Pathway To New Life

Compiled by Dan Augsburger

This document was prepared for the 2026 Michigan camp meeting, and provides detailed information on how to experience victory and a more abundant spiritual life. Material is drawn from the Scriptures, the Bible and a few denominational authors. Quotations come from the writings of Ellen G. White, unless indicated otherwise. You will find 900+ more pages of resources at the discipleheart.com website and the elminchin.com website. Contact information to reach me is found on the last page of the document. 

Dan Augsburger

 

Table of Contents

1. Reveal GOD'S Character (The PURPOSE of the New Life) 3                                                                                                                                                                             

2. Behold CHRIST'S EXAMPLE (The PROMISE of New Life) 3                                                                                                                                                                             

How POSSIBLE is This New Life? 4                                                                                                                                                                             

3. Independence (The PERIL of the New Life) 5                                                                                                                                                                             

What do the Scriptures TEACH about Satan?  6

Notice the way Satan works compared to the way God works  6

What happened in the garden at the time of Adam’s fall?  6

What has been the practical result of Adam’s fall?  7

PURSUE New Life 8                                                                                                                                                                             

ACKNOWLEDGE Sin and Waywardness 9                                                                                                                                                                             

True Confession is Appropriate, Specific, brings about Godly Outcomes, and requires Humility 9                                                                                                                                                                             

Appropriate  9

Forgiving and Seeking Forgiveness  10

REPENT and TURN From Sin 12                                                                                                                                                                             

Sign a PLEDGE to increase your ability to overcome appetite; AVOID temptation 13                                                                                                                                                                             

CHOOSE the Better Way (Exercise Your Will) 14                                                                                                                                                                             

FORMALIZE and PUBLICIZE Your Surrender In Baptism 15                                                                                                                                                                             

Sometimes REBAPTISM is Necessary  16

4. Receive PARDON AND CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (The PORTAL to New Life 16                                                                                                                                                                             

What is God’s remedy for the penalty of our sins? 17                                                                                                                                                                             

5. Be TRANSFORMED In Taking Up Your Cross (The PRICE of New Life) 19                                                                                                                                                                             

• Make an UNRESERVED Surrender  20

• RECEIVE God’s Word  21

• Commune With CHRIST in SECRET Prayer  21

• ACCEPT God’s SPECIAL MESSAGES For Our Day  22

• Submit to Being "BROKEN"  23

• Embrace DYING to Self  23

- What is dying to self?  25

- What are the benefits of dying to self?  25

- What was Jesus’ great purpose in life and how did He die to self?  25

- How is the “old man” nature crucified?  26

Be EMPTIED of Self  27

Recognize Trials Are NECESSARY BLESSINGS  28

Adopt an Attitude of THANKSGIVING 29                                                                                                                                                                             

CHOOSE to Be More and More LIKE Christ  29

SEEK to Answer Christ’s Prayer For Unity; Dwell in UNITY  30

6. Receive POWER Abiding “In Christ” (The Provision of New Life) 31                                                                                                                                                                             

COOPERATE With The Holy Spirit  34

GRASP the Divine Nature  35

RECEIVE Victory 36                                                                                                                                                                             

Exercise LIVING Faith  37

Ignore Your Feelings  38

7. ADOPT Christ’s Lifestyle (The MANIFESTATION of New Life) 39                                                                                                                                                                 

8. MAINTAIN This Life (The CONTINUATION of New Life) 42                                                                                                                                                                             

The Pathway To New Life

1. Reveal GOD'S Character (The PURPOSE of the New Life)

Matt. 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

1 Pet. 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

"From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God." Ephesians 3:10. Acts of the Apostles, 9.1

 

2. Behold CHRIST'S EXAMPLE (The PROMISE of New Life)

"Those who are really beholding Christ will be changed into His image, even by the Spirit of the Lord, and will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God will inspire men with love and purity; and refinement will be manifest in their characters." Selected Messages, Vo1 1, 142.1

Heb. 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

  • 1 Pet. 1:18,19 (as of a lamb without blemish and without spot) 

  • 1 Pet. 2:22-23 (No guile found in his mouth)

"Jesus was free from all sin and error; there was not a trace of imperfection in His life or character. He maintained spotless purity under circumstances the most trying." Manuscript 141, 1901.5

"He came to our world clothing divinity with humanity to bear the test and proving of God. By His example of perfect obedience in His human nature, He teaches us that man may be obedient." Letter 16, 1892.17

 

How POSSIBLE is This New Life? 

1 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

  • Matt. 5: 48 (Be perfect as God is perfect)

  • Col. 1: 28 (Paul desired to present each person perfect in Christ)

  • Col. 4:12 (Epaphras prayed that the people might be perfect)

  •  James 1: 4 (Let patience have its perfect work)

  • Eph. 1: 4 (We have been chosen to be holy and without blame)

  • Eph. 3:14-21 (Seeking the filling of God’s fullness)

  • 1 Pet. 1:15,16 (We are to be holy since God is holy)

  • Heb. 13:21 (Seek to be perfect in every area of life)

  • 1 Cor. 15:34 (Awake to righteousness and don’t sin)

  • 1 John 2:1 (John urged his disciples not to sin)

  • Eph. 5: 27 (Seek an unblemished, spot-free church)

  • Rom. 6: 12 (Don’t let sin reign in your bodies)

  • 1 Thess. 5: 23,24 (God himself will sanctify us)

  • Heb. 12:14. (Without holiness we won’t see God)

 

Does the Bible ever refer to individuals as being perfect?

  • Noah (Gen. 6:9)

  • Enoch (Gen. 5:24)

  • Job (Job 1:1,8) 

  • Other examples: Joseph and Daniel

“God has made every provision whereby our thoughts may become purified, elevated, refined, and ennobled.”—Youth Instructor, October 28, 1897

“Before the believer is held out the wonderful possibility of being like Christ, obedient to all the principles of the law. But of himself man is utterly unable to reach this condition. The holiness that God's word declares he must have before he can be saved is the result of the working of divine grace as he bows in submission to the discipline and restraining influences of the Spirit of truth. The part of the Christian is to persevere in overcoming every fault. Constantly he is to pray to the Saviour to heal the disorders of his sin-sick soul. He has not the wisdom or the strength to overcome; these belong to the Lord, and He bestows them on those who in humiliation and contrition seek Him for help.” Acts of the Apostles, 532.1

“Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 51.2

“When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still.” Counsels to the Church, p. 215.1

"Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sin-loving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love and captivated with the heavenly mysteries. When he understands these things, his former life appears disgusting and hateful. He hates sin, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. He renounces his former pleasures. He has a new mind, new affections, new interest, new will; his sorrows, and desires, and love are all new. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which have heretofore been preferred before Christ, are now turned from, and Christ is the charm of his life, the crown of his rejoicing. Heaven, which once possessed no charms, is now viewed in its riches and glory; and he contemplates it as his future home, where he shall see, love, and praise the One who hath redeemed him by His precious blood. The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his delight. The word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God.... His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself. The society of the most godly is now chosen by him, and the wicked, whose company he once loved, he no longer delights in. He weeps over those sins in them at which he once laughed. Self-love and vanity are renounced, and he lives unto God, and is rich in good works. This is the sanctification which God requires. Nothing short of this will He accept.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 294.2,3.

 

3. Independence (The PERIL of the New Life)

“All who were slain by her were strong men.” Prov. 7:26

 

What do the Scriptures TEACH about Satan?

  • John 8:44; Rev. 12:9 (He is a liar)

  • Genesis 3:4,5 (He brought Eve down through lies)

  • Rom. 6:16; Luke 16:13 (We either obey Satan OR God) 

  • 2 Tim. 2:26 (Satan has taken many captive to his will)

  • John 8:34 (Committing sin is proof of slavery to sin)

  • John 1:12 (We can choose to be God’s children)

“There are but two powers that control the minds of men—the power of God and the power of Satan." Temperance p. 276 

“Satan takes control of every mind that is not decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 79.

“Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness.” Desire of Ages, p. 466.3

 

Notice the power Satan has over us:

  • Prov. 5:22 (Solomon recognized bondage)

  • 2 Pet. 2:19 (Peter also spoke of bondage)

  • 2 Tim 2:26 (Paul spoke of the same thing)

“Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness.” Desire of Ages, p. 466.

 

Notice the way Satan works compared to the way God works:

  • Matt. 23:25-28 (Pharisees cleaned the outside of cup) 

  • Joel 2:13 (We need to rend our hearts; not our garments)

  • Matt 6:5, 16-18 (Even our spiritual lives—i.e. pray/fasting—are mainly for show)

 

What happened in the garden at the time of Adam’s fall?

  • Gen 3:4,5 (Eve was deceived; Adam joined her.)

  • Rom 5:12 (By Adam’s sin the whole world plunged into sin)

“This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man.” Messages to Young People, p. 154.

 

What has been the practical result of Adam’s fall?

  • Gen. 6:5 (Every thought is corrupt)

  • Isa. 1:5,6 (From sole of foot to top of head is corrupt)

  • Isa. 6:5 (Even Isaiah saw himself as corrupt)

  • Isa. 64:6 (Even our best efforts—our righteousnesses—are filthy rages)

  • Job 14:4 (We cannot of ourselves bring a clean thing out that which is unclean)

  • Matt. 19:25,26 (God can do the impossible for us)

  • Jer. 13:23 (The leopard reminds us that we cannot change ourselves)

  • Ps. 51:1 (Sin is present from the first moments)

  • Jer. 17:9 (Our hearts are deceitful above all things)

  • Rom. 3:9-18 (Here is a long description from Paul)

  • Rom. 8:7 (Carnal mind isn’t subject to God, nor can it be)

  • Eph 2:1 (We are dead in trespasses and sin)

  • Rom 7:21-24 (We struggle against a great, almost irresistible, power)

“Our condition is helpless and hopeless….” Signs of the Times, January 4, 1883. par. 12

“It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness” Steps to Christ, p. 18.

 

The following are also true

  • Ps. 78:8 (We are stubborn and rebellious)

  • Jer. 28:16 (We have taught rebellion)

  • 2 Chron. 36:15,16 (God sends messages, but we mock the messengers, despise God's admonishments and scoff at His prophets)

Notice the following sobering thoughts: "The Lord will not be trifled with. Those who neglect his mercies and blessings in this day of opportunities will bring impenetrable darkness upon themselves, and be candidates for the wrath of God. Sodom and Gomorrah were visited with the curse of the Almighty, for their sins and iniquities. There are those in our day who have equally abused the mercies of God and slighted his warnings. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment, than for those who bear the name of Christ yet dishonor him by living unconsecrated lives. Testimony For the Church, No. 27, 73.1 Sinners who have not had the light and privileges of Seventh-day Adventists, will be in a more favorable position before God, in their ignorance, than those who have been unfaithful while in close connection with his work, professing to love and serve him. ... The Jews were gathering over them the dark clouds of retribution, and many today, in like manner, are drawing upon themselves the wrath of God, because of opportunities unheeded, the counsels and love of Jesus scorned, and his servants despised and hated for speaking the truth. ... There is no place on the face of the earth where so great a light has been granted, as at Battle Creek. Even Jerusalem of old was not more greatly favored with the beams of Heaven’s light shining upon the way that her people should tread." Testimony For the Church, No. 27, 73.1,2,3; 74.1.

James White wrote the following in a booklet he published: "In the night of the 26th I went to the barn, and I felt all that I could do more was to submit myself to God, to fall into the hands of Christ, it was then that I had a view of how terrible was the sin of those who profess to believe that God speaks to them through vision, yet from heedlessness receive no lasting impression when reproved, but go on as before, making no changes in those things wherein they are reproved. I felt that such a course was a fearful insult to the Holy Ghost, and that I was in a degree guilty of this sin. My convictions grew into an agony that for a time wrung my whole being. And as I confessed my sins, and, in the language of Daniel, "the sins of my people," I had an agonizing view of how the long-suffering of the Father had been abused, the intercessions of Christ had been slighted, and the Holy Ghost had been insulted, by those who had been warned from Heaven through vision, and had not changed their course." James White, A Solemn Appeal, 

 

PURSUE New Life

The transformation process begins with conversion, sometimes referred to as being born again.

John 3:5-6 (NKJV) “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Matthew 9:9 (NKJV) “‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.”

“At conversion, self dies. As the truth is received, a new life of heavenly origin is imparted. ... He who has experienced the new birth is dead to his old sinful, self-indulgent character. His life purposes are changed.” Manuscript 108, 1903, par. 12.

“Conversion is simple, very simple. Let us commence right here to come into the kingdom of heaven. How? As a little child. Just as simple as simple can be. You may get all your mysteries of the new birth, and you cannot make anybody understand it, or understand it yourself. But the best way for you is to give your mind to Jesus Christ. And the mind is the will to put it on, and do just as Matthew did. Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 210.2. ... Christ said to Matthew, “Matthew, follow Me.” Did he say, “O Lord, when I get good enough I will follow you”? Did he say, “O Lord, when I have this agony, this awful agony for my sin, then I will come” Matthew rose up and followed Him.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 211.1,2.

 

ACKNOWLEDGE Sin and Waywardness

Often the first step in the process is acknowledging prior sin and waywardness. Sometimes the first step, however, comes in recognizing the glory of God, or His mercy. Regardless of that which motivates at first, confessing sin is a necessary early step.

1 John 1:9  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

True Confession is Appropriate, Specific, brings about Godly Outcomes, and requires Humility  

Appropriate

  • James 5:16 (Confess your trespasses to one another)

  • Prov. 28:13 (Confessing and forsaking brings mercy)

 • Dan. 9:4-20 (Acknowledging willful departure from God.)

“When those in our churches commit sins, they should repent of them before God, and they should also repent of them before their brethren, asking the pardon that they will be willing to give. Then the light that shines from the face of Christ will shine upon them. Let us clear the King’s highway; let us plead with God until we know that we have received pardon. He will give it to us.” Review and Herald, May 18, 1905

Specific

“True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; there may be wrongs that should be confessed to the individual who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty.” Steps to Christ, p. 38.

Brings Wonderful OUTCOMES

“By prayer and confession of sin we must clear the King’s highway. As we do this, the power of the Spirit will come to us.” Counsels to the Church, p. 326.5

Requires Humility

 • 2 Chron. 7:14 (Humbling to the point of seeking with the whole heart)

  • Ps. 32:3-5 (Freely acknowledging our sin)

  • Isa. 55:7 (It is forsaking the wrong way)

  • Ezek 33:11 (It means turning to God)

  • James 4:10 (Humbling and waiting on God to lift us up)

  • 1 Pet. 5:6 (Humbling and waiting for God to exalt)

“Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt, have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance.” Mind, Character, Personality, vol. 2, 456.2. 

“There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance.” Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 299.2

Are there consequences for unconfessed and unrepented sins?

  • Ex. 34:7 (God by no means clears the guilty)

  • Rom. 2:4-9 (We can bring wrath of God on ourselves)

  • Rev. 21:8 (The wicked will have their part in the lake of fire)

 

Forgiving and Seeking Forgiveness

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV) “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Luke 17:4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you,[fn] saying, ‘I repent,' you shall forgive him.”

"The question of forgiveness needs no interpretation. There is never a time or place where it is right for you or for me to say, “I will not forgive my brother; I will not walk in fellowship with him.” He who does this places himself in opposition to the teachings of Christ." Sabbath School Worker, January 1, 1903, par. 4

"We should not think that unless those who have injured us confess the wrong we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness. It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults." Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 113.3

"If he does you an injury knowingly, and afterward repents, saying, “Forgive me,” it is not for you to turn away, refusing to forgive him because you think that he does not feel humble enough and does not mean what he says. You have no right to judge him, because you can not read the heart." Sabbath School Worker, January 1, 1903, par. 5

"If a brother errs, forgive him if he asks you. If he is not humble enough to ask, forgive him in your heart, and express your forgiveness in word and act. Then his sin will not in any degree rest on you. ... Just as often as God forgives us, we are to forgive one another." Sabbath School Worker, January 1, 1903, par. 6

"God cannot bless while we cherish hatred against our brethren. Christ sees that little heed is paid to his instruction. His people come to him in prayer, asking favors of him, while at the same time they are cherishing hatred against their brethren, not only thinking, but speaking evil of them. God can not bless them; for they refuse to put out of the way that which causes discord and variance." Sabbath School Worker, January 1, 1903, par. 7

"Act your part in the work of confession. It is not your brother’s sin that you are to confess, but your own. In doing this, you are making straight paths for your feet and for his—paths that will lead him to Christ." Sabbath School Worker, January 1, 1903, par.8

“One great reason why our brethren and sisters have no more confidence toward God in prayer, is, that nearly all neglect to follow the words of Jesus in preserving harmony between brethren. They allow various wrongs to exist with members of the church, which create bitter envy and strife; and while these differences exist, God neither hears nor answers their prayers….” Review and Herald, April 15, 1880

If there have been difficulties ... if envy, malice, bitterness, evil surmisings, have existed, confess these sins, not in a general way, but go to your brethren and sisters personally. Be definite. If you have committed one wrong and they twenty, confess that one as though you were the chief offender. Take them by the hand, let your heart soften under the influence of the Spirit of God, and say, “Will you forgive me? I have not felt right toward you. I want to make right every wrong, that naught may stand registered against me in the books of heaven. I must have a clean record.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1884, par. 7

Many are filled with self-importance, and esteem themselves above their brethren. Such should let self die.... If you have enmity, suspicion, envy, and jealousy in your hearts, you have a work to do. Confess your sins; come into harmony with your brethren. Speak well of them. Throw out no unfavorable hints, no suggestions that will awaken distrust in the minds of others. Guard their reputation as sacredly as you would have them guard yours; love them as you would be loved of Jesus. ... Satan is an accuser of the brethren, and he loves to have you help him. But disappoint him; do not let him triumph over you." Gospel Worker, 1892, 430.3

"The noblest revenge we can take upon our enemies is to do them a kindness. To return malice for malice, injury for injury, will gratify the carnal heart, but it will only render our enemies more bitter." Letter 18a, 1891, par. 14

 

REPENT and TURN From Sin

Many acknowledge and confess past waywardness, but do not make efforts to change. Given a chance, the Holy Spirit will convict of the need for change—for a U-turn in behavior—which is brought about by the desire and effort to change which is sometimes called repentance.

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord….”

Rom. 2:4 "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

2 Cor. 7:9 "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance...."

Notice the following people who preached repentence in the Bible.

  • John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2)

  • Jesus (Matt. 4:17)

  • The Disciples (Mark 6:12)

  • Peter (Acts 2:38)

  • Paul (Acts 17:30)

“We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ.” Steps to Christ, p. 26.2

“Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life.” Steps to Christ, p. 23.2

Sign a PLEDGE to increase your ability to overcome appetite; AVOID temptation.

Appetite is a stumbling block. Failure to curb appetite brings defeat. Susannah Wesley, the mother of John Wesley, stated, 90% of the challenge of overcoming is avoiding temptation! In other words, the victory over appetite is won at the grocery store not in the kitchen.

Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

"In this experience of backsliding from the principles of reform, our people [the members of the Washington, D. C. churches] have been repeating the experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness during the forty years of travel. Those who continue to follow their own course in this respect, eating, drinking, as they please, will gradually grow careless of the instructions the Lord has given regarding other phases of the present truth; they surely reap as they have sown. Lt 162, 1908, par. 9. ... If a temperance pledge, providing for the abstinence from flesh foods, tea and coffee, and some other foods that are known to be injurious, were circulated through or ranks, a great and good work would be accomplished. I ask you at this time, Will you not circulate such a pledge? Lt 162, 1908, par. 9 

[A world-wide pledge was never circulated with Ellen White's support, because it was recognized that in some parts of the world forsaking all meat would have been impossible at that time. But, a total ban for the United States, for example, would have been okay at that time!]

 

CHOOSE the Better Way (Exercise Your Will)

Early self-initiated and empowered efforts often fail, for we are as weak as water when it comes to overcoming sin. In praying and seeking answers, the believer eventually —hopefully!— discover the power of the will —the power of choice — to  choose something better, giving God permission to bring about the desired change which is impossible otherwise. 

Philippians 2:13 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who works in you  both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

2 Corinthians 2:14  “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ….”

“Pure religion has to do with the will. The will is the governing power in the nature of man. If the will is set right, all the rest of the man will come under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the choice, the deciding power; the kingly power which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or to disobedience.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 513.1

“What is the new heart? It is the new mind. What is the mind? It is the will. Where is your will? It is either on Satan’s side or Christ’s side.” Sermon and Talks, vol. 1, p. 210.1

“When the power of Satan over souls is broken, we see men binding their will to the cross, and crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts. It is indeed a crucifixion of self; for the will is surrendered to Christ. The will of man is none too strong when it is sanctified and put on the side of Christ. The will is a power, and as many triumphs are to be won in spiritual warfare, and many points of progress to be made in the spiritual journey, and many lessons to be learned from Christ, the great Teacher, it is necessary that the will should be sanctified. In surrendering the will, the root of the matter is reached. When the will is surrendered, the streams that flow from the fountain will not be bitter, but will be as pure as crystal.” Signs of the Times, October 29, 1894 par. 6

“As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command, may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 333.1

“The greatest battle that was ever fought by man—is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 141.2 

“This is the secret of their power. Much prayer, and a humbling of the heart, a constant surrender of the will to God, will bring the help pledged to every worker by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 354.1

“In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan’s control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.” Desire of Ages, 466. 

“For a long time I tried to gain the victory over sin, but I failed. I have since learned the reason. Instead of doing the part which God expects me to do, and which I can do, I was trying to do God’s part, which He does not expect me to do, and which I cannot do. Primarily, my part is not to win the victory, but to receive the victory which has already been won for me by Jesus Christ.” W. W. Prescott, Victory in Christ

 

FORMALIZE and PUBLICIZE Your Surrender In Baptism

A necessary step in transformation is making a public statement of unreserved surrender in the rite of baptism. In baptism, the immersing of the believer in the water signifies the death of the old man—the public funeral of the old man; the rising to a new life in Christ; as well as the attendant pledge of the power of the Godhead to help the new believer lead a victorious God-pleasing, life.

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” 

"In baptism, we are given to the Lord as a vessel to be used. Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Self is by profession dead to a life of sin. The waters cover the candidate, and in the presence of the whole heavenly universe, the mutual pledge is made. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, man is laid in his watery grave, buried with Christ in baptism, and raised from the water to live the new life of loyalty to God. The three great powers in heaven are witnesses; they are invisible but present.”  SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1074.8

“Christ made baptism the entrance to His spiritual kingdom.” Manuscript 27a, 1900.6 

 

Sometimes REBAPTISM is Necessary

Acts 19:3-6 (NKJV) “And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."

"The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” Manuscript 148, 1897

"The Lord calls for a decided reformation. And when a soul is truly reconverted, let him be rebaptized. Let him renew his covenant with God, and God will renew His covenant with him.... Reconversion must take place among the members, that as God’s witnesses they may testify to the authoritative power of the truth that sanctifies the soul.” Letter 63, 1903

"There are many who will need re-baptizing, but let them never go down into the water until they are dead to sin, cured of selfishness and self-exaltation until they can come up out of the water to live a new life unto God. Faith and repentance are conditions, essential to the forgiveness of sin." The Bible Training School, April 1, 1906, par. 7 

 

4. Receive PARDON AND CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (The PORTAL to New Life)

God’s transforming work addresses both the penalty and power of sin in our lives. In the penalty, forensic aspect, sometimes referred to as “justification by faith,” the believer is forgiven and receives the merit of Christ’s righteousness.

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

Titus 3:5-7 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

 

Notice the following verses on God’s mercy:

  • Ex. 34:6,7 (God extends mercy to thousands)

  • Ps. 103:8-13 (His mercy is as high as the heavens)

  • Isa. 55:7 (God abundantly pardons in giving His mercy)

  • Rom 5:20,21 (Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more)

 

Notice additional verses on God’s remedy for the penalty of our sins?

  • Jer. 33:16 (Christ becomes our righteousness)

  • Hab. 2:4 (We live by faith in God)

  • John 3:14-17 (Anyone who believes can obtain eternal life)

  • John 5:24 (Those that hear receive eternal life)

  • Rom. 1:17 (This righteousness is by faith from first to last)

  • Rom. 5:1-5 (As a result we have peace with God)

  • Rom. 5:8,9 (God died for us while we were still sinners)

  • Gal. 2:15,16 (We are not justified by works, but by Jesus death on cross)

  • Php 3:9 (Our righteousness is the result of our faith in Christ)

 • 2 Cor. 5:18-21 (Jesus became sin for us that we might receive His righteousness)

  • Isa. 53:5 (By his stripes we have been healed)

  • Isa  44:22 (As a result God has blotted out our transgressions)

“The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a precious thought. The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken.” The Faith I Live By, p. 111

“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 20, p. 62.

“It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” Steps to Christ, p. 62.

“Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it, but it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow this grace upon every one who hungers for it. To every one He presents terms of mercy, not because we are worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy. Our need is the qualification which gives us the assurance that we shall receive this gift. God’s Amazing Grace, p. 62.

“Christ, our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him. Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner's place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 9.

What do we learn from Luke 15:18-24 (Prodigal Son) about receiving God's gift of Pardon and Christ's robe of righteousness?

 

What do we learn from comparing Luke 15:18-24 (Parable of the Prodigal Son) with the following quotes on how we receive the gift of pardon and Christ’s robe of righteousness?

“You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then believe He does this because He has promised…. We must believe we do receive, and it is ours…. You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to you. If you believe the promise,—believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,—God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed. It is so if you believe it…. It is our privilege to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame or remorse.” Steps to Christ, pp. 49-51

“Do not listen to the enemy’s suggestions to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of Jesus, ‘Him what cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out….’  John 6:37…. If you take even one step toward Him in repentance, He will hasten to enfold you in His arms of infinite love. His ear is open to the cry of the contrite soul. The very first reaching out of the heart after God is known to Him. Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working upon the human soul.” Christ Object Lessons, p. 206

 

5. Be TRANSFORMED In Taking Up Your Cross (The PRICE of New Life)

Whereas justification is imputed in a moment, and regards the work of God for us, sanctification is imparted, is the work of a lifetime, and regards the work of God in us, and brings about the desired change of behavior. Transformation is enabled through an unreserved surrender, the power of the Holy Spirit as we receive and experience Christ’s presence through the Scriptures, prayer, meditation, and receiving the special messages given for our day. It also includes dying to self in taking up the cross and following Christ, purging our lives of the things that originated with self in the past, and accepting the necessary refining trials allowed by God.

 Luke 9: 23 “If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory [character to character], just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  

 

• Make an UNRESERVED Surrender

In giving God permission to transform our lives, we come to realize that such a permission necessitates making an unreserved surrender to God, giving Him control of every area of our lives. Success is directly proportional to the completeness of our surrender.

Rom. 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,  that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,  which is your reasonable service.”

“True victory is gained only when the repentant sinner pledges himself to unconditional obedience to God.” Youth’s Instructor, January 17, 1911, par. 6

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. ... Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ’s Object Lessons 118.1.

"Surrender: absolute abandonment to the will of God, and the unreserved surrender of every sinful habit and cherished idol. Nothing is clearer than that a Christian receives power in proportion to the completeness of his consecration." E. L. Minchin, "The Coming Revival," Australasian Union Conference Record,  July 6, 1936.

“Shall we make a present of our bodies to Christ, just as He has asked us to do? Literally present your body to Christ. The body is something real, and consecration includes every part—every organ of my body: my hands, my feet, my lips, every faculty and every organ. Present them to Him as He asks. In the morning when you awaken or at any time through the day, it will bring a distinctive experience to you to look down at your hands and say, "Lord, Jesus, here are your hands today. These are your hands today. I have given them to you. ... When I write that letter or hold that book, it will be His hands doing it. No doubt there would be some letters that never would be written if we believed this. ... Would His hands be found holding a pack of playing cards or a worthless novel? ... And look at your feet and say, "Lord, I give my feet to Thee. They are thine today." Then these feet will go where His feet would go. They will not take us into forbidden places of pleasure, nor along the pathways of sin. His feet ever took Him on His mission of love to others. So will mine if they are His.” [Continue to surrender each body part and recognize them as having been surrendered during the day. ed.]—Taken from a sermon by Elder E. L. Minchin, “How To Make Surrender Real.” Find more on surrender and revival at elminchin.com

 

• RECEIVE God’s Word

Psalms 119:11 “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

  • John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

  • John 8:32 (Truth brings freedom)

  • Rom. 10:17 (Faith comes by hearing word of God)

  • Rom. 12:2 “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

  • 2 Cor. 3:18 (Beholding brings transformation)

“The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 100.1

“The purity, the holiness, of the life of Jesus as presented from the Word of God, possesses more power to reform and transform the character than do all the efforts put forth in picturing the sins and crimes of men and the sure results. One steadfast look to the Saviour uplifted upon the cross will do more to purify the mind and heart from every defilement than will all the scientific explanations by the ablest tongue.” Letter 102, 1894, par. 26.

 

• Commune With CHRIST in SECRET Prayer

Matthew 6:6  “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

  • Ps. 46:10 (Be still and know that I am God)

  • Hab. 2:10 (Let all the earth keep silence before Him)

“Prayer is a necessity; for it is the life of the soul. Family prayer, public prayer, have their place; but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul life.” Review and Herald, December 31, 1908 par. 10

“You will receive more strength by spending one hour each day in meditation, and mourning over your failings and heart-corruptions, and pleading for God’s pardoning love, and the assurance of sins forgiven, than you would by spending many hours and days in studying the most able authors.” Review and Herald, January 19, 1864 par. 19

“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.” Desire of Ages, p. 363.3

“You should keep your mind filled with the precious promises of God. As Christians we do not make half enough of the promises, for God will never fail in any good thing which he has promised. We should take these promises singly, view them critically in all their richness, meditate upon them until the soul is burdened with their greatness, and delighted with their strength and power. I am so sorry that we deprive ourselves of the blessing we might have, and it is simply because we do not cherish the thought that the promises of God are for us. God has left them in his word for us, and we should dig for them as for hidden treasures. ... But you must remember that only those who obey the commandments of God through his grace have a right to appropriate the promises written for the consolation of the children of God.” Signs of the Times, April 14, 1890.

Through Christ, moral power is brought to man that will change the entire affections, and enable man to work with a will for the cause of God. ... By the revelation of the attractive loveliness of Christ, by the knowledge of his love expressed to us while we were yet sinners, the stubborn heart is melted and subdued, and the sinner is transformed and becomes a child of God. Love is the agency which God uses to expel sin from the human soul.” Signs of the Times, June 9, 1890, par. 10

 

• ACCEPT God’s SPECIAL MESSAGES For Our Day

2 Chronicles 20:20 “Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

Jer. 5:30,31 “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?"

2 Chron. 35:16 "They mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy."

“God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given and in His own chosen way brought them before the people to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse. The Testimonies are not to belittle the word of God, but to exalt it and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all.” Counsels to the Church, p. 92.1

“There are not many of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. … It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God's inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings.” Counsels to the Church, p. 92.5

“I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting away the light from God’s people. Unbelief is closing their eyes so that they are ignorant of their true condition. They think the testimony of the Spirit of God in reproof is uncalled for or that it does not mean them. Such are in the greatest need of the grace of God and spiritual discernment, that they may discover their deficiency in spiritual knowledge.” Testimony Treasures, vol. 2, p. 289.1

 

• Submit to Being "BROKEN" if Necessary

Luke 20:17,18 "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken."

  • Ps. 51:17 (The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit)

  • Ps. 34:18 (God is near those who have broken hearts)

“We must fall upon the Rock and be broken before we can be uplifted in Christ.” Desire of Ages, p. 56.4

“To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love.” Desire of Ages, p. 599.3

“Every one who accepts the present truth should make the fullest possible surrender of himself to God. He should fall upon the Rock, and be broken. Old habits, hereditary and cultivated traits of character, must all be broken up; we must yield ourselves to be moulded by the divine Spirit if we would become vessels unto honor.” Gospel Workers 1992, p. 311.2

 

• Embrace DYING to Self

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’”

1 Corinthians 15:31 “I die daily.”

Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

“There is a great deal of modern preaching which presents, as a remedy for sin, love, social regeneration, culture, self-development, etc.  According to the Scriptures, the only way to deal with sin is to begin with death….  Undoubtedly the great difficulty with the majority of believers is that they are trying to live Christ’s life without first having died Christ’s death….  It is much more popular these days to talk about life than death, but not more necessary, for death is the way into life.  Many have not seen or understood the necessity of this death; and others, having seen it, are afraid or unwilling to die….  It is the daily dying of self that makes room for the living of Christ.” Meade MacGuire, The Life of Victory, pp. 33, 35, 37.

“We cannot retain self and yet be filled with the fullness of God. We must be emptied of self. If heaven is gained by us at last, it will be only through the renunciation of self, and the receiving of the mind of Christ.” Signs of the Times, November 21, 1892, par. 4

“Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their submission to the most bitter humiliation,--submission even unto death for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour's words have pictured.” Desire of Ages, p. 416.3

“Self must die and not have a resurrection every other day. The words must be truly spoken, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” The “I” is a very hard personality to kill. “I” rises into life in full proportions if given the least opportunity or encouragement. Then, confident in their own supposed wisdom, men forsake the right way.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 368.2,3

“Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Because professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead.” Review and Herald, January 6, 1863, par. 10

“The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1075.7

 

- What is dying to self?

 • Luke 18:18-23 (Following comes as we are willing to surrender EVERYTHING)

  • Luke 9:23 (This dying experience must be daily)

  • John 12:24 (There is no life OR fruit without death)

  • Matt. 10:10 (The outcome is the more abundant life)

 

What does it mean to be dead according to the Bible?

  • Ps. 6:5 (No remembrance of God in grave)

  • Eccl. 9:10 (No work or knowledge in the grave)

  • Isa. 38:18 (There is no praise in the grave)

 

What do we learn about being dead in visiting a cemetery?

 

- What are the benefits of dying to self?  

 • Rom. 6:1-4 (Baptism is the public funeral of the old man; resurrection of new man—by faith)

  • Php. 1:21 (To live is Christ, therefore dying is gain)

  • Gal. 2:20 (We are crucified with Christ)

  • Rom. 6:11 (Not only did Jesus die at the cross; we died)

  • Gal. 6:14 (it is through co-crucifixion that our desire for the world dies)

  • 1 Cor. 2:2 (We should make this crucifixion that base of all we do and share)

  • Rom. 12:1 (We should give ourselves as living sacrifices, willing to be consumed for God)

“Our Lord and Saviour asks us to give ourselves to Him. Surrendering self to God is all He requires, giving ourselves to Him to be employed as He sees fit. Until we come to this point of surrender, we shall not work happily, usefully, or successfully anywhere” Letter 97, 1898

 

- What was Jesus’ great purpose in life and how did He die to self?

  • John 6: 38 (He lived for His Father’s will)

  • John 8: 28,29 (Always did things that pleased His Father)

  • Matt. 11: 28-30 (He happily accepted the Father’s yoke)

  • Php. 2: 5 – 9 (Jesus took the humble way)

  • Heb. 5: 8 (He learned obedience through things suffered)

  • Matt. 27: 39,40 (Jesus did not use his power for personal gain)

“It was a difficult task for the Prince of Life to carry out the plan which He had undertaken for the salvation of man, in clothing His divinity with humanity. He had received honor in the heavenly courts and was familiar with absolute power. It was as difficult for Him to keep the level of humanity as for men to rise above the low level of their depraved natures and be partakers of the divine nature.” Confrontation, p. 85

“To keep His glory veiled as the child of a fallen race, this was the most severe discipline to which the Prince of life could subject Himself.” Letter 19, 1901

 

- How is the “old man” nature crucified?

  • Luke 9:23 (By taking up cross daily)

  • Deut. 8:2,3 (Accepting the humbling experiences God sends us)

  • Prov. 3:11,12 (Not despising God’s chastening)

  • Zech 13:9 (Trials are the gold-refining experiences we need)

  • Gal. 2:20 (God brings about crucifying experiences in our lives)

  • Heb. 12:6,7 (God chastens those He loves)

  • James 1:2-4 (Rejoice that trials perfect your faith)

  • 1 Pet. 1:7,8 (Trials make our lives precious)

  • Rev. 3:19 (We are commanded to accept these experiences)

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. Therefore they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ Object Lessons, p. 118

 

What do we learn about dying to self from the following examples:

  • Joseph (Gen. 50:20)

  • Children of Israel (Deut. 8:2)  

  • Jonah (1:17; 2:5-7; 4:4-8)

  • Early Church (Acts 14:22; 13:1-12, 14-45; 14:1-7, 8-20)

 

Be EMPTIED of Self

Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

  • Rom. 8:12,13 (Live by the Spirit)

  • Gal. 5:24-25 (Those walking with Jesus have crucified the flesh)

“Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a new creature.” Desire of Ages, p. 280.4

“Those who work for God are daily to empty the heart of self, that they may be cleansed of their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. They are to depend wholly upon Him who taught as never man taught. Unless the soul temple is daily emptied of self, and prepared for the reception of the Holy Spirit, self will rule the entire being.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, p. 168.3

“We cannot retain self and yet be filled with the fullness of God. We must be emptied of self. If heaven is gained by us at last, it will be only through the renunciation of self, and the receiving of the mind of Christ. ... Are we willing to pay the price required of us for eternal life? Are we ready to sit down and count the cost, and conclude that heaven is worth the sacrifice of dying to self, of having our will brought into perfect conformity with the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God will not be manifested upon us. When we present our emptied nature to God, he will by his Holy Spirit supply the vacuum made by the renunciation of self, and give us of his fullness.” Signs of the Times, November 21, 1892, par. 4

“No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 159.3

 

Recognize Trials Are NECESSARY BLESSINGS

John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Hebrews 5:8 “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience through the things which He suffered.”

“Christ desires nothing so much as to redeem His heritage from the dominion of Satan. But before we are delivered from Satan's power without, we must be delivered from his power within.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 174.3

“Trials are essential in order that we may be brought close to our heavenly Father, in submission to his will, that we may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. God's work of refining and purifying the soul must go on until his servants are so humbled, so dead to self, that when called into active service, they may have an eye single to the glory of God. … The Lord brings his children over the same ground again and again, increasing the pressure until perfect humility fills the mind, and the character is transformed; then they are victorious over self, and in harmony with Christ and the Spirit of heaven.” Review and Herald, April 10, 1894, par. 2

“The very trials that test our faith most severely, and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are designed to lead us nearer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at his feet, and receive the peace he will give us in exchange. . . . When you surrender yourself entirely to God, when you fall all broken upon Jesus, you will be rewarded by a victory, the joy of which you have never yet realized. As you review the past with a clear vision, you will see that at the very time when life seemed to you only a perplexity and a burden, Jesus himself was near you, seeking to lead you into the light. Your Father was by your side, bending over you with unutterable love, afflicting you for your good, as the refiner purifies the precious ore. When you have thought yourself forsaken, he has been near you to comfort and sustain. We seldom view Jesus as he is, and are never so ready to receive his help as he is to help us.” Gospel Workers 1992, p. 372.3

“God orders our surroundings, and he will place us where we shall have test after test, to prove us and to reveal what is in our hearts. Again and again we shall be brought into strait places, that it may be known whether we are indeed crucified with Christ or full of self-love.” Review and Herald, June 3, 1884, par. 11

“What a victory you will gain when you learn to follow the opening providences of God with a grateful heart, and a determination to live with an eye single to his glory, in sickness or health, in abundance or want.” Gospel Workers, p. 373.

 

Adopt an Attitude of THANKSGIVING

  • Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

  • 1 Thess. 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

  • Rom. 8:36,37 (We are more than conquerors in all things)

  • Php. 4:6 (Rejoice in the Lord always)

 • Eph. 5:20 (We can give thanks at ALL TIMES and for ALL THINGS)

  • Col. 3:15,17 (Let God’s peace reign in our hearts no matter what)

  • 1 Tim 2:1 (We can even give thanks for ALL men)

 

What do we learn from the following quotation about Christ?

“The Father's presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. Whatever comes to him comes from the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Nothing can touch him except by the Lord's permission. All our sufferings and sorrows, all our temptations and trials, all our sadness and griefs, all our persecutions and privations, in short, all things work together for our good. All experiences and circumstances are God's workmen whereby good is brought to us.” Ministry of Healing, p. 488.4

 

CHOOSE to Be More and More LIKE Christ

“By beholding Him we are to be changed into His image, from glory to glory, from character to character.” Review and Herald, August 13, 1901

“There can be no growth or fruitfulness in the life that is centered in self. If you have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, you are to forget yourself, and try to help others. Talk of the love of Christ, tell of His goodness. Do every duty that presents itself. Carry the burden of souls upon your heart, and by every means in your power seek to save the lost. As you receive the Spirit of Christ—the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others—you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. More and more you will reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely.” Christ Object Lessons, 67

 

SEEK to Answer Christ’s Prayer For Unity: Pursue and Dwell in UNITY

John 17:23 “That they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

“The instruction given me by One of authority is that we are to learn to answer the prayer recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John. We are to make this prayer our first study. Every gospel minister, every medical missionary, is to learn the science of this prayer. … Those who fail to learn the lessons contained in this prayer are in danger of making one-sided developments, which no future training will ever fully correct.” Testimonies, Vol. 8, 239.2.

“Then comes the wonderful prayer recorded in the seventeenth of John—a prayer that means much more to us than we realize. Let us receive it unto the treasure-house of the soul, and make it the daily lesson of our lives.” Manuscript 1, 1903, par. 10 

“The unity for which Christ prayed is not to be regarded as a sentiment, but as the purpose of God for us. It is in accordance with the councils held by the Father and the Son that there shall be perfect unity among those who name the name of Christ. This is a holy, sanctified unity, which forbids all alienation and strife.” Manuscript 182, 1905, par. 22.

“Complete union with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers.” Manuscript 182, 1905, par. 23.

“Christian unity is a mighty agency. It tells in a powerful manner that those who possess it are children of God. It has an irresistible influence upon the world.” Signs of the Times, February 7, 1900 Par. 1

Join others in becoming a spectacle to the world, angels and men.

Ps. 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

“The church is a Christian society, formed for the members composing  it, that each member may enjoy the assistance of all the graces and talents of the other members, and the working of God upon them, according to their several gifts and abilities. The church is united in the holy bonds of fellowship in order that each member may be benefited by the influence of the other. All are to bind themselves to the covenant of love and harmony. The Christian principles and graces of the whole society of believers is to gather strength and force in harmonious action. Each believer is to be benefited and improved by the refining and transforming influence of the varied capabilities of the other members, that the things lacking in one may be more abundantly displayed in another. All the members are to draw together, that the church may become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” Letter 26, 1900, par. 20.

"Every believer begotten by the Word of truth places himself under the divine theocracy, recognizing that his will is to be in submission to the will of God, at every step inquiring His way, His methods, in preparation for the coming of our Lord in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ... Letter 8, 1900, par. 5.  This is the great purpose for which Christ came to the world. He came to secure unto Himself a people who would work out His will in such complete harmony with God as is here expressed. Thus they become channels of light to the world through the one spirit which shall mold and fashion the human soul after the divine similitude.” Letter 8, 1900, par. 6

 

6. Receive POWER Abiding “In Christ” (The Provision of New Life)

John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you.” 

Luke 13:20-21 “And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven....”

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 

Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Col. 1:27 (The mystery ...  Christ in you)

Col. 2:6 (Walk in the same way you received Christ)

1 Cor 1: 30 (We are in Christ through the work of God)

Php. 1: 21 (To live in Christ)

Php 4: 13 (We can do all things through Christ)

Rom. 8: 2 (Law of the Spirit brings freedom from law of death)

1 Cor. 3:16 (We become God's temple)

1 Cor 15: 22 (As in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall live)

1 Cor. 15: 57 (Let’s thank God who gives us the victory)

2 Cor 2: 14 (God always causes us to triumph)

2 Cor 5: 17 (In Jesus we are a new creation)

Eph 1: 3 (We are dead but now our lives are hid in God)

1 Thess. 5: 23, 24 (God will bring about entire transformation)

2 Peter 1:4 (We partake of Christ’s divine nature)

1 John 4:4 (The One in us is greater than the one in the world)

Jude 24 (God’s grace—favor—is with us)

“The work of sanctification begins in the heart, and we must come into such a relation with God, that Jesus can put his divine mold upon us. We must be emptied of self in order to give room to Jesus, but how many have their hearts so filled with idols that they have no room for the Redeemer of the world.… . If you open the door of the heart, Jesus will supply the vacuum by the gift of his Spirit, and then you can be a living preacher in your home, in the church, and in the world.” Review and Herald, February 23, 1892.

 “As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart.” Christ Object Lessons, p. 97. 

“Christianity proposes a reformation in the heart. What Christ works within will be worked out under the dictation of a converted intellect. The plan of beginning outside and trying to work inward has always failed, and always will fail.  ... God’s plan ... is to begin at the very seat of all difficulties, the heart, and then from out of the heart will issue the principles of righteousness; the reformation will be outward as well as inward.” Letter 73, 1896

 

What can we learn about abiding from the vines and branches in a vineyard?

 

What do we learn about abiding from these verses?

  • Rom. 6:22-7:4 (Gift of life is eternal life and fruit)

  • John 15:1-8 (Abiding in Christ we bear fruit as we cling and as we allow pruning to go on)

  • Gal. 5:22,23 (Fruit of Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc.; fruits that develop as we die to self)

 

Notice all the things that occur as a result of Jesus being the "true vine."  

  • John 15:5 (Jesus is the true vine)

  • John 14:6 (Jesus is the truth AND the life)

  • Col. 3:4 (Christ is our life)

  • 1 John 5:11,12 (In Jesus we have life)  

 

What do we learn about our blessings from the following verses?  

  • John 15:5 (We are the branches)

  • 2 Cor. 1:20 (Promises of God become true abiding in Him)

  • Php. 4:13 (All should be THROUGH Christ)

  • Ps. 71:16 (We should go in God’s strength)

  • Zech. 10:12 (We should live in God’s strength)

  • Col. 2:6-10 (We need to walk IN Jesus the same way we received Him)

  • 1 Pet. 3:16 (Our conversations should be in Jesus)

  • Rom. 8:13,14 (As many as are led by Spirit are sons of God)

  • Eph. 6:10 (We are strong in God and in the power of His might)

“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.” Desire of Ages, p. 324.1

“The Lord Jesus loves His people, and when they put their trust in Him, depending wholly upon Him, He strengthens them. He will live through them, giving them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital transfusion of Himself. He acts through their faculties and causes them to choose His will and to act out His character.” That I May Know Him, p. 78.4

“Without Christ we cannot subdue a single sin nor resist the slightest temptation. It is connection with a power that is almighty which will make us overcomers. Then let everyone who comes to Jesus walk humbly, and feel daily that he needs a power out of and above himself, to soften his stony heart; that he needs to be melted over, that the dross of self may be consumed.” Signs of the Times, August 10, 1891, par. 2

“The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is that they try to attach themselves to Christ without first detaching themselves from these cherished idols.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 231.3

“Do you ask, “How am I to abide in Christ?” In the same way as you received Him at first. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” “The just shall live by faith.” Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 10:38. You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour. You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart; but having given yourself to God, you believe that He for Christ's sake did all this for you. By faith you became Christ's, and by faith you are to grow up in Him--by giving and taking. You are to give all,--your heart, your will, your service,—give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all,—Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper,—to give you power to obey.” Steps to Christ, p. 69.2

“In Christ is life. Possessing Christ, the believer has eternal life; but without Him there is no life. This is equally true of every other blessing of God. Man of himself not only has no life, but he has no peace, no victory, no faith, no righteousness, nor any other attribute of God. The Father has gathered up all the blessings of infinite love, and bestowed them upon us in the precious gift of His Son. Nothing has been withheld. All is embraced and included in the one great gift. ... Why do men struggle and fight to obtain what comes as a gift in Christ? They talk of victory on this point and victory on that point, when if they would only BELIEVE it, Christ is the victory on every point.” Meade MacGuire, The Life of Victory

 

COOPERATE With The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

“The only power that can quicken the heart into activity is the power which will give life to the dead—the Holy Spirit of God. . . . Hang your helpless soul upon your Mediator. In and through Him, and Him alone, you can come to God. . . .” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, p. 24.4

“The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature.” Review and Herald, November 19, 1908, par. 5

 

GRASP the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:4 “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,”

“‘Partakers of the divine nature.’ Is this possible? Of ourselves we can do no good thing. How, then, can we be partakers of the divine nature?—By coming to Christ just as we are, needy, helpless, dependent.” Review and Herald, April 14, 1904, par. 2

“As the repenting sinner lays hold of Christ as his personal Saviour, he is made a partaker of the divine nature.” Signs of the Times, April 7, 1898, par. 8

“Let us now come humbly before God, confessing our sins, and let us by faith take hold of the divine nature. Then the angels of God will come into our midst.” Manuscript 71, 1907.17 

“In Christ it is our privilege to come to God and to lay hold of Him with living faith, and to say, “I believe in myself I can do nothing, but through the provision thou hast made, I believe that humanity can grasp divinity. I grasp it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Now that is the very work many neglect to do. What is at stake? Your souls.” Manuscript 115, 1909.35 

“The divine nature is to be imparted to every true seeker after Jesus Christ. Divinity must be united with humanity. Thus humanity may be partakers of the divine nature, that men may be able to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Sermon and Talks, vol. 2, 294.2

“It is our privilege to so fully partake of the divine nature that we may be one with Christ as He is one with the Father.” Manuscript 11, 1899.22 

“God helping me, I am determined to be an overcomer. ... Through a dependence upon the divinity of Christ, I may overcome as He overcame.” Manuscript 37, 1908.19 

“If received and appreciated, the Holy Spirit will make us holy, Christlike. Through its agency, we are united with Christ, partakers of the divine nature. The reception of the Holy Spirit in its fulness is the great need of the church today. Let us pray earnestly that it may soon be realized.” Letter 178, 1907.12

 

RECEIVE Victory

2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ….”

1 Corinthians 5: 57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith and humility....” Sons and Daughters of God, p. 370.4

“It is not some new gift from God that we need; it is a better understanding of the fact that He has already given us everything in Christ.  It is laying hold by faith of the blessings which are already ours in Him. ‘By faith you became Christ’s and by faith you are to grow up in Him,—by giving and taking.  You are to give all,—your heart, your will, your service,—give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all,—Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper,—to give you power to obey.’(White, E.G, Steps to Christ, p. 70) How many there are who have given all to God!  They have made a full surrender to Him and desire only to do His will.  Yet they are often filled with disappointment because of a conscious lack and failure.  The secret of this failure is here disclosed.  They have given all, but they have not taken all.” Meade MacGuire, The Life of Victory. pp. 102-104. 

 

What important point is made in the following verse?

Rom. 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

"I have been shown that they gratify their selfish propensities, and do only such things as agree with their tastes and ideas. They make provision for indulgence in pride and sensuality, and carry out their selfish ambitions and plans. They are full of self-esteem. But although their evil propensities may seem to them as precious as the right hand or the right eye, they must be separated from the worker, or he cannot be acceptable before God." Special Testimonies to Our Ministers - No. 2, 20.2

 

Exercise LIVING Faith

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

What do we learn about living by faith from the following references?

Col. 2:6 "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,"  

  • 2 Peter 2:9 (God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation)

  • Hab. 2:4 (Genuinely righteous people live by faith)

  • Heb. 10:38 (To please God we must live by faith)

  • Heb. 11: 1 (Faith rejoices before the desired outcome is received)

  • 1 John 5:4 (Faith overcomes the world)

  • Eph. 6:16 (Faith is the shield that repels the enemy)

“Here is faith, naked faith, to believe that we receive the blessing, even before we realize it. . . . But many suppose . . . that they cannot have faith unless they feel the power of the Spirit. Such confound faith with the blessing that comes through faith. The very time to exercise faith is when we feel destitute of the Spirit. When thick clouds of darkness seem to hover over the mind, then is the time to let living faith pierce the darkness and scatter the clouds. True faith rests on the promises contained in the Word of God, and those only who obey that Word can claim its glorious promises.” Amazing Grace, p. 207.

“[M]any say, ‘How can I help sinning? I have tried to overcome, but I do not make advancement.’ In your own strength you will fail, but help has been laid upon One who is mighty. In his strength you may be more than conqueror. Say, ‘Through the grace of God I will be an overcomer.’ Put your will on the side of God's will, and with your eye fixed upon Him who is the author and finisher of your faith, you may make straight paths for your feet.”  Bible Echo, July 15, 1892. par. 3

“Faith, saving faith, is to be taught. The definition of this faith in Jesus Christ may be described in few words: It is the act of the soul by which the whole man is given over to the guardianship and control of Jesus Christ. He abides in Christ and Christ abides in the soul by faith as supreme. The believer commits his soul and body to God, and with assurance may say, Christ is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. All who will do this will be saved unto life eternal. There will be an assurance that the soul is washed in the blood of Christ and clothed with His righteousness and precious in the sight of Jesus.” 1888, 495.

 

Ignore Your Feelings

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

  • Php 4:4 (Keep on rejoicing)

  • Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust God to properly direct you)

“If you look to yourself, you will see only weakness. There is no Saviour there.” Daughters of God, p. 146.3

“Satan may try to bind you [Written to S. N. Haskell at a time of discouragement] to his car [chariot] as a helpless soul. But shout in victory that Christ has made you a free man. Do not dishonor God by one expression of inefficiency and inability to overcome fully, entirely, and gloriously through Jesus Christ, who has died to redeem you, and make you a free man. Conquer, yes, conquer. Put your will every moment on the side of God’s will. Think hopefully and courageously. In faith cry out against Satan, and looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith, say, ‘Jesus, my Redeemer, I am weak. I cannot do anything without Thy special help. I hang my helpless soul on Thee.’ Then let your imagination dwell on the thought that you are in the presence of Jesus, walking with God, your life hid with Christ in God.... Then you will not glorify Satan by imagining yourself weak and helpless. You will keep yourself uplifted into a pure and holy atmosphere. ... You will say, ‘Jesus lives, and because He lives I will live also. He has conquered Satan in my behalf, and I will not be conquered by the devil once. I will not disgrace my Lord and Leader; but I will triumph in His holy name, and come off more than conqueror.’” Our High Calling, p. 41.3 [Written to a young adult who was in bondage to sin.]

“Now faith walks the narrow plank, and walks till it comes to the end, then steps right off onto nothing, as it were. Yet it is everything. It is a mighty upholder. You walk the plank of faith and you cannot see another step to go. You need not consult how you feel. Feeling has nothing to do with it. Do I believe in God, that He is my God, and that His promises will be verified to me? Then I go right about my work. I never look or examine whether I have feeling or have no feeling. I know what my duty is from the expressed will of God, and it is for me to do it and do it intelligently.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 309.3

 

7. ADOPT Christ’s Lifestyle (The MANIFESTATION of New Life)

Take Christ’s Yoke.

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and m burden is light.”

 

Do Not Take On Galling MANUFACTURED Yokes.

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

“We often think we are having a hard time in bearing burdens, and it is too often the case, because God has not made any provision for us to carry these burdens; but when we bear His yoke and carry His burdens, we can testify that the yoke of Christ is easy and His burdens are light, because He has made provision for these.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1091.2

 

Take CHRIST'S Yoke.

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

“This yoke, [which] you are afraid [to] put upon your neck because you fear it will gall, Jesus says is easy. The burden you dare not touch—it is light. All that is required on your part is to resolutely lay hold upon it, and you will find it a support rather than a grievous burden. That cross which seems to you so inconvenient an instrument to lift, which seems too heavy to be raised, when you cheerfully lay hold upon it and lift it, it will lift you and be a support and strength to you....” The Upward Look, p. 376.4

 

What is Christ’s Yoke? A Yoke of OBEDIENCE and SERVICE.

"If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved." Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 101.3 

 

The Yoke Of OBEDIENCE

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

“The yoke and the cross are symbols representing the same thing,—the giving up of the will to God.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1090.8

“What is ‘My yoke’? It is perfect submission to God.” Sermon and Talks, vol. 1, p. 152.3

 

The Yoke of SERVICE

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

“The yoke is an instrument of service. Cattle are yoked for labor, and the yoke is essential that they may labor effectually. By this illustration Christ teaches us that we are called to service as long as life shall last. We are to take upon us His yoke, that we may be co-laborers with Him.” Signs of the Times, June 29, 1904 par. 3

“The Master, Jesus Christ, has placed His yoke upon the neck of every disciple. The life service is pledged to Him in accepting His yoke. Anything that will mar or hinder his perfect service to God is to be broken off, whatever its nature or character may be. . . .” Heavenly Places, p. 201.4

 

How is Christ’s Yoke To Be Worn? 

In MEEKNESS AND LOWLINESS!

Psalms 25:9 “The meek will he guide … the meek will he teach his way.”

Psalms 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

“We are to take his yoke of submission, restraint, and obedience, in meekness and lowliness of heart. Those who yoke up with Christ will find rest and peace.” Gospel of Health, December 1, 1899, par. 6

“In our separation from God, in our pride and darkness, we are constantly seeking to elevate ourselves, and we forget that lowliness of mind is power. Our Saviour’s power was not in a strong array of sharp words that would pierce through the very soul; it was His gentleness and His plain, unassuming manners that made Him a conqueror of hearts. Pride and self-importance, when compared with lowliness and humility, are indeed weakness.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 477.1

“The meekness and lowliness of Christ is the Christian’s power. It is indeed more precious than all things which genius can create or wealth can buy.” Counsels on Health, p. 403.1

“Jesus expects that his gentleness and condescension will be reproduced in those whom he blesses. Jesus came to our world, and chose the lowliest life, took the humblest position, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps. The Majesty of heaven was meek and lowly in heart, and he expects all his followers to catch his spirit of meekness and lowliness....” Signs of the Times, August 22, 1895, par. 1

“In the world the Christian will be slighted and dishonored, and will consent to be least of all and servant of all. He will submit to be injured, to be despitefully used and persecuted, but wearing the yoke of Christ he will find rest unto his soul, and the yoke will not be galling.” Signs of the Times, August 22, 1895, par. 5

“Meekness is a precious grace, willing to suffer silently, willing to endure trials. Meekness is patient and labors to be happy under all circumstances. Meekness is always thankful and makes its own songs of happiness, making melody in the heart to God. Meekness will suffer disappointment and wrong, and will not retaliate.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 335.1

 

Christ’s Yoke Is EASY To Carry

John 16:33 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

“It was the spirit of uncomplaining submission in which our Saviour did His duty that made His yoke easy and His burden light. He conformed to the law of obedience and service, and the same principle that made Him so useful everywhere, He requires His followers to obey.” Signs of the Times, June 16, 1898, par. 9

“When you find your work hard, when you complain of difficulties and trials, when you say that you have no strength to withstand temptation, that you cannot overcome impatience, and that the Christian life is uphill work, be sure that you are not bearing the yoke of Christ; you are bearing the yoke of another master.” Child Guidance, p. 267.3

 

What Is The PRACTICAL Outcome Of Wearing Christ’s Yoke?

1 John 2:6 “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

“Lowliness of heart, that meekness which is the fruit of abiding in Christ, is the true secret of blessing. ... It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered into the world, and our first parents lost the dominion over this fair earth, their kingdom. It is through self-abnegation that Christ redeems that which was lost. And He says we are to overcome as He did. Through humility and self-surrender we may become heirs with Him, when the “meek shall inherit the earth.” Sons and Daughters of God, p. 303.5

 

You Will Be BLESSED In Taking Up Christ’s POWER-BRINGING Yoke

Romans 8:37 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors….”

1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“There is rest for the soul in wearing Christ's yoke, in lifting Christ's burdens. It seems a contradiction to say that there is no rest for the soul except that which is found in continuous and devoted service. But this is true. Happiness comes in willing, obedient service, where all the powers of our being are moving in happy, healthy, harmonious action in obeying our Captain's orders. The more responsible the task assigned to Christ's soldiers, the more the soul exults in the Saviour's love and approval. The soul realizes a freedom in the performance of the weightiest and most taxing duties.” Pacific Union Recorder, January 15, 1903, par. 3

“None but God can subdue the pride of man’s heart. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot regenerate ourselves. In the heavenly courts there will be no song sung, “To me that loved myself, and washed myself, redeemed myself, unto me be glory and honor, blessing and praise.” But this is the keynote of the song that is sung by many here in this world. They do not know what it means to be meek and lowly in heart, and they do not mean to know this if they can avoid it. The whole gospel is comprised in learning of Christ His meekness and lowliness.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, p. 117.2

 

8. MAINTAIN This Life (The CONTINUATION of New Life)

Through PRAYER AND COMMUNION With God…

Matthew 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

“Prayer is a necessity; for it is the life of the soul. Family prayer, public prayer, have their place; but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul-life.” Review and Herald December 31, 1908, par. 10

 

Through BIBLE STUDY…

Psalms 119:11 “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us just as surely as though we could hear Him with our ears.” In Heavenly Places, p. 134.2

Through Seeking to KNOW and DO GOD’S WILL…

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

“Much prayer, and a humbling of the heart, a constant surrender of the will to God, will bring the help pledged to every worker by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Angels of God will work for those who yield themselves to the leading of the Spirit.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 354

 

Through SERVING God…

Matthew 4:19 “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

“True happiness is to be found, not in self-indulgence and self-pleasing, but in learning of Christ, taking His yoke, and bearing His burden.” That I May Know Him, p. 121.3

 

In Seeking to ANSWER Christ’s Prayer For Unity

John 17:21-23 (NKJV) “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

 

A Final Thought

“Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him. ... Not one who shall perseveringly climb the ladder will fail of an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 181.5.

 

 

This study guide was compiled by Dan Augsburger of Path2Prayer Ministries, a research, resource development, website development and teaching ministry. Dan has served God as a pastor, healthcare administrator, small business owner, lecturer at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and Revival Ministry Leader. He also completed the reseaerch for the transformation section of the Ellen White Encyclopedia. 

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