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Bread of Life

Samuel Tsoutsouvas

The Desire of Ages (Samuel Tsoutsouvas)

Chapter 01: God With Us

Chapter 02: The Chosen People

Chapter 03: The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 04: Unto You a Savior

Chapter 05: The Dedication

Chapter 06: We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 07: As a Child

Chapter 08: The Passover Visit

Chapter 09: Days of Conflict

Chapter 10: The Voice in the Wilderness

Chapter 11: The Baptism

Chapter 12: The Temptation

Chapter 13: The Victory

Chapter 14: We Have Found the Messiah

Chapter 15: At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16: In His Temple

Chapter 17: Nicodemus

Chapter 18: He Must Increase

Chapter 19: At Jacob’s Well

Chapter 20: Except Ye See Signs and Wonders

Chapter 21: Bethesda and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 22: Imprisonment and Death of John

Chapter 23: The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Chapter 24: Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son

Chapter 25: The Call by the Sea

Chapter 26: At Capernaum

Chapter 27: Thou Canst Make Me Clean

Chapter 28: Levi-Matthew

Chapter 29: The Sabbath

Chapter 30: He Ordained Twelve

Chapter 31: The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 32: The Centurion

Chapter 33: Who Are My Brethren

Chapter 34: The Invitation

Chapter 35: Peace Be Still

Chapter 36: The Touch of Faith

Chapter 37: The First Evangelists

Chapter 38: Come Rest Awhile

Chapter 39: Give Ye Them to Eat

Chapter 40: The Night on the Lake

Chapter 41:  The Crisis in Galilee

Chapter 42: Tradition

Chapter 43: Barriers Broken Down

Chapter 44: The True Sign

Chapter 45: The Foreshadowing of the Cross

Chapter 46: He Was Transfigured

Chapter 47: Ministry

Chapter 48: Who Is The Greatest

Chapter 49: At the Feast of Tabernacles

Chapter 50: Among Snares

Chapter 51: The Light of Life

Chapter 52: The Divine Shepherd

Chapter 53: The Last Journey From Galilee

Chapter 54: The Good Samaritan

Chapter 55: Not With Outward Show

Chapter 56: Blessing the Children

Chapter 57: One Thing Thou Lackest

Chapter 58: Lazarus, Come Forth

Chapter 59: Priestly Plottings

Chapter 60: The Law of the New Kingdom

Chapter 61: Zacchaeus

Chapter 62: The Feast at Simon’s House

Chapter 63: Thy King Cometh

Chapter 64: A Doomed People

Chapter 65: The Temple Cleansed Again

Chapter 66: Controversy

Chapter 67: Woes On the Pharisees

Chapter 68: In the Outer Court

Chapter 69: On the Mount of Olives

Chapter 70: The Least of These My Brethren

Chapter 71: A Servant of Servants

Chapter 72: In Remembrance of Me

Chapter 73: Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Chapter 74: Gethsame

Chapter 75: Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas

Chapter 76: Judas

Chapter 77: Before Pilate’s Judgment Hall

Chapter 78: Calvary

Chapter 79: It Is Finished

Chapter 80: In Joseph’s Tomb

Chapter 81: The Lord Is Risen

Chapter 82: Why Weepest Thou

Chapter 83: The Walk to Emmaus

Chapter 84: Peace Be Unto You

Chapter 85: By the Sea Once More

Chapter 86: Go Teach All Nations

Chapter 87: To My Father and Your Father

Chapter 47 ministry The entire night had been passed in the mountain and as the son arose, Jesus and his disciples descended to the plane, absorbed and thought the disciples were awed and silent. Even Peter had not a word to say gladly would they have lingered in that holy place which had been touched with the light of heaven and where the son of God had manifested his glory, but there was work to be done for the people who were already searching far and near for Jesus at the foot of the mountain. A large company had gathered led hitter by the disciples who had remained behind, but who knew whether Jesus had resorted. As the savior drew near, he charged his three companions to keep silence concerning what they had witnessed saying, tell the vision to no man until the son of man be risen again from the dead. The revelation made to the disciples was to be pondered in their own hearts, not to be published abroad. To relate it to the multitudes would excite only ridicule or idle wonder and even the nine apostles would not understand the scene until after Christ had arisen from the dead. How slow of comprehension even the three favored disciples were, is seen in the fact that not withstanding all that Christ had said of what was before him, they queried among themselves what the rising from the dead should mean. Yet they asked no explanation from Jesus. His words in regard to the future had filled them with sorrow. They sought no further revelation concerning that which they were pained to believe might never come to pass. As the people on the plane caught sight of Jesus, they ran to meet him, greeting him with expressions of reverence and joy. Yet his quick eye discerned that they were in great perplexity. The disciples appeared troubled. A circumstance had just occurred that had caused them bitter disappointment and humiliation while they were waiting at the foot of the mountain. A father had brought to them his son to be delivered from a dumb spirit that tormented him authority over unclean spirits to cast them out had been conferred on the disciples. When Jesus sent out the 12 to preach through Galilee as they went forth strong in faith, the evil spirits had obeyed their word now in the name of Christ. They commanded the torturing spirit to leave his victim, but the demonn only mocked them by a fresh display of his power. The disciples unable to account for their defeat felt that they were bringing dishonor upon themselves and their master and in the crowd there were scribes who made the most of this opportunity to humiliate them. Pressing around the disciples. They plied them with questions seeking to prove that they and their master were deceivers. Here the rabbis triumphantly declared was an evil spirit that neither the disciples nor Christ himself could conquer. The people were inclined to side with the scribes and a feeling of contempt and scorn pervaded the crowd. But suddenly the accusation ceased Jesus and the three disciples were seen approaching and with a quick Revulsion of feeling the people turned to meet them. The night of communion with the heavenly glory had left its trace upon the savior and his companions upon their counts was a light that awed the beholders describes drew back in fear. While the people welcomed Jesus as if he had been a witness of all that had occurred, the Savior came to the scene of conflict and fixing his gaze upon the scribes inquired what question you with them, but the voices so bold and defiant before were now silent. A hush had fallen upon the entire company. Now the afflicted father made his way through the crowd and falling at the feat of Jesus, poured out the story of his trouble and disappointment. Master he said, I have brought unto the my son, which had the dumb spirit and where, so he taketh him, he tear at him and I speak to thy disciples that they should cast him out and they could not. Jesus looked about him upon the awes stricken multitude, the cabling scribes, the perplexed disciples. He read the unbelief in every heart and in a voice filled with sorrow, he exclaimed, oh, faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Then he barred the distressed father, bring thy son here the boy was brought and as the savior's eyes fell upon him, the evil spirit cast him to the ground. In convulsions of agony, lay wallowing and foaming, rendering the air with unearthly shrieks again, the prince of life and the prince of the powers of darkness had met on the field of battle Christ in fulfillment of his mission to preach deliverance to the captives, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Satan seeking to hold his victim under his control. Angels of light and the hosts of evil angels unseen were pressing near to behold the conflict. For a moment, Jesus permitted the evil spirit to display his power that the beholders might comprehend the deliverance about to be wrought. The multitude looked on with baited breath the Father in an agony of hope and fear, Jesus asked, how long is it to ago? Since this came unto him, the Father told the story of long years of suffering and then as if he couldn't endure a no more explained, if thou cans do anything, have compassion on us and help us if thou can't. Even now the Father questioned the power of Christ Jesus answers. If thou can't believe all things are possible to him that believe it, there is no lack of power on the part of Christ. The healing of the Son depends upon the father's faith. With a burst of tears realizing his own weakness, the father casts himself upon Christ's mercy with a cry, Lord, I believe Help thou mine unbelief. Jesus turns to the suffering one and says thou dumb and death spirit, I charge the come out of him and enter no more into him. There is a cry, an agonized struggle. The demonn in passing seems about to render the life from his victim. Then the boy lies motionless and apparently lifeless. The multitude whisper, he is dead, but Jesus takes him by the hand and lifting him up presents him in perfect soundness of mind and body to his father, father and son. Praise the name of their deliverer. The multitude are amazed at the mighty power of God while the scribes defeated and crestfallen turns solely away. If thal cans do anything, have compassion on us and help us. How many a sin burden soul has echoed that prayer and to all the pitying savior's? Answer is, if thou cant believe all things are possible to him that believe it, it is faith that connects us with heaven and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness in Christ. God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait and resisting every temptation. However strong but many feel that they lack faith and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls in their helpless unworthiness cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate savior. Look not to self but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when he walked among men is the same mighty redeemer. Today, faith comes by the word of God, then grasp his promise. He that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out, cast yourself at his feet with a cry. Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief. You can never perish while you do this. Never in a brief space of time the favor disciples have beheld the extreme of glory and of humiliation. They have seen humanity as transfigured into the image of God and as de based into the likeness of Satan from the mountain where he has talked with the heavenly messengers and has been proclaimed the son of God by the voice from the radiant glory they have seen Jesus descend to meet that most distressing and revolting spectacle. The maniac boy with distorted continents gnashing his teeth in spasms of agony that no human power could relieve. And this mighty redeemer who but a few hours before stood glorified before his wondering disciples stoops to lift the victim of Satan from the earth where he is wallowing and in health of mind and body restores him to his father and his home. It was an object lesson of redemption. The divine one from the father's glory stooping to save the lost. It represented also the disciples mission not alone upon the mountaintop with Jesus in hours of spiritual El illumination is the life of Christ's servants to be spent. There is work for them. Down in the plane. Souls whom Satan has enslaved are waiting for the word of faith and prayer to set them free. The nine disciples were yet pondering upon the bitter fact of their own failure. And when Jesus was once more alone with them, they questioned why could not we cast him out. Jesus answered them because of your unbelief. For verily I say unto, unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, he shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting, they are unbelief that shut them out from deeper sympathy with Christ and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them had caused their failure in the conflict with the powers of darkness, the words of Christ pointing to his death had brought sadness and doubt and the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances. In this state of darkness, they had undertaken the conflict with Satan. In order to succeed in such a conflict, they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self and be filled with the spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering, supplication to God in faith. Faith that leads to entire dependence upon God and unreserved consecration to his work can alone avail to bring men the holy spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and wicked spirits in high places. If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed said Jesus, ye shall say unto, unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove. Though the grain of mustard seed is so small, it contains the same mysterious life principle which produces growth in the loftiest tree. When the mustard seed is cast into the ground, the tiny germ lays hold of every element that God has provided for its detriment and its speedily develops a sturdy growth. If you have faith like this, you will lay hold upon God's word and upon all the helpful agencies he has appointed. Thus, your faith will strengthen and will bring to your aid the power of heaven. The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills shall disappear before the demand of faith. Nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Ellen G. White

Book

The Desire of Ages (Samuel Tsoutsouvas)

Chapter 47: Ministry

Read by Samuel Tsoutsouvas

Parent Series

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Other Teachings in Series

Chapter 01: God With Us

Chapter 02: The Chosen People

Chapter 03: The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 04: Unto You a Savior

Chapter 05: The Dedication

Chapter 06: We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 07: As a Child

Chapter 08: The Passover Visit

Chapter 09: Days of Conflict

Chapter 10: The Voice in the Wilderness

Chapter 11: The Baptism

Chapter 12: The Temptation

Chapter 13: The Victory

Chapter 14: We Have Found the Messiah

Chapter 15: At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16: In His Temple

Chapter 17: Nicodemus

Chapter 18: He Must Increase

Chapter 19: At Jacob’s Well

Chapter 20: Except Ye See Signs and Wonders

Chapter 21: Bethesda and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 22: Imprisonment and Death of John

Chapter 23: The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Chapter 24: Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son

Chapter 25: The Call by the Sea

Chapter 26: At Capernaum

Chapter 27: Thou Canst Make Me Clean

Chapter 28: Levi-Matthew

Chapter 29: The Sabbath

Chapter 30: He Ordained Twelve

Chapter 31: The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 32: The Centurion

Chapter 33: Who Are My Brethren

Chapter 34: The Invitation

Chapter 35: Peace Be Still

Chapter 36: The Touch of Faith

Chapter 37: The First Evangelists

Chapter 38: Come Rest Awhile

Chapter 39: Give Ye Them to Eat

Chapter 40: The Night on the Lake

Chapter 41: The Crisis in Galilee

Chapter 42: Tradition

Chapter 43: Barriers Broken Down

Chapter 44: The True Sign

Chapter 45: The Foreshadowing of the Cross

Chapter 46: He Was Transfigured

Chapter 47: Ministry

Chapter 48: Who Is The Greatest

Chapter 49: At the Feast of Tabernacles

Chapter 50: Among Snares

Chapter 51: The Light of Life

Chapter 52: The Divine Shepherd

Chapter 53: The Last Journey From Galilee

Chapter 54: The Good Samaritan

Chapter 55: Not With Outward Show

Chapter 56: Blessing the Children

Chapter 57: One Thing Thou Lackest

Chapter 58: Lazarus, Come Forth

Chapter 59: Priestly Plottings

Chapter 60: The Law of the New Kingdom

Chapter 61: Zacchaeus

Chapter 62: The Feast at Simon’s House

Chapter 63: Thy King Cometh

Chapter 64: A Doomed People

Chapter 65: The Temple Cleansed Again

Chapter 66: Controversy

Chapter 67: Woes On the Pharisees

Chapter 68: In the Outer Court

Chapter 69: On the Mount of Olives

Chapter 70: The Least of These My Brethren

Chapter 71: A Servant of Servants

Chapter 72: In Remembrance of Me

Chapter 73: Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled