Our Lord's Example

Today's Devotion Friday, July 5, 2019

Our Lord's Example

Today's Text Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us. The Desire of Ages, 111. Christ as the head of humanity was to take the same steps that we are required to take. Although sinless, He was our example in fulfilling all the requirements for the redemption of the sinful race. He bore the sins of the whole world. His baptism was to embrace the whole sinful world who by repentance and faith would be pardoned. “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:4-8. Man was brought again into favor with God by the washing of regeneration. The washing was the burial with Christ in the water in the likeness of His death, representing that all who repent of the transgression of the law of God receive purification, cleansing, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Baptism represents true conversion by the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Manuscript 57, 1900. Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism, and been raised in the likeness of His resurrection, have pledged themselves to live in newness of life. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1, 2. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 258. Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.

My Thoughts: My friend, Our Lord give us an example that we may walk after, but our salvation is more than just an emulation of His life. He lived a perfect life that He may bestow it upon us. This life is not received by mimicry, but is received in the heart. As we accepted Christ as our Savior, He lives within us by His Spirit. As we daily walk after the similitude of Jesus, His Spirit takes hold of us and transforms our hearts. The sinful things that we once desired is replaced by the holy desires of God. This is the work that is to happen in all that claim the name of Jesus. How sad it is today that this beautiful transformation of character has been replaced by a form of godliness that has no power to transform our lives. By the introduction of the trinity, the transformation of character that is promised in the Scriptures, is replaced by a imperfect emulation of Christ rather than upon a transformed life. The trinity has no power to transform the life, for it is a false representation of God. The Spirit that is to live within us is the Spirit of the Son of God. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27). But the trinity teaches that the Holy Spirit is a separate being from the Father and the Son, separating us from power to transform our lives. Thus separated from the Spirit of Christ, the believer in the trinity is left without the righteousness of Christ, and to fill this lack they look unto the righteousness that is in the law. As they try and keep the law of God separated from the Spirit of Christ, they are led into the same cold formalism of the Jews. This experience leads the trinitarian believer to look unto Jesus and strive to emulate Him in their lives, but separated from the Spirit of Christ, they are left to do this by their own efforts, and though they may manifest a form of righteousness, when test and trial come, they will be as readily overcome by Satan as those who are in darkness. My friend, unless the Spirit of Christ is living within us, the example of His life cannot be truly manifested in our lives. It is only as we look away from the false example of the trinity unto the One true God through Jesus Christ, that we may become like Jesus. God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

Who Do You Worship - Wes Taitague For most Christians the answer to this question seems obvious, but is it really? In this presentation we look at the Alpha & Omega of Heresy spoken of by Ellen White to find out what the alpha was that we may understand the omega. This message was presented at the Advent Bible Fellowship on Guam, June 22, 2019. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Monday: "This Is My Beloved Son,"

Amazing Transformation of Character

Today's Devotion Thursday, July 4, 2019

Amazing Transformation of Character

Today's Text As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalm 17:15

Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. The Desire of Ages, 37, 38. The Lord Jesus is making experiments on human hearts through the exhibition of His mercy and abundant grace. He is effecting transformations so amazing that Satan, with all his triumphant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil united against God and the laws of His government, stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions. They are to him an incomprehensible mystery. The angels of God, seraphim and cherubim, the powers commissioned to cooperate with human agencies, look on with astonishment and joy, that fallen men, once children of wrath, are through the training of Christ developing characters after the divine similitude, to be sons and daughters of God, to act an important part in the occupations and pleasures of heaven. Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 18. They were purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus’ sake they endured opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed Him through conflicts sore; they endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments. By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin, its power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with abhorrence. A sense of the infinite sacrifice made for its cure, humbles them in their own sight, and fills their hearts with gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot appreciate. They love much, because they have been forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ's sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory. The Great Controversy, 649, 650. In their untainted purity and spotless perfection, Christ looks upon His people as the reward of all His suffering, His humiliation, and His love, and the supplement of His glory—Christ, the great center from which radiates all glory. Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 18, 19. Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.

My Thoughts: My friend, the salvation that is offered to fallen humanity is far greater than any can imagine. How God can take the hearts of man that have been corrupted by sin, and refashion them into the divine similitude is the wonder of heavenly beings. What great love is bestowed upon us that the Almighty God would give us His Son that we may be redeemed from the dregs of sin. The salvation of the soul and the transformation of character is the divine work of God. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we have passed from death unto life (John 5:24), but though we have received the new birth that is in Jesus Christ, we still need to be fitted for heaven. The heart must be transformed, that divine nature of God may shine forth. The process of sanctification is the work of our entire lives. As we daily look unto Jesus, learning of Him in His word, we are transformed day by day into His likeness. As we exercise faith in Jesus to resist the desires to sin, His character is little by little solidified in us. Then as we are tried and tested by fiery trials and persecution, we will remain true to God. Those who surrender their lives to Jesus will be persecuted by the adversary of souls. God does not shield us from these trials, but sustains us through them, that when the trials of our faith is completed, we will shine forth stronger and brighter then before the trials. James 1:2-4 says "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." My friend, the amazing transformation of character that is to happen in our lives comes trough much tribulation, for the heaviest battles we will face is against self. It is through trials that our characters are refined and purified. The corruption that sin has wrought in our hearts must be burned out by the fires of affliction. But through it all, Christ is there with us sustaining and strengthening us through every trial, fashioning anew our hearts. May we all surrender our lives to Jesus that this amazing transformation of character may be manifested in our hearts today. God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

Who Do You Worship - Wes Taitague For most Christians the answer to this question seems obvious, but is it really? In this presentation we look at the Alpha & Omega of Heresy spoken of by Ellen White to find out what the alpha was that we may understand the omega. This message was presented at the Advent Bible Fellowship on Guam, June 22, 2019. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Friday: Our Lord's Example

Strengthened by the Spirit

Today's Devotion Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Strengthened by the Spirit

Today's Text That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16

Jesus says, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. There is a condition to this promise—that we pray according to the will of God. But it is the will of God to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. So we may ask for these blessings, and believe that we receive them, and thank God that we have received them. It is our privilege to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame or remorse.... Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son. Now that you have given yourself to Jesus, do not draw back, do not take yourself away from Him, but day by day say, “I am Christ's; I have given myself to Him;” and ask Him to give you His Spirit, and keep you by His grace. As it is by giving yourself to God, and believing Him, that you become His child, so you are to live in Him. The apostle says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” Colossians 2:3. Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Steps to Christ, 51, 52. The Spirit furnishes the strength that sustains striving, wrestling souls in every emergency, amidst the hatred of the world, and the realization of their own failures and mistakes. In sorrow and affliction, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone—these are the times when, in answer to the prayer of faith, the Holy Spirit brings comfort to the heart. The Acts of the Apostles, 51. Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.

My Thoughts: My friend, we are strengthened by the Spirit of Christ that lives within us to do the will of God. As children of God we may claim this by faith. Our salvation is not dependent upon our performance but upon the merits of Jesus Christ. Once we have accepted Him as our Savior we have passed from death unto life. The Son of God says "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). This is a reality in our lives today. So many think that once they have accepted Jesus they need to overcome sin that they may be saved, but this is not the case. Jesus says that if we believe in Him we are already saved, we have passed from death unto life. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are at that moment justified by faith and therefore are at peace with God (Romans 5:1). This is justification by faith. Sanctification is the process of a life time, but sanctification is not our salvation, it is our fitness for heaven. As we daily walk with Christ, He will day by day transform our lives by the indwelling of His Spirit within us. The inroads of sin upon our characters needs to be worked out until we are spotless and ready for translation. This is the work of Sanctification. But even this is not the work of our hands, it is the work of Jesus within us. Our part in this process is to daily surrender our lives to Him. Then as we are thus surrendered, we are to resist temptation in the power of Jesus. This work takes time and we will fail many times, but this failure is not on account of Jesus, but on account of our lack of faith. The work of sanctification is the work and responsibility of Jesus, for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). When we fail by a lack of faith, we are not cast aside, but are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of God and confess our sins, for we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). My friend, our salvation and fitness for heaven is not dependent upon our performance, but upon our relationship with Jesus Christ. As we accept Jesus as our Savior, He will save us and by His Spirit sanctify us. We have this promise in Philippians 1:6 which says "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

Who Do You Worship - Wes Taitague For most Christians the answer to this question seems obvious, but is it really? In this presentation we look at the Alpha & Omega of Heresy spoken of by Ellen White to find out what the alpha was that we may understand the omega. This message was presented at the Advent Bible Fellowship on Guam, June 22, 2019. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Thursday: Amazing Transformation of Character