The Conflict of the Ages in Living Sound

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Myers Media

Nancy Hamilton

The Desire of Ages in Living Sound

Chapter 1 - God With Us

Chapter 2 - The Chosen People

Chapter 3 - The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 4 - Unto You a Saviour

Chapter 5 - The Dedication

Chapter 6 - We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 7 - As a Child

Chapter 8 - The Passover Visit

Chapter 9 - 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 Messias

Chapter 15 - At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16 - In His Temple

Chapter 17 - Nicodemus

Chapter 18 - He Must Increase

Chapter 19 - At Jacobs 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 Carpenters 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 - A 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 Simons 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 - Gethsemane

Chapter 75 - Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas

Chapter 76 - Judas

Chapter 77 - In Pilates Judgment Hall

Chapter 78 - Calvary

Chapter 79 - It is Finished

Chapter 80 - In Josephs 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

The desire of ages Chapter 18, he must increase for a time. The Baptist's influence over the nation had been greater than that of its rulers, priests, or princes. If he had announced himself as the Messiah and raised a revolt against Rome priests and people would've flocked to his standard. Every consideration that appeals to the ambition of the world's conquerors, Satan had stood ready to urge upon John the Baptist, but with the evidence before him of his power, he had steadfastly refused. The splinted bribe the attention which was fixed upon him. He had directed to another. Now he saw the tide of popularity turning away from himself to the savior. Day by day, the crowds about him lessened. When Jesus came from Jerusalem to the region about Jordan, the people flocked to hear him. The number of his disciples increased daily. Many came for baptism and while Christ himself did not baptize, he sanctioned the administration of the ordinance by his disciples. Thus, he set his seal upon the mission of his forerunner. But the disciples of John looked with jealousy upon the growing popularity of Jesus, they stood ready to criticize his work and it was not long before they found occasion a question arose between them and the Jews as to whether baptism availed to cleanse the soul from sin. They maintained that the baptism of Jesus differed essentially from that of John. Soon they were in dispute with Christ's disciples in regard to the form of words property used at baptism. And finally, as to the right of the latter to baptize at all, the disciples of John came to him with their grievances saying, rabbi, he that was with the beyond Jordan, to whom Thal barest witness, behold the same Baptizer and oh man, come to him through these words. Satan brought temptation upon John. Though John's mission seemed about to close, it was still possible for him to hinder the work of Christ. If he had sympathized with himself and expressed grief or disappointment at being superseded, he would've sewn the seeds of dissension, would've encouraged envy and jealousy and would seriously have impeded the progress of the gospel. John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity, but the touch of divine love had transformed him. He dwelled in an atmosphere uncontaminated with selfishness and ambition and far above the myas of jealousy. He manifested no sympathy with the disaffection of his disciples, but showed how clearly he understood his relation to the Messiah and how gladly he welcomed the one for whom he had prepared. The way he said, A man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven. Ye yourself spare me. Witness that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that half the bride is the bride groom, but the friend of the bride groom, which standeth and heareth him rejoice at greatly because of the bride groom's voice. John represented himself as the friend who acted as a messenger between the betroth parties preparing the way for the marriage. When the bride groom had received his bride, the mission of the friend was fulfilled. He rejoiced in the happiness of those whose union he had promoted. So John had been called to direct the people to Jesus and it was his joy to witness the success of the Savior's work. He said this, my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease Lord. Looking in faith to the redeemer, John had risen to the height of self abdication. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher until they should rest upon the lamb of God. He himself had been only a, a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy, he accepted silence and obscurity that the eyes of all might be turned to the light of life. Those who are true to their calling as messages for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim. As did John the Baptist. Behold the lamb of God, which take it away, the sin of the world, they will lift up Jesus and with him humanity will be lifted up, thus say at the high and lofty one that inhabited eternity whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contract and humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contract ones the soul of the prophet emptied himself was filled with the light of the divine as he witnessed to the savior's glory. His words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ himself had spoken. In his interview with Nicodemus, John said he that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth, is earthly and speaker of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all for he whom God have sent speaker the words of God for God it not the spirit of measure. Unto him, Christ could say, I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father, which has sent me to him. It is declared thou has loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore God, even thy God hath anointed the with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. The father giveth knot the spirit by measure unto him. So with the followers of Christ, we can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God or accept Christ by faith unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought, to the obedience of Christ, to all who do this, the Holy Spirit is given without measure in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And in him ye are made full. The disciples of John had declared that all men were coming to Christ. But with clearer insight, John said, no man receiver his witness. So few were ready to accept him as the savior from sin. But he that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. No need of disputation as to whether Christ's baptism or John's purified from sin. It is the grace of Christ that gives life to the soul. Apart from Christ. Baptism like any other service is a worthless form here that believe believers not the son shall not see life. The success of Christ's work, which the Baptist had received with such joy was reported also to the authorities at Jerusalem. The priests and rabbis had been jealous of John's influence as they saw the people living the synagogues and flocking to the wilderness. But here was one who had still greater power to attract the multitudes. Those leaders in Israel were not willing to say with John, he must increase, but I must decrease. They arose with a new determination to put an end to the work that was drawing the people away from them. Jesus knew that they would spare no effort to create a division between his own disciples and those of John. He knew that the storm was gathering which would sweep away one of the greatest prophets ever given to the world. Wishing to avoid all occasion for misunderstanding or dissension. He quietly ceased his labors and withdrew to Galilee. We also, while loyal to truth, should try to avoid all that may lead to discord and misapprehension for whenever these arise, the result in the loss of souls. Whenever circumstances occur that threaten to cause division, we should follow the example of Jesus and of John the Baptist. John had been called to lead out as a reformer. Because of this, his disciples were in danger of fixing their attention upon him feeling that the success of the work depended upon his labors and losing sight of the fact that he was only an instrument through which God had wrought. But the work of John was not sufficient to lay the foundation of the Christian Church. When he had fulfilled his mission, another work was to be done, which his testimony could not accomplish. His disciples did not understand this. When they saw Christ coming in to take the work, they were jealous and dissatisfied. The same dangers still exist. God calls a man to do a certain work and when he has carried it as far as he is qualified to take it, the Lord brings in others to carry it still Father. But like John's disciples, many feel that the success of the work work depends upon the first laborer. Attention is fixed upon the human instead of the divine. Jealousy comes in and the work of God is mad. The one thus unduly honored is tempted to cherish self-confidence. He does not realize his dependence on God. The people are taught to rely on man for guidance, and thus they fall into error and are led away from God. The work of God is not to bear the image in superscription of man. From time to time, the Lord will bring in different agencies through whom his purpose can best be accomplished. Happy are they who are willing for self to be humbled, sane with John the Baptist. He must increase, but I must decrease.

Ellen G. White

Book

The Desire of Ages in Living Sound

Chapter 18 - He Must Increase

Read by Nancy Hamilton

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Other Teachings in Series

Chapter 1 - God With Us

Chapter 2 - The Chosen People

Chapter 3 - The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 4 - Unto You a Saviour

Chapter 5 - The Dedication

Chapter 6 - We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 7 - As a Child

Chapter 8 - The Passover Visit

Chapter 9 - 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 Messias

Chapter 15 - At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16 - In His Temple

Chapter 17 - Nicodemus

Chapter 18 - He Must Increase

Chapter 19 - At Jacobs 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 Carpenters 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 - A 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 Simons 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