Category Archives: Beholding Christ (Series)
“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.” —COL 69.1
Our Present Need
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 1, mp3
Scripture reading: Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
I don’t think anyone needs convincing of the very imminence of Christs soon return. We know that the world is really frayed on its edges. Everything that has been prophesied about the coming of Jesus is taking place. Now more than ever before we have a need to place close attention to the words of Jesus.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Looking at prophecy and world events, is it difficult to realise Jesus is coming? When he comes in the clouds of heaven, is that going to take us by surprise? Not at all. What is he talking about here?
What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” {2T 190.1} Read the rest of this entry
Selfless Submission
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 2, mp3
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
There is a note of urgency to change because it is nearly all over. The coming of Jesus is so imminent. Because of the imminence of the day of the Lord and the near coming of Jesus and all that comes with it, is expressed: Read the rest of this entry
Father, Forgive Them
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 3, mp3
Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
This study is a two phase meditation. The first phase is in reference to the seriousness of the transgression of the Ten Commandments. The second phase is the amazing provision of pardon that is to affect us to be able to pardon one another. The seriousness of the breaking of the Ten Commandments is of such a nature that affects us how?
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
We know well what seriousness sin has unleashed on this planet earth.
Romans 6:23 for the wages of sin is death.
Not death as merely a punishment as that is all we often visualise in reference to breaking Gods commandments are we going to be punished, its death because of cause to affect. Read the rest of this entry
Divine and Human Sonship
By John Thiel. Beholding Christ Series, Part 4, mp3
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [Him], that we may be also glorified together.
It’s good to keep our eyes focused on Jesus beholding Him. We want to do this that we might be changed to the same image. From glory to glory, what does it mean; from character to character. There are many facets of glory of the character of Jesus and the one we want to consider is the character of the Sonship of Jesus Christ, the divine and human Sonship a twofold Sonship. Perfect Sonship finds its bench mark, its genetics in the fifth commandment. Here are the genetics of true Sonship: Read the rest of this entry
Suffer the Little Children
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 5, mp3
When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. {SC 72.1}
God has tied us to Himself. He has tied man to Himself by a love that can never be broken unless you and I choose to break it.
Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie— {SC 72.1}
Satan will try to make us break the tie.
… to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. {SC 72.1} Read the rest of this entry
What Is That To Thee?
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 6, mp3
John 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.
The area to be addressed to at this point is the area of the relationship of human interactivity. This is revealed in this scripture where Apostle Peter queried what would happen to Apostle John. Peter had just received a most in-depth impact of Christ’s research into his personal salvation. The deepest root of evil had been painfully extracted from him, and immediately Peter turned around and said, “What about this man?” What did Jesus say to him? “What is that to you? You follow me.” Interactive relationships of human beings.
Jesus is our example, a perfect example in this matter. Did Jesus not come to this earth for the purpose of the human interactive dilemma that this whole human race is suffering under? What was the first sin in human interactivity that we can study to examine our problem and how Jesus deals with it, the very first sin in human interactivity? We go right back to Genesis and there after Eve had eaten of the fruit – she was the only one who had sinned at this stage – and now that she had sinned, what is the first sin of human interactivity that we can examine and observe the principle of the dilemma in which the human race is now? Read the rest of this entry
Christ Suffereth Long
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 7, mp3
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Jesus did not meddle in the mind of another person in his human inter-relation with others. He had such respect for the minds and the perceptions of his inferiors that He never railroaded their mind sets. He had a mind that lowered itself into the presence of his inferiors.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
In their presence he did not force his mind even though it could have been a temptation to do so as they were inferior to his elevated mind. When you look upon Jesus with that kind of vivid representation of himself to our mind, what do you behold? What is it of someone who is superior does not force his superiority into another person’s mind? What is that? Read the rest of this entry
Unto Us a Child is Born
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 8, mp3
By beholding Jesus it is written that as we look at Him, we become conscious of our short falls and sinfulness. Sometimes looking at the example of Jesus can have a negative influence on some people. They feel so unworthy and think they’ll never make it. We want to focus on something else about Jesus, the life giving ingredient found in His humiliation.
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus demonstrates a power upon the sinner that the sinner would be affectionately drawn to God. Jesus addressed this very point in John 12. What does it do when we lift Him up? Read the rest of this entry
Eighteen Years of Subservience
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 9, mp3
Luke 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
An Old Story
When we behold Jesus we are looking at the old, old story. We are beholding our Lord and Saviour in the developmental stages of his life. Jesus the son of God descended from his lofty throne with his father into a state of painful unconsciousness to be born ultimately after nine months into a little baby unconscious of his surroundings. How this little baby Jesus gradually awakened to his family to learn and understand what the Jewish family was doing. The mother teaching the child of the things that the very child when still in heaven was conveying to this planet but now had to learn it all over again from mother. From the age of twelve Jesus fully appreciated from then onwards what all the temple worship and sanctuary activities were all about as he beheld and awoke to his true position as the Lamb of God. From the age of twelve he developed further right on through to the age of thirty. We are filled with awe to consider there was such condescension to come to such a level as a little baby from the heavenly courts. We wonder and marvel at the amazing condescension. Read the rest of this entry
Jesus, In All Points Tempted
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 10, mp3
We are gathered to behold Jesus and to worship in consequence of what we see of him. We are to gaze upon a mystery, a mystery that is very hard for us to comprehend. We will consider written revelations that will boggle your mind. They are revelations of God. If it’s a revelation and we don’t understand it, we mustn’t argue with it, it’s a revelation. Do not become disturbed by the realities of God’s word that you cannot comprehend.
Our understanding is too weak to penetrate the mystery of the incarnation, God manifest in Christ, His only begotten Son. {BEcho, March 8, 1897 par. 8}
Our poor understanding is too weak and yet we are instructed regarding it. It is a subject that we need to study and yet it is beyond our understanding to comprehend. Read the rest of this entry
Three and a Half Years of Ministry
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 11, mp3
As we behold Him, as we gaze upon Him, our hearts are touched. We want to continue to behold Him, this time during His years of ministry. Three and a half years where He actually spent His full attention of ministering to the people. We behold Him because it is said that by beholding His glory we will be changed into the same image. All who take Jesus as their personal Saviour are addressed in a very powerful manner to follow His example. Here we are addressed to enter into ministry with Him. Here He speaks to His people, and we desire to be His people, do we not?
The Witness of the Lord
Isaiah 43:10 Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, [even] I, [am] the LORD; and beside me [there is] no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when [there was] no strange [god] among you: therefore ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I [am] God.
This world needs witnesses in reference to God and we know that Jesus was that chosen Servant to represent to this sinful planet the true God of heaven. And having done so, we are now called if we will accept Him according to these words, to be His witnesses.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Obedient Even Unto the Death of the Cross
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 12, mp3
We have looked upon Jesus to learn of Him. We see the reason why the subject of beholding Jesus is very important.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Why do we need to look upon Jesus? Let this mind be in you which was in Him. We are to realise why we are called upon to behold Jesus.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Read the rest of this entry
The Selfless Entity of God’s Church
John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 13, mp3
Scripture Reading: John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Do you know where Gods church is? Are we not in the fold of the flock? Are we not being fed? Why do we need to ask this question? The question we are asking is to deal with the idea of whether we believe and say we are the church to others. What is the true entity of Gods church? How can Gods church be identified as such a terrible time as this where every generation that has passed there is a church that has been left out of that generation where it’s not Gods church anymore whereas it was once upon a time? How do we identify the true condition of Gods true church? The church on earth is identified. The church is identified as the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
As the true people of God are members of the body of Christ they are admonished;
Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Read the rest of this entry
Trapped
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 14, mp3
We are spending time beholding Jesus in Gethsemane and at the cross.
Isaiah 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isaiah 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable. 22 But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? [who] will hearken and hear for the time to come?
What Humanity Faints At
By John Thiel, Beholding Christ Series, Part 15, mp3
Isaiah 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
We are trying to search for the meaning in this scripture and it has some interesting contents as you meditate about it. Are you young today? Do you feel full of energy, young men?
Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall
Young people have energy don’t they? They are full of beans as they say. But here it says, no matter how full of energy you may be, the difficulties that we can faint at will be too much for even the power of youth. Here the Apostle John is writing to you people, he is speaking to young people as well as to fathers:
1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
He has written unto the young people why? Because “you are strong”. Strong? What is the strength that he is talking about here? What does it mean to be strong? Is it strong to go along and have a late night somewhere in a pleasure resort? You can go and whale the night away whale the night away
because you’re so strong, is that what it is talking about? Is it talking about strength to go into the sports field to have lots of fun out there, is that what it is talking about? What is it talking about? Read the rest of this entry
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