Bible Study Guides

Bible Study Guides – Faith in Practice

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December 25, 2011 – December 31, 2011

Key Text

“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18.

Study Help: Christ’s Object Lessons, 307–313.

Introduction

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

1 God’s Plan for Man

  • What evidence is there that God’s plan for man has never changed? Matthew 5:48.

Note: “The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He expects from us the perfection which Christ revealed in His humanity. Fathers and mothers especially need to understand the best methods of training children that they may co-operate with God.” Child Guidance, 477.

  • How can perfection be possible in an imperfect world? The battleground for the most deadly conflict ever fought on this planet is the human mind. What is the only one effective weapon? Philippians 2:5.

Note: “We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.” The Desire of Ages, 330.

2 A Most Precious Gift

  • God made man a free moral agent with the ability to choose. How was this demonstrated in the Garden of Eden? Genesis 2:16, 17.

Note: “The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310, 311.

“This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will.” Steps to Christ, 47.

“You need to drink daily at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord. But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions.” Messages to Young People, 153.

3 Obstacles to Enjoying Freedom

  • What obstacle do we face in achieving that perfection of character? I Peter 5:8.

Note: “While Satan is constantly seeking to blind their minds to the fact, let Christians never forget that they ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places.’ Ephesians 6:12.” The Great Controversy, 510.

  • What two powers are seeking complete control of the mind to the exclusion of the other? Zechariah 3:1.

Note: “The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. He has so concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists, much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power. They have to a great extent forgotten his past record; and when he makes another advance move, they will not recognize him as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a friend, one who is doing a good work. Boasting of their independence they will, under his specious, bewitching influence, obey the worst impulses of the human heart and yet believe that God is leading them. Could their eyes be opened to distinguish their captain, they would see that they are not serving God, but the enemy of all righteousness. They would see that their boasted independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on unbalanced minds.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 294.

4 Death Brings Life

  • How did Paul describe his battle with sin and the remedy for a sanctified life? Galatians 2:20.

Note: “When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. … The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome.” The Desire of Ages, 324.

  • Those who are finally rejected refuse to surrender their whole hearts and affections. Why will not all who claim to be Christians be saved? Matthew 7:22, 23.

Note: “Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those words of doom, ‘I know you not’ [Matthew 25:12]. The fellowship of the Spirit, which you have slighted, could alone make you one with the joyous throng at the marriage feast. In that scene you cannot participate. Its light would fall on blinded eyes, its melody upon deaf ears. Its love and joy could awake no chord of gladness in the world-benumbed heart. You are shut out from heaven by your own unfitness for its companionship.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 413.

5 The Wedding Garment

  • Will all who call on the Lord be saved? Matthew 7:21–23.

Note: “This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousness are as filthy rags.’ Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

  • When the king entered the feast, why was one man evicted? Matthew 22:11–14.

Note: “The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What process will bring man back to the same condition as he was in the beginning?

2 Above all other gifts offered to man, what was given with the most risk, yet the most valuable?

3 What is the source of the power behind all contentions and daily obstacles?

4 What does all nature reveal must happen for us to have life?

5 Why will not all who call themselves Christian be saved?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – A Call to Higher Ground

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December 18, 2011 – December 24, 2011

Key Text

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18.

Study Helps: Early Writings, 64–67; The Ministry of Healing, 503–516.

Introduction

“This very day the Lord desires us to reach a higher standard than we have ever reached in the past. Day by day we are to advance upward, ever upward, until it can be said of us as a people, ‘Ye are complete in him’ [Colossians 2:10].” The Upward Look, 202.

1 HISTORIC OR PROGRESSIVE?

  • Is our call today merely to be “historic” Seventh-day Adventists after the pattern of our forefathers—or is it actually to be holier than they were? Proverbs 4:18; Luke 12:48, last part.

Note: “We shall not be approved of God in looking to the example of our fathers to determine our duty instead of searching the word of truth for ourselves. Our responsibility is greater than was that of our ancestors. We are accountable for the light which they received, and which was handed down as an inheritance for us, and we are accountable also for the additional light which is now shining upon us from the word of God.” The Great Controversy, 164.

  • Having studied the faith of the patriarchs, prophets, and pioneers this quarter, what should encourage us from what we have read? Romans 15:4; Hebrews 13:8.

Note: “God is as powerful to save from sin today as He was in the times of the patriarchs, of David, and of the prophets and apostles. The multitude of cases recorded in sacred history where God has delivered His people from their own iniquities should make the Christian of this time eager to receive divine instruction and zealous to perfect a character that will bear the close inspection of the judgment.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 15.

2 IN THE LAST DAYS

  • Describe the kind of faith that Christ would like to make more evident among His professed people. James 5:10, 11, 17, 18.

Note: “Our standard has been too low; our expectations have been too limited. We must make our aims higher than we have made them in the past; for it is possible for us to be filled with all the fullness of God, to have Christ abiding in our hearts by faith.” The Review and Herald, July 5, 1892.

  • What declaration of Christ reveals that faith will be a rare jewel by the time of His second coming? Luke 18:8.

Note: “He who waits for entire knowledge before he can exercise faith, will never be blessed of God.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 322.

“God will do marvelous things for those who trust in Him. It is because His professed people trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal His power in their behalf, that they have not more strength. He will help His believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in Him. He will work mightily for a faithful people who obey His word without questioning or doubt.” The Signs of the Times, July 19, 1899.

  • How is faith to be revealed as a vital element in those who escape the wrath of God in the last days? Revelation 14:12.
  • What does Jesus declare to every one of us, just as He did to Simon Peter? Luke 22:31, 32. How shall His pleas affect us? Romans 5:1, 2.

3 HIGHER STANDARDS, NOT LOWER!

  • How does the writer of Hebrews appeal to us to attain to higher ground? Hebrews 6:1.
  • What are some points that we should prayerfully consider in order that such a goal may be accomplished? I John 2:6; 5:4, 5.

Note: “God has a much higher standard for His people to reach than they have reached in the past. What can I say that will give them a consciousness of the responsibility resting on them to be Christlike in word and deed? The lack of Bible religion necessitates much talk about what ought to be done. Did we live the words of Christ, we should be brought into such close contact with Him that we should know what to do in order to advance the work of God. When we take Christ as our example in character building, we shall make decided progress. When we are filled with a desire to be like our Saviour, when we refuse to weave self into the work that we do for the Lord, when we look away from finite counsel to the One who is too wise to err and too good to do us harm, we shall be strong in the strength of the Lord.

“In order to see God, we must humble ourselves. When we accept Christ’s words and Christ’s plans, we shall not place self where Christ should be. We shall not think of going contrary to His plain directions. We shall shun even the thought of self-exaltation.” The Review and Herald, November 24, 1910.

“There should be a decided change in the spirit and character of the work in the places where men and women have received increased light. What are they doing to warn those who do not understand that the Lord is soon coming? ‘Behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.’ Isaiah 26:21. Who, I ask, is carrying a burden for the souls that are perishing out of Christ? Who will go forth without the camp, bearing the reproach? Who will leave pleasant homes and dear ties of relationship, and carry the precious light of truth to far-off lands? Every day, every moment, comes to those to whom have been entrusted the light of truth, weighted with the terrible significance that men and women in every land are preparing themselves for weal or for woe, fixing their destiny for eternity.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 53, 54.

4 A FAR-SIGHTED FOCUS

  • How did the faithful men of old maintain their focus? Hebrews 11:13–16.
  • How should this inspire us all the more today? Romans 13:11, 12.

Note: “Brethren, the biographies of good men of the past will not meet the demand for this time. The Saviour whom you profess to love and serve wants you to have an experience of your own to relate. What do you believe? Is probation soon to close? Is the time at hand when the Judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, and we be judged according to our works?” The Review and Herald, December 20, 1881.

“I was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready among those who have of late embraced the third angel’s message. Said the angel, ‘Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died.’ I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but little time in which to do it.

“Then I saw that the seven last plagues were soon to be poured out upon those who have no shelter; yet the world regarded them no more than they would so many drops of water that were about to fall. I was then made capable of enduring the awful sight of the seven last plagues, the wrath of God. I saw that His anger was dreadful and terrible, and if He should stretch forth His hand, or lift it in anger, the inhabitants of the world would be as though they had never been, or would suffer from incurable sores and withering plagues that would come upon them, and they would find no deliverance, but be destroyed by them. Terror seized me, and I fell upon my face before the angel and begged of him to cause the sight to be removed, to hide it from me, for it was too dreadful. Then I realized, as never before, the importance of searching the Word of God carefully, to know how to escape the plagues which that Word declares shall come on all the ungodly who shall worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands. It was a great wonder for me that any could transgress the law of God and tread down His holy Sabbath, when such awful threatenings and denunciations were against them.” Early Writings, 64, 65.

“Clear the King’s highway. Lift up the standard higher and still higher.” Evangelism, 397.

5 PILGRIMS AND STRANGERS

  • What type of lifestyle were the heroes of faith willing to endure? Hebrews 11:37, 38. What experience of John is soon to be repeated? Hebrews 11:39, 40; Revelation 1:9.

Note: “[As it was with John exiled on Patmos,] so will it be with the remnant people of God who are scattered—some in the mountain fastnesses, some exiled, some pursued, some persecuted. When the voice of God is heard and the brightness of the glory is revealed, when the trial is over, the dross removed, they know they are in the presence of One who has redeemed them by His own blood. Just what Christ was to John in his exile He will be to His people who are made to feel the hand of oppression for the faith and testimony of Jesus Christ. … These were driven by the storm and tempest of persecution to the crevices of the rocks, but were hiding in the Rock of Ages; and in the fastnesses of the mountains, in the caves and dens of the earth, the Saviour reveals His presence and His glory. Yet a little while, and He that is to come will come and will not tarry.” That I May Know Him, 360.

  • How is Christ’s call-of-the-hour best summarized to each of us? Colossians 3:1–4.

Note: “Let us be willing to become pilgrims and strangers here [on earth], that we may gain a better country, even a heavenly. The way of the cross is an onward, upward path. As you advance, seeking the things that are above, you will necessarily leave in the distance the things that belong to the world.” The Signs of the Times, May 29, 1884.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 In what areas does God expect us to be on higher ground than were the Seventh-day Adventist pioneers?

2 Where are we experiencing a lack of faith, and how can we overcome this?

3 What are the keys to successful character building?

4 Where should our focus be, and why are we so easily distracted from this priority?

5 Why are we to take courage, even when facing death, dungeons, or banishment?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – After the Scriptures Were Penned

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December 11, 2011 – December 17, 2011

Key Text

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3.

Study Help: Early Writings, 222–226; Maranatha, 15–17.

Introduction

“The Waldenses, John Wycliffe, Huss and Jerome, Martin Luther and Zwingli, Cranmer, Latimer, and Knox, the Huguenots, John and Charles Wesley, and a host of others brought to the foundation material that will endure throughout eternity.” The Acts of the Apostles, 598.

1 BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIANS

  • What is the main key to victory and genuineness in the Christian life? Matthew 4:4.

Note: “This word [of God] is the bread of heaven, and those who read and study it, making its truths a part of the life, will be given power from above.” The Review and Herald, March 24, 1904.

  • How important is Scripture to the Christian faith? Acts 20:32; II Timothy 3:16, 17.

Note: “Spiritual life must be sustained by communion with Christ through His Word. The mind must dwell upon it, the heart must be filled with it. The Word of God laid up in the heart and sacredly cherished and obeyed, through the power of the grace of Christ can make man right, and keep him right; but every human influence, every earthly invention, is powerless to give strength and wisdom to man. It cannot restrain passion, or correct deformity of character. Unless the truth of God controls the heart, the conscience will be warped.” Selected Messages, Book 2,124.

2 THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS

  • In the early centuries after the Scriptures were penned, what happened to the true believers in Bible religion, as symbolized by a pure woman? Revelation 12:12–14.

Note: “The faith which for centuries was held and taught by the Waldensian Christians was in marked contrast to the false doctrines put forth from Rome. Their religious belief was founded upon the written word of God, the true system of Christianity. But those humble peasants, in their obscure retreats, shut away from the world, and bound to daily toil among their flocks and their vineyards, had not by themselves arrived at the truth in opposition to the dogmas and heresies of the apostate church. Theirs was not a faith newly received. Their religious belief was their inheritance from their fathers. They contended for the faith of the apostolic church—‘the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 3. ‘The church in the wilderness,’ and not the proud hierarchy enthroned in the world’s great capital, was the true church of Christ, the guardian of the treasures of truth which God has committed to His people to be given to the world. …

“The Waldenses were among the first of the peoples of Europe to obtain a translation of the Holy Scriptures. Hundreds of years before the Reformation they possessed the Bible in manuscript in their native tongue. They had the truth unadulterated, and this rendered them the special objects of hatred and persecution.” The Great Controversy, 64, 65.

  • What was one of the key doctrines which these persecuted saints upheld? Luke 6:5.

Note: “Among the leading causes that had led to the separation of the true church from Rome was the hatred of the latter toward the Bible Sabbath. As foretold by prophecy, the papal power cast down the truth to the ground. The law of God was trampled in the dust, while the traditions and customs of men were exalted. The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the Sunday as a holy day.” The Great Controversy, 65.

3 THE GREAT REFORMATION

  • What precious promises did Christ give to the faithful few living in the era of Thyatira during the Dark Ages? Revelation 2:24–28. How was the prophecy of the “morning star” fulfilled?

Note: “In the fourteenth century arose in England the ‘morning star of the Reformation.’ John Wycliffe was the herald of reform, not for England alone, but for all Christendom. The great protest against Rome which it was permitted him to utter was never to be silenced. That protest opened the struggle which was to result in the emancipation of individuals, of churches, and of nations.” The Great Controversy, 80.

  • What beautiful, yet hidden, gems of truth were rediscovered by men such as Martin Luther? I Timothy 2:5; Romans 1:16, 17.

Note: “Notwithstanding all the persecution of the saints, living witnesses for God’s truth were raised up on every hand. Angels of the Lord were doing the work committed to their trust. They were searching in the darkest places and selecting out of the darkness men who were honest in heart. These were all buried up in error, yet God called them, as He did Saul, to be chosen vessels to bear His truth and raise their voices against the sins of His professed people. Angels of God moved upon the hearts of Martin Luther, Melanchthon, and others in different places, and caused them to thirst for the living testimony of the Word of God. The enemy had come in like a flood, and the standard must be raised against him. Luther was the one chosen to breast the storm, stand up against the ire of a fallen church, and strengthen the few who were faithful to their holy profession. He was ever fearful of offending God. He tried through works to obtain His favor, but was not satisfied until a gleam of light from heaven drove the darkness from his mind and led him to trust, not in works, but in the merits of the blood of Christ. He could then come to God for himself, not through popes or confessors, but through Jesus Christ alone.

“Oh, how precious to Luther was this new and glorious light which had dawned upon his dark understanding and driven away his superstition! He prized it higher than the richest earthly treasure. The Word of God was new. Everything was changed. The book he had dreaded because he could not see beauty in it, was now life, eternal life, to him. It was his joy, his consolation, his blessed teacher.” Early Writings, 222, 223.

4 THE LAODICEAN ERA

  • What did William Miller, a meticulous Bible student, begin to realize in the 1830s?

Note: “He [William Miller] was forced to the conclusion, from the study of Scripture alone, that the period allotted for the continuance of the earth in its present state was about to close.” The Great Controversy, 323.

  • Explain some of the important prophecies which came to light among the believers in the second-advent movement. Daniel 8:14; Revelation 1:7; 14:1–12.
  • Despite the great light entrusted and the urgency of the hour, why has Christ been disappointed in the church of this era? I Corinthians 14:8; Revelation 3:14–17.

Note: “We are in danger of giving the third angel’s message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people. So many other interests are brought in that the very message which should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 60.

  • Due to the lukewarm state of spirituality, what does Christ warn? Revelation 3:18, 19. Yet with the passing of time, has this problem become better—or worse? James 2:10–12.

Note: “Of those who boast of their light and yet fail to walk in it Christ says, ‘But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee’ [Matthew 11:22–24].” The Review and Herald, August 1, 1893. (All explanations in brackets were penned by the author.)

5 A MOVEMENT OF REFORMATION SEPARATED

  • When the highest level of church-body leadership turns from its original course, to persecute and condemn to imprisonment and death those upholding the very principles on which the body was founded, what does that indicate? Matthew 23:37–39.

Note: “By the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel.” The Desire of Ages, 233.

“There are clear, decided distinctions to be restored and exemplified to the world in holding aloft the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The beauty of holiness is to appear in its native luster in contrast with the deformity and darkness of the disloyal, those who have revolted from the law of God. Thus we acknowledge God and recognize His law, the foundation of His government in heaven and throughout His earthly dominions. His authority should be kept distinct and plain before the world, and no laws are to be acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of Jehovah. If in defiance of God’s arrangements the world be allowed to influence our decisions or our actions, the purpose of God is defeated. However specious the pretext, if the church waver here, there is written against her in the books of heaven a betrayal of the most sacred trusts, and treachery to the kingdom of Christ.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 16, 17.

  • Why does God endorse a separation in such circumstances? Psalm 11:3; Jude 3.

Note: “Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 411.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How can I develop a greater appreciation for the Bible as the foundation of faith?

2 Why are we to be inspired by our church forefathers in the wilderness?

3 What made Martin Luther’s experience such a joyous one?

4 Why does God place all church organizations on probation?

5 When God calls forth a reformatory movement, what is its continual duty?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Biblical Faith

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December 4, 2011 – December 10, 2011

Key Text

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Corinthians 5:7.

Study Help: Steps to Christ, 67–75; Testimonies, vol. 1, 303–310.

Introduction

“Hold the faith with a firm hand, but be sure that you hold it in righteousness.” The Signs of the Times, December 13, 1899.

1 LAMBS OF GOD

  • What should we all realize who accept Christ as our Saviour? Hebrews 12:1–3.

Note: “Oh, how often we yield to temptation because we do not keep our eye upon Jesus! Our faith is not continuous because, through self-indulgence, we sin, and then we cannot endure ‘as seeing Him who is invisible’ [Hebrews 11:27].” Testimonies, vol. 5, 652.

“Worldly attractions will be presented to draw your attention from the Lord Jesus; but laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets, press on toward the heavenly goal, showing to the world, to angels, and to men that the hope of seeing the face of God is worth all the effort and the sacrifice that the attainment of the hope demands.” The Review and Herald, December 29, 1910.

  • How can we grow in our Christian walk? I Peter 2:1–3.
  • What other means does God use to help us grow in Christ? Hebrews 12:4–12.

Note: “The Lord permits trials to come upon us in order that we may make earnest, heartfelt intercession. Trial brings us to God, and leads us to form a closer connection with Christ our Saviour. Trial forces us to do as the word of God directs.” The Signs of the Times, August 20, 1896.

2 WHEN TRIALS COME

  • What are we to realize when faced with difficulties? James 1:2–4; Psalm 84:11.

Note: “The Word does not say that we are to count it all joy when we fall under temptation, but when we fall into temptation. It is not necessary to fall under temptation, for temptation comes upon us for the trying of our faith. And the trying of our faith worketh patience, not fretfulness and murmuring. If we put our trust in Jesus, He will keep us at all times, and will be our strength and shield. We are to learn valuable lessons from our trials. …

“Many become the sport of the enemy, because when temptations comes, they do not rest in Jesus, but worry themselves out of His arms, and in perplexity lose all their faith and courage. They do not remember that Jesus has helped them out of difficulties in the past, that His grace is sufficient for the daily trials, and that He can help in the present trouble. We make failures in our little, daily difficulties, and allow them to irritate and vex us; we fall under them, and so make stumbling blocks for ourselves and others. But blessings of the greatest importance are to result from the patient endurance of these daily vexations; for we are to gain strength to bear greater difficulties. Satan will press upon us the most severe temptations, and we must learn to come to God in any and every emergency, as a child would come to its parents.” The Review and Herald, May 19, 1891.

  • What assurances does God offer as we exercise faith in Him? Ephesians 6:14–16.

Note: “We are not to be like the man who said, ‘I have prayed and prayed, but I do not receive.’ A companion said to him, ‘Let us pray together then, and claim the promise of God.’ So they bowed in prayer; but when they rose from their knees, the man said, ‘I don’t feel any different, and I didn’t expect I should.’ This is the way that many present themselves before God; they would be surprised if God should answer their prayers. They do not expect the Lord to answer their prayers, or think that the Lord will hear them, and their petitions are in vain; for they go away as they came.” The Review and Herald, May 19, 1891.

3 ABIDING IN CHRIST

  • How does Christ depict His relationship with His children? John 15:1–5; I John 3:3.

Note: “[John 15:5, 4 quoted.] In this vine is all spiritual life. From Christ’s fullness alone can we obtain nourishment unto eternal life. The vine stock is unseen; but the branches—members of His body—are visible. The scion which before was leafless and apparently lifeless, becomes, when grafted into the vine, a partaker of its life and fatness. Fiber by fiber, and vein by vein, the graft adheres to the parent stock, till the life-giving sap flows to the adopted member, causing it to bud, and blossom, and bear fruit.

“The scion becomes a part of the living vine by forming a perfect union with it. Thus it is with the sinner. By repentance and faith, he becomes connected with Jesus Christ, and lives in him. This connection joins soul to soul—the finite with the infinite. But, contrary to nature, the branch which has been united with the true vine brings forth, not fruit of its own kind, but the fruit of the vine of which it has become a part. The Spirit of Christ, flowing into the hearts of all who are indeed united with Him, makes them partakers of the divine nature. They become pure, even as He is pure.” The Review and Herald, September 20, 1881.

“The life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds. …

“If the follower of Christ would grow up ‘unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:13), he must eat of the bread of life and drink of the water of salvation. He must watch and pray and work, in all things giving heed to the instructions of God in His word.” The Acts of the Apostles, 284, 285.

  • What is one of the wonderful results of abiding in Christ? II Corinthians 1:3, 4.

Note: “Christ is represented by the vine that imparts the nourishment, the vitality, the life, the spirit, the power, that the branch can bear fruit, and then when affliction and disappointment come, you are to show altogether a different character of fruit than the world. There is the evidence that you are connected with Jesus Christ, and that there is a power that sustains you in all your afflictions and disappointments and trials; and this power and this grace sweetens every affliction.” Reflecting Christ, 355.

4 THE FRUITS OF FAITH

  • What are we to add to our faith, and what fruit will be shown? II Peter 1:3–9; Galatians 5:22, 23.

Note: “The soul that loves God, rises above the fog of doubt; he gains a bright, broad, deep, living experience, and becomes meek and Christlike. His soul is committed to God, hid with Christ in God. He will be able to stand the test of neglect, of abuse and contempt, because his Saviour has suffered all this. He will not become fretful and discouraged when difficulties press him, because Jesus did not fail or become discouraged. Every true Christian will be strong, not in the strength and merit of his good works, but in the righteousness of Christ, which through faith is imputed unto him. It is a great thing to be meek and lowly in heart, to be pure and undefiled, as was the Prince of heaven when He walked among men.” The Review and Herald, December 3, 1889.

  • If our character is not becoming Christlike as it should be, what is the basic problem? II Peter 1:10, 11; Hebrews 3:12. If we find ourselves in this predicament, what should be the cry of our heart? Mark 9:24.

Note: “When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need.” The Desire of Ages, 336.

“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 Saviour. 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, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:37. Cast yourself at His feet with the cry, ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief’ [Mark 9:24]. You can never perish while you do this—never.” Ibid., 429 (author’s italics).

5 LIVING BY FAITH

  • Why is it that a proud person can never be truly faithful? Habakkuk 2:4.

Note: “Advancement in Christian experience is characterized by increasing humility, as the result of increasing knowledge. Everyone who is united to Christ will depart from all iniquity. … When Christ is cherished in the heart, His likeness will be revealed in the life. Humility will reign where pride was once predominant. Submission, meekness, patience, will soften down the rugged features of a naturally perverse, impetuous disposition. Love to Jesus will be manifested in love to His people. It is not fitful, not spasmodic, but calm and deep and strong. The life of the Christian will be divested of all pretense, free from all affectation, artifice, and falsehood. It is earnest, true, sublime. Christ speaks in every word. He is seen in every deed. The life is radiant with the light of an indwelling Saviour. In converse with God and in happy contemplation of heavenly things the soul is preparing for heaven and laboring to gather other souls into the fold of Christ. Our Saviour is able and willing to do for us more than we can ask or even think.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 49, 50.

  • How can we follow the Lord even when circumstances point against us? II Corinthians 4:17, 18; 5:7.

Note: “Faith looks beyond the difficulties, and lays hold of the unseen, even Omnipotence, therefore it cannot be baffled. Faith is the clasping of the hand of Christ in every emergency.” The Faith I Live By, 100.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What may be clouding my spiritual eyesight as I seek to look to Jesus?

2 How can I improve in my exercise of faith during trials and difficulties?

3 How can I promote the life-giving sap to flow more freely from Christ to me?

4 The standard of Christian virtue is high—yet, how are we encouraged along the way?

5 What occurs in the soul who keeps in close touch with God at the foot of the cross?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Paul

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November 27, 2011 – December 3, 2011

Faith of Our Fathers

Key Text

“I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:8, 9.

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 123–130; Testimonies, vol. 4, 371–380.

Introduction

“A more hearty, persevering, energetic disciple of Jesus Christ than was Paul, has never been upon the earth.” The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888.

1 A REMARKABLE CONVERSION

  • Although Paul does not include his own name in the list of heroes of faith, what was the background of this author of the book of Hebrews? Philippians 3:4–6.

Note: “Paul had faith before his conversion; but it was not a correct faith. His self-righteousness strengthened his faith that he was doing God’s service in rejecting Christ, and he enjoyed a restful satisfaction. False faith as well as true faith will give peacefulness for a time. Paul verily thought that he was doing God’s service when he was persecuting the followers of Christ and putting them to death. He was sincere in his belief; but sincerity will not make error truth, nor truth error.” The Review and Herald, January 5, 1886.

  • What comfort comes to all who surrender to Jesus, as Paul did? Acts 9:1–6, 17, 18.

Note: “You also may have done wrong, thinking you were perfectly right; but when time reveals your error, then it is your duty to humble the heart, and confess your sin. Fall on the Rock and be broken; then Jesus can give you a new heart, a new spirit.” The Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.

2 A NEW FOCUS

  • What was Paul’s first step immediately after his baptism? Galatians 1:15–19.

Note: “Paul’s life was in peril, and he received a commission from God to leave Damascus for a time. He went into Arabia; and there, in comparative solitude, he had ample opportunity for communion with God, and for contemplation. He wished to be alone with God, to search his own heart, to deepen his repentance, and to prepare himself by prayer and study to engage in a work which appeared to him too great and too important for him to undertake. He was an apostle, not chosen of men, but chosen of God, and his work was plainly stated to be among the Gentiles.

“While in Arabia he did not communicate with the apostles; he sought God earnestly with all his heart, determining not to rest till he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted, and his great sin pardoned. He would not give up the conflict until he had the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He was ever to carry about with him in the body the marks of Christ’s glory, in his eyes, which had been blinded by the heavenly light, and he desired also to bear with him constantly the assurance of Christ’s sustaining grace. Paul came in close connection with Heaven, and Jesus communed with him.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 33, 34.

  • What was Paul later to declare about the residual problem with his eyes? II Corinthians 12:7–10.
  • How can we be inspired by Paul’s choice? Philippians 3:7–11; Jeremiah 9:23, 24.

Note: “Paul suffered much. He was persecuted from city to city, in perils oft, in prison, in scourging, in bonds, in fastings, in wearinesses and painful watchings, but he looked beyond the sufferings of the present time to glory beyond, and said: ‘I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us’ [Romans 8:18]. This is what God would have His people do. He would have us reckon and consider the rich reward of the eternal world, that we may appreciate the privileges that are brought within our reach through the plan of salvation.” The Signs of the Times, November 18, 1889.

3 THE NOBLEST AIM

  • How can we summarize Paul’s aim? I Corinthians 9:24–27; Philippians 3:12–14.

Note: “He [Paul] had one aim before him, and that was, that from his lips should go forth the tidings of redemption to perishing souls, that they might be brought into acquaintance with the Redeemer of the world. His whole soul was wrapped up in Jesus, and in the light of truth received from the Source of all light. This light must be carefully cherished.” The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888.

“In all the busy activities of his life, Paul never lost sight of one great purpose—to press toward the prize of his high calling. One aim he kept steadfastly before him—to be faithful to the One who at the gate of Damascus had revealed Himself to him. From this aim nothing had power to turn him aside. To exalt the cross of Calvary—this was the all-absorbing motive that inspired his words and acts.

“The great purpose that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of hardship and difficulty should lead every Christian worker to consecrate himself wholly to God’s service. Worldly attractions will be presented to draw his attentions from the Saviour, but he is to press on toward the goal, showing to the world, to angels, and to men that the hope of seeing the face of God is worth all the effort and sacrifice that the attainment of this hope demands.” The Acts of the Apostles, 483, 484.

  • What should we consider in view of the shortness of time before us? Luke 12:27–37.

Note: “Paul counted all things but loss that he might win Christ. But when the Saviour calls for our possessions and our service, there are many who see they cannot obey God and carry their earthly treasures with them, and they decide to stay by their treasures. Jesus left all His glory, and became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. But how few of His professed followers appreciate His great sacrifice! How few are willing to follow His example! How can those who expect to stand around Christ’s throne, and to be clothed with his righteousness, distrust God, and fear that He will leave them to come to want? Where is their faith? Our heavenly Father feeds the ravens, and will He not much more feed us?” The Review and Herald, March 15, 1887.

4 THE LIFE OF PAUL

  • What kind of life did the apostle Paul lead? II Corinthians 11:9.

Note: “Among the believers in Christ there was no one apostle who was exalted as was Paul by the revelation of the Saviour in his conversion. And Paul labored with his hands as a tentmaker. In the midst of his zeal in persecuting the Christians, Paul had been arrested by a voice and a great light from heaven. During his ministerial labors he had several visions, of which he spoke little. He saw and heard many things not lawful for a man to utter. That which was given him as a special revelation from God was not at all times dwelt upon when he spoke to the people. But the impression was ever with him, enabling him to give a correct representation of the Christian life and character. The impression made upon his mind by the revelation of Christ never lost its force. It influenced his estimation and delineation of Christian character.

“The history of the apostle Paul is a constant testimony that manual labor cannot be degrading, that it is not inconsistent with true elevation of character. Paul worked day and night to avoid being a burden to his brethren, and at times he supported his fellow workers, he himself suffering from hunger in order to relieve the necessities of others. His toil-worn hands, as he presented them before the people, bore testimony that he was not chargeable to any man for his support. They detracted nothing, he deemed, from the force of his pathetic appeals, sensible, intelligent, and eloquent beyond those of any other man who had acted a part in the Christian ministry.” The Youth’s Instructor, January 31, 1901.

  • What does Paul teach us about true Christian ministry? II Corinthians 11:22–28.

Note: “We need men in these last days who are ever awake. Minutemen are wanted who are sincere in their love for the truth and willing to labor at a sacrifice if they can advance the cause of God and save precious souls. Men are wanted in this work who will not murmur or complain at hardships or trials, knowing that this is a part of the legacy that Jesus has left them. They should be willing to go without the camp and suffer reproach and bear burdens as good soldiers of Christ. They will bear the cross of Christ without complaint, without murmuring or fretfulness, and will be patient in tribulation.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 423.

5 WHOLEHEARTED CONSECRATION

  • Why should we be inspired by Paul’s level of consecration? Philippians 4:11–13.

Note: “Let the great purpose that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of hardship and difficulty lead you to consecrate yourselves wholly to God’s service.” The Review and Herald, December 29, 1910.

  • Foreseeing his soon martyrdom, what did Paul declare? II Timothy 1:11–13; 4:6–8.

Note: “The apostle [Paul] had carefully guarded himself, that he should not betray any murmuring, or make any appeal to his own sympathies. But, for the benefit of those who should follow Christ, he was determined to leave an example worthy of imitation. … He desired that Timothy should heartily believe, and carefully meditate upon the sufferings, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, of Christ, and find in the mission of Jesus sufficient support under all trials in the Christian life, that he might be able to endure all for Christ’s sake. For if the Master of the house had to suffer trial and persecution, shall not they of his household?” The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Whom do I know that may yet be changed as Paul was on the road to Damascus?

2 In seeking to be a soul winner, have I yet undergone the “Arabia retreat” of which Paul recognized the need?

3 What things may be now distracting me from the noblest aim I should have?

4 Why should I be thankful for manual labor, even if I would prefer to do something else?

5 In what aspects of my life do I need greater dedication to God’s service?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – God’s Spirit and Providence

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January 22, 2012 – January 28, 2012

Key Text

“The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” Isaiah 50:5.

Study Help: Historical Sketches, 189.

Introduction

“Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us.” Steps to Christ, 93.

1 WATCHING HOW GOD WORKS

  • What does God intend us to realize through the varied circumstances of our daily life? Psalms 33:5; 107:43.

Note: “God speaks to us through His providential workings and through the influence of His Spirit upon the heart. In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but open to discern them.” Steps to Christ, 87.

“God’s providence is a continual school, in which He is ever leading men to see the true aims of life.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 444.

  • How does faith in Christ affect the way we see things? Titus 1:15; Matthew 13:13, 16.

Note: “We are not to go through human wisdom, which is termed foolishness, to seek true wisdom. For men to learn science through man’s interpretation, is to obtain a false education, but to learn of God and Jesus Christ is to learn the science of the Bible.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 414, 415.

“In that which seems to the worldling an inexplicable mystery, God’s children see light and beauty.

“God speaks in His word, and fulfills this word in the world. We need now to seek to understand the movements of God’s providence.” The Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.

2 A CALL TO PURITY

  • What principle continually affects spiritual vision? Matthew 5:8.

Note: “The first great lesson in all education is to know and understand the will of God. Take the knowledge of God with you through every day of life. Let it absorb the mind and the whole being. God gave Solomon wisdom, but this God-given wisdom was perverted when he turned from God to obtain wisdom from other sources. … The confusion in education has come because the wisdom and knowledge of God have not been honored and exalted by the religious world. The pure in heart see God in every providence, in every phase of true education. They vibrate to the first approach of light which radiates from the throne of God. Communications from heaven are made to those who will catch the first gleams of spiritual knowledge.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 414, 415.

“It is the pure in heart who shall see God in His true character, as a God of love. He who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart, will reflect the purity and love which exist in Jehovah, and which Christ represented in our world. He who has the love of God in his heart has no enmity against the law of God, but renders willing obedience to all His commandments, and this constitutes Christianity.” The Youth’s Instructor, July 26, 1894.

  • In order to develop keener spiritual vision, what must we seek? I John 3:2, 3; Hebrews 9:14.

Note: “The pure in heart shall see God. This seeing God in a clear, spiritual light is salvation to the soul of every believer. As soon as a soul decides to die to self, the new light begins and grows stronger and more decided until he is able to endure the sight of Him who is invisible. And as he sees God, he becomes fashioned in character after the divine similitude.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 369.

“When the Lord speaks to us, saying, ‘Go forward,’ it is not for us to stand and talk of difficulties, but promptly to obey, knowing that God understands the nature of every difficulty. If those in His service will stop talking unbelief and magnifying difficulties, and will move forward in humble obedience, God, in His providence, will co-operate with the finite efforts of man, and thus testify to the world of His omnipotence.” The Review and Herald, November 1, 1898.

3 RESPONDING TO PROVIDENCE

  • In a parable about a rich farmer, what warning does Christ give us? Luke 12:14–21.

Note: “He [the rich man] did not think of God, from whom all his mercies had come. He did not realize that God had made him a steward of His goods that he might help the needy. He had a blessed opportunity of being God’s almoner, but he thought only of ministering to his own comfort.

“The situation of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the suffering, the afflicted, was brought to this rich man’s attention; there were many places in which to bestow his goods. He could easily have relieved himself of a portion of his abundance, and many homes would have been freed from want, many who were hungry would have been fed, many naked clothed, many hearts made glad, many prayers for bread and clothing answered, and a melody of praise would have ascended to heaven. The Lord had heard the prayers of the needy, and of His goodness He had prepared for the poor. (Psalm 68:10.) Abundant provision for the wants of many had been made in the blessings bestowed upon the rich man. But he closed his heart to the cry of the needy.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 256.

  • What is often the hidden cause of apparently mysterious misfortunes, and why should we find in them a call to prayer? Malachi 3:8; Haggai 1:4–10.

Note: “Those who are selfishly withholding their means need not be surprised if God’s hand scatters. That which should have been devoted to the advancement of the work and cause of God, but which has been withheld, may be entrusted to a reckless son, and he may squander it. A fine horse, the pride of a vain heart, may be found dead in the stable. Occasionally a cow may die. Losses of fruit or other crops may come. God can scatter the means He has lent to His stewards, if they refuse to use it to His glory. Some, I saw, may have none of these losses to remind them of their remissness in duty, but their cases may be the more hopeless.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 661, 662.

  • How do we too often hurt Christ—and our own selves—by resisting His voice? Malachi 3:9, 10; Proverbs 3:9, 10.

4 LIGHT POURING FROM HEAVEN

  • What must God’s children realize about vital, practical messages He is continually sending to us? Isaiah 30:21; Jeremiah 42:2, 3.

Note: “The human family is the object of the special care of God and heavenly beings. Man is not left to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. All heaven is actively engaged in the work of communicating light to the inhabitants of the world, that they may not be left in the darkness of midnight without spiritual guidance. An Eye that never slumbers or sleeps is guarding the camp of Israel. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels are ministering to the needs of the children of men. Voices inspired by God are crying, This is the way, walk ye in it.” My Life Today, 88.

  • How do we too often hurt ourselves by turning from God’s voice? Isaiah 55:2; 59:1, 2.

Note: “How few of those who claim to believe the truth carry it out practically in their characters. He who possesses the Christlike spirit will possess the child-like faith. God’s blessing is on those who hear and those who recognize the light which He sends, who behold the traces of His footsteps and hear His voice.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 587.

  • How should the servant of God respond to the voice of the Almighty? Isaiah 50:4, 5. How far did Christ’s submission extend? Isaiah 50:6, 7; Matthew 26:67.

Note: “Christ was continually receiving from the Father that He might communicate to us. … Not for Himself, but for others, He lived and thought and prayed. From hours spent with God He came forth morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 139.

  • When God speaks to our heart through difficult Providences and frustrating disappointments, how should we respond—and why? Romans 8:18; I Peter 1:7.

Note: “Through trial and persecution the glory—the character—of God is revealed in His chosen ones.” The Acts of the Apostles, 576.

5 THE CROSS IN THE PATH

  • What warning should we heed from the bitter reaction of Judas when the ways of Christ crossed against his material lusts? Matthew 26:6–11, 14, 15.

Note: “Genuine self-denial will be practiced by all who follow Christ. Judas undertook to follow Christ, and at the same time to carry out his selfish, covetous plans. He had the same privileges as had the other disciples. He had the same privileges of hearing the lessons of Christ, which plainly presented practical godliness; but he was not always pleased with the plain truth. It cut him, and instead of taking up personal labor with Judas Iscariot, he found fault with the words and works of Christ, and criticized His plain teachings. Instead of being transformed in character, he was cultivating self-love, self esteem, and the love of money.” Our High Calling, 287.

  • What founding principles underlie the entire Christian experience? Luke 9:23.

Note: “The believers in Christ, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. On earth they walk in narrow paths; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial and experience bitter disappointments; but thus they learn the guilt and woe of sin, and they look upon it with abhorrence.” The Acts of the Apostles, 576, 577.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What are four ways through which God speaks to us?

2 How can we clear the way for greater spiritual discernment?

3 When God speaks either by a still, small voice or by His providence, how must we respond?

4 How can we be sure that God is leading us even when circumstances are hard?

5 Why does the scene of Calvary need to affect our everyday decisions?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – The Book of Nature

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January 15, 2012 – January 21, 2012

Key Text

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3.

Study Help: Child Guidance, 53–60.

Introduction

“There are lessons to be learned in God’s book of nature.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 307.

1 AWE-INSPIRING THOUGHTS

  • What was the prophet Nehemiah inspired to say about nature? Nehemiah 9:6.

Note: “There is beauty in the valley’s awful grandeur, in the solemn, massive, cleft rocks; there is majesty in the towering mountains that look as if they touched the heavens. There are the lofty trees with their delicately formed leaves; the spires of grass, the opening bud and blossoming flower, the forest trees, and every living thing. They all point the mind to the great and living God. Every faculty of our being testifies that there is a living God, and we may learn from the open book of nature the most precious lessons in regard to the Lord of heaven.

“In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power I instinctively inquire, ‘What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?’ Psalm 8:4. …

“Why should we not converse more earnestly, and in a heavenly frame of mind, in regard to God’s gifts in nature? He has made all these things, and designs that we shall see God in His created works. These things are to keep God in our remembrance and to lift our hearts from sensual things and bind them in bonds of love and gratitude to our Creator.” Our High Calling, 250.

2 PONDERING THE PINNACLES

  • With what thoughts should we let nature inspire us? Psalms 19:1–3; 143:5, 6.

Note: “The great Architect has formed and fashioned the scenes of nature that they may have an important bearing upon man’s intellectual and moral character. These are to be God’s school to educate the mind and morals. Here the mind may have a vast field for study in the display of the majestic works of the Infinite One.” Our High Calling, 252.

“We have looked upon the lofty, terraced mountains in their majestic beauty, with their rocky battlements resembling grand old castles. These mountains speak to us of the desolating wrath of God in vindication of His broken law; for they were heaved up by the stormy convulsions of the flood. They are like mighty waves that at the voice of God stood still—stiffened billows, arrested in their proudest swell. These towering mountains belong to God; He presides over their rocky fastnesses. The wealth of their mines is His also, and so are the deep places of the earth.

“If you would see the evidences that there is a God, look around you wherever your lot may be cast. He is speaking to your senses and impressing your soul through His created works. Let your heart receive these impressions, and nature will be to you an open book, and will teach you divine truth through familiar things. The lofty trees will not be regarded with indifference. Every opening flower, every leaf with its delicate veins, will testify of the infinite skill of the great Master Artist. The massive rocks and towering mountains that rise in the distance are not the result of chance. They speak in silent eloquence of One who sits upon the throne of the universe, high and lifted up. ‘Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world’ [Acts 15:18.] All His plans are perfect. What awe and reverence should His name inspire!” Ibid., 251.

  • What message is written in every element of God’s creation? Psalm 121:1, 2.

Note: “The hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their orderly arrangement and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.” Education, 132.

3 BASIC YET SUBLIME

  • Name two elements in nature that serve as object lessons of faith. I Samuel 2:2; Psalms 36:6; 125:1, 2.

Note: “God is Himself the Rock of Ages, a refuge for His people, a covert from the storm, a shadow from the burning heat. He has given us His promises, which are more firm and immovable than the rocky heights, the everlasting hills. The mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but His kindness shall not depart, nor His covenant of peace be removed from those who by faith make Him their trust. If we would look to God for help as steadfastly as these rocky, barren mountains point to the heavens above them, we should never be moved from our faith in Him and our allegiance to His holy law.” Our High Calling, 251.

  • What can we learn from the rocks?

Note: “The rocks are among the precious things of earth, containing treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the rocks and mountains are registered the fact that God did destroy the wicked from off the earth by a flood.” Our High Calling, 252.

  • What question posed to Job humbles even the most self-confident? Job 38:16–18. What should God’s creatures as well as the sights and sounds of nature make us realize? Job 12:7–10.

Note: “From the solemn roll of the deep-toned thunder and old ocean’s ceaseless roar, to the glad songs that make the forests vocal with melody, nature’s ten thousand voices speak His praise. In earth and sea and sky, with their marvelous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we behold His glory. The everlasting hills tell us of His power. The trees that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their delicate beauty, point to their Creator. The living green that carpets the brown earth tells of God’s care for the humblest of His creatures. The caves of the sea and the depths of the earth reveal His treasures. He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and chrysolite among the rocks, is a lover of the beautiful. The sun rising in the heavens is a representative of Him who is the life and light of all that He has made. All the brightness and beauty that adorn the earth and light up the heavens, speak of God.” The Ministry of Healing, 411, 412.

4 THE PURPOSE OF MOUNTAINS

  • When contemplating the grandeur of the mountains, what should we ever keep in mind? Psalms 65:5, 6; 90:2; Hebrews 11:3.

Note: “The varied scenery in the towering mountains and rocky heights, the deep mountain gorges with their rapid, noisy streams of water coming from the mountains above, the many cataracts that come tumbling down from the tops of the mountains, the waters breaking as they strike the rocks, and scattering into spray like a veil, render this scenery altogether one of surpassing beauty and grandeur.

“Mountains contain God’s blessings. I have seen men and women look upon the majesty of mountains as though they were really a deformity of nature. They would sigh and say, ‘How needless! Let me have the level plain, the broad prairies, and I should be happy.’ The mountains contain treasures of blessings which the Creator bestows upon the inhabitants of the earth. It is the diversity in the surface of the earth, in mountains, plains, and valleys, which reveals the wisdom and the power of the great Master Worker. And those who would banish from our earth the rocks and mountains, the wild gorges and the noisy, rushing streams, and the precipices, as unsightly deformities in nature, and would have a smooth level—their senses are too limited to comprehend the majesty of God. Their minds are bound about with narrow ideas.

“God, the great Architect, has built these lofty mountains, and their influence upon climate is a blessing to our world. They draw from the clouds enriching moisture. Mountain chains are God’s great reservoirs, to supply the ocean with its water. These are the sources of the springs, rills, and brooks, as well as the rivers. They receive in the form of rain and snow, the vapors with which the atmosphere is charged, and communicate them to the parched plains below. We should look upon the irregular mountains of the earth as God’s fountains of blessings from which flow forth the waters to supply all the living creatures. Every time I look upon the mountains I feel gratitude to God. My heart is lifted up in praise to Him who knows the wants and needs of man. If the earth had been a uniform level there would be stagnant marshes.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 306, 307.

  • How can “mountains” of difficulties be removed? Matthew 17:20, 21.

5 MINDFUL OF THE DELICATE

  • Just as the Lord bids us contemplate the majesty of the mountains and oceans, to what else does He point us? Matthew 6:28, 29.

Note: “The great Master Artist calls our attention to the soulless flowers of the field, pointing out the beautiful tints and the wonderful variety of shades one flower may possess. …

“The Lord our Creator expends as much care, wisdom, and time upon the tiny flower as upon the great things He creates. In the tiniest flowers are seen a beauty and perfection that no human art can copy. The delicate tracery of the tinted rose, as well as the stars in the heavens, shows the penciling of the great Master Artist.” Our High Calling, 254.

  • What lesson can we learn from the variety of plants and flowers? Romans 12:4–6; I Corinthians 12:14–18, 22.

Note: “From the endless variety of plants and flowers, we may learn an important lesson. All blossoms are not the same in form or color. Some possess healing virtues. Some are always fragrant. There are professing Christians who think it their duty to make every other Christian like themselves. This is man’s plan, not the plan of God. In the church of God there is room for characters as varied as are the flowers in a garden.” Our High Calling, 254.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Why is it important for our spirituality to spend much time outdoors?

2 What can we learn from the hills and mountains?

3 Name some interesting lessons we can learn from the rocks.

4 What environmental benefits stem from God’s design in making mountains?

5 What understanding does God want us to gain from the variety of flowers?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – God Puts Things in Writing

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January 8, 2012 – January 14, 2012

Key Text

“The Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.” Exodus 34:27.

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 2, 604–608.

Introduction

“The operations of the Spirit are always in harmony with the written word.” The Acts of the Apostles, 284.

1 A MATTER OF RECORD

  • What did the Lord direct Moses to do with the light He provided? Exodus 34:27. Why was such a step also important for families? Deuteronomy 6:6, 9.

Note: “As the word of God is meditated upon and practiced, the whole man will be ennobled. In righteous and merciful dealing, the hands will reveal, as a signet, the principles of God’s law. They will be kept clean from bribes, and from all that is corrupt and deceptive. They will be active in works of love and compassion. The eyes, directed toward a noble purpose, will be clear and true. The expressive countenance, the speaking eye, will testify to the blameless character of him who loves and honors the word of God.” The Desire of Ages, 612.

  • Through what symbol does Christ show the importance of His written word? Matthew 4:4; John 6:56–58, 63.

Note: “Many need to learn that it is one thing to assent to truth, and another thing to receive the truth as the bread of God, of which, if a man eat, he shall live forever. Day by day we must feed upon the Living Bread that we may receive spiritual sustenance, as we partake of temporal food to give us physical strength.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 34.

2 CREATIVE POWER

  • How can God’s written word change our moral character? Hebrews 4:12.

Note: “On every page of God’s word the injunction to obedience is plainly written.” The Signs of the Times, July 27, 1891.

“As the heart is opened to the entrance of the Word, light from the throne of God will shine into the soul. That Word, cherished in the heart, will yield to the student a treasure of knowledge that is priceless. Its ennobling principles will stamp the character with honesty and truthfulness, temperance and integrity.” Our High Calling, 31.

  • What reveals the power of God’s word to change a person into a new creature? II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:22–25.

Note: “By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4. This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

  • Why are we warned against failing to study what God has said? Proverbs 28:9, 14, second part.

Note: “All who neglect the word of God to study convenience and policy, that they may not be at variance with the world, will be left to receive damnable heresy for religious truth.” The Great Controversy, 523.

“And now to all who have a desire for truth I would say: Do not give credence to unauthenticated reports as to what Sister White has done or said or written. If you desire to know what the Lord has revealed through her, read her published works. Are there any points of interest concerning which she has not written, do not eagerly catch up and report rumors as to what she has said.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 696.

3 SAVORING THE POWER

  • What is the psalmist’s plea in reference to God’s word? Psalm 119:116, 133.
  • How do David and Jeremiah describe their feelings about God’s word? Psalm 119:16, 17, 140, 162; Jeremiah 15:16.

Note: “It is not safe for us to turn from the Holy Scriptures, with only a casual reading of their sacred pages. … Rein the mind up to the high task that has been set before it, and study with determined interest, that you may understand divine truth. Those who do this, will be surprised to find to what the mind can attain.” Our High Calling, 35.

  • How does Jeremiah describe the lack of appreciation which God’s professed people have for Scripture? Jeremiah 2:13.

Note: “In dealing with commonplace productions, and feeding on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. … The understanding unconsciously accommodates itself to the comprehension of the things with which it is familiar, and in the consideration of these finite things, the understanding is weakened, its powers contracted, and after a time it becomes unable to expand.” Our High Calling, 35.

  • Regarding God’s word, what is to be our heart’s longing? Psalm 119:18, 169.

Note: “Why should not this book [the Bible]—this precious treasure—be exalted and esteemed as a valued friend? This is our chart across the stormy sea of life. It is our guide-book, showing us the way to the eternal mansions, and the character we must have to inhabit them. There is no book the perusal of which will so elevate and strengthen the mind as the study of the Bible. Here the intellect will find themes of the most elevated character to call out its powers. There is nothing that will so endow with vigor all our faculties as bringing them in contact with the stupendous truths of revelation. The effort to grasp and measure these great thoughts expands the mind. We may dig down deep into the mine of truth, and gather precious treasures with which to enrich the soul. Here we may learn the true way to live, the safe way to die.” Our High Calling, 31.

4 THE TEST OF GENUINENESS

  • What is the surefire way to spot a religious counterfeit? Isaiah 8:20.

Note: “The Bible is the sword of the Spirit, which will never fail to vanquish the adversary. It is the only true guide in all matters of faith and practice. The reason why Satan has so great control over the minds and hearts of men is that they have not made the Word of God the man of their counsel, and all their ways have not been tried by the true test. The Bible will show us what course we must pursue to become heirs of glory.” Our High Calling, 31.

  • Describe God’s method to help us understand the Scriptures. Isaiah 28:9, 10, 13.

Note: “The knowledge of the way of life, peace, health, must be given line upon line, precept upon precept, that men and women may see the need of reform. They must be led to renounce the debasing customs and practices which existed in Sodom and in the antediluvian world.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 446.

  • How does the study of the Testimonies relate to the method described above?

Note: “God has been pleased to give you line upon line and precept upon precept. But there are not many of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God’s word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God’s inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings. …

“The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 605.

5 LIVING EPISTLES

  • Where is the most important place for God’s word to be written? Proverbs 3:3; 7:2, 3.
  • How does the above principle relate to the new covenant experience, which we as Christians are to enjoy? Jeremiah 31:31–33; Hebrews 8:10, 11; 10:16, 17.
  • What is the most powerful epistle that can ever be written? II Corinthians 3:3.

Note: “It is no small matter for a family to stand as representatives of Jesus, keeping God’s law in an unbelieving community. We are required to be living epistles known and read of all men. This position involves fearful responsibilities.” The Adventist Home, 31, 32.

  • What comforting assurance does the Lord record in writing? Psalm 102:16–18.
  • What glorious promise is given to victorious Christians who live by God’s word? Revelation 3:12.

Note: “All knowledge gained in this life of probation which will help us to form characters that will fit us to be companions of the saints in light is true education. It will bring blessings to ourselves and others in this life, and will secure to us the future, immortal life with its imperishable riches.” Our High Calling, 35.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How do the Scriptures compare to the most meticulous legal document?

2 Why can we be morally inspired by the creative power of God’s word?

3 Name one quality shared by David and Jeremiah that is worthy of imitation.

4 Why has God given the Testimonies of the Spirit of Prophecy for today?

5 Mention some important matters that the Lord sees fit to put into writing.

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – A Solemn Call

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January 1, 2012 – January 7, 2012

Key Text

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

Study Help: Our High Calling, 35, 287.

Introduction

“Christ is knocking at the door of the heart, seeking for entrance. Will you let Him in?” This Day With God, 308.

1 TIME TO LISTEN!

  • What is the first appeal our Creator makes to every one of us? Proverbs 7:24.

Note: “We have unmistakable evidence of the voice of the True Shepherd, and He is calling upon us to follow Him. He says, ‘I have kept my Father’s commandments’ [John 15:10]. He leads His sheep in the path of humble obedience to the law of God.” The Faith I Live By, 314.

“He who would be a faithful servant of Christ, must listen to the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. His ideas and principles must be kept pure by the power of God. Every day he must learn to become more worthy of the trust committed to him. His mind must be quickened by divine power; his character uncontaminated by worldliness.” The Signs of the Times, December 24, 1896.

  • Why should we be eager to listen to God’s voice? Jeremiah 29:11–13; Hosea 11:4, first part.

Note: “God gives us blessings; if we could look into His plan, we would clearly see that He knows what is best for us and that our prayers are answered. Nothing hurtful is given, but the blessing we need, in the place of something we asked for that would not be good for us, but to our hurt.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 121.

2 A GREAT PRIVILEGE

  • Why should we stand in awe at the thought of speaking with the Master of the universe? Job 38:1–7; Isaiah 40:28.
  • When Moses asked to see God’s glory, what was he given to understand? Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:5–8. Why can we be encouraged by beholding this glory?

Note: “Pray with Moses, ‘Show me thy glory’ [Exodus 33:18]. What is this glory?—The character of God. This is what He proclaimed to Moses.” Gospel Workers, 417.

“In order to be a Christian, it is not necessary for a man to have great talents. The human agent may have no voice in legislative councils; he may not be permitted to deliberate in senates or vote in parliaments; yet he has access to God. The King of kings bends low to listen to the prayer coming from one who desires to do the Master’s will. An earnest prayer offered from a sincere, contrite heart is of more value in God’s sight than is eloquence of speech. God hears every prayer offered with the incense of faith. His weakest child may exert an influence in harmony with the councils of heaven. It is in answer to prayer that God revives His work.” The Review and Herald, June 23, 1903.

  • How does Jesus summarize the result of answering His call? Matthew 10:39.

Note: “There can be no self-seeking in the life of him who follows the Saviour. The true Christian banishes all selfishness from his heart. How can he live for self as he thinks of Christ hanging on the cross, giving His life for the life of the world? In your behalf Jesus died a death of shame. Are you willing to consecrate yourself to His service? to hold yourself ready to be or to do anything He may require? Are you willing to put self aside, and speak a word of warning to the companion you see yielding to Satan’s temptations? Are you willing to sacrifice some of your plans for the sake of trying to lead him in safe paths?” Our High Calling, 287.

3 LESSONS FROM THE PAST

  • What is promised to all who heed the voice of God? Proverbs 8:32.
  • How did Jesus show the value of taking heed of His word? Matthew 7:24–27.
  • What warning should we take from the way the educational system in Christ’s day actually blocked the voice of God? Hosea 4:6; Jeremiah 2:13.

Note: “In the days of Christ the town or city that did not provide for the religious instruction of the young was regarded as under the curse of God. Yet the teaching had become formal. Tradition had in a great degree supplanted the Scriptures. True education would lead the youth to ‘seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him.’ Acts 17:27. But the Jewish teachers gave their attention to matters of ceremony. The mind was crowded with material that was worthless to the learner, and that would not be recognized in the higher school of the courts above. The experience which is obtained through a personal acceptance of God’s word had no place in the educational system. Absorbed in the round of externals, the students found no quiet hours to spend with God. They did not hear His voice speaking to the heart. In their search after knowledge, they turned away from the Source of wisdom. The great essentials of the service of God were neglected. The principles of the law were obscured.” The Desire of Ages, 69.

  • How can we be inspired by that superior knowledge which was cultivated by the psalmist? Psalms 12:6; 119:98–100.

Note: “For those who … lay hold of the divine assurances of God’s word, there are wonderful possibilities. Before them lie vast fields of truth, vast resources of power. Glorious things are to be revealed. Privileges and duties which they do not even suspect to be in the Bible will be made manifest.” The Ministry of Healing, 465.

4 AWESOME INTERACTION

  • What warm invitation does our Creator extend to each of us, and how do we too often hinder ourselves from accepting it fully? Revelation 3:20.

Note: “Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God, or through His delegated messengers, is a knock at the door of the heart; it is the voice of Jesus, asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, your determination to open becomes weaker and weaker. If the voice of Jesus is not heeded at once, it becomes confused in the mind with a multitude of other voices, the world’s care and business engross the attention, and conviction dies away. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of time, and of the great eternity beyond.

“Many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of the heart that they cannot admit Jesus. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove; others have evil tempers, pride, covetousness; with others, love of the world bars the entrance. All this must be taken away, before they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in.” Our High Calling, 352.

  • How does the psalmist describe the beautiful communion we can be privileged to enjoy with God? Psalms 91:14–16; 119:103, 104; 143:8.
  • How only can we hear the Lord’s voice properly? Psalm 46:10.

Note: “Everyone needs to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46:10. Here alone can true rest be found. And this is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God. Amid the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities, the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. The life will breathe out fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.” The Desire of Ages, 363.

5 A POINTED INQUIRY

  • What should we learn from the surprising way God spoke to Elijah? I Kings 19:9–12.
  • What startling question uttered by God to Elijah echoes down to us today? I Kings 19:13; Luke 9:23.

Note: “The joy set before Christ, the joy that sustained Him through sacrifice and suffering, was the joy of seeing sinners saved. This should be the joy of every follower of His, the spur to his ambition. Those who realize, even in a limited degree, what redemption means to them and to their fellow men, will comprehend in some measure the vast needs of humanity. Their hearts will be moved to compassion as they see the moral and spiritual destitution of thousands who are under the shadow of a terrible doom, in comparison with which physical suffering fades into nothingness.

“Of families, as of individuals, the question is asked, ‘What doest thou here?’ In many churches there are families well instructed in the truths of God’s word, who might widen the sphere of their influence by moving to places in need of the ministry they are capable of giving. God calls for Christian families to go into the dark places of the earth and work wisely and perseveringly for those who are enshrouded in spiritual gloom. To answer this call requires self-sacrifice. While many are waiting to have every obstacle removed, souls are dying, without hope and without God. For the sake of worldly advantage, for the sake of acquiring scientific knowledge, men are willing to venture into pestilential regions and to endure hardship and privation. Where are those who are willing to do as much for the sake of telling others of the Saviour?” Prophets and Kings, 172, 173.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Why is the “call” in this lesson more powerful even than a judge’s subpoena?

2 What does it cost to answer the call of Christ?

3 How does the way we are educated affect our understanding of duty?

4 Why is silence a key aspect of genuine reverence and communion with God?

5 As the Lord spoke to Elijah, what may He be saying specifically to me?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Insights from the Book of Isaiah (II) – Cooperating With Heaven

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February 18 – 24, 2018

Key Text

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).

Study Help: Education, 169–184.

Introduction

“An indwelling Saviour makes His power our property. The truth becomes our stock in trade. No unrighteousness is seen in the life. We are able to speak words in season to those who know not the truth. Christ’s presence in the heart is a vitalizing power, strengthening the entire being.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 71.

Sunday 

1              WORDS OF COMFORT AND HEALING

  • What comforting message to wayward Judah echoes down to us today in our desire to live for God and promote His cause? Isaiah 41:10–14.

Note: “The Lord has pledged Himself to make His name a praise in the earth. What power He has promised to all who will work in cooperation with heaven! The three highest powers in the universe are pledged to labor with those who will seek to save the lost. God wants His people to claim His promised help for the accomplishment of His work in the world.” The Review and Herald, August 12, 1909.

“Let us be hopeful and courageous. Despondency in God’s service is sinful and unreasonable. He knows our every necessity. He has all power. He can bestow upon His servants the measure of efficiency that their need demands. His infinite love and compassion never weary. With the majesty of omnipotence He unites the gentleness and care of a tender shepherd. We need have no fear that He will not fulfill His promises. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant that He has made with those that love Him. His promises to His church stand fast forever. He will make her an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations.

“Study the forty-first chapter of Isaiah, and strive to understand it in all its significance.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 38, 39.

Monday 

2              ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR MISSION

  • What assurances do we have of God’s love and protection in carrying forward our mission, even amid trials? Isaiah 43:1–6.

Note: “The furnace fires are not to destroy, but to refine, ennoble, sanctify. Without trial we should not feel so much our need of God and His help; and we should become proud and self-sufficient. In the trials that come to you I see evidence that the Lord’s eye is upon you and that He means to draw you to Himself. It is not the whole, but the wounded, who need a physician; it is those who are pressed almost beyond the point of endurance who need a helper. Turn to the stronghold. Learn the precious lesson: ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30).” Testimonies, vol. 8, 123, 124.

  • What lessons of cooperation and encouragement even among idolaters can we apply today in our work for God? Isaiah 41:6, 7.

Note: “It would be helpful for the youth, and for parents and teachers as well, to study the lesson of cooperation as taught in the Scriptures. Among its many illustrations notice the building of the tabernacle—that object lesson of character building—in which the whole people united, ‘everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing’ (Exodus 35:21). Read how the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt by the returned captives, in the midst of poverty, difficulty, and danger, the great task successfully accomplished because ‘the people had a mind to work’ (Nehemiah 4:6). Consider the part acted by the disciples in the Saviour’s miracle for the feeding of the multitude. The food multiplied in the hands of Christ, but the disciples received the loaves and gave to the waiting throng.

“ ‘We are members one of another.’ As everyone therefore ‘hath received a (R.V.) gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God’ (Ephesians 4:25; 1 Peter 4:10).

“Well might the words written of the idol builders of old be, with worthier aim, adopted as a motto by character builders of today: [Isaiah 41:6 quoted].” Education, 286.

Tuesday 

3              IN TUNE WITH OUR MAKER

  • How do both the psalmist and Isaiah declare the uniqueness of our Creator? Psalm 72:18; Isaiah 44:6–8; 45:11, 12. What should this cause us to consider?

Note: “Let us have more confidence in our Redeemer. Turn not from the waters of Lebanon to seek refreshment at broken cisterns, which can hold no water. Have faith in God. Trustful dependence on Jesus makes victory not only possible, but certain. Though multitudes are pressing on in the wrong way, though the outlook be ever so discouraging, yet we may have full assurance in our Leader; for ‘I am God,’ he declares, ‘and there is none else’ (Isaiah 45:22). He is infinite in power, and able to save all who come to Him. There is no other in whom we can safely trust.” The Review and Herald, June 9, 1910.

  • Instead of cooperating with our Creator in His purpose for us, what do we often do? Isaiah 45:9, 10. How did the heathen king, Cyrus, respond to God’s purpose for him? Verse 13.

Note: “We believe in a general way, but we lose much because we do not trust fully and entirely in God our Maker. When we can, notwithstanding disagreeable circumstances, rest confidingly in His love and shut ourselves in with Him, resting peacefully in His love, the sense of His presence will inspire a deep, tranquil joy. This experience gains for us a faith that enables us not to fret, not to worry, but to depend upon a Power that is infinite.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, 289.

“As the king [Cyrus] saw the words foretelling, more than a hundred years before his birth, the manner in which Babylon should be taken; as he read the message addressed to him by the Ruler of the universe [Isaiah 45:5, 6 quoted], as he saw before his eyes the declaration of the eternal God, ‘For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me;’ as he traced the inspired record, ‘I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward,’ his heart was profoundly moved, and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission (verses 4, 13). He would let the Judean captives go free; he would help them restore the temple of Jehovah.” Prophets and Kings, 557, 558.

Wednesday 

4              THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S WORD

  • When tempted to doubt the certainty of God’s Word, what should we remember about God? Isaiah 46:8–10.

Note: “It is impossible for the finite minds of men to fully comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. …

“We can so far comprehend His dealing with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the might of the Omnipotent, the love and wisdom of the Father and Sovereign of all. …

“But God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt His word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence. …

“All that God has seen fit to make known we are to accept upon the authority of His word. Only a bare statement of facts may be given, with no explanation as to why or how; but though we cannot comprehend it we should rest content that it is true, because God has said it. All the difficulty lies in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 698–700.

“In the annals of human history the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.” Education, 173.

  • In His purpose to use Cyrus to deliver Judah from Babylon, what great spiritual deliverance was assured by God, and through whom would this come? Isaiah 46:11–13.

Note: “In word and in deed the Messiah, during His earthly ministry, was to reveal to mankind the glory of God the Father. Every act of His life, every word spoken, every miracle wrought, was to make known to fallen humanity the infinite love of God.” Prophets and Kings, 696.

Thursday 

5              GOD’S HELPING HANDS

  • What essential experience must we all have in order to cooperate with God in the blessed work of soul-saving? Psalm 51:10–13; 2 Corinthians 4:1–7. Why?

Note: “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life.” The Desire of Ages, 195.

“He who becomes a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world, one with Christ in His plan of mercy, going forth with Him to seek and save the lost.” The Ministry of Healing, 105.

“Have you so deep an appreciation of the sacrifice made on Calvary that you are willing to make every other interest subordinate to the work of saving souls? The same intensity of desire to save sinners that marked the life of the Saviour marks the life of His true follower. The Christian has no desire to live for self. He delights to consecrate all that he has and is to the Master’s service. He is moved by an inexpressible desire to win souls to Christ. Those who have nothing of this desire might better be concerned for their own salvation. Let them pray for the spirit of service.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 10.

“Our work has been marked out for us by our heavenly Father. We are to take our Bibles and go forth to warn the world. We are to be God’s helping hands in saving souls—channels through which His love is day by day to flow to the perishing.” Ibid., vol. 9, 150.

Friday 

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1             Name some ways in which God’s cause can be benefited by our mutual cooperation.

2             What should we remember when faced with fierce trials and difficulties?

3              If we rest in God’s love and commit ourselves fully to Him, what will we gain?

4             Why is prophecy so useful in laying the groundwork for belief in God?

5             Why is evangelistic zeal an accurate gauge of genuine conversion?

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