“And the king [Solomon] commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the Temple.”
1 Kings 5:17
And the Temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.
1 Kings 6:7
So Solomon built the Temple and finished it.
1 Kings 6:14
Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is holy, which Temple you are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, [Temple].
1 Peter 2:5
[We being] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy Temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:20-22
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the Temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.“
2 Corinthians 6:16
Solomon built the Temple with stone that was cut at the quarry before being brought to Jerusalem.
Likewise, as living stones, we must also be cut and shaped perfectly at the quarry of this earth, before we can be taken to the New Jerusalem in Heaven. Cut and shaped by the trials that the Father allows and permits to come upon us to develop our character that it may reflect that of Christ’s.
The rough edges must be smoothed and we must be shaped into perfectly cut stones to be placed into the Temple of the New Jerusalem, figuratively speaking.
Solomon built the Temple and finished it, he finished the work which he began.
Likewise, God will finish this work in us which He began. Says the Apostle Paul:
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [finish] it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
His Temple, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone shall be completed and perfected. Then He shall dwell in us and walk in us. We shall be His people and He shall be our God, Zechariah 13:9.
The trials of life are God’s workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel.
But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple. Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, thorough work. Only His precious stones are polished after the similitude of a palace.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, pg. 10
The hewing, squaring, and chiseling, chipping off a sharp point on one side and then on another, the burnishing and polishing, is a trying process. It is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the Lord brings forth the stone, and thus prepared, it finds its place in the building, to emit light as a living, polished stone.
The trial, however sharp and disagreeable, will impart a bright lustre.
Letter83, 1894, par.13
May we allow God to finish this work in us which He has begun. Holdfast until Christ comes.
“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:28-31
The life of a true Christian is a life of constant prayer. He knows that the light and strength of one day is not sufficient for the trials and conflicts of the next.
Satan is continually changing his temptations. Every day we shall be placed in different circumstances; and in the untried scenes that await us we shall be surrounded by fresh dangers, and constantly assailed by new and unexpected temptations.
To Be Like Jesus pg. 20
It is only through the strength and grace gained from heaven that we can hope to meet the temptations and perform the duties before us.
Ibid
When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid Peter come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him, and then forsake us.
The Desisre of Ages pg. 382
Those who fail to realise their constant dependence upon God will be overcome by temptation.
Ibid
We may now suppose that our feet stand secure, and that we shall never be moved. We may say with confidence, “I know in whom I have believed; nothing can shake my faith in God and in His word.” But Satan is planning to take advantage of our hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and to blind our eyes to our own necessities and defects.
Ibid
Only through realising our own weakness and looking steadfastly unto Jesus can we walk securely.
Ibid
Beloved, may we not look to the boisterous waves which daily surround us, but may we keep “looking unto Jesus, the Author & Finisher of our faith“, for if we do this, we shall never sink but shall walk upon the waters that beset us!
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for MANY, I say to you, will seek to enterand will not be able.“
Luke 13:24
“I bid you strive, agonise, to enter into My spiritual kingdom.”
“The battle which we have to fight—the greatest battle that was ever fought by man—is the surrender of self to the will of God… The old nature, born of blood and of the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, MUST be given up.
We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall.
God alone can give us the victory.
But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation…. Our energies are required to co-operate with God.
The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted… The will must be placed on the side of God’s will.
You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God; but if you are “willing to be made willing,” God will accomplish the work for you.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13
There are many in the broad way who are not fully satisfied with the path in which they walk. They long to break from the slavery of sin, and in their own strength they seek to make a stand against their sinful practices. They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour…. They desire the good, they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it at the cost of all things.
The ONLY hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God’s will and work in co-operation with Him, hour by hour and day by day.
We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God.
Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God?
Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us.”
The following was an excerpt from the book “Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pages 141-143.
Be blessed Reader, as you contemplate these solemn words.
“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me….”
Acts 12:11
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.
Psalms 34:7
For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in ALL your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Psalms 91:11-12
My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him…..
Daniel 6:22
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered His servants that TRUSTED in Him……
Daniel 3:28
So, in all ages, angels have been near to Christ’s faithful followers. The vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against all who would overcome; but Christ would have us look to the things which are not seen, to the armies of heaven encamped about all who love God, to deliver them. From what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been preserved through the interposition of the angels, we shall never know, until in the light of eternity we see the providences of God.
Desire of Ages, pg. 240
Fearful tests and trials await the people of God. The spirit of war is stirring the nations from one end of the earth to the other. But in the midst of the time of trouble that is coming,—a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation, Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21—God’s chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.
9 Testimonies For The Church, pg. 17
Reader, may you never forget, that Angels that excel in strength, encamp around you and keep and protect you from the hands of the wicked one. Guiding your steps through the trials and tribulations of life, reminding you that you are never alone, and instilling a sense of peace that surpasses all understanding as they watch over you day and night with unwavering devotion and love.
“Looking unto Jesus, the Author & Finisher of our Faith…”
Hebrews 12:2
The one running in a race will surely lose his victory if he keeps looking behind him or from side to side to see if his fellows are coming out ahead of him. He must run to win the crown of immortal glory, looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of his faith.
We cannot for a moment be off our guard.
The crown, the crown, the imperishable crown to be won, is to be kept before the one running the race. So run that ye may obtain…. Look not to man.
Reflecting Christ pg.277
Look to Jesus!
Friends, let us keep the words of Paul ever before us:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Reader, let us keep pressing on, looking ever before us, looking unto Jesus, that at that Day, we may receive “the crown of life which the Lord has promised unto them that love Him.” James 1:12
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [endurance]. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4
When He [God] has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
Proverbs 17:3
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…
1 Peter 4:12
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:7
He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Malachi 3:3
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10
“The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned for His work.”
Ministry of Healing pg.471
Many who sincerely consecrate their lives to God’s service are surprised and disappointed to find themselves, as never before, confronted by obstacles and beset by trials and perplexities. They pray for Christlikeness of character, for a fitness for the Lord’s work, and they are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature.
It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them.
Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success…. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the Rock.
But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:46-49
“Like the builders of these houses on the rock, said Jesus, is he who shall receive the words that I have spoken to you, and make them the foundation of his character and life. “The word of our God shall stand forever”, Isaiah 40:8…. The word of God is the only steadfast thing our world knows. It is the sure foundation. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” said Jesus, “but My words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35.
Whoever builds upon them (Christ’s words) is building upon Christ, the Rock of Ages. In receiving the word, we receive Christ. And only those who thus receive His words are building upon Him.
“(No) Other foundation can no man lay than that is (already) laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11
Christ, the Word, the revelation of God,—the manifestation of His character, His law, His love, His life,—is the only foundation upon which we can build a character that will endure.
Do you desire to become a follower of Christ, yet know not how to begin? Are you in darkness and know not how to find the light?
Follow the light you have. Set your heart to obey what you do know of the word of God. His power, His very life, dwells in His word. As you receive the word in faith, it will give you power to obey. As you give heed to the light you have, greater light will come. You are building on God’s word, and your character will be builded after the similitude (likeness) of the character of Christ.
Christ, the true foundation, is a living stone; His life is imparted to all that are built upon Him….. But every building erected on other foundation than God’s word will fall. He who, like the Jews in Christ’s day, builds on the foundation of human ideas and opinions, of forms and ceremonies of man’s invention, or on any works that he can do independently of the grace of Christ, is erecting his structure of character upon the shifting sand.
You who are resting your hope on self are building on the sand. But it is not yet too late to escape the impending ruin. Before the tempest breaks, flee to The Sure Foundation.
“Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” “Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.”
Isaiah28:16;45:22;41:10;45:17
Excerpt from the book, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, pg. 148-152
Reader, is your house built upon The Sure Foundation? If not, it is time to get building!
“It is necessary to mortify sins because if we do not kill them, they will kill us.”
Matthew Henry, 1706
“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.“
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these…. since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (satan), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”
Therefore “…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness….give no opportunity to the devil….For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
“Walk as children of light“
Excerpts from the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans, Colossians and the Ephesians.
“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
Mark 4:28-29
The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life.
As the plant takes root in the soil, so we are to take deep root in Christ. As the plant receives the sunshine, the dew, and the rain, we are to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. The work is to be done “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6….By constantly relying upon Christ as our personal Saviour, we shall grow up into Him in all things who is our head. Ephesians 4:13; 5:23.
The wheat develops “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” The object of the husbandman in the sowing of the seed and the culture of the growing plant is the production of grain….. So the divine Husbandman, Jesus Christ, looks for a harvest as the reward of His labor and sacrifice. Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others.
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.
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the Coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it…”
James 5:7
“But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
Mark 4:29
Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church.When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own, [Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Peter 1:17-18]…..Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.
Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 65-69
“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”
“For assuredly, I say to you, if you have FAITH as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
“Throughout the history of God’s people great mountains of difficulty, apparently insurmountable, have loomed up before those who were trying to carry out the purposes of Heaven. Such obstacles are permitted by the Lord as a test of faith. When we are hedged about on every side, this is the time above all others to trust in God and in the power of His Spirit. The exercise of a living faith means an increase of spiritual strength and the development of an unfaltering trust. It is thus that the soul becomes a conquering power. Before the demand of faith, the obstacles placed by Satan across the pathway of the Christian will disappear; for the powers of heaven will come to his aid.
“Nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20.”
Prophets & Kings pg. 594
Sometimes He trains His workers by bringing to them disappointment and apparent failure. It is His purpose that they shall learn to master difficulties.
Often men are tempted to falter before the perplexities and obstacles that confront them. But if they will hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end, God will make the way clear. Success will come to them as they struggle against difficulties. Before the intrepid spirit and unwavering faith of a Zerubbabel, great mountains of difficulty will become a plain; and he whose hands have laid the foundation, even “his hands shall also finish it.”
Ibid pg.595
“
‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!”
Zechariah 4:7
To His children today the Lord declares, “Be strong, … and work: for I am with you.” The Christian always has a strong helper in the Lord. The way of the Lord’s helping we may not know; but this we do know: He will never fail those who put their trust in Him. Could Christians realise how many times the Lord has ordered their way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them. They would acknowledge Him as their wisdom and efficiency, and He would bring to pass that which He desires to work out through them.
God has a purpose in sending trial to His children. He never leads them otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose that they are fulfilling. All that He brings upon them in test and trial comes that they may be strong to do and to suffer for Him.
Ibid pg. 576,578
“Be ye therefore strong and let not your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
2 Chronicles 15:7
Be encouraged reader.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts.”
Loud Cry Compendium 