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47 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Sacred Texts Archive

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  Ministry. The entire night had passed in the mountain, and as the sun
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  arose, Jesus and his disciples descended to the plain. Absorbed in thought,
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  the disciples were awed and silent. Even Peter had not a word to say.
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  Gladly would they have lingered in that holy place which had been touched with
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  the light of heaven, and where the Son of God had manifested his glory.
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  But there was work to be done for the people who were already searching
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  far and near for Jesus. At the foot of the mountain, a large
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  company had gathered, led hither by the disciples who had remained behind, but
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  who knew whither Jesus had resorted. As the Savior drew near, he charged
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  his three companions to keep silence concerning what they had witnessed, saying, tell
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  the vision to no man until the son of Man be risen again from the
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  dead. The revelation made to the disciples was to be pondered in their own
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  hearts, not to be published abroad. To relate it to the multitudes would
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  excite only ridicule or idle wonder, and even the nine Apostles would not understand
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  the scene until after Christ risen from the dead. How slow of comprehension even
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  the three favored disciples were is seen in the fact that, notwithstanding all that
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  Christ had said of what was before him, they queried among themselves what the
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  rising from the dead should mean. Yet they asked no explanation from Jesus.
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  His words in regard to the future had filled them with sorrow. They sought
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  no further revelation concerning that which they were fain to believe might never come to
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  pass. As the people on the plain caught sight of Jesus, they ran
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  to meet him, greeting him with expressions of reverence and joy. Yet his
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  quick eye discerned that they were in great perplexity. The disciples appeared troubled.
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  A circumstance had just occurred that had caused them bitter disappointment and humiliation. While
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  they were waiting at the foot of the mountain, a father had brought to
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  them his son to be delivered from a dumb spirit that tormented him. Authority
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  over unclean spirits to cast them out had been conferred on the disciples when Jesus
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  sent out a twelve to preach su Galie. As they went forth, strong
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  in faith, the evil spirits had obeyed their word. Now, in the
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  name of Christ, they commanded the torturing spirit to leave his victim, but
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  the demon only mocked them by a fresh display of his power. The disciples,
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  unable to account for their defeat, felt that they were bringing dishonor upon
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  themselves and their Master, And in the crowd there were scribes who made the
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  most of this opportunity to humiliate them. Pressing around the disciples, they plied
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  them with questions, seeking to prove that they and their Master were deceivers.
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  Here, the rabbis triumphantly declared, was an evil spirit that neither disciples nor
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  Christ himself could conquer. The people were inclined to side with the scribes,
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  and a feeling of contempt and scorn pervaded the crowd. But suddenly the accusations
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  ceased. Jesus and the three Disciples were seen approaching, and with a quick
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  revulsion of feeling, the people turned to meet them. The night of communion
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  with the heavenly glory had left its trace upon the Savior and his companions.
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  Upon their countenance was a light that awed the beholders. The scribes drew back
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  in fear, while the people welcomed Jesus as if he had been a witness
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  of all that occurred. The Savior came to the scene of conflict, and,
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  fixing his gaze upon the scribes, inquired, what question ye with them?
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  But the voices, so bold and defiant before, were now silent.
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  A hush had fallen upon the entire company. Now the afflicted father made his
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  way through the crowd, and, falling at the feet of Jesus, poured
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  out the story of his trouble and disappointment. Master. He said, I
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  have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit. And wheresoever
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  he taketh him, he teareth him. And I spake to thy disciples that
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  they should cast him out, and they could not. Jesus looked about him
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  upon the awe stricken multitude, the caveling scribes, the perplexed disciples. He
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  read the unbelief in every heart, and in a voice filled with sorrow,
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  he exclaimed, Oh, faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?
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  How long shall I suffer you? Then he bade the distressed father bring
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  thy son. Hither the boy was brought, and as the Saviour's eyes fell
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  upon him, the evil Spirit cast him to the ground in convulsions of agony.
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  He lay wallowing and foaming, rending the air with unearthly shrieks. Again,
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  the Prince of Life and the Prince of the powers of darkness had met
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  on the field of battle. Christ, in fulfillment of his mission to preach
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  deliverance to the captives, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke
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  four eighteen Satan, seeking to hold his victim under his control. Angels of
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  light in the hosts of evil, angels unseen were pressing near to behold the
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  conflict. For a moment, Jesus permitted the evil spirit to display his power,
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  that the beholders might comprehend the deliverance about to be wrought. The multitude
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  looked on with bated breath. The Father, in an agony of hope and
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  fear. Jesus asked, how long is it ago since this came unto him?
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  The Father told the story of long years of suffer, and then,
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  as if he could endure no more, exclaimed, if thou canst do anything,
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  have compassion on us and help us. If thou canst even now,
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  the Father questioned the power of Christ. Jesus answers. If thou canst believe
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  all things are possible to him that believeth there is no lack of power on
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  the part of Christ. The healing of the sun depends upon the Father's faith.
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  With a burst of tears, realizing his own weakness, the Father cast
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  himself upon Christ's mercy with the cry, Lord, I believe, Help thou
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  my unbelief. Jesus turns to the suffering one and says, thou, dumb
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  and deaf spirit, I charge thee come out of him and enter no more
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  into him. There is a cry, an agonized struggle. The demon in
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  passing seems about to rend the life from his victim. Then the boy lies
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  motionless and apparently lifeless. The multitude whisper he is dead, but Jesus takes
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  him by the hand, and lifting him up, presents him in perfect soundness
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  of mind and body to his father. Father and son praise the name of
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  their deliverer. The multitude are amazed the mighty power of God, while the
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  scribes, defeated and crestfallen, turned sullenly away. If thou canst do anything,
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  have compassion on us and help us. How many a sin burdened soul
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  has echoed that prayer, and to all the pitying, Saviour's answer is,
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  if thou canst believe, all things are possible. To him that believeth it
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  is faith that connects us with Heaven and brings a strength for coping with the
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  powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful
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  trait and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack
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  faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls and their
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  helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compatisate Savior. Look not
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  to self, but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out
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  demons when he walked among men, is the same mighty redeemer to day.
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  Faith comes by the word of God. Then grasp his promise him that cometh
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  to me, I will in no wise cast out John six thirty seven.
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  Cast yourself at his feet with the cry, Lord, I believe. Help
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  thou mine unbelief. You can never perish while you do this. Never.
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  In a brief space of time, the favored disciples have beheld the extreme of
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  glory and of humiliation. They have seen humanity is transfigured into the image of
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  God and has debased into the likeness of Satan. From the mountain where he
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  has talked with the heavenly messengers and has been proclaimed the Son of God by
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  the voice from the radiant glory, they have seen Jesus the sin to meet
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  that most distressing and revolting spectacle, a maniac boy with distorted countenance, gnashing
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  his teeth in spasms of agony that no human power could relieve. And this
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  mighty Redeemer, who but a few hours before stood glorified before his wondering disciples,
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  stoops to lift the victim of Satan from the earth where he is wallowing,
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  and in health of mind and body, restores him to his Father and
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  his home. It was an object lesson of redemption, the divine One from
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  the Father's glory, stooping to save the loss. It represented also the disciples
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  mission. Not alone upon the mountain top with Jesus in hours of spiritual illumination.
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  Is the life of Christ's servants to be spent. There is work for
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  them down in the plain. Souls whom Satan has enslaved are waiting for the
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  word of faith and prayer to set them free. The nine Disciples were yet
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  pondering upon the bitter fact of their own failure, and when Jesus was once
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  more alone with them, they questioned, why could not we cast him out?
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  Jesus answered them, because of your unbelief. For verily I say it
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  to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
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  shall say, unto this mountain, remove hints to yonder place, and it
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  shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth
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  not out, but by prayer and fasting. Their unbelief that shut them out
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  from deeper sympathy with Christ, and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred
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  work committed to them had caused their failure in the conflict with the powers of
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  darkness. The words of Christ pointing to his death had brought sadness and doubt,
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  and the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had
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  excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and
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  meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and
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  personal grievances. In this state of darkness, they had undertaken the conflict with
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  Satan. In order to succeed in such a conflict, they must come to
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  the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer
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  and fasting and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self and be
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  filled with the spirit and the power of God. Earnest persevering supplication to God
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  in faith, Faith that leads to entire dependence upon God. An unreserved consecration
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  to His work can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit to aid in
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  the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world,
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  and wicked spirits in high places. If ye have faith, as a
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  grain of mustard seed, said Jesus, ye shall say to this mountain,
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  remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove. Though the grain of
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  mustard seed is so small, it contains that same mysterious life principle which produces
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  growth in the loftiest tree. When the mustard seed is cast into the ground,
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  the tiny germ lays hold of every element that God has provided for its
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  nutriment, and it speedily develops a sturdy growth. If you have faith like
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  this, you will lay hold upon God's word and upon all the helpful agencies
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  he is appointed. Thus your faith will strengthen and will bring to your aid
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  the power of Heaven. The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path,
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  though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand
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  of faith. Nothing shall be impossible unto you. End of Chapter forty seven