THE NEED OF YAHUSHUA IN THE SOUL

The Need of …[Yahushua] in the Soul

By a parable …[Yahushua] seeks to make known the subtlety and deceptive working of Satan, who holds the bodies and minds of men by his power. "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace," …[Yahushua] says, "his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Luke 11:21-22. Those who know not …[Yahuwah], and …[Yahushua], whom he has sent, are under the rule of the enemy, in bondage to his will. He rules the mind and affections by his spirit. But …[Yahushua] came into the world to dispute the claims of the enemy, and Satan was made to understand the meaning of the promise given in Eden: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15. A stronger than the strong man armed was on the field of battle, one who could dispossess him of his weapons and limit his power.

"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man," …[Yahushua] continued, "he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Luke 11:43.

altThere is no such thing as neutrality in the service of …[Yahuwah]. He can not be satisfied with anything short of entire consecration,--consecration of thought, voice, spirit, every organ of mind and body. It is not enough that the vessel be emptied; it must be filled with the grace of …[Yahushua]. Every person enlightened by the truth must represent …[Yahushua]. …[He] is to be formed within, the hope of glory. Man can not accept the righteousness of …[Yahushua], to be a living, abiding principle in the soul, without a transformation of the entire character. He must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of …[Yahuwah], which is eternal life to all who receive it. Those who are convinced that …[Yahushua] is the …[Son of Yahuwah] must understand that they are to use all their powers in co-operating with their Redeemer. They are to wear his yoke, and work in his lines.

"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." Those who wear …[Yahushua’s] yoke of obedience to the commandments of …[Yahuwah] will gather with …[Yahushua]. Like the Samaritan woman, as soon as they are convinced that they have found the Messiah, they will work for him and magnify his name. They will be branches of the living Vine. "Abide in me, and I in you," …[Yahushua] said. "As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit."

When …[Yahushua] takes possession of the citadel of the soul, the human agent becomes one with him. And he who is one with …[Yahushua], maintaining his unity, enthroning him in the heart, and obeying his commands, is safe from the snares of the wicked one. United to …[Yahushua], he gathers to himself the graces of …[Yahushua], and consecrates strength and efficiency and power to the …[Master] in winning souls to him. By co-operation with the Saviour he becomes the instrument through which …[Yahuwah] works. Then when Satan comes, and strives to take possession of the soul, he finds that …[Yahushua] has made him stronger than the strong man armed.

altThe garnished house represents the self-righteous soul. Satan is driven out by …[Yahushua]. But he returns, in the hope of finding entrance. He finds the house empty, swept, and garnished. Only self-righteousness is abiding there. "Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Luke 11:26. Self-righteousness is a curse, a human embellishment, which Satan uses for his glory. Those who garnish the soul with self-praise and flattery, prepare the way for the seven other spirits more wicked than the first. In their very reception of the truth these souls deceive themselves. They are building upon a foundation of self-righteousness.

The prayers of congregations may be offered to …[Yahuwah] with a round of ceremonies; but if they are offered in self-righteousness, …[Yahuwah] is not honored by them. The …[Master] declares, "I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee." Isaiah 57:12. In spite of all their display, Satan comes in with a troop of evil angels, and takes possession of the garnished habitation. The apostle writes, "If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour …[Yahuhusa], they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they had known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." 2 Peter 2:20.

altThose who have not sanctified themselves to the …[Master] are of the class who profess righteousness, but who do not maintain good works. These are brought to view in the first chapter of second Peter. There are many like the scribes and Pharisees, who, lacking these things, are "blind, and can not see afar off," (2 Peter 1:9) who have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. Because they do not gather with …[Yahushua], they lose their impressions for good. Unfaithful stewards, they do not guard their own house. If those who have been under the special conviction of the Spirit of …[Yahuwah], who have known the truth, and understood the reasons of our faith, would be blessed by the means provided at infinite cost, they will not cease their fervent prayers until the Sun of Righteousness abides in their hearts by faith.

The apostle Peter encourages all who are abiding in …[Yahushua] and seeking a knowledge of his ways. Those "that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of ,,,[Yahuwah]," he calls to an increased growth in the knowledge of …[Yahuwah]. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you," he says, "through the knowledge of …[Yahuwah], and of …[Yahushua our Master], according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of …[Yahushua] . . . . Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour …[Yahushua]." 2 Peter 1:2-11.

altIf the professed followers of …[Yahushua] would exercise living faith in a personal Saviour, if they would look to him as their entire dependence, the One in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered, they would be pure, holy, and undefiled. They would walk with …[Yahuwah]. "We have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15.

Two classes are set before us in the word of …[Yahuwah]: those who "follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of," (2 Peter 2:2) and those who, with Paul, can say, "We are not as many, which corrupt the word of …[Yahuwah]: but as of sincerity, but as of …[Yahuwah], in the sight of …[Yahuwah] speak we in ...[Yahushua]." 2 Corinthians 2:17. We are to decide between the false and the true.

…[Yahuwah] has made his people "a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (1 Corinthians 4:9). "By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." Hebrews 10:14. His children will not wear a yoke of bondage, but the yoke of …[Yahushua], who said, "I have kept my Father's commandments." He says of his people, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Therefore, "having an high priest over the house of …[Yahuwah], let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. . . . Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering." Hebrews 10:21.

May the Lord help his people to have clear discernment, to live and speak and act as children of the light, trying in everything to please him who gave his life that they might become his representatives to the world.
By: Ellen White
December 12, 1899
Review & Herald

More reading can be had of Ellen G. White's works at: http://www.WhiteEstate.org

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