God Simple Plan Of Salvation Pdf: Fill & Download for Free

1. The addresses given at the semi-annual general conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be accessed or downloaded at http://www.lds.org/general-conference/conferences?lang=eng.One of my favorite talks from the April 2012 conference teaches the different ways we can communicate with our Father in Heaven and how to develop those channels:How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life by Elder Richard G. Scott:http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/how-to-obtain-revelation-and-inspiration-for-your-personal-life?lang=eng2. Almost every week a devotional is given on the campus of Brigham Young University by a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or professor of the university.There were over 50 devotionals given in 2010 alone and the archives have audio recordings going back to 1949. They are hosted for free at http://speeches.byu.edu/This resource is valuable to all people who are seeking to become more like the Savior.While many of the 200+ talks that I've listened to from this repository have helped me come closer to the Savior, the following are some that I have found most enlightening:Mysteries of Godliness by President Bruce R. McConkie:http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=604In this speech given during the last year of his life, President McConkie speaks on the nature of God the Father, God the Son and the plan of salvation.The Three Pillars of Eternity by President Bruce R. McConkiehttp://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=598Describes "the three great eternal verities" of the creation, the fall and atonement; their importance and their roles in mortality.If Thou Endure Well by Elder Neal A. Maxwell:http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=920Elder Maxwell describes the qualities necessary to "endure well" the trials of life.Understandings of the Heart by Elder Robert D. Hales:http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=931A modern apostile expounds on the "tests of life", how to prepare for them and how to learn from them.Come Unto Christ by President Henry B. Eyringhttp://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=293This talk by Elder Eyring on how to recognize the effects the atonement in one's life is a wonderful discourse that teaches how repentance, the atonement, and the Spirit work in conjunction to sanctify a follower of Christ.Exaltation and Eternal Life by Hugh W. Nibleyhttp://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=838One of the great Mormon scholars describes the realities of the gospel, revelation, God, exaltation and the modern day restoration of Christ's church.Cast not Away Thine Confidence by Elder Jeffrey R. Hollandhttp://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=795Elder Holland speaks on how to remain steadfast to the guidance God has given you during the periods of darkness, despair and trial that can follow.Your Refined Heavenly Home by Elder Douglas L. Callisterhttp://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=1633A beautiful exploration of what a celestial life is like, this talk teaches how we can live in a way in this life so that we are comfortable in the presence of God in the next.Going Home by Elder Henry B. Eyringhttp://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=824Elder Eyring teaches the path back to the Father using this simple chain:1. We will find our way home to our Heavenly Father only if we win the companionship of the Holy Ghost so we can recognize truth.2. The companionship of the Holy Ghost requires our being clean.3. Being clean requires exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ unto repentance.Each of these speeches is available for free and most can be accessed or downloaded in .mp3, .pdf, and html formats.

Pan in IndiaPopulation1,566,000Main LanguageOdiaLargest ReligionHinduism (99.83%)Christian0.05% *EvangelicalUnknownProgressIntroduction / HistoryOrissa, India is the primary home of the Pano or Pan people. Many Pans also live in other parts of India such as West Bengal, Jharhand and Andhra Pradesh. The Pano or Pan people are distributed in the Balasore, Cuttack, Puri, Dhankanal and Ganjam districts of Orissa and on the border to West Bengal and Bihar. They have endogamous occupational sub-groups known as Bunapano and Dhulipano. They use Shamal as their surnames.What Are Their Lives Like?The Panos are Oriya speaking people while some of them also speak Hindi. They are non-vegetarian and rice is their staple food. The majority of Panos live by farming or fishing. They take menial jobs because they are Dalits. Pan people have faced considerable health problems related to contaminated water, poor diet, respiratory infections and lack of medical care. Several charitable groups have made efforts to help them with these problems. This has helped, but most of them still face these same problems. Most Panos worship Hindu and village deities and participate in ancestral worship. They are still unreached, according to the Joshua Project web site.They are divided into a number of lineages, which regulate marriage alliances and indicate one's ancestry. They have only one gotra, the Nagasa. Their traditional and primary occupation is to serve as serfs to the land holding communities. However a few of them are engaged in private business, in cultivation, as daily wage labourers and as musicians. Their literacy rate is 22.8 percent. They use both modern and indigenous medicines.What Are Their Beliefs?The Pano worship gods and goddesses such as Mahadev and Durga. Their village deities are Lakhmi, Mongla and Jogmaya. Jogmaya is considered to be their chief deity. The Panos have presumed kinship with other communities such as the Mahaprasad, Mokar and the Maitra. They act as musicians during the worship and life cycle rituals of other communities."The Panos in our Orissa parish are demanding that they should receive privileges like the Kui Samaj people since they speak Kui. The Kui Samaj resent this and point out that Panos should not have any of the tribal status they have since many of them are Dalit Christians and are therefore beneath them as a people. The Kuis resent any Panos who would try to receive any benefits even though most Panos are living in severe poverty. Many of our Pano Christians face continued persecution from the Hindu groups and even from their own people." The Catholic Priest was explaining to his bishop the seriousness of the problems faced by the Pano people.Prayer Points* For the salvation of the Pano people and that God may send several Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.* For community development programs and opportunities to hear the gospel message through different ways.* Pray that many in Pano communities will know Jesus as Savior.Profile Source: India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar / Global Prayer Digest Copyrighted © Used with permissionPrayer / Resource Links:Global Prayer Digest: 2008-09-22Global Prayer Digest: 2009-09-12General InfoSubmit updatePeople Name GeneralPanPeople Name in CountryPanPopulation in India1,566,000World Population1,569,800Total Countries2IndigenousYesUnreachedYesPioneer Workers Needed31Progress Scale1 ●GSEC6 (per PeopleGroups.org)Alternate NamesOriya Pan, Pan Tanti, Panaba, Panassa, Pano, Panoriya, Panothia, Pantanti, Samasi, Sawasi, Sut Bauri, Tantabai, Tanti, Tantubai, पंPeople ID17840ROP3 Code113314EthnicitySubmit updateAffinity BlocSouth Asian PeoplesPeople ClusterOriyaPeople GroupPanEthnic CodeCNN25lTotal Subgroups6Sawasi 21,000Desa Pano 4,900Khonda Pano 4,900Buna Pan 1,100Pan Vaishnab 1,100Raj Pan 1,100GeographySubmit updateCountryIndiaRegionSouth AsiaContinentAsia10/40 WindowYesNational Bible SocietyWebsitePersecution Rank11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)Total States22 (only 20 largest shown)Odisha 1,452,000Jharkhand 44,000West Bengal 23,000Chhattisgarh 19,000Andhra Pradesh 12,000Assam 8,400Bihar 1,800Karnataka 1,700Delhi 1,200Maharashtra 800Tripura 500Arunachal Pradesh 300Madhya Pradesh 300Rajasthan 200Telangana 200WebsiteSouth Asia PeoplesMapsSubmit MapPDF VersionEthnolinguistic map or other mapInteractive mapLanguagesSubmit updatePrimary LanguageOdia (1,377,000 speakers)Language Codeory Ethnologue ListingTotal Languages30Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)Bengali 79,000Hindi 34,000Chhattisgarhi 18,000Panchpargania 16,000Kui 9,600Kurux 9,200Sadri 4,800Juang 4,500Assamese 4,300Kuvi 2,900Kudmali 1,400Mundari: Bhumij 1,200Santhali 900Tulu 500Powari 500People GroupsSpeaking OdiaResourcesSubmit updatePrimary Language: OdiaBible Translation ▲Status (Years)Bible-PortionsYes (1811-1956)Bible-New TestamentYes (1809-2000)Bible-CompleteYes (1815-2004)Bible-NT AudioOnlineBible-NT TextOnlinePossible Print BiblesAmazonNational Bible SocietiesForum of Bible AgenciesWorld Bible FinderGospel GoWorld BiblesResource Type▲Resource NameAudio RecordingsAudio Bible teaching (GRN)Audio RecordingsOnline New Testament (FCBH)Audio RecordingsOnline Scripture (Talking Bibles)Audio RecordingsStory of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project)Film / VideoFollowing Jesus (India, JF Project)Film / VideoGod's Story VideoFilm / VideoJesus Film: view in OdiaFilm / VideoMagdalena (Jesus Film Project)Film / VideoMy Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime)Film / VideoRivka (Jesus Film Project)Film / VideoStory of Jesus for Children (JF Project)GeneralFour Spiritual LawsGeneralGod's Simple PlanGeneralGot Questions MinistryMobile AppDownload Bible from Google Play StoreText / Printed MatterBibleText / Printed MatterBible: ODIA - OriyaText / Printed MatterBibles, Bible LeagueText / Printed MatterOneHope resources for children and youthText / Printed MatterOnline Bible (Bibles India)ReligionSubmit updatePrimary Religion:HinduismMajor Religion ▲Percent *Buddhism0.12 %Christianity (Evangelical Unknown)0.05 %Ethnic Religions0.00 %Hinduism99.83 %Islam0.00 %Non-Religious0.00 %Other / Small0.00 %Unknown0.00 %SourcesPhoto SourceAnonymousMap SourceOmid / Joshua Project / Global Mapping IntlProfile SourceIndia Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar / Global Prayer Digest Copyrighted © Used with permissionData SourcesData is compiled from various sources. Read more* Religion ValuesFrom latest India census data. Current values may differ.Get Involved Register Ministry Activity Prayer CardsPEOPLES, COUNTRIES, LANGUAGESPEOPLE GROUP LISTSCREATE A LISTGLOBAL STATISTICSMAPSHOTSPOTSCopyright © 2018 Joshua Project. A ministry of Frontier Ventures.ABOUTDONATECONTACTHELP

“Why did Jesus deviate from his usual peace and love approach but use extreme force to redress a balance in the temple? Was Jesus erratic? ”Another other than me said it better. Exerts from their Book “Desire of Ages” & the chapter devoted to Christ’s first cleansing of the Temple.From links embeded in my blog TenBookBucketList the pdf ebook Desire of Ages & the MP3 Desire of Ages.http://www.thedesireofages.com/The_Desire_of_Ages_text/DA.pdfDesire of Ages - EllenWhiteAudio.orgThe observance of the Passover began with the birth of the Hebrew nation. On the last night of their bondage in Egypt, when there appeared no token of deliverance, God commanded them to prepare for an immediate release. He had warned Pharaoh of the final judgment on the Egyptians, and He directed the Hebrews to gather their families within their own dwellings. Having sprinkled the doorposts with the blood of the slain lamb, they were to eat the lamb, roasted, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. "And thus shall ye eat it," He said, "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover." Exodus 12:11. At midnight all the first-born of the Egyptians were slain. Then the king sent to Israel the message, "Rise up, and get you forth from among my people; . . . and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said." Exodus 12:31. The Hebrews went out from Egypt an independent nation. The Lord had commanded that the Passover should be yearly kept. "It shall come to pass," He said, "when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians." Thus from generation to generation the story of this wonderful deliverance was to be repeated. {DA 76.1}The Passover was followed by the seven days' feast of unleavened bread. On the second day of the feast, the first fruits of the year's harvest, a sheaf of barley, was presented before the Lord. All the ceremonies of the feast were types of the work of Christ. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt was an object lesson of redemption, which the Passover was intended to keep in memory. The slain lamb, the unleavened bread, the sheaf of first fruits, represented the Saviour. {DA 77.1}With most of the people in the days of Christ, the observance of this feast had degenerated into formalism. But what was its significance to the Son of God! {DA 77.2}For the first time the child Jesus looked upon the temple. He saw the white-robed priests performing their solemn ministry. He beheld the bleeding victim upon the altar of sacrifice. With the worshipers He bowed in prayer, while the cloud of incense ascended before God. He witnessed the impressive rites of the paschal service. Day by day He saw their meaning more clearly. Every act seemed to be bound up with His own life. New impulses were awakening within Him. Silent and absorbed, He seemed to be studying out a great problem. The mystery of His mission was opening to the Saviour. {DA 78.1}Mary often remonstrated with Jesus, and urged Him to conform to the usages of the rabbis. But He could not be persuaded to change His habits of contemplating the works of God and seeking to alleviate the suffering of men or even of dumb animals. When the priests and teachers required Mary's aid in controlling Jesus, she was greatly troubled; but peace came to her heart as He presented the statements of Scripture upholding His practices. {DA 90.2}At times she wavered between Jesus and His brothers, who did not believe that He was the Sent of God; but evidence was abundant that His was a divine character. She saw Him sacrificing Himself for the good of others. His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home, and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society. Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust publicans, the reckless prodigals, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, the rough peasants, and the mixed multitude. He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word there, as He saw men weary, yet compelled to bear heavy burdens. He shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature, of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God. {DA 90.3} ......At His visit to the temple in His boyhood, as the mystery of His lifework opened before Him, Christ had said to Mary, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49. These words struck the keynote of His whole life and ministry. Everything was held in abeyance to His work, the great work of redemption which He had come into the world to accomplish. Now He repeated the lesson. There was danger that Mary would regard her relationship to Jesus as giving her a special claim upon Him, and the right, in some degree, to direct Him in His mission. For thirty years He had been to her a loving and obedient son, and His love was unchanged; but He must now go about His Father's work. As Son of the Most High, and Saviour of the world, no earthly ties must hold Him from His mission, or influence His conduct. He must stand free to do the will of God. This lesson is also for us. The claims of God are paramount even to the ties of human relationship. No earthly attraction should turn our feet from the path in which He bids us walk. {DA 146.2}The only hope of redemption for our fallen race is in Christ; Mary could find salvation only through the Lamb of God. In herself she possessed no merit. Her connection with Jesus placed her in no different spiritual relation to Him from that of any other human soul. This is indicated in the Saviour's words. He makes clear the distinction between His relation to her as the Son of man and as the Son of God. The tie of kinship between them in no way placed her on an equality with Him. {DA 147.1}The words, "Mine hour is not yet come," point to the fact that every act of Christ's life on earth was in fulfillment of the plan that had existed from the days of eternity. Before He came to earth, the plan lay out before Him, perfect in all its details. But as He walked among men, He was guided, step by step, by the Father's will. He did not hesitate to act at the appointed time. With the same submission He waited until the time had come. {DA 147.2} .........Chap. 16 - In His Temple"After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." {DA 154.1}In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were making their way to the capital. He had not yet publicly announced His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the throng. Upon these occasions, the coming of the Messiah, to which such prominence had been given by the ministry of John, was often the theme of conversation. The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling enthusiasm. Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed, for it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures. With deep earnestness He explained the prophecies, and tried to arouse the people to a closer study of God's word. {DA 154.2}The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they were to be taught to worship God. Here during the Passover week large numbers assembled, coming from all parts of Palestine, and even from distant lands. The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng. Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices that were to be offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For the convenience of these, animals were bought and sold in the outer court of the temple. Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings. Here all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary. {DA 154.3}Every Jew was required to pay yearly a half shekel as "a ransom for his soul;" and the money thus collected was used for the support of the temple. Exodus 30:12-16. Besides this, large sums were brought as freewill offerings, to be deposited in the temple treasury. And it was required that all foreign coin should be changed for a coin called the temple shekel, which was accepted for the service of the sanctuary. The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests. {DA 155.1}The dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the animals sold, and they shared their profits with the priests and rulers, who thus enriched themselves at the expense of the people. The worshipers had been taught to believe that if they did not offer sacrifice, the blessing of God would not rest on their children or their lands. Thus a high price for the animals could be secured; for after coming so far, the people would not return to their homes without performing the act of devotion for which they had come. {DA 155.2}A great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the Passover, and the sales at the temple were very large. The consequent confusion indicated a noisy cattle market rather than the sacred temple of God. There could be heard sharp bargaining, the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the cooing of doves, mingled with the chinking of coin and angry disputation. So great was the confusion that the worshipers were disturbed, and the words addressed to the Most High were drowned in the uproar that invaded the temple. The Jews were exceedingly proud of their piety. They rejoiced over their temple, and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as blasphemy; they were very rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected with it; but the love of money had overruled their scruples. They were scarcely aware how far they had wandered from the original purpose of the service instituted by God Himself. {DA 155.3}When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, the place was consecrated by His presence. Moses was commanded to put bounds around the mount and sanctify it, and the word of the Lord was heard in warning: "Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live." Exodus 19:12, 13. Thus was taught the lesson that wherever God manifests His presence, the place is holy. The precincts of God's temple should have been regarded as sacred. But in the strife for gain, all this was lost sight of. {DA 155.4}The priests and rulers were called to be the representatives of God to the nation; they should have corrected the abuses of the temple court. They should have given to the people an example of integrity and compassion. Instead of studying their own profit, they should have considered the situation and needs of the worshipers, and should have been ready to assist those who were not able to buy the required sacrifices. But this they did not do. Avarice had hardened their hearts. {DA 156.1}There came to this feast those who were suffering, those who were in want and distress. The blind, the lame, the deaf, were there. Some were brought on beds. Many came who were too poor to purchase the humblest offering for the Lord, too poor even to buy food with which to satisfy their own hunger. These were greatly distressed by the statements of the priests. The priests boasted of their piety; they claimed to be the guardians of the people; but they were without sympathy or compassion. The poor, the sick, the dying, made their vain plea for favor. Their suffering awakened no pity in the hearts of the priests. {DA 157.1}As Jesus came into the temple, He took in the whole scene. He saw the unfair transactions. He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins. He saw the outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy traffic. The sacred enclosure had become one vast exchange. {DA 157.2}Christ saw that something must be done. Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people without the proper instruction as to their import. The worshipers offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect Sacrifice. And among them, unrecognized and unhonored, stood the One symbolized by all their service. He had given directions in regard to the offerings. He understood their symbolical value, and He saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood. Spiritual worship was fast disappearing. No link bound the priests and rulers to their God. Christ's work was to establish an altogether different worship. {DA 157.3}With searching glance, Christ takes in the scene before Him as He stands upon the steps of the temple court. With prophetic eye He looks into futurity, and sees not only years, but centuries and ages. He sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from their right, and forbid that the gospel shall be preached to the poor. He sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners, and men will make merchandise of His grace. As He beholds the scene, indignation, authority, and power are expressed in His countenance. The attention of the people is attracted to Him. The eyes of those engaged in their unholy traffic are riveted upon His face. They cannot withdraw their gaze. They feel that this Man reads their inmost thoughts, and discovers their hidden motives. Some attempt to conceal their faces, as if their evil deeds were written upon their countenances, to be scanned by those searching eyes. {DA 157.4}The confusion is hushed. The sound of traffic and bargaining has ceased. The silence becomes painful. A sense of awe overpowers the assembly. It is as if they were arraigned before the tribunal of God to answer for their deeds. Looking upon Christ, they behold divinity flash through the garb of humanity. The Majesty of heaven stands as the Judge will stand at the last day,--not now encircled with the glory that will then attend Him, but with the same power to read the soul. His eye sweeps over the multitude, taking in every individual. His form seems to rise above them in commanding dignity, and a divine light illuminates His countenance. He speaks, and His clear, ringing voice--the same that upon Mount Sinai proclaimed the law that priests and rulers are transgressing--is heard echoing through the arches of the temple: "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise." {DA 158.1}Slowly descending the steps, and raising the scourge of cords gathered up on entering the enclosure, He bids the bargaining company depart from the precincts of the temple. With a zeal and severity He has never before manifested, He overthrows the tables of the money-changers. The coin falls, ringing sharply upon the marble pavement. None presume to question His authority. None dare stop to gather up their ill-gotten gain. Jesus does not smite them with the whip of cords, but in His hand that simple scourge seems terrible as a flaming sword. Officers of the temple, speculating priests, brokers and cattle traders, with their sheep and oxen, rush from the place, with the one thought of escaping from the condemnation of His presence. {DA 158.2}A panic sweeps over the multitude, who feel the overshadowing of His divinity. Cries of terror escape from hundreds of blanched lips. Even the disciples tremble. They are awestruck by the words and manner of Jesus, so unlike His usual demeanor. They remember that it is written of Him, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up." Psalm 69:9. Soon the tumultuous throng with their merchandise are far removed from the temple of the Lord. The courts are free from unholy traffic, and a deep silence and solemnity settles upon the scene of confusion. The presence of the Lord, that of old sanctified the mount, has now made sacred the temple reared in His honor. {DA 158.3}In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was announcing His mission as the Messiah, and entering upon His work. That temple, erected for the abode of the divine Presence, was designed to be an object lesson for Israel and for the world. From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One. But by the incarnation of the Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again His temple. God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul. But the Jews had not understood the significance of the building they regarded with so much pride. They did not yield themselves as holy temples for the Divine Spirit. The courts of the temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tumult of unholy traffic, represented all too truly the temple of the heart, defiled by the presence of sensual passion and unholy thoughts. In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,--from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." Malachi 3:1-3. {DA 161.1}"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not force an entrance. He comes not into the heart as to the temple of old; but He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20. He will come, not for one day merely; for He says, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; . . . and they shall be My people." "He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." 2 Corinthians 6:16; Micah 7:19. His presence will cleanse and sanctify the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto the Lord, and "an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:21, 22. {DA 161.2}Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the temple court, and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In their flight they met others on their way to the temple, and bade them turn back, telling them what they had seen and heard. Christ looked upon the fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear, and their ignorance of what constituted true worship. In this scene He saw symbolized the dispersion of the whole Jewish nation for their wickedness and impenitence. {DA 162.1}And why did the priests flee from the temple? Why did they not stand their ground? He who commanded them to go was a carpenter's son, a poor Galilean, without earthly rank or power. Why did they not resist Him? Why did they leave the gain so ill acquired, and flee at the command of One whose outward appearance was so humble? {DA 162.2}Christ spoke with the authority of a king, and in His appearance, and in the tones of His voice, there was that which they had no power to resist. At the word of command they realized, as they had never realized before, their true position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed through humanity, not only did they see indignation on Christ's countenance; they realized the import of His words. They felt as if before the throne of the eternal Judge, with their sentence passed on them for time and for eternity. For a time they were convinced that Christ was a prophet; and many believed Him to be the Messiah. The Holy Spirit flashed into their minds the utterances of the prophets concerning Christ. Would they yield to this conviction? {DA 162.3}Repent they would not. They knew that Christ's sympathy for the poor had been aroused. They knew that they had been guilty of extortion in their dealings with the people. Because Christ discerned their thoughts they hated Him. His public rebuke was humiliating to their pride, and they were jealous of His growing influence with the people. They determined to challenge Him as to the power by which He had driven them forth, and who gave Him this power. {DA 162.4}Slowly and thoughtfully, but with hate in their hearts, they returned to the temple. But what a change had taken place during their absence! When they fled, the poor remained behind; and these were now looking to Jesus, whose countenance expressed His love and sympathy. With tears in His eyes, He said to the trembling ones around Him: Fear not; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. For this cause came I into the world. {DA 162.5}The people pressed into Christ's presence with urgent, pitiful appeals: Master, bless me. His ear heard every cry. With pity exceeding that of a tender mother He bent over the suffering little ones. All received attention. Everyone was healed of whatever disease he had. The dumb opened their lips in praise; the blind beheld the face of their Restorer. The hearts of the sufferers were made glad. {DA 163.1}As the priests and temple officials witnessed this great work, what a revelation to them were the sounds that fell on their ears! The people were relating the story of the pain they had suffered, of their disappointed hopes, of painful days and sleepless nights. When the last spark of hope seemed to be dead, Christ had healed them. The burden was so heavy, one said; but I have found a helper. He is the Christ of God, and I will devote my life to His service. Parents said to their children, He has saved your life; lift up your voice and praise Him. The voices of children and youth, fathers and mothers, friends and spectators, blended in thanksgiving and praise. Hope and gladness filled their hearts. Peace came to their minds. They were restored soul and body, and they returned home, proclaiming everywhere the matchless love of Jesus. {DA 163.2}At the crucifixion of Christ, those who had thus been healed did not join with the rabble throng in crying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." Their sympathies were with Jesus; for they had felt His great sympathy and wonderful power. They knew Him to be their Saviour; for He had given them health of body and soul. They listened to the preaching of the apostles, and the entrance of God's word into their hearts gave them understanding. They became agents of God's mercy, and instruments of His salvation. {DA 163.3}The crowd that had fled from the temple court after a time slowly drifted back. They had partially recovered from the panic that had seized them, but their faces expressed irresolution and timidity. They looked with amazement on the works of Jesus, and were convicted that in Him the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled. The sin of the desecration of the temple rested, in a great degree, upon the priests. It was by their arrangement that the court had been turned into a market place. The people were comparatively innocent. They were impressed by the divine authority of Jesus; but with them the influence of the priests and rulers was paramount. They regarded Christ's mission as an innovation, and questioned His right to interfere with what was permitted by the authorities of the temple. They were offended because the traffic had been interrupted, and they stifled the convictions of the Holy Spirit. {DA 163.4}Above all others the priests and rulers should have seen in Jesus the anointed of the Lord; for in their hands were the sacred scrolls that described His mission, and they knew that the cleansing of the temple was a manifestation of more than human power. Much as they hated Jesus, they could not free themselves from the thought that He might be a prophet sent by God to restore the sanctity of the temple. With a deference born of this fear, they went to Him with the inquiry, "What sign showest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?" {DA 164.1}Jesus had shown them a sign. In flashing light into their hearts, and in doing before them the works which the Messiah was to do, He had given convincing evidence of His character. Now when they asked for a sign, He answered them by a parable, showing that He read their malice, and saw to what lengths it would lead them. "Destroy this temple," He said, "and in three days I will raise it up." {DA 164.2}In these words His meaning was twofold. He referred not only to the destruction of the Jewish temple and worship, but to His own death,--the destruction of the temple of His body. This the Jews were already plotting. As the priests and rulers returned to the temple, they had proposed to kill Jesus, and thus rid themselves of the troubler. Yet when He set before them their purpose, they did not understand Him. They took His words as applying only to the temple at Jerusalem, and with indignation exclaimed, "Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?" Now they felt that Jesus had justified their unbelief, and they were confirmed in their rejection of Him. {DA 164.3}Christ did not design that His words should be understood by the unbelieving Jews, nor even by His disciples at this time. He knew that they would be misconstrued by His enemies, and would be turned against Him. At His trial they would be brought as an accusation, and on Calvary they would be flung at Him as a taunt. But to explain them now would give His disciples a knowledge of His sufferings, and bring upon them sorrow which as yet they were not able to bear. And an explanation would prematurely disclose to the Jews the result of their prejudice and unbelief. Already they had entered upon a path which they would steadily pursue until He should be led as a lamb to the slaughter. {DA 164.4}It was for the sake of those who should believe on Him that these words of Christ were spoken. He knew that they would be repeated. Being spoken at the Passover, they would come to the ears of thousands, and be carried to all parts of the world. After He had risen from the dead, their meaning would be made plain. To many they would be conclusive evidence of His divinity. {DA 165.1}Because of their spiritual darkness, even the disciples of Jesus often failed of comprehending His lessons. But many of these lessons were made plain to them by subsequent events. When He walked no more with them, His words were a stay to their hearts. {DA 165.2}As referring to the temple at Jerusalem, the Saviour's words, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," had a deeper meaning than the hearers perceived. Christ was the foundation and life of the temple. Its services were typical of the sacrifice of the Son of God. The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of Christ. The entire plan of sacrificial worship was a foreshadowing of the Saviour's death to redeem the world. There would be no efficacy in these offerings when the great event toward which they had pointed for ages was consummated. {DA 165.3}Since the whole ritual economy was symbolical of Christ, it had no value apart from Him. When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by delivering Him to death, they rejected all that gave significance to the temple and its services. Its sacredness had departed. It was doomed to destruction. From that day sacrificial offerings and the service connected with them were meaningless. Like the offering of Cain, they did not express faith in the Saviour. In putting Christ to death, the Jews virtually destroyed their temple. When Christ was crucified, the inner veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, signifying that the great final sacrifice had been made, and that the system of sacrificial offerings was forever at an end. {DA 165.4}"In three days I will raise it up." In the Saviour's death the powers of darkness seemed to prevail, and they exulted in their victory. But from the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Jesus came forth a conqueror. "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them." Colossians 2:15. By virtue of His death and resurrection He became the minister of the "true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Hebrews 8:2. Men reared the Jewish tabernacle; men builded the Jewish temple; but the sanctuary above, of which the earthly was a type, was built by no human architect. "Behold the Man whose name is The Branch; . . . He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne." Zechariah 6:12, 13. {DA 165.5}The sacrificial service that had pointed to Christ passed away; but the eyes of men were turned to the true sacrifice for the sins of the world. The earthly priesthood ceased; but we look to Jesus, the minister of the new covenant, and "to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." "The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: . . . but Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, . . . by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Hebrews 12:24; 9:8-12. {DA 166.1}"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25. Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple; though the sanctuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight, yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby. They would realize no break in their communion, and no diminution of power because of the Saviour's absence. While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church. {DA 166.2}"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, . . . Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16. {DA 166.3}