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The Measure We are chosen for God’s possession. We are the whosoevers who believe in Jesus. Our chosenness is the result of God’s love. And God did not say that He loved a portion of the world, He said for He so loved the world, all nations, all lands. God loves all. So, it is faith that is the determination of those chosen. With that we must understand the term “all” in the promise and the patience of God. God works in a way that brings all of His people to Himself. God’s election of His people is sovereign and unconditional. We must have the faith to know that God foreknew those who would come to faith whom He would choose to come to divine election to salvation. God has chosen His from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. Election is rooted in God’s sovereign initiative, not in human responses. The word reveals that election is by grace alone apart from anything that we might achieve. Election is effectual in achieving God’s purposes thus ensuring perseverance and ultimately climaxes in glorification. Also, the divine election demands restoration of spiritual Israel and shows the calling of God to be irrevocable. Our faith is in this election in the assurance of the calling. This divine election should provoke humility and obedience and gracious love. Faith must remind us of our utter dependence on the grace of God for deliverance from sin and give us greater confidence in our witnessing to others the truths of God in the three angels messages. It is this faith that God knows that assures Him that our relationship with Christ is inseverable. Our faith is understood to be intensely personal and seen as extremely private in that God has given the measure to every man. "Every" refers to individuals without exception. This faith is superimposed in the lives of every person who receives the breath of God. But know that faith development is by the word of God. Faith makes distinct two expresions; the inward expression of the spirit working in the life and the outward expression of the spirit working by love for others. Faith’s attitude is shown by the degree of acceptance of every word of God. This attitude is based upon a studied learning of the meaning of the Hebrew texts as purposed, designed, and intended by every word. Faith to God’s chosen is so fundamental that none of us can live in peace for very long without it. It is so universal that when we move beneath the characters and principled patterns that express it, faith is recognizably the same phenomenon that we read in Hebrews, yet it is so infinitely varied that each person's faith is unique. It is the coming together in this uniqueness of individual faith that brings us to be one in “the Them” . Our faith is so focused as to its supreme trust in an exalted magnifical God, having a singular loyalty to the principle of being and to the source and center of all value and power, Jesus Christ, that we can see and know the ultimate environment of our life in Christ. Faith organizes the power of the knower’s mind by which we find order and shape our thoughts, words, and deeds. Faith deposits in our minds and hearts the worth of all to God in regard to self and others. Faith has this quality of mystery concerning Christ; it is perplexing, because we are internal to it, compassed by God as with a shield. shield Love provides an excellent overview of faith’s journey. It’s the underlying of our composition generated from our attachments and commitments to the supraordinate personality of Jesus. Our spiritual being is a function of faith. This is that regard which has power to unify our experiences of the life of Jesus. This is where we observe the endowing of all the relationships, contexts, and patterns of life, past, present, and future, with significance. Faith is the guiding principle that serves as both the source and the target of our spirituality. Devotion to our growth in spirituality can be seen as a measure of greater ability of understanding one's faith as shown through our consummatory behavior. It is possible for one to have faith but not do faith. It is the theological adherence to every truth in the word that renders the spirituality of a person as the indicator of the depth of faith. The acts of spirituality far outpace the ability to articulate faith. Faith grounds us as individuals, and our spirituality is to be characterized by constant change. In other words, there is not a threshold that one can or should attain with either faith or spirituality. Faith pleases God because this is the way that we are of Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, that through him we come to God. Hold this as the primary truth, that God is most influential upon us; and then believe that it is our business to come to Him. But there is only one way of coming to Him, and we must have faith to use that way. He that died and lives for ever saith, “I am the way. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He that cometh to God must believe in God as he is revealed, and must come to God as God reveals the way of approach; and this is an exertion of faith. The faith of Christ is the only way through which we can reach beyond ourselves toward Him. This coming is essential and exclusive to the chosen of God. This is our response of obedience to His invitation. This is genuine faith, accepting His His invitation personal calling, having a centrality of focus on the true and living God alone. The words of our faith declare that God is. Genuinely coming to God says with our actions that “YOU ARE”, and we believe it even though we do not see Him with our fleshly eyes. To believe that God is, or that He exists, is only the entrance into a faith relationship with Him. This faith must grow to rest upon the fact that God not only exists, but He is everything that He says He was, is, and shall forever be. Only on this level of growth can our faith rest in the truth that God is whatever He says He is to us personally and that the vast resources of who He is has been promised and made available to all who come to Him through faith in the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Faith not only embraces the fact that “GOD IS” in His existence, but “GOD IS” in His presence with us. Our faith must rest on the reality of His personal presence in us that He will never forsake us. Faith is so important that it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved from eternal separation from God and that we are enabled to live this life victoriously. God knows the thoughts He has toward us. He has an expected end for His chosen people. God has a beautiful plan that He wants us to fulfill, but that purpose He has for us is something that is so vital, so vast that we cannot do it without God. That's why God asks us to trust Him - so we can do all that we are to do through and in Him. He knows that without the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us and the work of Christ motivating us, we will never be able to live faith to its fullness. And to live faith is to always be overcoming. To live faith is the conviction that produces righteous works. It is being convinced of the confidence that God has in our absolute submission to His will. Living faith is the revelation of the word of God reflecting His living in us. Living faith motivates conduct in agreement with God's purpose. There is a time when the testing of faith will be by the word of God. The hearts will be exposed to see whether we truly believe every word of God or is there something that is valued more. God finds pleasure in seeing us choose Him above all. Standing in faith proves to be one of the most firm ways to express to God how much we love Him. There is no other way that we honor God best than by means of our faith. It is a calamity to be commended in error because of family or friendship for it may prevent our becoming really commendable. What reason can we offer for missing the end of our creation. We shall not escape trial, for even the highest qualities must be tested, yet we shall find great peace in being the means for good to God. Our faith will rebuke and stimulate; will convince and invite. Our faith will teach transgressors God’s way, and sinners shall be converted unto Him. God's way Without faith it is impossible to please God. The word does not say it is difficult, or so needful that without it success is barely possible; but, point- blank, the word declares it to be “impossible.” When the Holy Spirit says that a thing is impossible, it is so, in a very absolute sense. We cannot please God by any invention of our own, however clever, nor by any opinion or belief of our own, however ardent; since infallible inspiration declares that, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Without faith how would we commune with God. Without the eye of faith we have no reasoning with God in those sacred truths concerning eternal things which only faith can perceive. Without faith, the man himself is not pleasing to God. Want of faith in one word of God will create variance on many points. The desire to come to God, the way to come to God, the power to come to God, the actual coming to God - these are all gifts of sovereign grace. Coming to God, however feebly gifts we come, and seeking Him, however much else we miss, must be well- pleasing in His sight; for it is the result of His own purpose and election which we are in Christ Jesus before the world began. But all this hangs upon faith. And faith says that what God would have me do I will do it in happily in fellowship with others, or alone by myself, as the case may be; but do it I must. Given the absolute reality of God being God and God's fullness being found in Christ, this is what faith has to be. This is the end of the argument. This is the bottom of the reasoning. We should say it like this: what pleases God is that our hearts and minds display God's being. That we display God's existence and His excellence. That we display how real He is and how rewarding He is. This is what pleases God, and this is faith. In Him we are assured of everything we hope for, convinced of all things to be seen. Though He is the great unseen God who exists absolutely and does not depend on us in the least, we have His substance as us in Jesus Christ. Faith is vulnerable. Be wary of the subtle encroachments of the world and sin and error. Vigilance and endurance are crucial for the soul. The spiritual nature of faith and the vitality of faith is rooted in what God is like, not what we are like. If we would have our faith be strong, we must have the mind of Christ. And God's existence and fullness will be wonderfully displayed in our life.

There is an interesting and convicting illustration of both a stronger form of mutual affection in association and accountability that passes the natural relationship. The carnal mind cannot learn this, and it is one of the hardest things for the worldly to comprehend. It is a spiritual truth spoken from inspiration that is intent upon bringing forth a more effective reasoning with God between two human relationships. Discernment can see the connections to life that this principle contains. Proverbs 27:17 Hear first the acknowledgment that the one becomes sharper with the presence of the other. The interaction of the two is worthwhile only when truth is loved and the desire to improve not self-centered. This interaction creates a spark that when blown upon by the Holy Spirit becomes a fire for God. It is God’s people questioning, encouraging, counseling, and challenging each other. We strengthen our faith and improve our characters. Even our attitude and outward expressions show a faithful countenance in God. Proverbs 27:5, 6 Hear how man’s best friend loved those he came to save presents truth in love. If we know this concept to be true, we are able to receive the counsel of one who has a godly appreciation of heart for our interest. Matthew 23:13-39 We can choose to rub off the hard edges. There are times when sharpening conversations can come across as harsh, mean, or judgmental. But if there is peace and love motivating the care between two, let others observe. Emotion must be vacant in our accountability. Iron sharpening iron requires a level of accountability or a personal inclination guided by the spirit of God to allow significant others to come close enough into our lives so as to see the vulnerability. The principle of accountability is our consent for another to come close in helpful and real conversations that grow out of growing and loving in Christlikeness for the truth is this…that both irons become better for the service of God from the presence of that which truly sharpens. Hebrews 4:12 God can and will use the “iron sharpening iron” process for His people to help us in our walk for Him. But, most certainly God will use the convicting power of His Holy Spirit and the word of God to rebuke us of the sinful and harmful practices that we hold on to in our lives. And the most needed tool for the sharpening is the Word of God. Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble. Imagine reading the bible as a matter-of-fact document in a neutral tone. Now, imagine reading the word of God with a subjective tone that describes approaches, judgments, or beliefs. The details are likely to include experiences, senses, thoughts, and comprehension. The subjective is personal, commanding a higher level of expression. Tone reflects both the attitude and the purpose of reasoning together. The word of God is given us that we might reason with Him. The word informs us of truth and convinces us of obedience. Spiritually mature followers of Christ hear truth and the tone carries the consideration and appreciation for God’s mindfulness in our growth. Words of truth and enthusiastic tones give shape and life to solidifying peace and compassion between the irons as character is merited. God never just points out weaknesses without providing a solution. God’s word will help us to go on living “in righteousness.” It is with the strongest of earnestness that we never dull the word of God with human passion. We are to exhort one another into a closer walk with our Lord. But our walk must stay us in the Word of God where our loving and gracious heavenly Father gives us truth strategies that we may be overcomers. As the body of Christ, the people of God, we remember that part of our job is to sharpen other brothers and sisters in Christ so that the flame in their hearts, put there by the Holy Spirit, continues to burn. And hopefully it will not be able to be contained in their lives. But in this emotionally centered world this is viewed as “hard sayings”. Fear replaces caring concern to speak truth into each others’ lives. Fear of fiery deliberation keeps those who say they are of God from being as though they are. Some are not familiar with the scenario whereby the Holy Spirit produces fire in the bones. SOP - Whenever the message of truth comes home to souls with special power, Satan stirs up his agents to start a dispute over some minor question. Thus he seeks to attract attention from the real issue. Whenever a good work is begun, there are cavilers ready to enter into dispute over forms or technicalities, to draw minds away from the living realities. When it appears that God is about to work in a special manner for His people, let them not be enticed into a controversy that will work only ruin of souls. The questions that most concern us are, Do I believe with saving faith on the Son of God? Is my life in harmony with the divine law? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” John 3:36; 1 John 2:3. {DA 396.3} Let’s examine further depths of querying points affecting God’s wisdom of iron sharpening iron. Please note how many irons are mentioned. Right and wrong can be debated. Left and right can be reversed. Yea and nay are discernible. Black and white are shades. Divine timing…is it right or wrong to take a life, is left and right the same in every direction, can yea and nay answer the same question, can black be white in monochrome? Divine timing is a determinant for righteousness. Everything good happens in divine timing. It is before human awareness. It is when human injection or non- spiritual influence is favored. When divine timing is trusted and believed it can make a huge difference. It takes spiritual practice to trust more in divine timing than in what you think or feel. Because what you think or feel is of you. There is always a lesson that can be learned from everything. And to do the right thing at the wrong time may cause a stumbling or even a complete fall. God does not let any thing happen that does not first go through Him. Not through “a you”, but Him. There are many who think when things are not going as they think they should interfere. Their perception may be 100% on, but their timing may not allow the sharpening to take place. Know the signs of divine timing. Patience allows things to come to fruition. Now understand, please do not use divine timing for spiritual bypassing. If you use any reference to you as cause for your injection then you divert the time. If you are not an iron…wait on the Lord. Any action taken must be inspired so as to be void of private interpretation. Know that in the iron sharpening the iron is needed force and heat. And certainly know that it is the refiner that wields the force and the spirit the heat. Know that the refiner uses one as the hammer to smooth out the rough texture of resistance of the other. The only way to sharpen an iron is to use an iron with a different edge or texture, and that is an important point. Although believers often emphasize the “like iron” part of this verse as meaning two similarly strong believers, this verse does not promote uniformity. The iron that sharpens iron must be wielded by the same refiner yet different in function. Desire that God encourages you to surround yourself with strong believers who can sharpen you, as well as those who are different enough to shape you by means of friction. That is to say, we need friends whose wisdom, whose willingness to say difficult things, or whose different perspectives will provide the grit with which God can remove dull edges. This may mean exposing ourselves to differing manner of voices. Everyone in the camp can’t some cannot see what motivates the affection coming from other tents. In some cases it may take a “tribe”. Be patient, allow the process to do its work. Let God choose how much friction is needed to do that in my life that I will be a “tool” that is fit for His use. If all iron is alike wherein is the sharpening made possible? Surrounding ourselves with godly people who serve in our lives both as encouragers and correctors is a good thing. They may be used to sharpen our lives by faithfully helping us see some of the rough areas that are not yet as well-honed as God wants them to be. When we have one or more of these people in our life, we ought to thank God that He has seen fit to bring them to us to help sharpen us into tools that fit for God’s purposes. May we be as strong as iron in our faith and yet different enough to be a sanctifying friend in the life. May we be of a mutual action giving advantage to one another. May our functioning be as a two-edged sword for God.

There is a most dreary subject and a mournful theme approaching. It is referred to as the last days. As great as were the woes of our Redeemer, with sacred patience he endured and as severe will be our last days, we must enter agonizingly into our expiring suffering with this hope; that God will bring us through our Gethsemane experience. Our sorrow will birth in travail and sow in tears. But, oh how the double reflection of our sorrow will know the recompense and the fellowship in its finishing. Sorrow Our sorrowing will be expressed very emphatically in our peculiarity. A bitter cup is forthcoming. And in the singularly harmony of our character there will be one quality predominated…our faith. Excessive weight will press upon our spirit. We will be warriors in black armor. Search yourself…what burdens have you to bear? The subject of our sorrows will be our Jesus and he will be the comfort in the tossing that compasses us. No greater tribute can be shown for God than to accept affliction for His glory. In all our attitudes in knowing the consolation of Jesus, we will be a people of sorrow valuing reproach more than pleasure. We will walk wearily in the fullness of our woes as our characters emit the sweetest perfume, for there is no better balm, no surer remedy than the life that bled on that tree. In Christ our griefs are light that brighten the shadow of death. For in our mourning we are in communion with him who has known affliction. We will not stray but will keep our sorrow close, knowing there is everything important in it. We are the last to keep the Sabbath holy in time. Angels will camp around us as men hide their faces in contempt. We are a mystery of godliness…some better thing. Our place of highness in the heaven is assured as we humblingly take our place as the lowliest of the least. We remember Jesus Christ, the real and substantial God. We must have a sorrow that is absent from sin differing in no respect from that of our human Savior save that he was never defiled by sin. There is no greater sorrow than when there is no admixture of sin. If our sorrowing is of God, then sin must become the source of wretchedness to us. Jesus was made in our likeness that we may regard his humanity in its perfectness and think on him in that aspect honoring him in our sorrow. This condescending participation in our nature brings our Jesus very near to us in relationship and this matchless man, suffering in sorrow, and sorrowing in suffering, found joy in God’s redemption of us. Our eyes are wet with tears of sorrow, tears of pity, tears of thankfulness as we gaze into that deep gash in his side. That wound shows us his heart for us and how he was so excited with compassion in making amends for us with his Father, our Father. I know in our sorrow we tremble, and in our mourning we abound in weakness, but in this we touch his sympathy for we are in his presence and we can ask for no greater place to be. We are always beneath his eye. And as the Father looked upon him, the Father was also looking upon us. Don’t look at self, look at the cross. Our groaning is not in vain, neither will it be long. Our sorrow is going to rack us in much pang. We will experience a sufficient hell as long as we are among the wicked. Their shameful deeds of vice seize us with dismay today. But know that you are not alone; Jesus is a fellow- feeling who in every season comforts beyond mortal endurance. In our sorrow we know his sorrow was greater. In our grieving we know his grief was surpassing. In our repining we know he fainted not. Jesus could see sin where we cannot see it and feel its heinousness as we cannot feel it. In this last day, assuredly, we can bear poverty, slander, contempt, bodily pain, sorrow or death itself, because Jesus Christ our Lord has borne it. By his humiliation it shall become pleasure to sorrow for his sake. For this cause, we surrender our life to Christ. He enables us to bear our sorrows. Our sorrow deepens even further with the painful sensitiveness of the evil of sin, for sin deserves sorrow, as we graciously offer tenderness towards the sorrows of others. In this last day the descending spirit of the people will show us as women and men most miserable. Our sorrow will not be a common thing as we are moved to sympathy in love for others in grief who are saddened by the effects of sin. Many, many will forsake us, but our sorrow will not leave us till our Lord comes. Be ready! Our sorrow grows as we actively struggle to obey. Our sorrow grows as we passively sit still and cry not. Our sorrow grows as we weep in memory the times we failed to witness for God. Our bitterest sorrow will be connected with the work. We are sent of God to announce His love and His truth and the people will reject this offered advantage. We will teach and hearts will be hardened…we sorrow. We will do God’s good and they will hate us…we sorrow. We will sacrifice for them and they will transact our demise…we sorrow. We see the midnight of trouble and prepare for the winepress; crowning sorrow in this life. Lastly we say, here are we, servants to the man of sorrows having not just hurt, but a profound sadness because the world rejoices. John 16:20 The prophecy of approaching sorrow is sure, the word about a subsequent joy is even more certain. Out of the sorrow of our souls we will be satisfied.

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