Author: Dahana Baxter

The LORD has graciously blessed Dahana Baxter with the privileged experience of being a fourth generation, life-time Adventist. By His grace she currently holds local church membership in the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and is a Co-host/Presenter on ABL. In eager anticipation of the imminent soon return of Jesus Christ, her greatest joy is found in exalting and serving Him at any post that He assigns her in His Advent-hour Vineyard. To this end she covets your earnest biblical prayers on her behalf.

Complaining Again

March 29th

Chap. 88 – Complaining Again

Exodus 16:1-21

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.” (Exodus 16:2)

“Many look back to the Israelites, and marvel at their unbelief and murmuring, feeling that they themselves would not have been so ungrateful; but when their faith is tested, even by little trials, they manifest no more faith or patience than did ancient Israel.

God had promised to be their God, to take them to Himself as a people, and to lead them to a large and good land; but they were ready to faint at every obstacle encountered in the way to that land… They forgot their bitter service in Egypt. They forgot the goodness and power of God displayed in their behalf in their deliverance from bondage. They forgot how their children had been spared when the destroying angel slew all the first-born of Egypt. They forgot the grand exhibition of divine power at the Red Sea. They forgot that while they had crossed safely in the path that had been opened for them, the armies of their enemies, attempting to follow them, had been overwhelmed by the waters of the sea. They saw and felt only their present inconveniences and trials; and instead of saying, “God has done great things for us; whereas we were slaves, He is making of us a great nation,” they talked of the hardness of the way, and wondered when their weary pilgrimage would end.

The history of the wilderness life of Israel was chronicled for the benefit of the Israel of God to the close of time. The record of God’s dealing with the wanderers of the desert in all their marchings to and fro, in their exposure to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and in the striking manifestations of His power for their relief, is fraught with warning and instruction for His people in all ages. The varied experience of the Hebrews was a school of preparation for their promised home in Canaan. God would have His people in these days review with a humble heart and teachable spirit the trials through which ancient Israel passed, that they may be instructed in their preparation for the heavenly Canaan” (CC 88).

A Safe Path

March 27th

Chap. 86 – A Safe Path

Exodus 14

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15).

“God in His providence brought the Hebrews into the mountain fastnesses before the sea, that He might manifest His power in their deliverance and signally humble the pride of their oppressors. He might have saved them in any other way, but He chose this method in order to test their faith and strengthen their trust in Him. The people were weary and terrified, yet if they had held back when Moses bade them advance, God would never have opened the path for them. It was “by faith” that “they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land” (Hebrews 11:29). In marching down to the very water, they showed that they believed the word of God as spoken by Moses. They did all that was in their power to do, and then the Mighty One of Israel divided the sea to make a path for their feet.

The great lesson here taught is for all time. Often the Christian life is beset by dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before and bondage or death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, “Go forward.” We should obey this command, even though our eyes cannot penetrate the darkness, and we feel the cold waves about our feet. The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat will never obey at all. Unbelief whispers, “Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and we can see our way clearly:” but faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.

The cloud that was a wall of darkness to the Egyptians was to the Hebrews a great flood of light, illuminating the whole camp, and shedding brightness upon the path before them. So the dealings of Providence bring to the unbelieving, darkness and despair, while to the trusting soul they are full of light and peace. The path where God leads the way may lie through the desert or the sea, but it is a safe path.” (CC 86)

Whose Yoke Is On Your Neck And Mine?

Whose Yoke Is On Your Neck And Mine?

[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
[Matthew 11:29-30]

“The yoke is placed upon the oxen to aid them in drawing the load, to lighten the burden.

So with the yoke of Christ.

When our will is swallowed up in the will of God, and we use His gifts to bless others, we shall find life’s burden light.”
Desire of Ages
Page 331.3

Friend,
How heavy might our burden be, this morning, and why?
In light of His imminent rupture of that eastern sky, by His grace, may each one of us choose to yoke up with Christ without delay!
•••••••••••••

Morning Manna

Keep Looking Up

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2

“We should move steadily forward, never losing heart or hope in the good work, whatever trials beset our path, whatever moral darkness may encompass us.

Patience, faith, and love for duty are the lessons we must learn.

Subduing self and looking to Jesus is an everyday work.”
5T 70.3

Friend,
Where is your steady gaze,… and mine?
Jesus is about to split that eastern sky!
Until then, by His grace, may your eyes [heart/mind] and, mine be permanently, resolutely, and steadily fixed upon Him, the Word, His sure, unchanging/unchangeable and unfailing Biblical promises!
Then, by His grace, may each one of us trustingly leave the sure results with Him!

Please listen to and be encouraged by, the following audio –
“KEEP LOOKING UP”

Pause To Ponder…

“Nothing is more essential to communion with God than the most profound humility.

I dwell, says the High and Holy One, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.”
5T 50.2

Friend:
IF we are anywhere but, “low”,…. is God really looking at you and me? Seriously?! He sits high, yet “looks low”, you see!…

In praying for humility, may God’s grace help us to do so “with the understanding”,… That way, we will not ask GOD to humble us! HE does for us, that which we cannot do for ourselves. He has already commanded us to humble ourselves. We therefore must not try to throw THIS responsibility back on Him!

Understanding this, may His grace enable us to learn/experience humility through every such lesson that His loving providence permits to assail us, be it trial or temptation, or through earnest, contrite, lowly supplication!…

At the foot of the Cross, the ground is level.
By His grace, may He find you and me always “low at His piercéd feet”, that He may always look upon us until the hour that He splits that eastern sky, soon!!!

SIN!… Who, you mean me?

“Thus the biblical terminology shows that sin is not a calamity fallen upon the human unawares, but the result of an active attitude and choice on the part of the human. Further, sin is not the absence of good, but it is ‘falling short’ of God’s expectations. It is an evil course that the human has deliberately chosen. It is not a weakness for which humans cannot be held responsible, for the human in the attitude or act of sin deliberately chooses a way of rebellion against God, in transgression against His law, and fails to hear God’s Word. Sin attempts to pass beyond the limitations God has set. In short, sin is rebellion against God.”—The Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 2000), p. 239.”
 “A terrible picture of the condition of the world has been presented before me. Immorality abounds everywhere. Licentiousness is the special sin of this age. Never did vice lift its deformed head with such boldness as now. The people seem to be benumbed, and the lovers of virtue and true goodness are nearly discouraged by its boldness, strength, and prevalence. The iniquity which abounds is not merely confined to the unbeliever and the scoffer. Would that this were the case, but it is not. Many men and women who profess the religion of Christ are guilty. Even some who profess to be looking for His appearing are no more prepared for that event than Satan himself.

They are not cleansing themselves from all pollution. They have so long served their lust that it is natural for their thoughts to be impure and their imaginations corrupt.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 346.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Discussion Questions:”
  • What answer do you give to those who, despite all that has happened, insist that humanity is improving?
  • What arguments do they give, and how do you respond to them?”
  • Look at the quote from Ellen G. White above. If you see yourself in it, what is the answer?
  • Why is it important not to give up in despair but to keep claiming God’s promises—first, of forgiveness; second, of cleansing?
  • Who is the one who wants you to say once and for all, “It’s no use. I’m too corrupt. I can never be saved, so I might as well give up”?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The enemy of souls OR anyone through whom HE works!
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you listen to him or to Jesus, who will say to us, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11)?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We may claim Christ’s promises of forgiveness ONLY for each sin that we CHOOSE to deliberately repentantly confess AND forsake, in FAITH in His atonement.
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“•  Why is it so important for us as Christians to understand basic human sinfulness and depravity?
What can happen when we lose sight of that sad but true reality?
What errors can a false understanding of our true condition lead us into?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LUKEWARMNESS, AND  its dire eternally fatal results.
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“•  Think about the untold numbers of Protestants who chose to die rather than give up the faith.
How strong are we in the faith?
Strong enough to die for it?”

Amazing grace!

Amazing grace!
Immediately after my last WhatsApp broadcast post, the LORD graciously brought to my attention, the following study:
“Although an inward conflict between the flesh and the Spirit always will rage in the heart of every believer, the Christian life does not have to be dominated by defeat, failure, and sin.”
“According to Galatians 5:16-26, what is the key to living a life in which the Spirit reigns over the flesh?”
• Galatians 5:16-26

[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
[26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

“Galatians 5:16-26 contains five key verbs that describe the type of life in which the Spirit reigns. First, the believer needs to “walk” in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). The Greek verb is peripateo, which literally means “to walk around or to follow.” The followers of the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle came to be known as the Peripatetics because they followed Aristotle everywhere he went. The fact that the verb is in the present tense implies that Paul is not talking about an occasional walk but rather a continuous daily experience. In addition, since it is also a command “to walk” in the Spirit, it implies that walking in the Spirit is a choice we have to make on a daily basis. The second verb is “to be led” (Gal. 5:18). This suggests that we also need to allow the Spirit to lead us where we should go (compare Rom. 8:14, 1 Cor. 12:2). It is not our job to lead, then, but to follow.”
• Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
• John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The next two verbs appear in Galatians 5:25. The first is “to live” (zao in Greek). By “live,” Paul is referring to the new-birth experience that must mark the life of every believer. Paul’s use of the present tense points to a new-birth experience that is to be renewed daily. Additionally, because we live by the Spirit, Paul goes on to write that we also need “to walk” by the Spirit. The word translated as “walk” is different from the one in verse 16. Here the word is stoicheo. It is a military term that literally means “to draw up in a line,” “to keep in step,” or “to conform.” The idea here is that the Spirit not only gives us life but should direct our lives on a daily basis also.”
• Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The verb Paul uses in verse 24 is “to crucify.”  This is a little shocking. If we are to follow the Spirit, we must make a firm decision to put to death the desires of the flesh. Of course, Paul is speaking figuratively. We crucify the flesh by feeding our spiritual life and by starving the desires of the flesh.”
~•~•~•~~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
“What changes and choices must you make in order to have the victories you are promised in Christ—victories that now continually elude you?”

Morning Manna

Have You asked, Lately?

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
[Philippians 4:19]

“Let your heart break for the longing it has for God, for the living God.
The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature.
All that Christ received from God we too may have.
Then ask and receive.
With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, claim for yourself all that God has promised.”
Christ’s Object Lessons page 149.2

Friend,
Our precious Saviour is about ready to split that eastern sky, and we are not ready! He has promised us in Jude:24-25, “to present us faultless…”!!! He will never force His readiness upon anyone!… So to be made and kept ready, each one of us must ask! In faith!

So what exactly are we waiting for—to ask?

Morning Manna

How Prayest Thou?

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” [Jms 4:3]

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray,…” [Luke 11:1]

“… for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:…”
[Romans 8:26]

“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:…” [1 Cor. 14:15]

“The children of God are not left alone and defenseless.

Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence.

Prayer has subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire.”
Christs Object Lessons
Page 172.4

Dear Friend,
By God’s grace, may we faithfully experience the Biblical praying that moves the arm of Omnipotence to work and seal in each of us the righteousness of Christ, from this moment on, and until He splits that eastern sky,… Soon!!!