Bible Study Guides

Bible Study Guides – “Go Out into the Highways and Hedges”

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August 13-19, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, ‘Thy God reigneth!’” Isaiah 52:7.

STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 113–120.

INTRODUCTION: “Those who have been most successful in soul–winning were men and women who did not pride themselves on their ability, but who in humility and faith sought to help those about them. Jesus did this very work. He came close to those whom He desired to reach. How often, with a few gathered about Him, He gave His lessons, and one by one the passers–by paused to listen, until a great multitude heard with wonder and awe the words of the heaven–sent Teacher.” Gospel Workers, 194.

“Go Home and Tell”

1 What examples are we given of personal testimony in witnessing? John 1:40, 41, 43–46.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 141.

2 What example did Christ show of witnessing to an individual? John 3:1–17.

NOTE: “In manifesting an unselfish interest in others, in doing those things that will please the Saviour, you will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour….What can I do that can be counted as good service to Him who has died that I might live? The Master gives this answer, ‘Seek and save that which is lost.’ You are to work in Christ’s way, with patience, with interest, with determination that you will not feel discouraged as you work for time and eternity, believing that Jesus can do much through human ability consecrated to His service. What higher privilege could we desire than to be laborers together with God, making the most of our entrusted powers, that this very work may be accomplished?” Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 69.

“My Meat is to Do the Will of Him That Sent Me”

3 How did Christ manifest His desire for the salvation of others? John 4:6–26.

NOTE: See Ministry of Healing, 27, 28.

4 What examples of personal ministry does Christ suggest? Matthew 25:34–36; Isaiah 58:6, 7.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 151.

“Arise and Go”

5 What response should the faithful servant make to the Lord’s guidance? Acts 8:26,27; 13:2, 3; 16:6–10.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 107.

6 What similar response did Isaiah make to the Lord’s call to service? Isaiah 6:8.

NOTE: See Gospel Workers, 265-266.

“Preaching the Gospel, and Healing”

7 What are we told about the ministry of Jesus? Matthew 4:23; 9:35.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 350, 351.

8 How did the disciples follow Christ’s example? Luke 9:6.

NOTE: “There is to be no separation in His work. Christ sent out the twelve apostles, and afterward the seventy disciples, to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. ‘As ye go,’ He said, ‘preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.’ Matthew 10:7, 8. And as they went forth preaching the kingdom of God, power was given them to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits. In God’s work, teaching and healing are never to be separated.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 165.

“Medical missionary work brings to humanity the gospel of release from suffering. It is the pioneer work of the gospel. It is the gospel practiced, the compassion of Christ revealed. Of this work there is great need, and the world is open for it. God grant that the importance of medical missionary work shall be understood, and that new fields may be immediately entered.” Medical Ministry, 239.

“God calls for thousands to work for Him, not by preaching to those who know the truth for this time, but by warning those who have never heard the last message of mercy. Work with a heart filled with an earnest longing for souls. Do medical missionary work. Thus you will gain access to the hearts of people, and the way will be prepared for a more decided proclamation of the truth.” Counsels on Health, 499.

“I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.” Evangelism, 523.

“Thy Sins be Forgiven Thee”

9 How did Christ minister to the physical and spiritual needs of one who came to Him? Matthew 9:2–7.

NOTE: “When the poor, suffering paralytic was brought to the Saviour, the urgency of the case seemed not to admit of a moment’s delay, for already dissolution was doing its work upon the body….Our Saviour saw and understood his condition perfectly. He also knew that this wretched man had a sickness of the soul far more aggravating than bodily suffering. He knew that the greatest burden he had borne for months was on account of sins. The crowd of people waited with almost breathless silence to see how Christ would treat this case, apparently so hopeless, and were astonished to hear the words which fell from His lips: ‘Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.’ These were the most precious words that could fall upon the ear of that sick sufferer, for the burden of sin had lain so heavily upon him that he could not find the least relief. Christ lifts the burden that so heavily oppressed him: ‘Be of good cheer;’ I, your Saviour, came to forgive sins. How quickly the pallid countenance of the sufferer changes! Hope takes the place of dark despair, and peace and joy take the place of distressing doubt and stolid gloom. The mind being restored to peace and happiness, the suffering body can now be reached.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 168, 169.

10 How does James echo the same unity of physical and spiritual healing? James 5:15.

NOTE: “With all our treatments given to the sick, simple fervent prayer should be offered for the blessing of healing. We are to point the sick to the compassionate Saviour, and His power to forgive and to heal. Through His gracious providence they may be restored. Point the sufferers to their Advocate in the heavenly courts. Tell them that Christ will heal the sick, if they will repent and cease to transgress the laws of God. There is a Saviour who will reveal Himself…to save those who will submit themselves to Him. The suffering ones can unite with you in prayer, confessing their sin, and receiving pardon.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 268.

“Now in regard to that which we can do for ourselves. There is a point that requires careful, thoughtful consideration. I must become acquainted with myself, I must be a learner always as to how to take care of this building, the body God has given me, that I may preserve it in the very best condition of health. I must eat those things which will be for my very best good physically, and I must take special care to have my clothing such as will conduce to a healthful circulation of the blood. I must not deprive myself of exercise and air. I must get all the sunlight that it is possible for me to obtain. I must have wisdom to be a faithful guardian of my body.” Paulson Collection, 28.

“Questions and Strife of Words”

11 What counsel are we given about getting into arguments? 2 Timothy 2:23, 24; Romans 14:1; 1 Timothy 1:4.

NOTE: “The Holy Spirit does not work with men who love to be sharp and critical. This spirit has been cherished in meeting debaters, and some have formed the habit of squaring [off] for combat. God is dishonored in this. Keep back the sharp thrusts; do not learn in Satan’s school his methods of warfare. The Holy Spirit does not inspire the words of censure. A time of trouble is before us, and every honest soul who has not had the light of truth will then take a stand for Christ. Those who believe the truth are to be newly converted every day. Then they will be vessels unto honor. Do not repeat the words of your opponents, or enter into controversy with them. You meet not merely the men, but Satan and his angels. Christ did not bring against Satan a railing accusation concerning the body of Moses. If the world’s Redeemer, who understood the crooked, deceptive arts of Satan, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but in holiness and humility said, ‘The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan,’ is it not wise for His servants to follow His example?” The Upward Look, 270.

12 What example does the Bible give of contention among God’s servants? Acts 15:39. (See Philippians 1:16; Proverbs 13:10; 17:14; 18:16.)

NOTE: “Satan can skillfully play the game of life with many souls, and he acts in a most underhanded, deceptive manner to spoil the faith of the people of God and to discourage them….He works today as he worked in heaven, to divide the people of God in the very last stage of this earth’s history. He seeks to create dissension, and to arouse contention and discussion, and to remove if possible the old landmarks of truth committed to God’s people. He tries to make it appear as if the Lord contradicts Himself.” Evangelism, 359.

“Contention in the church is always attended with a dearth of spirituality. The Lord cannot be glorified by a contentious church. ‘All ye are brethren.’ Cultivate the grace of God. Lift up your hearts in prayer to Him for His keeping power. Avoid all contention among yourselves. Use every means within your reach to restrain the unsanctified words that are ever upon the tongue—words that would cast a reflection upon others. Be true to one another. We are bought with a price; therefore in word and act we should glorify God.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 6, 1903.

13 How did Jesus deal with contentious questions? John 4:20–24; Matthew 22:17–22, 23–33.

NOTE: “We may answer foolish questions by saying, ‘Wait, and we shall all know what is essential for us to know. Our salvation does not depend on side issues.’” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 918.

Bible Study Guides – “They Went Forth and Preached Everywhere”

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July 30- August 5, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:4.

STUDY HELP: Ministry of Healing, 102–107.

INTRODUCTION: “God’s servants should be minutemen, ever ready to move as fast as His providence opens the way. Any delay on their part gives time for Satan to work to defeat them. His commandment-keeping people are to stand constantly in readiness for service. Those who are really representatives of Christ are working for the good of others. They delight in advancing the cause of God both at home and abroad. They are seen and heard, and their influence is felt.” Christian Service, 244.

“We Cannot but Speak”

1 How did Peter and John express their necessity to witness for Christ? Acts 4:20.

NOTE: “Christ’s living agents, those who have tasted and found that the Lord is good, should reveal Him in words, in actions, in cheerfulness, in patience, in long-suffering, in hopefulness, in joyousness. ‘Blessed are your eyes, for they see’ the marvelous love of God; ‘and your ears, for they hear’ the precious words of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And we must see to some purpose, that we may present the glad tidings,—show that it is glad tidings. Put off the spirit of heaviness. Speak of the mercy, the goodness, and the love of Jesus; for ‘we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’” Signs of the Times, December 7, 1891.

2 After being threatened by the authorities, what prayer did the early Christians pray and how was it answered? Acts 4:29–31.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 67, 68.

“Full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit”

3 What qualification did Stephen have for his work for Christ? Acts 6:5.

NOTE: “What is needed now are men chosen of God and precious who will go forth full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the gospel, calling upon God for His grace to aid them in their work. The Lord has warned us that a large number of believers should not congregate in one place. Let men go out in the name of the Lord, humble and devoted, as colporteurs and canvassers to sell the books that bring light to the souls of those who know not the truth. When this is done, there will be seen striking instances of conversion.” Bible Training School, April 1, 1906.

4 When Stephen was called upon to testify to his faith, what did his hearers see in his face? Acts 6:15.

NOTE: “The Saviour of the world was revealed to him as looking down from Heaven upon him with the deepest interest; and the glorious light of Christ’s countenance shone upon Stephen with such brightness that even his enemies saw his face shine like the face of an angel.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 3, 1881.

“The Bible Christian is a man of principle, sober, watchful, prayerful, a man full of faith and good works. He is not seeking the prominence of the hill, but is firm, established, strengthened, settled. It requires a sound conscience to do the works of Christ. It requires consistent and holy living. By much prayer, watching unto prayer, self-denial, the true Christian lifts the cross of Christ and follows in His footsteps. He walks with God, not with Satan. A Christian is the world’s light, and the only Bible that many…can read.” Manuscript Releases vol. 18, 279.

“And Preached Christ unto Them”

5 During the persecution that followed Stephen’s death, what did his colleague Philip do? Acts 8:5.

NOTE: “Philip left Jerusalem, and preached a risen Redeemer in Samaria. Many believed, and received Christian baptism. Philip’s preaching was marked with so great success, and so many were gathered into the fold of Christ, that he finally sent to Jerusalem for help. In answer to this petition, the church sent Peter and John to his assistance, who labored in Samaria with wonderful results. They now perceived the meaning of Christ, when He said, ‘Ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’” Spirit of Prophecy vol. 3, 301, 3026.

6 What further work was Philip called to do? Acts 8:26–38.

NOTE: “This Ethiopian represented a large class who need to be taught by such missionaries as Philip—men who will hear the voice of God and go where He sends them. There are many who are reading the Scriptures who cannot understand their true import. All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in. An angel guided Philip to the one who was seeking for light and who was ready to receive the gospel, and today angels will guide the footsteps of those workers who will allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify their tongues and refine and ennoble their hearts. The angel sent to Philip could himself have done the work for the Ethiopian, but this is not God’s way of working. It is His plan that men are to work for their fellow men.” Acts of the Apostles, 109.

“By Two and Two”

7 How did the Lord send out His disciples to work for Him? Mark 6:7.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 350.

8 How did the Lord teach His disciples to live by faith? Mark 6:8, 9.

NOTE: “If our hearts are touched by His love, the question of compensation will not be uppermost in our minds. We shall rejoice to be co-workers with Christ, and we shall not fear to trust His care. If we make God our strength, we shall have clear perceptions of duty, and unselfish aspirations; our life will be actuated by a noble purpose, which will raise us above sordid motives.” Gospel Workers, 114.

“At Midnight Paul and Silas Prayed and Sang Praises”

9 What was the initial outcome of the ministry of Paul and Silas in Philippi? Acts 16:22–24.

NOTE: “‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,’ Christ continued, ‘and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.’ All this the Christians suffered. Fathers and mothers betrayed their children; children betrayed their parents; friends delivered their friends to the Sanhedrin. Until he himself was converted, Saul of Tarsus was exceedingly bitter against all who believed in Christ. He then began to preach Christ and Him crucified, and the enemies of the gospel caused him and Silas to be whipped, and thrown into prison.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 20, 1898.

10 What was the reaction of the two imprisoned witnesses to their plight? Acts 16:25.

NOTE: “It is an exalted privilege to be connected with Jesus. In every condition of trial, we may have the consolation of His presence. We may live in the very atmosphere of heaven. Our enemies may thrust us into prison, but prison walls cannot cut off the communication between Christ and our souls. One who sees our every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels can come to us in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace, for the rich in faith dwell there; and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light, as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian prison. Bunyan was confined in Bedford jail; and from thence issued a light that has illuminated the pathway to the celestial city.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 15, 1884.

“They Took Him unto Them”

11 What lessons can we learn from the ministry of Aquila and Priscilla? Acts 18:2, 3, 25, 26; Romans 16:3, 4; 1 Corinthians 16:19.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 355.

12 What other examples of humble helpers does the Bible reveal? Romans 16:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Colossians 4:12, 13; 2 Timothy 4:11.

NOTE: “The Lord designs that we shall care for the interests of our brethren and sisters. The apostle Paul has given an illustration of this….Phoebe entertained the apostle, and she was in a marked manner an entertainer of strangers who needed care. Her example should be followed by the churches of today.” Testimonies vol. 6, 343, 344.

“That which will make our churches vigorous and successful in their efforts, is not bustle, but quiet, humble work; not parade and bombast, but patient, prayerful, persevering effort.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 130.

Bible Study Guides – “Prepared For the Lord”

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September 24-30, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.

STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 266–275.

INTRODUCTION: “It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 69.

“To Make Ready a People”

1 What is the purpose of our witnessing? Luke 1:17.

NOTE: “…the end is right upon us, and is it reasonable to think that there is no message to make ready a people to stand in the day of God’s preparation? Why is there so little eyesight? So little deep, earnest, heartfelt labor? Why is there so much pulling back? Why is there such a continual cry of ‘peace and safety,’ and no going forward in obedience to the Lord’s command? Is the Third Angel’s Message to go out in darkness, or to lighten the whole earth with its glory? Is the light of God’s Spirit to be quenched, and the church to be left as destitute of the grace of Christ as the hills of Gilboa were of dew and rain?” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 295.

2 What message is God’s people to give to the entire world? Revelation 14:6–12.

NOTE: “…in The Great Controversy, the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books.” Colporteur Ministry, 127.

See also Testimonies, vol. 6, 61 and Christ’s Object Lessons, 415, 416.

“The Sheep and the Goats”

3 What will be the outcome of the Gospel work? Matthew 13:30.

NOTE: “There are only two classes in the world today, and only two classes will be recognized in the Judgement,—those who violate God’s law, and those who keep His law. Two great opposing powers are revealed in the last great battle. On one side stands the Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They are obedient to His commands. On the other side stands the Prince of darkness, with those who have chosen apostasy and rebellion.” Review and Herald, May 7, 1901.

See also Testimonies, vol. 6, 129.

4 How will the message of the Three Angels divide the people of the earth into these two groups? Revelation 14:9–12.

NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 5, 455.

“His Wife Hath Made Herself Ready”

5 How are those described who are ready for the coming of Christ? Revelation 14:1–5. Compare Revelation 7:1–4.

NOTE: “One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth there was found no guile. The Lord has said, ‘Blessed is the man…in whose spirit there is no guile.’ They profess to be children of God, and are represented as following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience, followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as the flock follows the shepherd.” Selected Messages, book 3, 424.

See also Great Controversy, 425.

6 What picture of the church ready for Christ’s coming does Paul give? Ephesians 5:25–27.

NOTE: “One brother said to me, ‘Sister White, do you think the Lord will come in ten years?’ [I replied] ‘What difference does it make to you whether He shall come in two, four, or ten years?’ ‘Why,’ said he, ‘I think I would do differently in some things than I now do if I knew the Lord was to come in ten years.’ ‘What would you do?’ said I. ‘Why,’ said he, ‘I would sell my property and begin to search the Word of God and try to warn the people and get them to prepare for His coming, and I would plead with God that I might be ready to meet Him.’ ‘Then,’ said I, ‘If you knew that the Lord was not coming for twenty years would you live differently?’ Said he, ‘I think I would.’” Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 28.

See also Christ’s Object Lessons, 325.

“Whom Shall I Send?”

7 What sort of people will give the final message? Isaiah 52:6–8.

NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 9, 107.

8 What sort of person does God choose for His work and why? 1 Corinthians 1:26–28.

NOTE: “We have before us a great work,—the closing work of giving the last warning message to a sinful world. There are men who will be taken from the plow, from the vineyard, from various other branches of work, and sent forth by the Lord to give this message to the world.” Evangelism, 48.

“…the Lord Himself will call men, as of old He called the humble fishermen, and will Himself give them instruction regarding their field of labor and the methods they should follow. He will call men from the plow and from other occupations to give the last note of warning to perishing souls. There are many ways in which to work for the Master, and the Great Teacher will open the understanding of these workers, enabling them to see wondrous things in His word.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 170.

“Unexpected talent will be developed in those in the common walks of life. If men and women can only have the message of truth brought to them, many who hear will receive it. Those of every rank of life, high and low, rich and poor, will accept the truth for this time. Some who are regarded as uneducated will be called to the service of the Master, even as the humble, unlearned fishermen were called by the Saviour. Men will be called from the plow, as was Elisha, and will be moved to take up the work that God has appointed them. They will begin to labor in simplicity and quietness, reading and explaining the Scriptures to others. Their simple efforts will be successful. House-to-house work will be done by men and women who will realize that they can labor for the Lord because He has put His Spirit upon them. As they go forth in humble faith, Christ will impart to them grace that they will impart to others. The Lord will give them the same love for perishing souls that He gave to the disciples of old.” This Day With God, 115.

“Times of Refreshing”

9 What promise of divine power is given to those who follow the light they have been given? Hosea 6:3.

NOTE: See Great Controversy, 612.

10 What work must be done now in order to ensure a bountiful harvest? Psalms 126:5; 2 Corinthians 9:6.

NOTE: See Great Controversy, 612.

“It is true that some who buy the books will lay them on the shelf or place them on the parlor table and seldom look at them. Still God has a care for His truth, and the time will come when these books will be sought for and read. Sickness or misfortune may enter the home, and through the truth contained in the books God sends to troubled hearts peace and hope and rest. His love is revealed to them, and they understand the preciousness of the forgiveness of their sins. Thus the Lord cooperates with His self-denying workers.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 313, 314.

“The Harvest Truly is Plenteous”

11 What prayer does Jesus call upon us to pray? Matthew 9:37, 38. (See John 4:35.)

NOTE: “We are not, as a people, sufficiently aroused to the short time in which we have to work, and we do not understand the magnitude of the work for the time. The night soon cometh, in which no man can work. God calls for men and women to qualify themselves, by consecration to His will and earnest study of the Scriptures, to do His special work for these last days. He calls for men now who can work. As they engage in the work in sincerity and humility to do all they can, they will be obtaining a more thorough experience. They will have a better knowledge of the truth and better know how to reach souls and help them just where they need to be helped. Workmen are needed now, just now, to labor for God. The fields are already white for the harvest, and yet laborers are few.” Life Sketches (1915 edition), 211, 212.

12 What promise of ultimate success in the Lord’s harvest field are we given? Psalms 126:6; Romans 9:28.

NOTE: “We need now to awake out of sleep, and to labor earnestly to warn those in the highways and in the byways. Soon the work will be finished, and now is our time to labor with intense energy and untiring industry. The judgements of God are in the earth, and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we must give the message of warning that He has entrusted to us. We must give this message quickly, line upon line, precept upon precept. Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and it is our duty to see that they are given an opportunity to understand the truth, that they may take their stand intelligently on the right side. The Lord calls upon His people to labor,—labor earnestly and wisely, while probation lingers.” Southern Watchman, April 16, 1907.

CLOSING WORDS:

“When the Third Angel’s Message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.” Great Controversy, 613, 614.

Bible Study Guides – “Let Us Go Again”

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September 17-23, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” Acts 15:36.

STUDY HELP: Evangelism, 334–340.

INTRODUCTION: “The work should not be left prematurely. See that all are intelligent in the truth, established in the faith, and interested in every branch of the work, before leaving them for another field. And then, like the apostle Paul, visit them often to see how they do. Oh, the slack work that is done by many who claim to be commissioned of God to preach His word, makes angels weep.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 256.

“See How They Do”

1 What proposal did Paul put to Barnabas regarding those they had brought to Christ? Acts 15:36.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 201.

2 How did Paul express his love for those he had brought to Christ? Philippians 4:1.

NOTE: “The ‘care of all the churches’ still rested upon him. He deeply felt the danger that threatened those for whom he had labored so earnestly, and he sought as far as possible to supply by written communications the place of his personal instruction. He also sent out authorized delegates to labor among the churches he had raised up, and also in fields which he had not visited. These messengers rendered him faithful service, and being in communication with them, he was informed concerning the condition and dangers of the churches, and was enabled to exercise a constant supervision over them.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 281.

“Elders in Every Church”

3 In order to protect the congregations of new believers, what did the apostles do? Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5.

NOTE: “In all those places were many that believed the truth; and the apostles felt it their duty to strengthen and encourage their brethren who were exposed to reproach and bitter opposition. They were determined to securely bind off the work which they had done, that it might not ravel out. Churches were organized in the places mentioned, elders appointed in each church, and the proper order established there.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 62, 63.

4 What sort of person did Paul regard as fitted to oversee a church? 1 Timothy 3:1–7.

NOTE: The word the King James Bible translates as “bishop” means an overseer, an officer in charge of a church.

“In fulfilling your duties as an elder of the church, be true to God in the person of the erring ones in His church. Fail not, my brother, to heed the admonition of the Spirit of God to bring into your heart the kindness, the tenderness, the love that Christ ever manifested. Cherish not a cold, unsympathetic spirit. Let your words be carefully chosen. Speak and act in such a way that you will have an influence for good over the church members. God desires you to avoid all harshness. Cover yourself with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. By speaking the truth in love, you can bring a blessing to many hearts. Allow not a condemnatory spirit to prompt your words. May the Lord soften and subdue your heart, that your words shall be a blessing to the entire church.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, September 9, 1903.

“He Continued There”

5 After a church had been established in Corinth, what did Paul do? Acts 18:11.

NOTE: “When men and women accept the truth, we are not to go away and leave them and have no further burden for them. They are to be looked after. They are to be carried as a burden upon the soul, and we must watch over them as stewards who must render an account.” Evangelism, 345.

6 When Paul planned to go to Macedonia, what work did he give to Timothy? 1 Timothy 1:3, 4.

NOTE: “Our efforts are not to cease because public meetings have been discontinued for a time. So long as there are interested ones, we must give them opportunity to learn the truth. And the new converts will need to be instructed by faithful teachers of God’s Word, that they may increase in a knowledge and love of the truth, and may grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. They must now be surrounded by the influences most favorable to spiritual growth.” Review and Herald, February 14, 1907.

“Confirming the Churches”

7 When Paul went back to the churches he had helped to establish, what work did he do among them? Acts 14:21, 22; Acts 15:41.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 186.

8 When unable to visit his beloved churches, how did Paul express his care for them? 1 Corinthians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 2:9.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 471.

“Collection for the Saints”

9 How did Paul encourage new believers to care for other Christians? Romans 12:10, 13.

NOTE: “The Lord does not need our offerings. We cannot enrich Him by our gifts. Says the psalmist: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ Yet God permits us to show our appreciation of His mercies by self-sacrificing efforts to extend the same to others. This is the only way in which it is possible for us to manifest our gratitude and love to God. He has provided no other.” Review and Herald, December 6, 1887.

10 What spirit does God love to see in those who bring their offerings? 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.

NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 3, 413.

“Make this glorious theme plain to your children; and as their young hearts expand with love to God, let them present their little offerings, that they may act their part in sending the precious light of truth to others. Thus the children may become little missionaries for the Master. Their little offerings coming into the treasury, like many tiny rivulets, may swell the stream to a river that shall refresh many souls who are thirsting for the truth of God; and even these children may see some souls saved in the kingdom of God as the result of their self-denial.” Review and Herald, December 11, 1888.

“Come Ye Yourselves Apart”

11 After they had been working for God, what provision did Jesus make for His disciples? Mark 6:30, 31.

NOTE: “Today there is need that God’s chosen workmen should listen to the command of Christ to go apart and rest awhile. Many valuable lives have been sacrificed, that need not have been through ignorance of this command.… Though the harvest is great, and the laborers are few, nothing is gained by sacrificing health and life..… There are many feeble, worn workmen who feel deeply distressed when they see how much there is to be done, and how little they can do. How they long for physical strength to accomplish more; but it is to this class that Jesus says, ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.’” Review and Herald, November 7, 1893.

12 What counsel should those who witness for the Lord heed? Psalms 46:10, first part.

NOTE: “All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God. In them is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and they need 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. This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities, he who is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.” Ministry of Healing, 58.

13 What balance must be achieved in the life of the effective worker for God? Exodus 34:21.

NOTE: “The Christian life is not made up of unceasing activity, or of continual meditation.… Christians must work earnestly for the salvation of the lost, and they must also take time for contemplation, for prayer, and the study of the Word of God. It will not do to be always under the strain of the work and excitement, for in this way personal piety is neglected, and the powers of mind and body are injured.” Review and Herald, November 7, 1893.

Bible Study Guides – “He That Goeth Forth and Weepeth”

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September 10-16, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66, 67.

STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 257–265.

INTRODUCTION: “…When we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once should we even think of failure. We are to cooperate with One who knows no failure. We should not talk of our own weakness and inability. This is a manifest distrust of God, a denial of His word. When we murmur because of our burdens, or refuse the responsibilities He calls upon us to bear, we are virtually saying that He is a hard master, that He requires what He has not given us power to do.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 363.

“Will Ye Also Go Away?”

1 What discouraging experience did Jesus have in His work? John 6:60–66.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 393, 489.

2 When was Paul’s witness not accepted? Acts 24:24, 25; Acts 26:27–30.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 425, 426.

“I, Even I Only, Am Left”

3 What picture are we given of Elijah’s discouragement and how did God treat him? 1 Kings 19:4, 9–13, 18.

NOTE: “If, under trying circumstances, men of spiritual power, pressed beyond measure, become discouraged and desponding, if at times they see nothing desirable in life, that they should choose it, this is nothing strange or new. Let all such remember that one of the mightiest of the prophets fled for his life before the rage of an infuriated woman.…Those who, while spending their life energies in self-sacrificing labor, are tempted to give way to despondency and distrust, may gather courage from the experience of Elijah.” Conflict and Courage, 216.

See also Acts of the Apostles, 23.

4 What lesson may we learn from the story of Jonah? Jonah 1:1–3; 3:1–5.

NOTE: See Prophets and Kings, 266.

“Leap For Joy!”

5 What response did Jesus recommend in times of persecution? Luke 6:22, 23.

NOTE: “Shall we, then, seek for the glory and honor of the world? I thank God that we must renounce the love of the world, and pride of heart, and everything which tends to idolatry, in order to be followers of the Man of Calvary. I present before you, my brethren and sisters, His self-denying life. Why are we so sensitive to trial and reproach, to shame and suffering, when our Lord has given us such an example? Who would wish to enter into the joy of their Lord while they were unwilling to partake of His sufferings? What! the servant unwilling to bear the suffering and shame which the Master unselfishly bore for him! Shall the servant shrink from a life of sacrifice by which he may secure eternal happiness in the Paradise of God? The language of my heart is, “Let me be a partaker with Christ of His sufferings, that I may finally share with Him in His glory.” Review and Herald, May 26, 1885.

6 What example of rejoicing in a time of persecution are we given? Acts 16:25.

NOTE: “In every condition of trial, we may have the consolation of His presence. We may live in the very atmosphere of heaven. Our enemies may thrust us into prison, but prison walls cannot cut off the communication between Christ and our souls. One who sees our every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels can come to us in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace, for the rich in faith dwell there; and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light, as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian prison. Bunyan was confined in Bedford jail; and thence issued a light that has illuminated the pathway to the celestial city.” Gospel Workers, (1892 edition.) 424, 425.

“Jesus Christ and Him Crucified”

7 What approach did Paul use in witnessing to the philosophers of Athens and with what result? Acts 17:22–34.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 235, 236.

8 What lesson did Paul learn from his experience at Athens? 1 Corinthians 2:1–4.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 244.

“Because of Your Unbelief”

9 What failure did the disciples experience and for what reason? Matthew 17:14–21.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 431.

10 What results will follow the exercise of faith? Acts 11:24.

NOTE: “This is the science of the gospel. The Scripture declares, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God.’ The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired. We suffer much trouble and grief because of our unbelief, and our ignorance of how to exercise faith. We must break through the clouds of unbelief. We can not have a healthy Christian experience, we can not obey the gospel unto salvation, until the science of faith is better understood, and until more faith is exercised. There can be no perfection of Christian character without that faith that works by love, and purifies the soul.” Review and Herald, October 18, 1898.

“Bringing His Sheaves With Him”

11 When our witness is rejected, whom are men really rejecting? 1 Samuel 8:7.

NOTE: “True missionary work can be done only in the spirit of the first Missionary who visited our world. He was often in prayer to His Father, and at times presented His petitions with strong crying and tears, pleading that the power of God might save those who knew not that they needed salvation. We must have the spirit that actuated Christ, that led Him to entreat and persuade the rebellious to come unto Him. Even when men turn away from us in hardness of heart, refusing the gift of eternal life, we are to imitate the example of Christ. He did not look with indifference upon those who slighted and rejected Him.” Review and Herald, July 4, 1893.

12 What promise of ultimate success is given to those who work in the Lord’s harvest? Psalms 126:5, 6.

NOTE: “Those who are impressed to enter the work, whether in the home field or in the regions beyond, are to go forward in the name of the Lord. If they depend on God for grace and strength, they will succeed. At the beginning their work may be small, but if they follow the Lord’s plans, it will enlarge. God lives. He will work for the unselfish, self-sacrificing laborer, whoever and wherever he may be.” Christian Service, 258. See also Ministry of Healing, 150.

“Those who become co-laborers with God will increase in moral and spiritual power, while those who devote their time and energies to serving themselves will dwarf, and wither, and die. Christian women, the youth, the middle-aged, and those of advanced years, may have a part in the work of God for this time; and in engaging in this work as they have opportunity, they will obtain an experience of the highest value to themselves. In forgetfulness of self, they will grow in grace. By training the mind in this direction, they will learn how to bear burdens for Jesus, and will realize the blessedness of the service. And soon the time will come when ‘they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.’” Signs of the Times, September 16, 1886.

Bible Study Guides – “Be Instant in Season, Out of Season”

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September 3-9, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2.

STUDY HELP: Evangelism, 431–455.

INTRODUCTION: “…to be instant ‘out of season’ is to be ready, when at the fireside, in the field, by the wayside, in the market, to turn the minds of men, in a suitable manner, to the great themes of the Bible, with tender, fervent spirit urging upon them the claims of God. Many, many such opportunities are allowed to slip by unimproved, because men are persuaded that it is out of season. But who knows what might be the effect of a wise appeal to the conscience?” Gospel Workers, 186, 187.

“In Every House They Ceased Not to Teach”

1 How did Peter show his readiness to respond to those seeking for truth? Acts 10:29.

NOTE: “If one half of the sermonizing were done, and double the amount of personal labor given to souls in their homes and in the congregations, a result would be seen that would be surprising.” Evangelism, 430.

“There are families who will never be reached by the truth of God’s Word unless His servants enter their homes, and by earnest ministry, sanctified by the endorsement of the Holy Spirit, break down the barriers. As the people see that these workers are messengers of mercy, the ministers of grace, they are ready to listen to the words spoken by them.… When such a worker offers prayer to God in the family where he is visiting, the hearts of the members are touched as they would not be by prayer offered in a public assembly. Angels of God enter the family circle with him; and the minds of the hearers are prepared to receive the Word of God; for if the messenger is humble and contrite, if he has a living connection with God, the Holy Spirit takes the Word, and shows it to those for whom he is laboring.” Ibid., 435, 436.

2 Where did the early Christians teach the message of Jesus? Acts 5:42; Acts 20:20; Acts 28:30, 31.

NOTE: “To all who are working with Christ I would say, Wherever you can gain access to the people by the fireside, improve your opportunity. Take your Bible, and open before them its great truths. Your success will not depend so much upon your knowledge and accomplishments, as upon your ability to find your way to the heart. By being social and coming close to the people, you may turn the current of their thoughts more readily than by the most able discourse. The presentation of Christ in the family, by the fireside, and in small gatherings in private houses, is often more successful in winning souls to Jesus than are sermons delivered in the open air, to the moving throng, or even in halls or churches.” Evangelism, 436, 437.

“On the Sabbath Day We Spake unto the Women”

3 What opportunity for witness did Paul and Silas take? Acts 16:13.

NOTE: “Our Sabbath schools are not what the Lord would have them to be, for there is altogether too much dependence placed upon form and machinery, while the life-giving power of God is not manifested for the conversion of souls, for whom Christ died. This order of things must be changed if our Sabbath schools meet the purpose for which they exist. We must have consecrated teachers, who love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves. The Lord has made ample provision that teachers may have increased ability from Sabbath to Sabbath, that they may teach to some purpose, working as for time and eternity. We need in our schools young men and women who have vital godliness, not a cheap, superficial experience, but a deep inward piety that results from learning daily in the school of Christ, that they may impart to others the precious lessons which Christ has taught them.” Testimonies on Sabbath School Work, 41.

4 To what use did Paul put the Sabbath meetings? Acts 18:4.

NOTE: “Some may be listening to the last sermon they will ever hear, and some will never again be so situated that they can have the chain of truth brought before them, and a practical application made of it to their hearts. That golden opportunity lost, is lost forever. Had Christ and His redeeming love been exalted in connection with the theory of truth, it might have balanced them on His side. With an unction of the Holy Spirit upon him, giving him a burden for souls, he [the preacher] will not dismiss a congregation without presenting before them Jesus Christ, the sinner’s only refuge, making earnest appeals that will reach their hearts. He should feel that he may never meet these hearers again until the great day of God. In every discourse fervent appeals should be made to the people to forsake their sins and turn to Christ.” Evangelism, 280.

“They Talked Together”

5 What opportunity did Jesus take to witness? Luke 24:15–17.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 503 and Counsels on Health, 435.

6 How did Philip use an encounter on the road? Acts 8:27–30.

NOTE: See Christ’s Object Lessons, 338, 339.

“Brought Before Kings and Rulers for My Name’s Sake”

7 How did the apostles speak when brought before rulers? Acts 4:8–12, 19, 20; Acts 5:29–32.

NOTE: “We may know that if our life is hid with Christ in God, when we are brought into trial because of our faith, Jesus will be with us. When we are brought before rulers and dignitaries to answer for our faith, the Spirit of the Lord will illuminate our understanding, and we shall be able to bear a testimony to the glory of God. And if we are called to suffer for Christ’s sake, we shall be able to go to prison trusting in Him as a little child trusts in its parents. Now is the time to cultivate faith in God.” Our High Calling, 357.

8 What counsel are we given for such occasions? Luke 12:11, 12.

NOTE: “We have nothing to do with the government’s actions. It is our duty to obey God, and when they arrest you, take no thought what you shall do. What you are to do is to follow Christ step by step. We need not commence weeks beforehand to examine the question and plan out what we will do when they do so and so, neither what we are to say. Study the truth, and the Spirit of the Lord will bring to your remembrance what you shall say.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 68.

9 What opportunity did Paul find for witness even in prison? Acts 16:25, 30, 34.

NOTE: “…consider Luther in his Wartburg prison. His enemies exulted in his absence; for the light of the gospel seemed about to be extinguished. But instead of this the Reformer was filling his lamp from the storehouse of truth; and its light was to shine forth with brighter radiance. While in prison Luther’s pen was never idle. While his enemies flattered themselves that he was silenced, they were astonished and confused by tangible proof that he was still alive. A host of tracts, issuing from his pen, circulated throughout Germany. He also performed a most important service for his countrymen by translating the New Testament into the German tongue.” Review and Herald, May 30, 1912.

“I Will Pour Out My Spirit”

10 What promise of divine help is given to God’s people? Acts 2:17–20.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 54.

11 In order to receive the Holy Spirit’s power, what must we do? Zechariah 10:1. (See James 5:7, 8.)

NOTE: “We are called to proclaim the special truths for this time. For all this the outpouring of the Spirit is essential. We should pray for it. The Lord expects us to ask Him. We have not been wholehearted in this work.” Testimonies to Ministers, 511, 512.

“‘Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.’ Do not rest satisfied that in the ordinary course of the season, rain will fall. Ask for it. The growth and perfection of the seed rests not with the husbandman. God alone can ripen the harvest. But man’s cooperation is required. God’s work for us demands the action of our mind, the exercise of our faith. We must seek His favors with the whole heart if the showers of grace are to come to us. We should improve every opportunity of placing ourselves in the channel of blessing. Christ has said, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst.’ The convocations of the church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies of the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are God’s appointed opportunities for giving the early and the latter rain.…Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of grace may fall upon us. At every meeting we attend our prayers should ascend, that at this very time God will impart warmth and moisture to our souls. As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain. If we pray for the blessing in faith, we shall receive it as God has promised.” Testimonies to Ministers, 508, 509.

12 What was the reaction of many when the Holy Spirit was first poured out? Acts 2:12, 13.

NOTE: “Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” Testimonies to Ministers, 507.

“Those who make no decided effort, but simply wait for the Holy Spirit to compel them to action, will perish in darkness. You are not to sit still and do nothing in the work of God. The Southern Watchman, December 1, 1903.

“Are we hoping to see the whole church revived? That time will never come. There are persons in the church who are not converted, and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 122.

Bible Study Guides – “Through the Power of the Holy Ghost”

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August 27 – September 2, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26.

STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 250–256.

INTRODUCTION: “There is no limit to the usefulness of those who put self to one side, make room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts, and live lives wholly consecrated to God, enduring the necessary discipline imposed by the Lord without complaining or fainting by the way. If they will not faint at the rebuke of the Lord, and become hardhearted and stubborn, the Lord will teach both old and young, hour by hour, day by day. He longs to reveal His salvation to the children of men; and if His chosen people will remove the obstructions, He will pour forth the waters of salvation in abundant streams through human channels.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 409, 410.

“Ye Shall Receive Power”

1 What is needed by the church to prepare it for its mission? Acts 1:8, first part.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 31.

2 What work has been entrusted to the Holy Spirit? John 16:6,7.

NOTE: “The Holy Spirit’s part of the work has been defined by our Saviour. He says, ‘He will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement.’ The Holy Spirit is the convicter, and sanctifier as well. As none can repent of their sins until they are convicted, the necessity of uniting the Spirit with us in our labor to reach the fallen is apparent. All of our human abilities will be exercised in vain unless we are united to the heavenly intelligences. It is through the lack of a knowledge of the vitalizing truth, and the corrupting influence of error, that men are fallen so low, sunk in the depths of sinful degradation. Angels and men are to work in harmony to teach the truth of God to those who are unlearned therein, that they may be set free from the bonds of sin. It is the truth alone that makes men free.” Australasian Union Conference Record, April 1, 1898.

3 What kind of person is best fitted to do God’s work? Luke 1:15; Acts 4:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 6:3; Acts 9:17; Acts 11:24.

NOTE: “The grace of God takes men as they are, and works as an educator, using every principle on which an all-sided education depends. The steady influence of the grace of God trains the soul after Christ’s methods, and every fierce passion, every defective trait of character, is worked upon the molding influence of the Spirit of Christ, until the man has a new motive power, and becomes filled with the Holy Spirit of God, after the likeness of the divine similitude.” Healthful Living, 300, 301.

“God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to its power. Those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts; when they repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit, places them in the highest positions of trust, and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His boundless mercy. Provision is made by God Himself for every soul that turns to the Lord, to receive His immediate cooperation. The Holy Spirit becomes His efficiency. It is the Spirit’s power that we need. This can do more for us in one minute than we can ever accomplish by talking. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train.” My Life Today, 47.

“Having Then Gifts Differing According to the Grace that is Given to Us”

4 After He ascended to heaven, what did Christ give His church to fit it for its work? Ephesians 4:8–13.

NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 4, 618.

5 What work of preparation is needed in order to receive spiritual gifts? Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1; Acts 5:32.

NOTE: “Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ.” Testimonies to Ministers, 507.

6 Will all receive the same gift? 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8–11; 17–19; 29–30.

NOTE: It has become common in some Christian groups to claim that all should receive an experience called “the baptism of the spirit.” The evidence for this experience is said to be “the gift of tongues,” that is, the practice of glossolalia. (See Great Controversy, 464.)

“He Will Guide You into all Truth”

7 What precious promise of guidance did the Lord give? John 16:13.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 52.

8 What other important work will the Holy Spirit do for God’s people? John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13.

NOTE: “At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.…The Comforter is called ‘the Spirit of truth.’ His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood.… Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart.” The Faith I Live By, 56.

“The Spirit Suffered Them Not”

9 How did the Holy Spirit choose the appropriate people for God’s work? Acts 13:1–4.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 161–163.

10 What other examples of the Holy Spirit’s leadership of the church’s work is given? Acts 16:6–10; Acts 8:26, 39.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 672.

“Holy Men of God Spake as They Were Moved by the Holy Ghost”

11 How does the Holy Spirit communicate with the church? 2 Peter 1:21.

NOTE: “When the Bible is made the study book, with earnest supplication for the Spirit’s guidance, and with a full surrender of the heart to be sanctified through the truth, all that Christ has promised will be accomplished. The result of such Bible study will be well-balanced minds. The understanding will be quickened, the sensibilities aroused. The conscience will become sensitive; the sympathies and sentiments will be purified; a better moral atmosphere will be created; and new power to resist temptation will be imparted. Teachers and students will become active and earnest in the work of God.” Counsels to Teachers, Parents and Students, 357.

12 What promises are we given that the Holy Spirit will provide the words needed by God’s people? Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11, 12.

NOTE: “The servants of Christ are to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial for their faith. Their preparation is to be made day by day, in treasuring up in their hearts the precious truths of God’s Word, in feeding upon the teaching of Christ, and through prayer strengthening their faith; then, when brought into trial, the Holy Spirit will bring to their remembrance the very truths that will reach the hearts of those who shall come to hear. God will flash the knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures, into their memory at the very time when it is needed.” Maranatha, 255. See also Christ’s Object Lessons, 139.

Bible Study Guides – “I Am the Door”

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October 22-28, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9.

STUDY HELP: Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 430, 431.

INTRODUCTION: “Christ is the door to the fold of God. Through this door all His children, from the earliest times, have found entrance. In Jesus, as shown in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelation of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples, and in the miracles wrought for the sons of men, they have beheld ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29), and through Him they are brought within the fold of His grace.” Desire of Ages. 477.

“None Other Name”

1 How is the entrance to the sanctuary courtyard described? Exodus 27:16.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 347.

2 How many entrances were there to the courtyard? Exodus 38:9–18.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 477, 478.

3 How are the two veils described which provide entrance to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place? Exodus 26:36, 31.

NOTE: These colors, the blue, the purple the scarlet, together with the white of the fine twined linen, were used repeatedly in the sanctuary and in the vestments for the high priest. See also Exodus 26:1, 28:6–15.

“The door to the outer court, the door to the Holy Place and the door to the Most Holy Place were all in the same colors: blue, scarlet and purple. Jesus was the Door to all three phases of the sanctuary services. Jesus was the Door that led into the courtyard where the sacrifices took place. Jesus was the Door that led into the intercessory chamber, and Jesus was the Door that led into the Most Holy Place, which was also the judgment room. Jesus is the only Door to salvation.” Robert Taylor, The Censer Still Burns, 27.

“A Ribband of Blue”

4 What significance was the color blue to have for God’s people and how were they constantly to be reminded of its meaning? Numbers 15:37–40.

NOTE: “Note that a blue border was to be worn on the garments of every person. It was around the sleeve. Each opening or edge had a fringe of blue. And the blue, according to Numbers 15:39, was to remind them of the eternal law of the great God of Israel. Thus as they walked and looked to where their feet were going, they were reminded, by the blue, to walk in the straight and narrow path. Whenever they stretched forth the hand, the blue hem was a reminder to only take or touch or handle what was in accordance with the law. The keeping of the law was a hedge to them that protected them from many evils and temptations. The blue border on their garment reminded them of their obligation to the law of God.” Robert Taylor, The Censer Still Burns, 21.

N.B. The blue border would also have been about their necks, reminding them that their lips, their eyes, their ears, their minds were also to remember the law of God.

5 What was God’s purpose in giving His people the law? Deuteronomy 5:29, 33; 6:24, 25.

NOTE: “Christ came to the world with the accumulated love of eternity. Sweeping away the exactions which had encumbered the law of God, He showed that the law is a law of love, an expression of the Divine Goodness. He showed that in obedience to its principles is involved the happiness of mankind, and with it the stability, the very foundation and framework, of human society. So far from making arbitrary requirements, God’s law is given to men as a hedge, a shield. Whoever accepts its principles is preserved from evil. Fidelity to God involves fidelity to man. Thus the law guards the rights, the individuality, of every human being. It restrains the superior from oppression, and the subordinate from disobedience. It ensures man’s well being, both for this world and for the world to come. To the obedient it is the pledge of eternal life, for it expresses the principles that endure forever.” Education, 76, 77.

“Though Your Sins be as Scarlet”

6 Of what does the color scarlet remind us? Isaiah 1:18.

NOTE: “When we see that there are defects in our characters, we must be zealous and repent and reform; for if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Scripture declares that God will not hear us. Christ has given us an invitation full of mercy. He says, ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ There is nothing worse than a scarlet sin except the sin that can have no forgiveness in this life or in the life to come.” Signs of the Times, March 10, 1890.

7 What other significance does the color red have for us? 1 John 1:7. (Compare 2 Corinthians 5:21.)

NOTE: “I am so grateful today that we have a living Saviour. There are many who go about as mournfully as though Christ were still in Joseph’s tomb with a great stone rolled before the door. Our hearts should be full of hope and joy, and we should be able to say with grateful tongues, ‘Christ is risen, and is at the right hand of God to make intercession for us. He has carried His blood into the sanctuary, and will cleanse us from every sin.’” Signs of the Times, August 29, 1892.

“And They Clothed Him with Purple”

8 What was the significance of the color purple? Mark 15:17-18. (Compare Judges 8:26; Esther 8:15; Luke 16:19.)

NOTE: “At the suggestion of Herod, a crown was now plaited from a vine bearing sharp thorns, and this was placed upon the sacred brow of Jesus; and an old tattered purple robe, once the garment of a king, was placed upon His noble form, while Herod and the Jewish priests encouraged the insults and cruelty of the mob. Jesus was then placed upon a large block, which was derisively called a throne, an old reed was placed in His hand as a scepter, and, amid satanic laughter, curses, and jeers, the rude throng bowed to Him mockingly as to a king. Occasionally some murderous hand snatched the reed that had been placed in His hand, and struck Him on the head with it, forcing the thorns into His temples, and causing the blood to flow down His face and beard.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 138.

Purple is produced by combining red and blue. So Christ is fitted to be our King since He is not only the Law-giver but shed His precious blood that we might be reconciled to God.

9 When will Christ be given His kingdom and dominion? Daniel 7:13, 14.

NOTE: “The blue is the standard or the law of the great God of Israel. The red, or the scarlet, symbolizes the life and the death of Jesus in our behalf. Because Jesus upheld the law, because He lived and died in our behalf, the kingdom of the redeemed is given into His hands. He becomes our King throughout eternity. He wears purple.…The door represents Jesus and His standard. What a lesson, what a wonderful revelation it was when Jesus said, ‘I am the door.’ John 10:9.” Robert Taylor, The Censer Still Burns, 27.

“Fine Twined Linen”

10 Of what material were the high priest’s vestments made? Exodus 28:39–42.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, page 33.

11 What is the symbolism of white linen? Revelation 19:7, 8. Compare Revelation 3:18.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 523, 524.

“Arrayed in Purple and Scarlet”

12 By contrast with the colors of sanctuary, what color is missing in the description of the Woman of Revelation 17? Revelation 17:4.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 51, 52, 65.

13 When men teach others to disregard the Law of God, what is it time for the Lord to do? Psalm 119:126. Compare Romans 3:31.

NOTE: “It is ever the purpose of Satan to make void the law of God and to pervert the true meaning of the plan of salvation. Therefore he has originated the falsehood that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary’s cross was for the purpose of freeing men from the obligation of keeping the commandments of God. He has foisted upon the world the deception that God has abolished His constitution, thrown away His moral standard, and made void His holy and perfect law. Had He done this, at what terrible expense would it have been to Heaven! Instead of proclaiming the abolition of the law, Calvary’s cross proclaims in thunder tones its immutable and eternal character. Could the law have been abolished, and the government of heaven and earth and the unnumbered worlds of God maintained, Christ need not have died. The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah…. Christ came to magnify the law and to make it honorable.” Faith and Works, 118.

Bible Study Guides – “The Solemn Feasts of the LORD Our God”

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October 15-21, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8.

STUDY HELP: Patriarchs and Prophets, 537–542.

INTRODUCTION: “Anciently God commanded His people to assemble three times a year, and from every city from Dan to Beersheba the people came to these annual feasts. The one at the commencement of the season was to entreat God’s blessing upon their families, their lands, their flocks, and their herds. The one at the close of harvest was the crowning festal gathering, to bring their offerings to God.…Joy and rejoicing were there combined with the solemnities of a holy and sacred convocation.…Many sacrifices were made at these feasts; and this profusion of blood shed in connection with the harvest of thanksgiving was significant to them of the fact that even the bounties of the earth could come to them only through the cross of Calvary. By thus assembling and bringing their tithes into the treasury, they ever acknowledged the Lord to be the giver of all their blessings.” Review and Herald, July 10, 1879.

“Christ Our Passover is Sacrificed for Us”

1 What was the opening feast of the year? Leviticus 23:5, 6.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 277.

2 How did Paul explain the significance of the Passover? 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 278.

“The First Fruits of Them that Sleep”

3 What service followed the Passover Sabbath? Leviticus 23:10,11.

NOTE: “Christ was the first fruits of them that slept. This very scene, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, was observed in type by the Jews at one of their sacred feasts.…They came up to the Temple when the first fruits had been gathered in, and held a feast of thanksgiving. The first fruits of the harvest crop were sacredly dedicated to the Lord. That crop was not to be appropriated for the benefit of man. The first ripe fruit was dedicated as a thank offering to God. He was acknowledged as the Lord of the harvest. When the first heads of grain ripened in the field, they were carefully gathered, and when the people went up to Jerusalem, they were presented to the Lord, waving the ripened sheaf before Him as a thank offering. After this ceremony the sickle could be put to the wheat, and it could be gathered into sheaves.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1092.

4 How does Paul explain the fulfillment of the Feast of the First Fruits? 1 Corinthians 15:20.

NOTE: “Christ arose from the dead as the first fruits of those that slept. He was the antitype of the wave sheaf, and His resurrection took place on the very day when the wave sheaf was to be presented before the Lord. For more than a thousand years this symbolic ceremony had been performed. From the harvest fields the first heads of ripened grain were gathered, and when the people went up to Jerusalem to the Passover, the sheaf of first fruits was waved as a thank offering before the Lord. Not until this was presented could the sickle be put to the grain, and it be gathered into sheaves. The sheaf dedicated to God represented the harvest. So Christ the first fruits represented the great spiritual harvest to be gathered for the kingdom of God. His resurrection is the type and pledge of the resurrection of all the righteous dead.” The Faith I Live By, 180.

“Feast of Weeks”

5 What feast followed fifty days later to celebrate the end of the spring harvest? Deuteronomy 16:9, 10.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 540.

6 In what wonderful way did the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, reach its fulfillment? Acts 2:1–4, 41–47.

NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 44, 45.

“The seed had been sown by the greatest Teacher the world had ever known. For three and a half years the Son of God had sojourned in the land of Judea, proclaiming the message of the gospel of truth and working with mighty signs and wonders. The seed had been sown, and after His ascension the great ingathering took place. More were converted by one sermon on the day of Pentecost than were converted during all the years of Christ’s ministry. So mightily will God work when men give themselves to the control of the Spirit.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1055.

“Blowing of Trumpets”

7 What ceremony marked the beginning of the autumn feasts? Leviticus 23:24.

NOTE: “To prepare the camp of Israel for [the Day of Atonement], ten days prior to this special occasion a solemn service was conducted when the trumpet was blown and a warning sounded. The preceding service, observed on the first day of the seventh month, was a holy convocation. It was to be regarded as a sabbath. The people were prohibited from performing secular labor on the first day of the seventh month. An offering must be presented to the Lord. Till the present day the orthodox Jew, in all parts of the world, calls the ten days prior to the Day of Atonement, from the first day to the tenth day of this same month ‘the ten days of repentance.’ These are preparatory days to the solemn Day of Atonement.” F. C. Gilbert, Messiah in His Sanctuary, 60, 61.

8 How does the prophet Joel convey the message of the Feast of Trumpets? Joel 2:1, 12–18, Compare Amos 4:12.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 311.

“Then Shall the Sanctuary be Cleansed”

9 What was the purpose of the Day of Atonement? Leviticus 16:30, 31.

NOTE: “In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life, should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart.…There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another.…Every one must be tested, and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, . . . ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ Isaiah 43:25.” Maranatha, 93.

10 What decision is made concerning those who refuse to afflict their souls? Leviticus 23:29.

NOTE: “Sins that are not confessed will never be forgiven; the name of him who thus rejects the grace of God will be blotted out of the book of life. The time is at hand when every secret thing shall be brought into judgement, and then there will be many confessions made that will astonish the world. The secrets of all hearts will be revealed. The confession of sin will be most public. The sad part of it is that confession then made will be too late to benefit the wrongdoer or to save others from deception. It only testifies that his condemnation is just.…You may now close the book of your remembrance in order to escape confessing your sins, but when the judgement shall sit and the books shall be opened, you cannot close them. The recording angel has testified that which is true. All that you have tried to conceal and forget is registered, and will be read to you when it is too late for wrongs to be righted.…Unless your sins are cancelled, they will testify against you at that day.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.

See also Testimonies vol. 5, 331.

“To Keep the Feast of Tabernacles”

11 What feast closed the annual round? Deuteronomy 16:13–15.

NOTE: “The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated to commemorate the time when the Hebrews dwelt in tents during their sojourn in the wilderness. While this great festival lasted, the people were required to leave their houses and live in booths made of green branches of pine or myrtle. These leafy structures were sometimes erected on the tops of the houses, and in the streets, but oftener outside the walls of the city, in the valleys and along the hillsides. Scattered about in every direction, these green camps presented a very picturesque appearance. The feast lasted one week, and during all that time the temple was a festal scene of great rejoicing. There was the pomp of the sacrificial ceremonies; and the sound of music, mingled with hosannas, made the place jubilant.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 344.

12 To what great harvest does the Feast of Tabernacles look forward? Revelation 14:14–20. Compare Matthew 13:37–43; Joel 3:13 and Jeremiah 8:20.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 541.

Bible Study Guides – “Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary”

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October 8-14, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” Psalm 77:13.

STUDY HELP: Patriarchs and Prophets, 343–358.

INTRODUCTION: “God sought to impress Israel with the holiness of His character and requirements, and the exceeding guilt of transgression. But the people were slow to learn the lesson. Accustomed as they had been in Egypt to material representations of the Deity, and these of the most degrading nature, it was difficult for them to conceive of the existence or the character of the Unseen One. In pity for their weakness, God gave them a symbol of His presence. ‘Let them make Me a sanctuary,’ He said; ‘that I may dwell among them.’ Exodus 25:8. ” Education, 35.

“When I see the Blood, I Will Pass Over You”

1 What was the first sacred service introduced among the Israelites? Exodus 12:14–20.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 77.

2 Which homes were assured of deliverance from death? Exodus 12:7, 13.

NOTE: See Patriarchs and Prophets, 277.

“It is the Blood That Maketh an Atonement for the Soul”

3 What strict prohibition did God make regarding blood? Leviticus 17:10–14.

NOTE: “From the earliest times, man was prohibited from eating blood. When permission was given for man to eat flesh, the command was imperative that blood should not be eaten. ‘Flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.’ Genesis 9:4. Repeatedly Israel was forbidden the eating of blood. ‘Ye shall not eat anything with the blood.’ Leviticus 19:26. ‘Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.’ The eating of blood was so great a sin that the record states: ‘Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.’ Leviticus 7:27.…To this day the orthodox Jew refuses to eat any flesh with the blood.…The instruction to refrain from the eating of blood is carried over into the New Testament. The first general council convened by the apostles in Jerusalem commanded all the Christian churches to abstain from eating blood. Acts 15:20. This command was reinforced by the Holy Ghost. Verse 28. The precious blood of the Son of God, which was spilled in Gethsemane and shed on Calvary, made atonement for the soul of man. The blood of God’s son cleanseth from all sin. God desired that man should recognize the purpose of the blood.”
F. C. Gilbert, Messiah in His Sanctuary, 17, 18.

4 What is necessary for the remission of sins? Hebrews 9:22.

NOTE: “This has a special meaning for us. If it was necessary in ancient times for the unclean to be purified by the blood of sprinkling, how essential for those living in the perils of the last days, and exposed to the temptations of Satan, to have the blood of Christ applied to their hearts daily. ‘For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’” Testimonies, vol. 4, 123.

“After the Pattern”

5 What was Moses shown while he was on Mount Sinai with God? Exodus 25:8, 9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Numbers 8:4.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 413.

6 How much of the design for the sanctuary was shown to Moses by God? Exodus 36:1; Hebrews 8:5.

NOTE: “It was Christ who planned the arrangement for the first earthly tabernacle. He gave every specification in regard to the building of Solomon’s temple. The One who in His earthly life worked as a carpenter in the village of Nazareth was the heavenly architect who marked out the plan for the sacred building where His name was to be honored.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 349.

“The Lord demands uprightness in the smallest as well as the largest matters. Those who are accepted at last as members of the heavenly court will be men and women who here on earth have sought to carry out the Lord’s will in every particular, who have sought to put the impress of heaven upon their earthly labors. In order that the earthly tabernacle might represent the heavenly, it must be perfect in all its parts, and it must be in the smallest detail like the pattern in the heavens. So it is with the characters of those who are finally accepted in the sight of Heaven.” In Heavenly Places, 154.

“Thy Way, O Lord, is in the Sanctuary”

7 What was the purpose of the sanctuary and its symbols? Hebrews 4:2.

NOTE: “The gospel of Christ reflects glory upon the Jewish age. It sheds light upon the whole Jewish economy, and gives significance to the ceremonial law. The tabernacle, or temple, of God on earth was a pattern of the original in Heaven. All the ceremonies of the Jewish law were prophetic, typical of mysteries in the plan of redemption. The rites and ceremonies of the law were given by Christ Himself, who, enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, was the leader of the hosts of Israel; and this law should be treated with great respect, for it is sacred. Even after it was no longer to be observed, Paul presented it before the Jews in its true position and value, showing its place in the plan of redemption and its relation to the work of Christ; and the great apostle pronounces this law glorious, worthy of its divine Originator.” Signs of the Times, July 29, 1886.

8 How does Paul show that the sanctuary prefigures even the saving work of Christ in heaven? Hebrews 9:21–24.

NOTE: “I was also shown a sanctuary upon the earth containing two apartments. It resembled the one in heaven, and I was told that it was a figure of the heavenly. The furniture of the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary was like that in the first apartment of the heavenly. The veil was lifted, and I looked into the Holy of Holies and saw that the furniture was the same as in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. The priest ministered in both apartments of the earthly. He went daily into the first apartment, but entered the most holy only once a year, to cleanse it from the sins which had been conveyed there. I saw that Jesus ministered in both apartments of the heavenly sanctuary. The priests entered into the earthly with the blood of an animal as an offering for sin. Christ entered into the heavenly sanctuary by the offering of His own blood. The earthly priests were removed by death; therefore they could not continue long; but Jesus was a priest forever. Through the sacrifices and offerings brought to the earthly sanctuary, the children of Israel were to lay hold of the merits of a Saviour to come. And in the wisdom of God the particulars of this work were given us that we might, by looking to them, understand the work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.” Early Writings, page 252, 253.

“Perfected Forever”

9 What could the sacrifices of the earthly sanctuary never achieve? Hebrews 10:1, 11.

NOTE: “Before Christ came, a ceremonial holiness could be obtained by offering the blood of bulls and of goats; but these sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience. They were but a representation of Christ, the great sacrifice. The substance of all the sacrifices and offerings, He came to this world to do God’s will by offering Himself. He came as the world’s Redeemer, to stand at the head of humanity. The Holy Spirit comes to man through Christ. We are given a decided testimony regarding the value of Christ’s offering. God’s word declares, ‘By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’ It was a whole and entire sacrifice that was made for us.” Review and Herald, July 25, 1899.

10 By contrast, what work does the sacrifice of Christ do for those who are sanctified? Hebrews 10:14.

NOTE: “How vastly different was the true High Priest from the false and corrupted Caiaphas. In comparison with Caiaphas, Christ stands out pure and undefiled, without a taint of sin. ‘By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified’ [Hebrews 10:14]. This enabled Him to proclaim on the cross with a clear and triumphant voice, ‘It is finished.’ Christ entered in once into the holy place, ‘having obtained eternal redemption for us’ [Hebrews 9:12]. ‘Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them’ [Hebrews 7:25]. Christ glorified not Himself in being made High Priest. God gave Him His appointment to the priesthood. He was to be an example to all the human family. He qualified Himself to be, not only the representative of the race, but their Advocate, so that every soul if he will may say, I have a Friend at court. He is a High Priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.” Manuscript Release, vol. 12, 392, 393.

“Our Great High Priest”

11 What important qualification did Christ need in order to be our High Priest? Hebrews 2:17, 18; Hebrews 5:1, 2.

NOTE: “Adam was in the perfection of manhood, the noblest of the Creator’s works. He was in the image of God, but a little lower than the angels. What a contrast the second Adam presented as He entered the gloomy wilderness to cope with Satan single-handed. Since the fall, the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and sinking lower in the scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ’s advent to the earth. In order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where he was. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and degeneracy of the race. He who knew no sin became sin for us. He humiliated Himself to the lowest depths of human woe, that He might be qualified to reach man and bring him up from the degradation in which sin had plunged him. ‘For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.’” Confrontation, 32, 33.

12 How does the knowledge of having such a High Priest affect our relationship to God? Hebrews 4:15, 16; Hebrews 10:19, 22.

NOTE: “The throne of grace is itself the highest attraction because occupied by One who permits us to call Him Father. But God did not deem the principle of salvation complete while invested only with His own love. By His appointment He has placed at His altar an Advocate clothed with our nature. As our Intercessor, His office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who have received Him. To them He gives power, by virtue of His own merits, to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ’s friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His Son.” God’s Amazing Grace, 68.