Reformation Faith For The Final Crisis.
CHAPTER 6
Lessons from the Life of a True Reformer
Part 3
“Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11
“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28.
Jesus Christ the Son of God considered John the Baptist as greater than all the prophets who had been born or risen prior to his time. What does God estimate as greatness?
“In the estimation of Heaven, what is it that constitutes greatness; not wealth, or rank, or noble descent, or intellectual gifts in themselves considered. If intellectual greatness, apart from any higher consideration, is worthy of honor, then our homage is due to Satan, whose intellectual power no man has ever equalled. But when perverted to self serving, the greater the gift, the greater curse it becomes. IT IS MORAL WORTH THAT GOD VALUES. LOVE AND PURITY are the attributes HE PRIZES MOST. John was great in the sight of the Lord, when, before the messengers from the Sanhedrin, before the people, and before his own disciples, HE REFRAINED FROM SEEKING HONOR FOR HIMSELF, BUT POINTED ALL TO JESUS as the Promised One. His unselfish joy in the ministry of Christ presents the highest type of nobility ever revealed in man.” D.A. 219.
“The highest evidence of nobility in a christian is SELF-CONTROL.” D.A. 301.
John’s real greatness was in his keeping self out of sight and recognizing his position in relation to Jesus Christ.
Satan has one primary goal and intention. His entire programme is built on one thing, one premise, keeping “self” alive, letting “self’ show through. He doesn’t mind what avenue we allow him to do it through, whether it is missionary work, building a house, or manager of a bank. There is only one goal that Satan has, that is for us in our work, in our family, in our life or in any activity, to let “self” be the dominant factor. And he doesn’t care if it is a religious or secular work that we are doing. If he can get us to let “self” show through, have some place; he has us.
John the Baptist of whom Christ said, “there hath not risen a greater,” sums it up well in John 3:30, “He must increase and I decrease.” Jesus put it this way, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In order to be “born again.” SELF MUST DIE, it must be “reckoned dead,” it must be “crucified,” it must “decrease” to such a point that it is by grace through faith continually and constantly surrendered. We do this by entering into God’s programme. God’s programme is built upon our recognizing our need of a Saviour continually and in a faith experience constantly reaching out to Christ for help, life, strength; for wisdom and guidance in our daily lives. This is to be done to such an extent that the prompting of the flesh are not only ignored but reckoned dead. They are there in the flesh, crying out for attention (when we are sulking, depressed, wallowing in self-pity), demanding supremacy (pushing oneself to the top, elbowing oneself into notice) and insisting or persisting on having things our own way. But the living christian continually chooses another Master and “walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. God’s entire programme is to keep self out of sight and to let Christ appear. Before christianity can convert the world, it must first be lived out in our own life, our own marriages, our own families.
Satan’s programme was fully in operation against John the Baptist.
“For a time the Baptist’s influence over the nation had been greater than that of its RULERS, PRIESTS, or PRINCES. If he had announced himself as the Messiah, and raised a revolt against Rome, priests and people would have flocked to his standard. Every consideration that appeals to the ambition of the world’s conquerors Satan stood ready to urge upon John the Baptist. But with the evidence before him of his power, he had steadfastly refused the splendid bribe. The attention which was fixed upon him he had directed to Another. “D.A. 178.
“Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen TO THE HEIGHT OF SELF-ABNEGATION. He sought not to attract men to himself but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the Light of life. Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29.” D.A. 179-180.
If John had sympathized with himself and had expressed grief or disappointment at being superseded, he would have sown the seeds of dissension, would have encouraged envy and jealousy and would seriously have impeded the progress of the gospel. John had “by nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity but the touch of divine love had transformed him.” D.A. 179. He was not contaminated with selfishness, ambition and jealously. He did not sympathize with the dissatisfaction, murmuring and complaining of his disciples, but “showed how clearly he understood his relation to the Messiah.” John understood his position to that of Jesus. The entire great controversy has been over the issue of position. Lucifer coveted Christ’s position. Christ made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant (slave), Philippians 2. Because of this, God ‘more highly exalted Him’ to a greater position of real greatness which we can never imagine because it is beyond his initial infinite greatness, and far beyond our comprehensible conception. John demonstrated the greatest humility by giving way to Jesus and “how gladly he welcomed the One for whom he had prepared the way.”
“The work of God is not to bear the image and superscription of man... Attention is fixed upon the human instead of the divine, jealously comes in, and the work of God is marred. The one unduly honored is tempted to cherish self confidence. He does not realize his dependence on God. The people are taught to rely on man for guidance, and thus they fall into error, and are led away from God.” D.A. 182.
“In my kingdom the principle of preference and supremacy has no place. THE ONLY GREATNESS is the GREATNESS OF HUMILITY. The only distinction is found IN DEVOTION TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.” D.A. 650.
“The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. THESE ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF REAL GREATNESS.” D.A. 437.
“In the kingdom of God, position is not gained through favoritism. It is not earned, nor is it received through an arbitrary bestowal. It is the result of character. The crown and the throne are the tokens of a condition attained; they are the tokens of self-conquest through our Lord Jesus Christ.” D.A. 549.
“In the kingdom of Christ those are greatest who follow the example He (Christ) has given, and act as shepherds of his flock.” D.A. 550.
“His own disciples were so filled with self-seeking — the very principle of Satan’s kingdom — that they could not enter into sympathy with their Lord, or even understand Him as He spoke of His humiliation for them. Very tenderly, yet with solemn emphasis, Jesus tried to correct the evil. He showed what is the principle that bears sway in the kingdom of heaven, and in what true greatness consists, as estimated by the standards of the courts above. Those who are actuated by pride and love of distinction were thinking of themselves, and of the rewards they were to have, rather than how they were to render back to God the gifts they had received. They would have no place in the kingdom of heaven, for they were identified with the ranks of Satan.
“Before honor is humility. To fill a high place before men, heaven choose the worker who, like John the Baptist, takes a lowly place before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labour for God. The heavenly intelligences can cooperate with him who is seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls. He who feels most deeply his need of divine aid will plead for it; and the Holy Spirit will give unto him glimpses of Jesus that will strengthen and uplift the soul. From communion with Christ he will go forth to work for those who are perishing in their sins. He is anointed for his mission; and he succeeds where many of the learned and intellectually wise would fail.” D.A. 436.
John the Baptist was “much more than a prophet” While prophets had seen from afar Christ’s advent, to John it was given to behold Him. Yet Jesus said, “He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” It was not John’s privilege to be with Christ and witness him performing miracles. “It was not for him to see the blind restored to sight, the sick healed, and the dead raised to life. He did not behold the light that shone through every word of Christ, shedding glory upon the promises of prophecy. The least disciple who saw Christ’s mighty works and heard his words was in this sense more highly privileged than John the Baptist, and therefore is said to have been greater than he.” D.A. 220.
“Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was GREATER OR MORE HONORED than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. ‘Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.’ Phil. 1:29. And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is THE MOST WEIGHTY TRUST and THE HIGHEST HONOR.” D.A. 225.
This will be reformation faith at its radiant best. The final generation of living saints, the 144,000 will have the privilege of seeing the greatest display of God’s power, of hearing the greatest words of truth concerning God’s character and faith in them and give the greatest exhibition, the final and full display of the love of God. They will go through the greatest mental anguish and sufferings ever experienced by mortals (Dan. 12:1) and will be victorious. PRAISE THE LORD.
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