THE LEAVES OF THE TREE OF LIFE

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"The Scriptures are to be received as God's word to us, not written merely, but spoken... In His commands and promises He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises (and every command is a promise) that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are the leaves from the tree which is 'for the healing of the nations.' Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Nothing else can have such healing power. Nothing besides can impart the courage and faith which give vital energy to the whole being." Ministry of Healing, p.122.

"Must we wait until we are translated before we eat of the leaves of the tree of life? He who receives into his heart the words of Christ knows what it means to eat the leaves of the tree of life." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p.957.

Now, do we believe that every commandment that God speaks to us is a promise of the Spirit? When Jesus spoke the ten commandments on Sinai, who among the Jews, who heard the Voice that day, received these commandments as promises of the Spirit? "The law of ten precepts is the voice of God from Heaven speaking to the soul in promise." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.1, p.1105.

The sacred record says that they were afraid of the Voice! So they asked that Moses speak to them instead! Exodus 20:19. At Sinai, the professed people of God did not discern that proceeding out of the mouth of the Lord, the law of ten precepts imparts power, it begets life, even everlasting life! John 12:50. Thus, "The commandment which was to bring life" was found to be "unto death." Rom.7:10. Because they would not receive the Spirit by the breath of God's mouth, that they might be converted by it, (Ps.19:7), the Lord had to write His law, which was meant to bring spiritual life to the hearers, on two tablets of stones, and thus it became a "ministry of condemnation and death" instead! 2 Cor.3:5-7.

If their ears had been opened, the voice of God would have written that fiery law upon the fleshly tablets of their hearts. They would have been Spirit filled! "The words that I speak unto you," Jesus said, "They are Spirit and they are life." John 6:63. If they had hearkened unto the voice of the Lord in His commandments, they would have been filled with grace and truth. "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had hearkened unto (the voice of) My commandments! Then your peace would have been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:18.

The Lord has summed up the law for us in one commandment: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." 1 Thess.5:28. "The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:22.

If we will incline our ear and hearken unto His voice, we will know that the Lord Jesus is with our spirit, and that His grace is with us, for He speaks and it is done!

Hear the Voice of God in this wonderful commandment: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14.

It is so if we believe, if we hearken unto the Voice of His word! And "the life which is thus imparted is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." C.O.L.38.

Amen!

Has your ear, my ear, been opened?

"The Lord God has opened my ear." Isaiah 50:5.

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