Is It Just a Theory?

[Ed Sutton]

Since I had asked Jesus to tutor me and that He plainly said that His words are Spirit and Life.   I started reading and was reading more than one thing; but felt moved to read Christ's Object Lessons.

I felt I must have as much of the portion of the life that is in the humanity of Jesus in me that i could hold.    His words could do that in me, and Bible & SOP are His words - so seeing my circular 5yr old's logic was in harmony with the Bible - I started reading Christ's Object Lessons - again after years - in prayer, faith, hope in Him to both be and do.

1st Corinthians ch 13; John ch 17; Eph 3:14-21; 2nd Peter 2:1-12; Love <25> <26> in 1st, 2nd, 3rd John

Here is the quote that jumped out at me from Christ's Object Lessons

"The sanctification of the soul by the working of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity. Gospel religion is Christ in the life--a living, active principle. It is the grace of Christ revealed in character and wrought out in good works. The principles of the gospel cannot be disconnected from any department of practical life. Every line of Christian experience and labor is to be a representation of the life of Christ. {COL 384.1 }

Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}

It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {COL 384.3}"


This caught my attention, I read it over and over , I would bookmark it and read it repetedly and ask to be empowered to soak it in to have my understanding open to grasp it.       This is what I must have ....here it was .....written in my language .......plainly spoken

Daniel prayed 3 times a day and I will tell the process that was opening to my mind in the next installment ........

to be continued.......

[Ed Sutton]

( I didn't  know to do it or how to go about it then,  but did do a Strong's number search with Bible software  <25>  <26>   pulling up all the texts and ignoring the translators definitions (too watered down and biased ).  Good preperation to examine - what moved the humanity of Jesus - even though HE HIMSELF SAID - "I of mine own self can do nothing" .     Where did He get <25>  <26>   because He was forbidden to pull it from His Divine Christ nature - His eternal SELF - His Godhood was 100% off limits for Him to use in however He had to live as one of us.

So my quandry was that Jesus is shown in Scripture over and over - loving the sinner though He knows all about the sinner inside and out, always moved with superhuman uncorrupted compassion.  This did not come from His Godhood, it did not come from inate humanity - (seed of Abraham), so where and how did He get it ?   The Scripture was brought to memory...."AS I LIVE BY MY FATHER....that's where He got it but then how do I get it   ??   Memory continued ....."whoso eateth...thats what I want His life in me - but how ......live by me  John 6:54-57.

Now I saw the beginning of the answer - get <25>  <26>    as a gift that every beliver is expected to go to God and lawfully obtain that through what ever God's process was to get it .

But I was not sure of the process needed to get it, I assumed prayer ..... so I started praying ....and continued reading the inspired things God had said.

I found other quotes about God's views of the purpose of what He calls love in the gospel process of internally recreating the beleiver.

"  Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, "Love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.  {DA 641.3}"

"The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour's glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. . . . For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." Christ could say, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." John 5:30. To Him it is declared, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Heb. 1:9. The Father "giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him."  {DA 180.1}

    So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Col. 2:9, 10, R. V.  {DA 181.1}"

Along with this 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6 and Ephesians 3:14-21 (reading KJV) was jumping out at me as I read them - in reinforcement of DA 181 quote.

I kept on asking Jesus to tutor me.......and so He was........testimony concluded next post.

[Larry Lyons]

Again, we have to ask that we not make long posts. Installments are not in keeping with the spirit of the request. This is a discussion forum. Please cooperate.

[Larry Lyons]

Ed God ahead and post the conclusion of your testimony. Of course an appropriate penance will be required. 

[reaching4heaven]

Of course an appropriate penance will be required. 

Surely no Hail Mary's?   

[Ed Sutton]

Thank You.

Things I was reading in Steps to Christ p-94-99 convinced me that prayer and acting on what was prayed was the basic nature of the process.  Below the line is offered as both the basic process I learned to follow, and can be freely used as a printout witnessing handout by anyone - freely received - freely give  - this concludes the testimony - ment to inspire hope - God convicts a person to elicit heartfelt interchange.
****************************************

I found the way to get the attitude of the "golden rule" implanted in me. It is not something any person either has or does not have, it is a gift from above. Therefore anyone can get it if they do these basic things.
1. Ask for it in prayer several times a day (even quietly from the heart while working - without speaking-Heaven hears)
2. Pray till you really want it, at first it is usually prayed without much desire to get it, prayer changes the person
praying - the concept "fake it till you make it" - works. Keep asking till it is desired and it happens.
3. Act as though you have it already, after asking for it, the Red Sea and the Jordan River didn't open till people stepped
into the edge of the H20.
4. If you have a family, get them all joining you in asking, and acting on it; everyone will get the similar attitude = happy family unity - otherwise only you will get the attitude and they won't = family disunity. This is generically what I asked for after reading the quote below. Please cause my self to be merged in Christ, please implant and cultivate in me the impulse to help and bless others constantly, please cause the sunshine of heaven to fill my heart and is revealed in my countenance. I asked this 3 times a day - and started acting as though I had it and thanking Heaven for receiving it - then started progressively getting it. The internal benefits are long lasting. This transcends ideologies, anyone can have it. The Golden Rule process is for sharing freely.

Acts 10:
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them. (Biblically name = character)

If desired here is a link to COL = the book "Christ's Object Lessons". It is part of a series of nine books, written from
1880's - 1915.
To download these books as freeware in e-book format for PC, Laptop, PDA, Blackberry, Ipod, I-phone, etc - go
to this link
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/ebooks/help/mobibooks.htm.
First download freeware mobipocket reader using the link.
Second download freeware Mobi-prc files of the entire books. Set of column of mobi-prc files on the left .
Third go to your downloads section and install the mobipocket reader by right clicking on it and clicking open.
Fourth import the mobi-prc files of those whole freeware books into your mob i-pocket reader by clicking on import and
browsing the download area to find the mobi-prc book files then click on open or import.
Fifth click on the book title you want to read, use the right side tabs to go forward and the left side tabs to go backward.
Click the X in the upper right corner to exit, and click on mobipocket reader icon to open it and the book title, start
reading from where you stopped at.

[Ed Sutton]

I was asking God, if He wanted me to post the conclusion, to move on Larry's heart to show me favor.  He did and Larry allowed it; thank you both.

[El]

I was asking God, if He wanted me to post the conclusion, to move on Larry's heart to show me favor.  He did and Larry allowed it; thank you both.

Thank you, Ed.  I understand.  You must have spent many hours in research.    EL

[Ed Sutton]

Actually this is the personal experience I had after our family moved to Theodor AL just before the first gulf war started.  This is a boiled down summary of the personal need I was convicted of, and God's way to give me what would satisfy that need.

I is the story of how God caused me to become aware of His simple process that would put me in position to both obtain the desire to receive agape/ agapous - and once desiring it with my whole heart and acting on His promises - start obtaining as much agape / agapous as I could hold in my human nature and put to use.

My mistake was that I did not get my wife and kids to start this process with me.   I became ignited by a joy that found it's greatest fulfillment and contentment in living out the golden rule, being only motivated by agape/agapous, striving to do what Desire of Ages p-181 talks about - "to all who do this.........measure."; and ministering to friends, enemies, strangers, who ever God introduced me to and prompted me toward.     They not being mutually ignited were at home while I was helping and blessing others, they felt left out and a lot of my time was not focused on them, unless I was bringing home hitchikers to feed or folks who needed a place to stay for awhile.

This created a reaction that would not have existed if I had been wiser.   

That's why i said in the generic outline of the process, get your family members praying for it, till "faking it till they make it" they are changed enough by the repoeated requests to be submurged in Christ - as inspiration and He teaches them - till He causes them to want it with their whole heart too.  Explain to them that the Red Sea opened when the people marched down till their feet got wet, the Jordan stopped and piled up when the feet of the priests touched the water.   Action motivated by hopeing God will honour His word and action taking action to put that trust in action - seems to be the ignition switch, and clutch, and gears.

[Larry Lyons]

Ed it is very good advice to involve your family and not make unilateral decisions about taking someone in that will affect their lives. Boundries should be preserved.  I have a friend who learned that the hard way. A few years ago I was close to a large family of a different culture. It is a culture noted for their hospitality and generousity. It was a large extended family with parents, grandparents and 5 children. At one point the father brought home a homeless alcoholic man. The man had a sense of entitlement and caused a lot of resentment in the family before they were able to send him on his way. I believe that the home is a special place that should be reserved for family unless the occasion indicates otherwise, and then it should be with in put from family members before a decision is made.

[Ed Sutton]

El, 

Perhaps though it was a personal experience, after looking at it - considering what you said - it was research.   Instead of achademic research to be published or to write something for sale, or any achidemic interests; it was research to both : experimentally take hold of God's tools and God's process, and in faith activated by decision and action take a hold of and put to use God's offered power - to fill the needs of an emptied heart, and humbled mind - with the Spirit and life of Jesus.

Since the research is spiritual, that explains why secular academic research rarely goes there, unless the researcher is personally united to Christ.   

I wonder what it was like for the researchers that were both academic and joined to Christ and thirsted for more each day ?

I wonder if Issac Newton described such blended (spiritual and secular) research in any of his works ?    (for example)

Part of Einstien's math was wrong.  He said nothing - or nothing physical - could exceed the speed of light.

Gabriel went through the Orion Nebula to Earth while Daniel was praying that portion in Daniel chapter 9, 1500-1600 light years distance.

It has been said - reading Daniel's passage in Hebrew - it takes approx 4 min's.

1500-1600 light yrs in 4 min's.

[Ed Sutton]

Since I last posted God has helped me interest others, SDA & Non SDA & non Christian in obtaining the compassion that moved Jesus.     It is written that in the last days "primitive godliness' will be revived.  It is probably a safe estimate that being filled with agape, agapous, philio - will be part of that godliness.  It might be a topic worth examining from Scripture & Jesus's testifying about it.


Ps 110:3  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

Matthew 25: 1-46 same parable 3 different facets

(Oil-less virgins = agapeless Church Members espousing a pure message),  their foolishness is Biblically being fools = turning away from intimate union with Christ. And they are not interested in soulwinning.

(Talents = Church members who are filled with agape, agapous, philio that compels them to put what God offers to use )

( sheep & goats = proffessed Christians who do not have the compassion of the Golden Rule moving them out of their ruts inorder to unselfishly minister to others in need.)

Message & doctrine is refered to, but union with God and the resulting Agape, agapous, Philio that compells them to minister to others as naturally as it was for Jesus.

[El]

Since I last posted God has helped me interest others, SDA & Non SDA & non Christian in obtaining the compassion that moved Jesus.     It is written that in the last days "primitive godliness' will be revived.  It is probably a safe estimate that being filled with agape, agapous, philio - will be part of that godliness.  It might be a topic worth examining from Scripture & Jesus's testifying about it.

Ed, in your conquest of doing the work that God is wanting of you to interest others, of all creeds,to learn of the compassion of Jesus, have you been able to interest and include your wife and children in the efforts that you make?  Have they decided to help you in your work for the Lord? How nice it is, as a family, to work to save souls for the kingdom of God. I have found that to have Agape love for those closest to me gives me a closer walk with Jesus. 

[newbie]

Ed, in your conquest of doing the work that God is wanting of you to interest others, of all creeds,to learn of the compassion of Jesus, have you been able to interest and include your wife and children in the efforts that you make?  Have they decided to help you in your work for the Lord? How nice it is, as a family, to work to save souls for the kingdom of God. I have found that to have Agape love for those closest to me gives me a closer walk with Jesus. 

Nice to hear from you El... 

Yes, Jesus ...

and that my friend says it all.

[Ed Sutton]

Perhaps they do not see me exemplify it enough as yet, I need to renew it in myself again as it once was in Theodor Alabama.    Satan would not want them to be filled with agape, agapous, philio and the joy it brings, and he works hard to fight any such unity.

Christian workers who succeed in their efforts must know Christ; and in order to know Him, they must know His love. In heaven their fitness as workers is measured by their ability to love as Christ loved and to work as He worked.  {AA 550.3}
     "Let us not love in word," the apostle writes, "but in deed and in truth." The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work.  {AA 551.1}
     Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another --this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. "We love Him, because He first loved us." In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around.  {AA 551.2}
         John strove to lead the believers to understand the exalted privileges that would come to them through the exercise of the spirit of love. This redeeming power, filling the heart, would control every other motive and raise its possessors above the corrupting influences of the world. And as this love was allowed full sway and became the motive power in the life, their trust and confidence in God and His dealing with them would be complete. They could then come to Him in full confidence of faith, knowing that they would receive from Him everything needful for their present and eternal good. "Herein is our love made perfect," he wrote, "that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."  {AA 551.3}