walking with God as a baby/child. The Bible clearlystates that “spiritual things are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians2:14) and as we grow both without and with Christ our discernmentexpands.

This chapter could be entitled The Abiding Presence of Jesus, becausethat is the primary focus. Once again Ellen over emphasizes theimportance of keeping our entire focus on Jesus and not on self. Bybeholding Him, we will be changed!

Here are some quotes that really jumped off the page for me:

The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own,add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself,secure spiritual growth.
In the matchless gift of his Son, God has encircled the whole worldwith an atmosphere of grace, as real as the air which circulates aroundthe globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere willlive, and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.
Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now theyseek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort mustfail. Jesus says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Our growth ingrace, our joy, our usefulness,--all depend upon our union withChrist. It is by communion with him, daily, hourly,--by abiding inhim,--that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the author but thefinisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He isto be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, butat every step of the way.
So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell on self, but look to Christ.

This next quote is so important as we are growing up into Christ. The closer we get to Him, the more we will recognize the plans andstrategies that Satan uses. Here she makes it plan how Satan functionsin our live and tell me if this is not true!

It is Satan’s constant effort to keep the attentiondiverted from the Saviour, and thus prevent the union and communion ofthe soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life’s cares andperplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults andimperfections,--to any or all of these he will seek to divert themind. Do not be misled by his devices. Many who are reallyconscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads todwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus by separating themfrom Christ, he hopes to gain the victory.
When Christ took human nature upon him, he bound humanity to himself bya tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice ofman himself.
When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Christ’s spirit, his love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, andraises the thoughts and desires toward God and heaven.
Jesus prayed for us, and he asked that we might be one with him,even as he is one with the Father. What a union is this! The Saviourhad said of himself, “The Son can do nothing of himself;” “the Fatherthat dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Then if Christ is dwelling inour hearts, he will work in us “both to will and to do of his goodpleasure."* We shall work as he worked; we shall manifest the samespirit. And thus, loving him and abiding in him, we shall “grow upinto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians4:15).

May we never forget that it is ALL ABOUT JESUS. Growing up into Christis all about learning to trust Jesus with everything. He will neverforce us to worship Him and obey Him, but by simply surrendering toHim, He will live out His life in us! What a wonderous gift andopportunity we have to experience the very presence of God living inus! May we not take it for granted.

READ THIS CHAPTER!

Blessings from da bedroom,

Matthew

Steps to Christ: The Test of Discipleship (Chapter 6)

2009-07-17T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: The Test of Discipleship (Chapter 6)

So we continue today looking at chapter 6, The Test of Discipleship. This is really where the rubber hits the road because when Jesus diedand rose again, He did not go out saying, “Go make more Christians”, Hesaid, “Go, make disciples” (Matthew 28).

The question begs to be asked, What is a disciple? Simply put, adisciple is a student. Jesus is often referred to in the Bible as aRabbi, which means teacher. Putting it all together, when we decide tofollow Jesus by putting all our faith, hope, trust and love into Him(His life, teachings, death, resurrection), we become a “student” ofthe Master Rabbi Jesus.

There are going to be a lot of quotes in this one! It is a greatchapter. Be sure to read it and if you need a copy check it out at www.stepstoChrist.us!

To know whether or not you are a student of Jesus, Ellen states, “whilewe must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives willreveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change willbe seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast willbe clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasionalmisdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts.” Inanother one of her writings, Ellen states that it is not the occasionalmisdeed, but the trajectory of a lifetime. A true disciple or followerof Jesus will notice that the rhythm of their lives is stepping to thebeat of a new drum(er), so to speak. Or for you more methodologicallyconservative folk, the rhythm of your life will now be set to anon-syncopated rhythm.

Reminding me of the passage in Romans 8:6 where Paul states that “Forto set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on theSpirit is life and peace”, Ellen continues to add, “Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who hasour warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, ourthoughts are with him, and our sweetest thoughts are of him. All thatwe have and are is consecrated to him. We long to bear his image,breathe his spirit, do his will and please him in all things.” Withabsolutely no desire to boost in my flesh, I can honestly say thatJesus is my greatest hope, my greatest thought, my greatest desire, myfavorite topic to talk about, etc.... What about you? Is He youreverything?

Remember when I said that there were going to be a lot of quotes? Take a gander at these paragraphs:

There are two errors against which the children ofGod--particularly those who have just come to trust in hisgrace--especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, isthat of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do,to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to becomeholy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting animpossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted withselfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith,that can make us holy.
The opposite and no less dangerous error is, that belief in Christreleases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone webecome partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to dowith our redemption.
But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance,but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of his verynature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and henceis the foundation of his government in heaven and earth. If our heartsare renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted inthe soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When theprinciple of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed afterthe image of Him that created him, the new covenant promise isfulfilled, “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their mindswill I write them."* And if the law is written in the heart, will itnot shape the life? Obedience--the service and allegiance of love--isthe true sign of discipleship. Thus the Scripture says, “This is thelove of God, that we keep his commandments.” “He that saith, I knowhim, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is notin him."* Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, andfaith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, whichenables us to render obedience.
We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is thefree gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruitof faith.

If you are struggling today with your performance, I want to simplyinvite you to give up. Your righteousness is as filthy rags (see theprophet Isaiah). If you think that Ellen White was a legalist, pleaseread these paragraphs again! I re-quote, “He who is trying to becomeholy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting animpossibility.” In and of yourself you cannot do it. However,according to 1 Corinthians 6:19, “your body is a temple of the HolySpirit”! This is only available for the believer. What does thismean? It means that the very Spirit of God actually makes His dwellingplace INSIDE YOU! And it is only by HIM LIVING IN YOU that you canwalk as He walked. AND with Him living in you, you will begin to, asthe Psalmist David says, “delight in the law”! That is what Hebrews10:16 is all about, “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in theirminds will I write them.”

I could go on and on about this chapter. Please read the book! Let meknow your thoughts, questions, comments, prayer requests, etc.

Courage!

Matthew
from da porch
new haven, ct

Steps to Christ: Faith and Acceptance (Chapter 5)

2009-07-16T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: Faith and Acceptance (Chapter 5)

What do you believe in? What do you put your faith, hope, trust, andlove in? The Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped forand the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That being said,what do you hope for? I’m not talking about a new car or a biggerhouse, I mean what are your greatest and deepest hopes? If you believein God, contemplate what evidence you have of Him working in yourlife?

Ellen states that, “As your conscience has been quickened by the HolySpirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, itsguilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. You feel thatsin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power ofevil. The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness.Your motives are impure; your heart is unclean. You see that your lifehas been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, tobe cleansed, to be set free. Harmony with God, likeness to him,--whatcan you do to obtain it?

“It is peace that you need,--Heaven’s forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. Moneycannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it;you can never hope, by your own effort, to secure it. But God offersit to you as a gift, ‘without money and without price.’ Itis yours, if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lordsays, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ ‘A new heartalso will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.’ “(Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 36:26)

What I love about her statements here is that the peace that passesall understanding that God want’s to give to you is not something thatyou can earn or buy, but it is a gift. Just like salvation, all wehave to do is simply believe it by faith.

In talking about the paralytic who laid by the pool of Bethesda shestates, “he believed Christ’s word, believed that he was made whole,and he made the effort at once; he willed to walk, and he did walk. Heacted on the word of Christ, and God gave the power. He was madewhole.” In another book Ellen states that “many of us are waiting forGod to do for us, that which He has already given us the power to dofor ourselves” (source unknown). What would our lives like like if wewere to put our trust in the promises of God.

What I love time and time again throughout this book, is Ellen’semphasis that in and of ourself we cannot earn salvation or makeourselves better and that when we try to do it is in vain andmeaningless. She states on page 51 of the Youth Edition of Steps toChrist that, “you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. ButGod promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You willto serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His wordto you. If you believe the promise,--believe that you are forgiven andcleansed,--God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christgave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he washealed. It is so if you believe it.”

So the simple question for you to follow the Steps to Christ is willyou believe His promises? Maybe your response today is, “I believe,but help my unbelief.” If that is your prayer, consider yourself on thepath to eternal life walking each step with Jesus!

Matthew
from da kitchen
New Haven, CT

Steps to Christ: Consecration (Chapter 4)

2009-07-15T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: Consecration (Chapter 4)

Be sure to check out the companion video for chapter 4 at YouTube: VagaBondservant.

Some have said that justification is done in a moment, butsanctification is the work of a life time. If that is true, repentancecan be likened to justification because the moment a sinner repents,they are justified in the eyes of God. Consecration can be likened tosanctification because as an individual learns to consecrate themselvesdaily to God, permission is granted for God to work out His good andperfect will in the sinners life. This is what sanctification is allabout.

Ellen writes, “He sets before us the height of blessing to which Hedesires to bring us, through His grace. He invites us to giveourselves to Him, that He may work His will in us. It remains for usto choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin, to sharethe glorious liberty of the sons of God.” If you miss this, you maybecome easily confused thinking that this is all about you and what youdo or do not do in order to gain God’s favor. The key here is to keepin mind that “HE sets… HE desires, through HIS grace”! In other words,it is all about what Jesus desires for us. Please keep in mind that Hedesires to fulfill His good and perfect will in your life (Romans12:2).

Take a moment to read the first chapter of Ephesians (especiallythrough :14). When you do so, count the times that you are responsiblefor anything when it comes to salvation, righteousness, perfection,etc. Last time I check, which was about 20 seconds ago, you and I areonly responsible for ONE thing!!!!! It is found in :14 and it occurswhen we “believed in Him.” That is what consecration is all about,actually believing in God in the good times and the bad, at thebeginning of, during and at the end of every day, putting our entirefaith, hope and love into Jesus!

By beholding Him, we will become changed.

In the last paragraph of this chapter, Ellen states that, “By yieldingup your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is aboveall principalities and powers. You will have strength from above tohold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you willbe enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” Are you readyto live the consecrated and victorious life? Simply surrender all toJesus!

Blessings!

Matthew
From the kitchen in New Haven, CT

Steps to Christ: Repentance (Chapter 3)

2009-07-14T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: Repentance (Chapter 3)

Aswe start today, I wanted to point out that I am also shooting acompanion video blog to go with these comments below. You can see itat YouTube: VagaBondservant.

Okay peeps… so this chapter is a long one, but soooo good! My hope isthat you are truly following along with reading the entire chapter,even before you come to this site. And PLEASE if you have any commentsor points of clarification, don’t hesitate to ask by clicking thecomment link below or by emailing me directly at matthew@matthewgamble.com.

So Ellen states right off the bat, “How shall a man be just with God? How shall the sinner be made righteous? It is only through Christ thatwe can be brought into harmony with God, with holiness; but how are weto come to Christ? Many are asking the same question as did themultitude on the day of Pentecost, when, convicted of sin, they criedout, ‘What shall we do?’ The first word of Peter’s answer was,‘Repent.’ At another time, shortly after, he said, ‘Repent . . . and beconverted, that your sins may be blotted out.’ “ (Acts 3:19)

Repentance is actually a gift from God. It means a turning away from. I remember when I first started following the teachings of Jesus. Iwas so overwhelmed at times because at the core of my being I was soselfish (still am in some respects!). All I was into was worldlypleasures and worldly gain. As I started growing closer to Jesus andunderstanding Him more, I was more and more convicted of sin in mylife. Simply put, Jesus invited me through the Holy Spirit convictingme, to turn away from sins in my life. He didn’t leave me hanging todo it all on my own, however. He led me and is still leading me tobecome more like Him and less like sinful self.

What it comes down to is a simple yielding of myself to Jesus. Ellenstates, “But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit ofGod, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discernsomething of the depth and sacredness of God’s holy law...” What doesthis yielding look like? The Psalmist David writes, “Have mercy on me,O God, according to Your loving kindness. Create in me a clean heart,O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51).

“A repentance such as this,” Ellen writes, “is beyond the reach of ourown power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ...” That beingsaid, go to God and ask from Him the gift of repentance. Later shestates, “Ask Him to give you repentance, to reveal Christ to you in Hisinfinite love, in His perfect purity.”

At the end of the day, I believe that all Jesus is trying to do is helpeach one of us come to the place where we recognize our deficiency andlearn to TRUST Jesus wholly and completely. If you’ve ever wonderedwhat the Bible is about, what going to church is all about, what payingtithe is all about, what singing songs of praise is all about, in myhumble opinion it all comes down to God wanting to teach us to TRUSTHim with everything and in so doing stop putting our faith inourselves.

Lastly, remember that “It was sinners that Christ came to save. Wehave not to reconcile God to us, but--O wondrous love!--’God in Christis reconciling the world unto Himself.’ “ We simply must come to theplace where we cry out to God like blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:47-48) andJesus will be faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Remember that in Revelation 3:19, the Bible tells us that because Jesusloves us, he will rebuke us and discipline us, so be excited andrepent! Repentance is an invitation that God gives us and is GREATNEWS!

Blessings,

Matthew
from da porch

Steps to Christ: The Sinner’s Need of Christ (Chapter 2)

2009-07-13T05:00:00Z

Steps to Christ: The Sinner’s Need of Christ (Chapter 2)

Thisis such a crucial chapter in this book. If a person doesn’t come tothe place where they recognize that they are not all that they desireto be, then God/religion/Jesus won’t mean a thing to them. Jesus dyingfor their sins wouldn’t make sense unless they recognize and takeownership of the fact that in and of themselves, they are unable tolive a life without selfishness.

Last week on a plane ride, I met a lady by the name of Loretta. Withina few minutes of talking she discovered that I used to be an atheistand was now a follower of Jesus. She, a full time women’s advocate andhumanitarian, told me that she was raised a believer but was now anatheist. As we talked she told me that she believes that the moralityof humanity is “evolving” in a positive direction. Honestly I couldhardly believe my ears as it seems to me that the morality of man isnot moving forward, but rather digressing.

Ellen mentions that “Man was originally endowed with noble powers and awell-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony withGod. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobediencehis powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. Hisnature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossiblefor him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil.” So in thebeginning we were created in the image of God to live a life ofselflessness and love. Through sin, however, selfishness becameparamount and now we are no longer able to resist the power of evil.

Furthermore she states that “It is impossible for us, of ourselves, toescape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts areevil, and we can not change them. ‘Who can bring a clean thing out ofan unclean?--Not one.’ ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God; for itis not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be‘ (Job 14:4;Romans 8:7). Education, culture, the exercise of the will, humaneffort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they can notchange the heart; they can not purify the springs of life.”

I hope that this doesn’t come across as judgmental, but I am fearfulof some approaches that the SDA Church takes when it comes toevangelism. Sometimes it seems that we focus on education and humaneffort to get the life in order. And while people may look/talk/actbetter, does that mean that the heart is right with Jesus? In the nextparagraph, Ellen states that “The idea that it is necessary only todevelop the good that exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception.”Could it be that many are being led astray as the emphasis is placed ontheir behavior and not the life and death and resurrection of Jesus?

I love the Apostle Paul’s words when he exclaims, “Wretched man that Iam! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25 ESV). In John 14:6 weare reminded that, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If wecould earn our way to Heaven, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to come tothis planet to die for our sins.

I encourage you today to simply acknowledge your sins to Jesus, acceptHis free gift of salvation, and now walk with Him in newness of life!

Blessings,

Matthew
New Haven, CT

Steps to Christ: God's Love for Man (Chapter 1)

2009-07-12T05:00:00Z

The Rally is over! And we all had a great time this weekend getting to know each other better and getting to know God better. I know I was blessed this weekend - and the rain even waited until we were all finished!

We are going to be discussing the book "Steps to Christ" here online over the next 13 days. Those of you who were ableto join us each received a copy. Please make notes of any questions you have and write them in the comments below.

Let's dive into the first chapter, as Matthew guides us along.

Thanks!
Dan

<Matthew's comments start here...>

For the next 13 consecutive days I am (by God’s grace) going to be posting a daily blog based on a chapter out of the devotional by Ellen White, Steps to Christ. If you would like to obtain a copy of the book or read along online, you can do so by CLICKING HERE. Please keep in mind that different versions of this book, which has been translated in over 140 languages, contain different page numbers. As a result I will not be referencing pages numbers so as not to confuse you. The version that you can download both on your iPod and in print form (PDF) from the site above is the 1892 version of the book, which didn’t contain this first chapter that we are going to look at today.

CHAPTER 1: God’s Love for Man

The book starts with a very simple, yet profound statement, “Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love.” At the beginning of this chapter, Ellen primarily focuses on the aspects of nature that testify of God’s love. She states that “even amid the suffering that results from sin, God’s love is revealed.... The thorn and the thistle--the difficulties and the trials that make his life one of toil and care--were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God’s plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The world, though fallen, is not all sorry and misery. Innature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers uponthe thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses.” Is it not amazing how God brings such blessing out of tragedy in our lives?

Can you think of a time when something tragic occurred in your life,later revealed God’s glory? In my life, I know that I look back at allthe pain that I was in as a teenager confused and depressed. A life ofstealing, lying, cheating, partying, etc. was turned around when Jesusrevealed Himself to me.

Going back to the second part of the opening line of this book, Ellenthen states, “The word of God reveals His character.” She mentionsregarding nature that it “imperfectly represent(s) His (Gods) love.”Further she states that “the enemy of good (Satan) blinded the minds ofmen, so that they looked upon God with fearl that thought of Him assevered and unforgiving. Satan led men to conceive of God as a beingwhose chief attribute is stern justice,--one who is a severe judge, aharsh, exacting creditor.” It is because of this flawed view of thecharacter of God, that we have the Bible to set the record straight. Jesus says, “When you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father” (John 14:9). If you want to know what the character of God is really like, look toJesus.

“He took man’s nature, that He (Jesus) might reach man’s wants. Thepoorest and the humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even littlechildren were attracted to Him. They love to climb upon His knees andgaze into the pensive face, benignant with love.”

Here are a few more lines that really jumped out to me:

“His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes.”

“In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save.”

“He became ‘a Man of Sorrows,’ that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy.”
He (God the Father) permitted Him (Jesus) to leave the bosom of Hislove, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult,humiliation, hatred, and death.”

“But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in theFather’s heart a love for man, not to make Him willing to save. No,no! ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.’ John3:16. The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation, butHe provided the propitiation because He loves us.... ‘God was inChrist, reconciling the world unto Himself’ (2 Corinthians 5:19).

“Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf offallen man could express the Father’s love to lost humanity.”

“Jesus is ‘not ashamed to call them (you) brethern (brother)’ (Hebrews 2:11).

Blessings to you as you read this powerful chapter. Please let meknow what stuck out to you as well as if you have any questions aboutthis chapter.

Happy reading…

Matthew
New Haven, CT

So who is this Matthew Gamble guy?

2009-06-26T10:49:00Z

For those of you who'd like to learn more about MG, here is his website...
(don't forget to check-out the YouTube videos, too!)

Youth and Young Adult Rally

2009-06-25T14:42:00Z

Join us for a Conference-Wide Youth/Young Adult Rally

THE SPOT:    Connecticut Valley Church, 354 Foster Rd., So. Windsor, CT

THE TIME:    Friday Night, July 10th, 7-9p
                        Sabbath, July 11th, 9:30a-8:30p

RSVP:            860-833-6072
                        or ctbattlewithin@gmail.com

Our Special Speaker will be Pastor Matthew Gamble

Welcome

2009-06-24T18:58:56Z

Welcome to "The Battle Within" blog.