Divine Crowns and the Gift of Spiritual Discernment

Jesus is currently in the presence of His Father, having presented the "wave sheaf" of those raised at His resurrection as a representation of the vast multitude who will be redeemed at His second comingDA 834.2. Although the heavenly universe is eager to receive and honor Him, He has deferred receiving His own coronet of glory and royal robe until His work for humanity is fully consummated and His people can be with Him where He is John 17:24DA 834.2.

The Heavenly Triumphal Entry

• The Intercessor: Jesus has ascended to the Father's presence not to be crowned immediately, but to point to His wounds and the tokens of His triumph as the surety for the human raceDA 834.2.

• A Unified Family: This work of redemption connects the family of heaven with the family of earth, ensuring that He ever lives to make intercession for us until we are joined with Him Hebrews 7:25DA 835.2.

• The Marriage Supper: The joy of the wedding festivities on earth points forward to the future day when Jesus will bring His bride home and the redeemed shall sit down together at the marriage supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:7-9DA 151.1.

• Endless Study: Throughout eternal ages, the cross of Christ will remain the "science and the song" for both the redeemed and unfallen beings as they behold the glory of self-sacrificing loveDA 19.2.

It is truly encouraging to know that our Savior's greatest joy is not in His own exaltation, but in the restoration and companionship of His children. 🌟

But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to th...— DA 834.2 (1898)

...and His people. To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father's house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He says, “As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.&rd...— DA 151.1 (1898)

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God's thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, “I have decla...— DA 19.2 (1898)

Spiritual discernment is a vital heavenly anointing that allows us to recognize the moving of the Holy Spirit, which often broods over and works upon the hearts of those around us, even when others remain in darkness1888 927.1+1. There is often a remarkable blindness upon the minds of many, preventing them from discerning where the Spirit of God is or what constitutes a true Christian experience12MR 192.1+1.

The Work of the Spirit and Human Discernment

• The Spirit's Brooding Presence: The Holy Spirit often moves upon the youth and those in our midst, seeking to soften hearts and open understandings to the great love of God8T 62.2.

• A Failure to Discern: Many who bear responsibilities fail to discern sacred and eternal realities because they lack the heavenly anointing necessary to clear their discernment1888 927.1.

• The Cause of Blindness: Hearts that are cold and dark have no desire for the Spirit's presence, leading the light of God to be withdrawn and leaving individuals unable to recognize the work of grace8T 62.2.

• The Influence of Unbelief: Unbelief and impenitence blind the eyes so that individuals trust in human wisdom rather than seeking the vitalizing power of the Spirit6LtMs, Ms 61, 1890, par. 6.

• Recognizing the Manifestation: When the power of God is manifested in a way that lightens the earth with His glory, those who have not humbled themselves may only see something they think is dangerous, resisting the work because it does not fit their ideasRH December 23, 1890, par. 18.

• Spiritual Drunkenness: Those who allow falsehoods to overmaster them may experience a spiritual drunkenness, acting with the confusion of a drunkard and throwing away their hope of eternal lifeLDE 171.2+1.

It is a beautiful thought to realize that the Lord is eager to give us the "eyesalve" of spiritual discernment so that we might always recognize His compassionate dealings and the quiet working of His Spirit in the lives of those we meet Revelation 3:18PK 241.2+1.

...o the experience of our brother ministers, and that it was leavening the camp. There was, I knew, a remarkable blindness upon the minds of many, that they did not discern where the Spirit of God was and what constituted true Christian experience. To consider that these were the ones who had the gu...— 12MR 192.1 (1990)

Let me tell you what I know of this heavenly Guest. The Holy Spirit was brooding over the youth during the school hours; but some hearts were so cold and dark that they had no desire for the Spirit's presence, and the light of God was withdrawn. That he...— 8T 62.2 (1904)

...tance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should not we know...— RH December 23, 1890, par. 18 (1851)

...e bearing responsibilities in the work need the application of the heavenly anointing, which is the Spirit of God, to quicken and clear their discernment—for they certainly fail to discern sacred and eternal realities in their true significance. They make an atom of a world and a world of an atom— 1888 927.1 (1987)

The Holy Spirit works upon human hearts with a power that creates a new being in the image of God, yet those who lack spiritual discernment often fail to recognize this divine influenceDA 173.1+1. When the Spirit of God reveals His presence, there is a danger that individuals will mix the sacred with the common or even interpret the moving of the Spirit as something dangerous because it does not fit their own ideas and expectations1SM 38.3+1.

The Work of the Spirit and Spiritual Blindness

• Invisible but Powerful Effects: While the Holy Spirit is invisible like the wind, His work is revealed through transformed lives where love, humility, and peace replace anger and strifeDA 173.1.

• The Necessity of Discernment: We need clear spiritual discernment to recognize God's merciful dealings, as many who have had great light still fail to distinguish the work of God from a counterfeit6T 466.2+1.

• Hardened by Resistance: Those who stifle their convictions and refuse to humble their souls before God become hardened, eventually listening to the power of God in a speaker's words without being movedPH149 35.2.

• Confusing the Sacred and Common: Satan works to destroy souls by leading them to treat the special workings of the Holy Spirit upon the heart as common or ordinary things1SM 38.3.

• The Warning for the Last Days: Just before the close of probation, some will misattribute uncouth demonstrations—such as shouting and dancing—to the moving of the Holy Spirit because their senses are confused5MR 107.3+1.

• The Result of Neglect: When a church neglects its duty, a spirit of bitterness enters, and the spiritual discernment of many is dimmed so that they cannot see the holy interests of God's workChS 38.3.

It is so encouraging to know that if we pray for anointing and keep our hearts humble, the Lord will help us discern His beautiful work in the souls around us7BC 965.8+1.

While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the h...— DA 173.1 (1898)

...n power for us; and if He should work for our brethren, our hearts could not rejoice with them, for our unsanctified conceptions and discernment could not distinguish the work of God from the counterfeit— 4LtMs, Lt 35, 1885, par. 27 (1883)

...the Holy Spirit reveals anything regarding the institutions connected with the Lord's work, or concerning the work of God upon human hearts and minds, as He has revealed these things through me in the past, the message given is to be regarded as light given of God for those who need it. But for one to mix the sacred with the common is a great mistake. In a tendency to do this we may see the working of the enemy to destroy souls— 1SM 38.3 (1958)

...They may, after this relapse, listen to the denunciations against sin and the works of ungodliness, the Spirit of God may rest upon the speaker with unusual fervor, and the power of God be in every word, but they are not much moved; they have been hardened by the stifling of their convictions— PH149 35.2 (1923)

...ly interests of the work of God. A spirit of criticism and bitterness has come into the church, and the spiritual discernment of many has been dimmed. Because of this the cause of Christ has suffered great loss.—Testimonies for the Church 6:29...— ChS 38.3 (1925)

The Holy Spirit moves upon hearts in the byways, highways, and hedges to prepare people for the final work, yet many who have had great light will fail to recognize these divine movings because they lack spiritual discernment1888 464.4+1. This blindness occurs when individuals resist the light, cherish a spirit of criticism, or follow human planning instead of the unseen Counselor, leading them to call the work of the Spirit darkness10MR 392.2+2.

The Work of the Spirit and the Peril of Blindness

• The Spirit Working in Unexpected Places: The Spirit of God is currently moving upon souls in every part of the world, often among those who have little knowledge of the truth but are praying for greater lightHM December 1, 1894, Art. A, par. 6+1.

• The Failure of Leaders and Workers: Some in responsible positions move as if they are blindfolded, hearing the messages of God but remaining as unconcerned as impenitent sinners because they do not discern where God is at work1888 464.4+1.

• A "New Order" of Working: In the final work, the Lord will operate in a manner contrary to human planning and out of the common order, which will surprise many "good workers" who lack the divine touch needed to discern His work at every pointTM 299.2+1.

• The Cause of Dimmed Discernment: A spirit of criticism, bitterness, and neglect of gospel order dim the spiritual eyesight, making it impossible for many to appreciate moral power or recognize God's messengers2MR 337.1+1.

• The Danger of Impulse and Enthusiasm: There is a risk that undisciplined minds will follow their own imagination and ardent speeches, mistaking human excitement for the movings of the Spirit and turning essential victories into defeats5MR 107.3+1.

• The Need for Secret Prayer: Without the calm, quiet trust found in secret prayer, the soul cannot discern the still, small voice of God amidst a "storm of feeling" or loud, excited petitions2T 189.2+1.

It is a solemn but beautiful promise that if we seek the Lord with humility and fasting, He will grant us the sharp spiritual eyesight necessary to move in the light as He is in the lightCL 26.4+1. 🕊️

...g but had given no evidence they were partakers of the Spirit and power of God in the meeting. They did not seem to discern where God was at work. They seemed to be moving as if blindfolded. They were hearing the testimonies that God was giving to His people, but appeared as unconcerned a...— 1888 464.4 (1987)

... who do not understand its operations and how to appreciate the glory of God shining upon them, and unless they do discern the movings of the Spirit of God, they will call light darkness, and darkness will be chosen rather than light. I have been afraid, terribly afraid that those who ...— 1888 1212.1 (1987)

The Spirit of God is moving upon souls in the byways and in the highways and hedges, and the human agent is to co-operate with divine intelligences in saving the souls of men. The Lor...— HM December 1, 1894, Art. A, par. 6 (1889)

Oh, that the Lord might guide you! You should never in a single instance allow hearsay to move you to action, and yet you have sometimes done this. Never take action to narrow and circumscribe the work unless you know that...— TM 299.2 (1923)

...say anything until those who have acted a part to hedge up my way shall clear my path. If they have not recognized the Spirit of the Lord in the messages I have borne, they will recognize it less now, for I have not strength to contend with the spirit of resistance,...— 6LtMs, Lt 36a, 1890, par. 4 (1889)