March 24-30, 2002
MEMORY VERSE: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
STUDY HELP: Selected Messages, Book 1, 389–400; The Great Controversy, 673–678.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The Christian’s rewards are everlasting!
INTRODUCTION: “Not one who is earnest and persevering will fail of success. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. The weakest saint, as well as the strongest, may wear the crown of immortal glory. All may win who, through the power of divine grace, bring their lives into conformity to the will of Christ.…Every act casts its weight into the scale that determines life’s victory or defeat. And the reward given to those who win will be in proportion to the energy and earnestness with which they have striven.” Acts of the Apostles, 313, 314.
Victory over Sin
1 What has God promised to do for us in every temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:13.
NOTE: “Temptation is not sin. Jesus was holy and pure; yet He was tempted in all points as we are, but with a strength and power that man will never be called upon to endure. In His successful resistance He has left us a bright example, that we should follow His steps. If we are self-confident or self-righteous we shall be left to fall under the power of temptation; but if we look to Jesus and trust in Him we call to our aid a power that has conquered the foe on the field of battle, and with every temptation He will make a way of escape.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 426. See also Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 960.
2 What are we promised we, like Jesus, can do by God’s grace? Revelation 3:21.
NOTE: “Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They must agonize on their knees before God for divine power. Christ came to be our example, and to make known to us that we may be partakers of the divine nature. How?—By having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust. Satan did not gain the victory over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the soul of the Redeemer. He did not touch the head though he bruised the heel. Christ, by His own example, made it evident that man may stand in integrity. Men may have a power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 409. See also Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 929.
3 If we are abiding in Christ and allowing God’s Word to abide in us, what will we not be doing? 1 John 3:5-9.
NOTE: “It is genuine faith that says, I know that I have committed sin, but that Jesus has pardoned my sin; and hereafter I will resist temptation in and through His might. ‘Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.’ He has an abiding principle in the soul, that enables him to overcome temptation. ‘Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.’ God has power to keep the soul who is in Christ, when that soul is under temptation. ‘Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.’ That is, every one who is a true believer is sanctified through the truth, in life and character.” Sons and Daughters of God, 297.
Jesus’ Presence in Every Trial
4 What three things does God promise He will do for us in every time of trouble? Isaiah 41:10.
NOTE: “Never is the tempest-tried soul more dearly loved by His Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the truth’s sake. ‘I will love him,’ Christ said, ‘and will manifest Myself to him.’ John 14:21. When for the truth’s sake the believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ stands by his side. When he is confined within prison walls, Christ manifests Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love. When he suffers death for Christ’s sake, the Saviour says to him, They may kill the body, but they cannot hurt the soul.” Acts of the Apostles, 85.
5 Where has Jesus promised to be with us? Joshua 1:9.
NOTE: “All who are seeking to work in harmony with God’s plan of education will have His sustaining grace, His continual presence, His keeping power. To everyone He says: ‘Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee.’ ‘I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ Joshua 1:9, 5.” Ministry of Healing, 405.
“Talk of Jesus, and let self go; let it be submerged in Christ, and let this be the language of your heart: ‘I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.’ Jesus will be to you a present help in every time of need. He will not leave you to battle with the powers of darkness alone.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 321.
6 How does Solomon describe the close relationship Jesus has with those who love Him? Proverbs 18:24.
NOTE: “Through all your trials…you have had a never-failing Friend, who has said, ‘I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ But how often is the Lord neglected for the society of others, and for things of no value!…We dare not let His name languish on our lips, and His love and memory die out of our hearts. ‘Well,’ says the cold, formal professor, ‘this is making Christ too much like a human being;’ but the Word of God warrants us to have these very ideas. It is the want of these practical, definite views of Christ, that hinders so many from having a genuine experience in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.…Communion with Christ—how unspeakably precious! Such communion it is our privilege to enjoy, if we will seek it. The everlasting assurance shall be yours that you have a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Sons and Daughters of God, 167.
Resurrection of the Righteous
7 When He returns, what miracle will Jesus perform for His saints? 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
NOTE: “Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, ‘Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.’ Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, ‘Alleluia!’ as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.” Early Writings, 16.
8 What will be the experience of those raised in the first resurrection? Revelation 20:6.
NOTE: “‘There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust,’ ‘for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ But a distinction is made between the two classes that are brought forth. ‘All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.’ They who have been ‘accounted worthy’ of the resurrection of life, are ‘blessed and holy.’ ‘On such the second death hath no power.’ But those who have not, through repentance and faith, secured pardon, must receive the penalty of transgression. Said the angel, ‘Satan is the root, his children are the branches. They are now consumed root and branch. They have died an everlasting death. They are never to have a resurrection, and God will have a clean universe.’” Sons and Daughters of God, 367.
9 What will the resurrected righteous put on at the second coming of Christ? 1 Corinthians 15:51–53.
NOTE: “The earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping saints. They responded to the call and came forth clothed with glorious immortality, crying, ‘Victory, victory, over death and the grave! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ Then the living saints and the risen ones raised their voices in a long, transporting shout of victory. Those bodies that had gone down into the grave bearing the marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and vigor. The living saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and caught up with the risen ones, and together they meet their Lord in the air.” Early Writings, 287. See also Sons and Daughters of God, 359.
“Heaven Will be Worth it All”
10 What will the redeemed saints nevermore have to experience? Revelation 21:4.
NOTE: “The earth promised to the meek will not be like this, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse. ‘We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’ ‘There shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.’ 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:3. There is no disappointment, no sorrow, no sin, no one who shall say, I am sick; there are no burial trains, no mourning, no death, no partings, no broken hearts; but Jesus is there, peace is there. There ‘they shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.’ Isaiah 49:10.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 17, 18. See also Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 988.
11 Where has Jesus prepared a place for every redeemed saint? John 14:1–3.
NOTE: “Long have we waited for our Saviour’s return. But nonetheless sure is the promise. Soon we shall be in our promised home.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 254.
“A fear of making the saints’ inheritance seem too material has led many to spiritualize away the very truths which lead us to look upon the new earth as our home. Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare mansions for them. Those who accept the teachings of God’s Word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode.” The Story of Redemption, 430.
12 How does Paul sum up the indescribable glories of what God has prepared for them that love Him? 1 Corinthians 2:9.
NOTE: “Paul had a view of heaven, and in discoursing on the glories there, the very best thing he could do was to not try to describe them. He tells us that eye had not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him. So you may put your imagination to the stretch, you may try to the very best of your abilities to take in and consider the eternal weight of glory, and yet your finite senses, faint and weary with the effort, cannot grasp it, for there is an infinity beyond. It takes all of eternity to unfold the glories and bring out the precious treasures of the Word of God.” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1107.
“Heaven will be cheap enough, if we obtain it through suffering. We must deny self all along the way, die to self daily, let Jesus alone appear, and keep His glory continually in view.” Early Writings, 67.