overcome

Keys to the Storehouse – Lift that Shield

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Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16.

“The shield which covered Joseph’s heart was the fear of God, which caused him to be faithful and just to his master, and true to God. … The grace of God he called to his aid, and then fought with the tempter. He nobly says, ‘How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God’ [Genesis 39:9]. He came off conqueror.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 145.

When temptation comes, is your conviction the same as was Joseph? “It is not necessary that anyone should yield to the temptations of Satan and thus violate his conscience and grieve the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 574.

Joseph lifted that shield against the devil’s temptations. He had a steady, reliable allegiance to God and was not ashamed as he called to God for help. Is that shield covering your heart? Are you able to say: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth … . For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16, 17.

“From faith to faith” means that each time the shield of faith is exercised it gains strength in deflecting temptations. “You need ever to cultivate spirituality, because it is not natural for you to be heavenly-minded.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 520.

Take that shield, lift it up against those fiery darts and quench them—put the fire out. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego exercised amazing faith—they held their shield high as they chose allegiance to God over the threat of a fiery death! (See Daniel 3.)

To obtain eternal life, we must “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12.

Satan continually hurls his fiery darts of temptation in our direction, but they can only reach their target while we let our shields of faith down by not believing God is in control and is working everything out for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28, 29. Do you really believe that God is in control? Then, lift that shield of faith!

Remember:

  • Our shield is the first line of defense. “Above all, taking the shield of faith.”
  • When we allow doubt to creep in, our shield is lowered leaving vulnerability for the devil to make his onslaught.
  • Peter, while walking on water, became distracted by the waves. When his shield of faith went down, he started to sink. (Matthew 14:24–32.)
  • Lift that shield of faith against the enemy!

Heavenly Father, Equip me with the spiritual armor needed for the same spiritual battle fought by my brothers, Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Give me strength to lift my shield high to deflect all of the fiery darts of Satan. I want to be part of the Lord’s army, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it truly is Thy power unto salvation to everyone that believes. It is Thy righteousness revealed in us from faith to faith. Amen.

Inspiration – Trial of our Faith

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In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted by one another. The temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for he knows that his time is short and that very soon every case will be decided, either for life or for death. It is no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has shown me that His grace is sufficient for all our trials (II Corinthians 12:9); and although they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation and through His grace come off victorious.

If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:11). When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh, that all could see these things in their true light and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of His might.

God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian and to be owned and approved of God. The Lord has shown me some who profess the present truth, whose lives do not correspond with their profession. They have the standard of piety altogether too low, and they come far short of Bible holiness. Some engage in vain and unbecoming conversation, and others give way to the risings of self. We must not expect to please ourselves, live and act like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the company of those who are of the world, and reign with Christ in glory.

We must be partakers of Christ’s sufferings here if we would share in His glory hereafter (I Peter 4:13). If we seek our own interest, how we can best please ourselves, instead of seeking to please God and advance His precious, suffering cause, we shall dishonor God and the holy cause we profess to love. We have but a little space of time left in which to work for God. Nothing should be too dear to sacrifice for the salvation of the scattered and torn flock of Jesus. Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now will soon be gathered home to share a rich reward and possess the new kingdom forever and ever.

Oh, let us live wholly for the Lord and show by a well-ordered life and godly conversation that we have been with Jesus and are His meek and lowly followers. We must work while the day lasts, for when the dark night of trouble and anguish comes, it will be too late to work for God. Jesus is in His holy temple and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of faults and sins and will pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy will be unjust and filthy still (Revelation 22:11); for then there will be no Priest in the sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father’s throne. Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath must be done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.

Early Writings, 46, 47.

Keys to the Storehouse – Trial of Our Faith

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Spiritual eyesight is needed to recognize that our trials are just temptations and sorrows from Satan to turn our eyes away from Jesus onto self! It is his goal to little by little break our endurance.

In Early Writings, 46, Ellen White says, “If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next.”

On the contrary, those who do not gain that victory sink and grow weaker!

“But if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will.” Ibid.

I pray that

  • you do not want to give way to Satan’s temptation.
  • you do not want to be his captive.
  • you do not want to grow weaker and weaker.
  • you do not want to be a little puppet on his string, doing the things that lead you away from Jesus into the shadows of darkness with Satan.

Stand up! Be strong and of a good courage (Joshua 1:9)!

Listen, put “on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:11). When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy.” Ibid.

Pray for your eyes to be opened to see these things in their true light, and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Move forward, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10)!

Remember, “All wrong-doing is forsaking the path where Jesus leads, turning aside to the crooked ways of darkness.” The Signs of the Times, July 28, 1881.

When temptations and trials rush in upon us, go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He Who keeps you and never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4) hears the desperate cries of His children and will answer.

“A divine Guide goes before the faithful, encouraging them with His voice, aiding them with His hand, and they need never mistake the way.” Ibid. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

God says to you, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. … I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Joshua 1:9, 5.

Father, I do not enjoy being a captive and puppet of Satan. I come to You asking for grace and power to overcome the power of my enemy and to stand in the light of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer, victorious over the temptations and trials. I want to walk in that pathway of victory, heading homeward. Amen.

The Latter Rain

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The latter rain is a most important topic for our generation, because Jesus Christ must come soon. With so many personal as well as world problems the only answer is the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “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. The only thing holding back Christ’s coming is our witness to all nations. I would like to devote my whole life and all that I have to hasten that day.

According to Colossians 1:23, the apostle Paul said that this gospel has been preached to the whole world. That was written 30 or 40 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of persecution, the early Christians had been scattered, and the gospel of the kingdom was preached in the whole world; truth was available for any seeking soul.

A life witness, powered by the unction of the Holy Spirit, is what we need. We live in a very unique generation with technology capable of communicating information worldwide in seconds. Even countries that were previously difficult to evangelize now have the opportunity to hear truthful messages via Internet broadcasting from many ministries.

China is now producing their own programs that are having a tremendous impact on many people in that country. The Lord has convicted my heart to work for the Korean and Chinese-speaking people for whom our ministry is responsible. God has been working tremendous miracles through Light for Life Ministry. It is no human achievement, but purely the work of holy angels and the Spirit. More than 20,000 Sunday church pastors in the United States are regularly receiving materials, including magazines and DVDs. Up to 100,000 DVDs and CDs are being sent to China every month. Most of these are targeting Sunday church people. It is nothing short of a miracle that this amount of literature can be distributed. The last events of this earth are going to happen very rapidly, and this world’s history is not going to last much longer.

With so many of the devil’s sophistries, erroneous doctrines and teachings, many human hearts are becoming depraved. But the power of the Holy Spirit is breaking through the darkness to reach those whose hearts are yearning, and there are many people who are really seeking for the truth.

“To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Jesus Christ.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 20.

This promise is for all who claim to be followers of Jesus. But what does it mean to empty ourselves? It is not to become a programmed robot or machine without personal characteristics or personality, but to be willing to dethrone self from our life and allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and feelings in righteousness.

We are born with a sinful, selfish nature, and the only thing we can do is to have the desire to be born again and be willing to respond to God’s Spirit and daily receive new dew from heaven which will imbue with new motivations, new thoughts, new desires and new plans. This is available right now, not tomorrow, not months from now, but today! “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If you do, there is no love of the Father in you.” I John 2:15, literal translation. Pray today to be given new motivation, new desires, and Jesus will answer your prayer.

There is not much time to waste. Our life duty is to hasten the coming of Jesus Christ. The same measure of the Spirit given to Jesus—without measure—is promised to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered.

To surrender is just an empty expression to many Christians. We talk about it often, but what difference does it make when trials come or when a problem arises? How does it make a difference when we interact with other people in our jobs or businesses? How does being surrendered to Christ affect our plans and conversation when around those who do not know the truth of the Three Angels’ Messages?

God allows us to face the stumbling blocks of troubles and trials to expose the hidden things of the heart. These trials expose the true heart desire and what we are willing to surrender for the cause of God’s work, and whether or not we are willing to pay any cost to follow Jesus Christ all the way. To walk the narrow road surrendering self is not a natural desire, but one that comes only when the heart is purified.

Would you, like the widow who gave her last mite, give your entire savings if the Lord required it? What if Jesus asked you to devote all of your talents to God, even though you could make millions of dollars with them, what would you do? If we had been willing to empty ourselves of pride and surrender all to God to be used as a living testimony, a living vessel and instrument to hasten Jesus Christ’s coming, He could have come a long time ago and we would be in heaven.

In my travels throughout many different parts of the world, I have seen many people suffering. There is much sorrow and sadness. It hurts my heart deeply when I think of some of our leaders who are still locked in jail. Many brothers and sisters in China are working under the pressure of persecution every day. Many people sacrifice themselves and their finances to print and distribute materials and books to people to hasten Jesus’ coming.

The latter rain experience is the anointing of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:37, 38.

After Jesus was baptized, He was anointed for His messiahship by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The world, the angels and the whole universe were witness when the Father said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. Jesus’ sole mission was to separate humanity from their sins. The latter rain experience is an anointing, it is a commission to a special task, a sealing of the Father to give the final message to the world.

Consider the anointing of John the Baptist. “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15. He was filled with the Holy Ghost even when He was in His mother’s womb! He was chosen, delegated, commissioned, anointed for a special task. That is the purpose of the latter rain. Are you ready to receive this anointing and have a special commission, or task, coming down from heaven? Our Father is yearning and heaven is yearning for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to return for His people.

Heaven is anxious for a people to be ready for this commission. “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16, 17.

The Lord gave me a new kind of life after my open-heart surgery. I heard from my doctors that my chance of survival was very dismal, yet the Lord gave me perfect recovery. I knew immediately that I was given this new opportunity and new life to start preaching again. I knew that Light for Life Ministry had a last portion to accomplish by the power and unction of the Holy Spirit to prepare a people to receive the latter rain and to go out and become harvesters.

Friends, it is time to bring in the harvesters. It is time to bring in the eleventh hour workers, so they can be ready to receive the latter rain power that will empower them to go out and give the loud cry so the work can be finished and we can go home.

God has a plan for your life just as John the Baptist was chosen and anointed from his mother’s womb. Your life has been destined; God has called you for a special task. We call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists, and we are a people of prophecy with a special commission to finish the work of the gospel so we can go home.

I make this appeal to you with all my heart. As John the Baptist was called to prepare the way before the Messiah, we are chosen to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us.” Luke 1:76–78.

We are to prepare people for a Most Holy Place cleansing experience by helping them understand and receive righteousness by faith, so they can experience a continuous overcoming of sin. I yearn for the day that God’s people will stand together as a square on the sea of glass with palm branches in their hands praising God. This is the true spiritual Israel, the overcomers. Verse 79 says, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

“The soul of the prophet [John the Baptist], emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour’s glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, ‘He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. … For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him’ (John 3:31).” The Desire of Ages, 181.

Our experience is to be the same as Christ who could say, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” John 5:30. To Him it is declared, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity: therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Psalm 45:7. This experience of Jesus Christ should be the experience of all believers. When this experience comes, we will be endowed from heaven with the Spirit of God without measure. That is the latter rain.

Many voices are heard saying that to receive the latter rain we should be kind, merciful and more meek, being careful of our words and actions and do more evangelistic work. Of course this would be the result, but most of all we should behold Jesus, empty ourselves of self and give our all for God for the salvation of humanity. All thoughts and desires must be captivated for that work. That is our work and my desire, to give all to Jesus. Nothing else is important in my life.

“So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure.” The Desire of Ages, 181. \

What a promise!

Mary, the mother of Jesus and her cousin, Elizabeth, were two godly mothers who surrendered themselves to God’s service and were given the honor of bearing their two special sons. An angel visited Mary to prepare her for her mission of bringing forth Jesus, and to convince her, she was told that her relative, Elizabeth, who was an old lady, had conceived a child, and it was in its sixth month. After those words, Mary submitted herself and said, “Be it unto me according to Thy word.” Luke 1:38.

Once she accepted God’s will to conceive the Son of God in her own womb, she stood up and went to Elizabeth’s house, and they stayed together there for three months. Their conversation during that time must have been on the miraculous working of God in their lives and the special mission they and their sons were to accomplish. Is this the subject of your conversations now? Are your thoughts on the Lord and what He has done and is about to do in the world?

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Early Writings, 71.

Every besetment, every possible sentiment we still have lingering in our sinful nature is to be overcome. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. When a glass is shaken, any dirt that has settled on the bottom will muddy the water. Are there any hidden sins in your life that need to be removed? They all must go, with all pride, in order to be ready and prepared to receive the latter rain. It will take a complete emptying of self! Our self-esteem should only be in our confidence in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. We should know our God and have the assurance of salvation and forgiveness.

Pride that desires the admiration of others must go. It is an emotion that blocks the Holy Spirit from flowing into the heart. Pride is a very dangerous enemy and was the cause of Lucifer’s rebellion against God, turning him into the devil.

The gift of righteousness by faith is available daily from Jesus to enable us to overcome sin. The Holy Spirit plants a renewed motivation every day, together with the power to respond to the call. That is the righteousness by faith experience.

In 1844, when the early Adventist believers expected Jesus to come, they prayed every morning. They would not eat their breakfast until they received the assurance that their sins were forgiven. That should be our experience today. We are so in need of the latter rain. It is the most crucial need at this time, for we must be about our Father’s business.

Light for Life Ministry is committed to work for the Chinese-speaking people. Today, one person out of every three in the world speaks Chinese. Please remember the work that we have undertaken and pray for us.

The latter rain is about to fall. If you plan on being part of this great work in the end time, now is the time to give it all; place all you have and all you are on the altar and become a burned offering acceptable to the Lord. Only when we die to self can God use us in a wonderful way. Let’s get ready so we can go home!

Pastor David Kang is the director of Light for Life United States Ministry operating out of Fort Lee, New Jersey. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” Pastor Kang may be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Bible Study Guides – Secrets to Victory – Gad and Asher

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August 4, 2013 – August 10, 2013

Key Text

“Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” Genesis 49:19.

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 3, 273–275; Our High Calling, 125.

Introduction

“Approach the most obstinate in a spirit of kindness and affection. Dip your words into the oil of grace, and let them flow forth from your lips in love.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1086.

1 GAD

  • How did Leah respond to Rachel’s idea to obtain children by her maid? Genesis 30:9. What principle must Christians always keep in mind? II Corinthians 10:12.

Note: “Everyone should realize how cruel is the spirit of envy, rivalry, distrust, faultfinding, and dissension.

“We call God our Father; we claim to be children of one family, and when there is a disposition to lessen the respect and influence of another to build up ourselves, we please the enemy and grieve Him whom we profess to follow. The tenderness and mercy that Jesus has revealed in His own precious life should be an example to us of the manner in which we should treat our fellow beings and especially those who are our brethren in Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 222.

  • What was declared concerning Gad? Genesis 30:10, 11; Deuteronomy 33:20. How are church workers especially warned against fostering a competitive spirit?

Note: “Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel.” The Desire of Ages, 179.

2 ASHER

  • What is written about Jacob and Zilpah’s second son? Genesis 30:12, 13; 49:20.
  • Describe one hallmark of this type of personality in its natural, unconverted state. Psalm 55:21.

Note: “Do not receive flattery, even in your religious life. Flattery is an art by which Satan lieth in wait to deceive and to puff up the human agent with high thoughts of himself.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 304.

“Give children but little notice. Let them learn to amuse themselves. Do not put them on exhibition before visitors as prodigies of wit or wisdom, but leave them as far as possible to the simplicity of their childhood. One great reason why so many children are forward, bold, and impertinent is they are noticed and praised too much, and their smart, sharp sayings repeated in their hearing. Endeavor not to censure unduly, nor to overwhelm with praise and flattery. Satan will all too soon sow evil seed in their young hearts, and you should not aid him in his work.” Child Guidance, 37, 38.

“We need to shun everything that would encourage pride and self-sufficiency; therefore we should beware of giving or receiving flattery or praise. It is Satan’s work to flatter. He deals in flattery as well as in accusing and condemnation. Thus he seeks to work the ruin of the soul. Those who give praise to men are used by Satan as his agents. Let the workers for Christ direct every word of praise away from themselves. Let self be put out of sight. Christ alone is to be exalted. ‘Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood’ (Revelation 1:5), let every eye be directed, and praise from every heart ascend.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 161, 162.

  • What is written about the deportment of the two sons of Zilpah? Genesis 37:2, last part.

Note: “The restless spirit naturally inclines to mischief; the active mind, if left unoccupied with better things, will give heed to that which Satan may suggest.” Child Guidance, 33.

3 THE TRIBE OF GAD

  • How were the people of Gad described? I Chronicles 12:8, 14, 15.
  • What happened to the territory of Gad? Jeremiah 49:1.
  • How was the land of Gad (part of the Gilead region) recovered? Judges 11:1, 6, 32, 33; Hebrews 11:32.

Note: “Oh, the long-suffering mercy of our God! When His people put away the sins that had shut out His presence, He heard their prayers and at once began to work for them.

“A deliverer was raised up in the person of Jephthah, a Gileadite, who made war upon the Ammonites and effectually destroyed their power.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 558.

  • Which other member of the tribe of Gad was distinguished for his steadfast faithfulness? I Kings 17:1; II Kings 2:11.

Note: “Elijah, amid the general apostasy, did not seek to hide the fact that he served the God of heaven. Baal’s prophets numbered four hundred and fifty, his priests, four hundred, and his worshipers were thousands; yet Elijah did not try to make it appear that he was on the popular side. He grandly stood alone. The mountain was covered with people full of eager expectation. The king came in great pomp, and the idolaters, confident of triumph, shouted his welcome. But God had been greatly dishonored. One man, and only one man, appeared to vindicate the honor of God. With clear, trumpetlike tones Elijah addressed the vast multitude: ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him’ (1 Kings 18:21). The result was that the Lord God, who ruleth in the heavens, was vindicated, and the Baal worshipers were slain. Where are the Elijahs of today?” Testimonies, vol. 5, 526, 527.

4 THE TRIBE OF ASHER

  • What lessons can we learn from Moses’ blessing upon Asher? Deuteronomy 33:24. How can these blessings be extended to us? How can we forfeit them?

Note: “Ask God to give you much of the oil of His grace. Carefully consider every word, whether it be written or spoken.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 104.

“What harm is wrought in the family circle by the utterance of impatient words; for the impatient utterance of one leads another to retort in the same spirit and manner. Then come words of retaliation, words of self-justification, and it is by such words that a heavy, galling yoke is manufactured for your neck; for all these bitter words will come back in a baleful harvest to your soul.

“Those who indulge in such language will experience shame, loss of self-respect, loss of self-confidence, and will have bitter remorse and regret that they allowed themselves to lose self-control and speak in this way. How much better would it be if words of this character were never spoken. How much better to have the oil of grace in the heart, to be able to pass by all provocation, and bear all things with Christlike meekness and forbearance.” Messages to Young People, 327.

  • What can we learn from one member of the tribe of Asher, who was a prophetess of God? Luke 2:36–38.

Note: “Anna … came in and confirmed Simeon’s testimony concerning Christ. As Simeon spoke, her face lighted up with the glory of God, and she poured out her heartfelt thanks that she had been permitted to behold Christ the Lord.” The Desire of Ages, 55.

“The cross of Calvary is to be a constant reminder of the future, nobler world, the mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare for all who love Him. We are to be enthusiasts. And as we by faith view the glories within the temple of God, we shall seek to awaken enthusiasm in others, a desire to behold things unseen. Our work is to attract minds away from earth to heaven; to take others with us as companions, to walk the path that is cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. The children of the heavenly King are to move among men, not as citizens of the world, but as citizens of the kingdom above. We are pilgrims and strangers in this world, seeking a better country, even a heavenly.” The Signs of the Times, August 17, 1891.

5 KEY TO SUCCESS

  • What illustrates the secret of success for the tribe of Gad, long beset by a “troop” of temptations? Genesis 49:19; I Chronicles 5:18, 20. What promise is made to spiritual Gadite overcomers? Revelation 7:5, last part.

Note: “Your only hope is in confessing your backslidings. God has let light shine upon your pathway. Will you choose your own course of corruption? Will you cast the truth behind you because it will not sustain you in a course of iniquity? Oh, be entreated to ‘rend your heart, and not your garments’ (Joel 2:13). Make thorough work for eternity. God will be merciful to you. He will be entreated in your behalf. He will not despise a broken and contrite spirit. Will you turn? Will you live? Your soul is worth saving; it is precious.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 303.

  • Explain the secret of the tribe of Asher’s success. Deuteronomy 33:25; II Chronicles 30:11; James 4:10; Revelation 7:6, first part. What work is to be done for those who want to be numbered among the 144,000? Jeremiah 3:12–15.

Note: “The work of warning sinners, of weeping over them and pleading with them, has been neglected until many souls are past all cure. Some have died in their sins, and will in the judgment confront with reproaches of their guilt those who might have saved them, but who did not.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 506.

“All who will can be overcomers. Let us strive earnestly to reach the standard set before us. Christ knows our weakness, and to Him we can go daily for help. It is not necessary for us to gain strength a month ahead. We are to conquer from day to day.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 974.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What challenges did the sons of Zilpah face from birth?

2 Contrast the carnal Gadites with the converted ones.

3 Differentiate between the good and evil aspects of Asherites.

4 Consider practical ways to restore backsliders whom you may know.

5 Why do you think God promises sufficient strength for each and every day?

© 2007 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Inspiration – Satan’s Devices

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The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried on for almost six thousand years, is soon to close. And yet how few have their attention called to this matter, how few realize that we are living amid the closing scenes of earth’s history! Satan is working diligently, binding his sheaves preparatory to gathering in his harvest. He is uniting the elements of his kingdom for the final struggle. Since his fall, he has been the great adversary of God and man, and has shown a masterly activity in trying to defeat our Saviour’s efforts in our behalf. He thinks that because so many readily yield to his temptations and believe his lies, he may yet gain some advantage over Christ, who left the royal courts of Heaven that he might defeat this wily foe on his own battle-field, and open a way whereby man might escape from his cruel power.

He is called in the Bible, Satan, Beelzebub, the serpent, the deceiver, a liar, the accuser of the brethren, the prince of the power of the air, the prince of darkness, and the god of this world. Frightful names, infernal agencies! This fallen spirit, so malignant and subtle, is walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when profound indifference prevails in the church and in the world, he is not concerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, “What shall I do to be saved?” he is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ, and doubling his efforts to counteract the influences of the Holy Spirit. Angels of God, with Jesus at their head, are present to press back the powers of darkness; but no one is forced to accept Jesus, and no one can be compelled by Satan’s power to reject him.

Satan is at your side when you least suspect it, watching to find a weak spot in your armor, where he can introduce his darts, and wound your soul by betraying you into sin. He has access to minds that are open to receive his suggestions, and by long experience he has learned how to apply his temptations to the best advantage. His first effort is to keep as many minds as possible in a state of careless indifference. He will invent every imaginable excuse to keep people away from meetings where they might receive benefit from hearing the truth. He will especially work to make of none effect these morning meetings, where the Spirit of God is at work; and when he cannot keep persons away, his next effort will be to fill the mind with unimportant matters, thus preventing them from treasuring up the truths they hear.

This work Satan is engaged in at every meeting. He has different temptations prepared for different minds, and souls are continually yielding to his suggestions. He will adopt any means by which he may gain control of the thoughts and purposes of the heart. He will work to divert the mind from Heaven and heavenly things by the absorbing cares of this life. He will produce temporary indisposition to keep you away from meetings where testimonies from Heaven will be borne, and your hearts would be impressed with the deep movings of the Spirit of God. If you attend the meetings, and your heart is impressed, he will tempt you to engage in unprofitable conversation on trivial things, so that you will forget the words spoken.

Circumstances will arise to divert the mind. Visitors, relatives, or worldly friends, or some temporal matter, will engage the attention; and then “cometh the devil, and taketh the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). These friends will make demands upon your time and strength, and thus God is robbed of the service due him. Yet you flatter yourselves that you cannot do otherwise; for how can you displease your friends? God will not bring a curse upon you for thus robbing him, but your own course of action brings its sure result. But however alluring Satan’s temptations, however natural and unavoidable they may seem to the mind that is not clear and sharp in spiritual discernment, you must not be lulled to carnal security. However dear your friends may be, if they lead you away from God they are emissaries of Satan, who works through the children of disobedience, speaks through human organs.

God will not work a miracle to change natural causes which you can control. If you place yourself and family in the current of the world, you and your children will be borne downward by it. Be wise and discriminating in regard to spiritual advantages, and gather about yourselves and your children correct influences. We may have a beautiful and fertile country; but surrounding influences may be weaving a spell upon our souls that will sink us to perdition, and our children may be lost to the cause of God because we did not place them where they would cultivate a love for divine things. We may save our own souls, as did Lot when he fled from Sodom; but the habits and customs with which we have become familiar may cling to us, and we may find that we have assimilated to them more than we were aware. This is a risk that we cannot afford to run. We might better lose every worldly advantage than to lose Jesus, or dishonor him by our careless inattention to his requirements. It is best to obey God at any sacrifice. …

The way to eternal life is a battle and a march. The great adversary of souls is continually seeking to insinuate himself between you and the Source of your strength. If you allow your mind to be taken up with worldly cares, he will manage to have these cares so varied in character, and press so continually upon you, that you can find no time for the spiritual and the eternal. Worldly acquaintances introduce subjects that are of the greatest importance to them; you listen and are attracted, and these things of minor consequence absorb the mind and affections. You give time and attention, skill and inventive faculties, to outward ornamentation, to the neglect of the inward adorning of the soul. Time is worse than lost which should be devoted to the searching of the Scriptures and to earnest prayer for divine guidance; you rob your own souls of grace and power, and others of the light that should be reflected through you to the world.

But few know the real power of religion. They do not appreciate its refining and elevating influence on the character; they do not partake of its joys nor enter into its spirit. We need constant communion with Jesus just as much as we need daily food to nourish the body. If there is a moment when we are in no danger of being deceived by the enemy, then for that moment we may dispense with divine aid. If there is any moment when we are not dependent on God for our breath, then there is a time when we need not obey the injunctions of his word.

We should be sanctified by the truth. The conscience and the understanding, the words, the deeds, and the thoughts, should be controlled by truth, and not error. The principle of truth and righteousness implanted in the heart, will be revealed in the life, and especially in the family circle. God estimates a man by what he is in the bosom of his family. Fix the mind on things that are pure and holy. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). And the life will be clothed with the beauty of holiness even here; but who shall tell what it will be, when the great controversy between sin and righteousness is forever closed, and we appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God” (Psalm 90:17)?

The Signs of the Times, May 8, 1884.

Overcoming

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Sometimes the word perfection strikes people as being too harsh or unattainable. In the book, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, by A. T. Jones (Leaves of Autumn Books, Inc., Payson, Arizona [1978], 118), it says, “The service in the earthly sanctuary shows also that in order for the sanctuary to be cleansed, and the course of the gospel service there to be finished, it must first be finished in the people who have a part in the service. That is to say: In the sanctuary itself, transgression could not be finished, an end of sins and reconciliation for iniquity could not be made, and everlasting righteousness could not be brought in, until all this had been accomplished in each person who had a part in the service of the sanctuary.”

The sanctuary is the central part of the message that defines us as Seventh-day Adventists. It goes on to say, “Therefore the very first work in the cleansing of the sanctuary was the cleansing of the people. That which was preliminary and essential to the cleansing of the sanctuary itself, to the finishing of the transgression and bringing in everlasting righteousness there, was the finishing of transgression, and the making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity, and bringing in everlasting righteousness in the heart and life of each one of the people themselves. When the stream that flowed into the sanctuary was thus stopped at its source, then, and then alone, could the sanctuary itself be cleansed from the sins and transgression which, from the people, by the intercession of the priests, had flowed into the sanctuary.” Ibid., 118, 119.

Perfection was required on the day of atonement. It was only when sin stopped flowing into the sanctuary that it could be cleansed; otherwise the blood of the sacrificial lambs would continually defile it. In the earthly sanctuary, Jesus has given us an example.

James 1:27 identifies what is needed to belong to the true church—true religion! “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble [in their affliction KJV], and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Notice that this is not just a social visit. It is for a specific purpose to help them in their need or affliction. God has a special care for the widows and orphans, and if you touch the orphan, you have touched the apple of God’s eye.

We are told to “keep unspotted from the world.” Paul says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. We can understand peace, even though there is misunderstanding as to how to pursue it. Don’t let the trouble be on you, but let you be the peacemaker. So “pursue peace … and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord.” These words sometimes strike fear or terror in people, but they are necessary, for God is holy and only holy people will be with Him in eternity.

In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He said, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16.

What is the world spoken of here? We speak about Babylon and to come out of her and it is related, because Babylon is the world. However, Jesus here says, “You should [not] take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” Verse 16.

“The world” gets to us through our senses. Satan gains entrance into our minds through the senses. He does not know what we are thinking, but he is a master at watching us our whole lives. We are to guard the avenues of the soul, which includes what we allow into our minds through our senses. We always talk about the temptations and how they need to be resisted. Joseph was tempted daily from the outside. The entire universe was watching what Joseph would do when confronted by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph’s intentions were pure, and when tempted he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. Joseph’s integrity cost him many years in prison, but God’s hand was over him, preparing him to be a ruler in Egypt.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” James 1:13, 14. According to James, the temptation comes from within, and we are enticed through our own desires. Through the senses the desire is worked up and becomes enticed. When you give in and agree to the temptation, it is then sin. When a person realizes he is tempted, and in the strength of the Lord resists and repents of it, he beats the desire. All are tempted through the world but we all have free will to choose either to give in to the temptation or resist.

There are many Adventists who do not really believe that it is possible to live the Christian life and continually overcome, claiming that even Paul struggled every day. They quote Paul in Romans 7 where he says he wanted to do what was right, but he couldn’t do it, always catching himself doing what he shouldn’t be doing, and they identify with him. In Romans 8, Paul writes that he was successful in overcoming that vacillating life of in and out of sin. In verses 5 and 6 he tells us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

He points out that it is not just being tempted or enticed, but there is a choice in what to think about and where to direct your mind. He says, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.” This is making a deliberate choice on what to focus. It can be compared to driving. While your focus is on the road ahead you are unlikely to sway from your lane, but if you start focusing on something out to the side, you could be off the road in seconds. It is a natural law that you will go where you are looking.

The first half of Romans 8 deals with focusing the mind. This is the key, and it is your choice whether you set it on the Spirit or on the flesh. No one can do it for you.

Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34. He said, it is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out, that defiles a person. We know that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Who you really are will eventually come out and be made public. You cannot hold it in. Some people are great actors. The word actor in Greek means hypocrite. It was a profession just as today in Hollywood we have actors in this world that profess. In Greece they would be called hypocrites. An actor cannot act continually without what is in the heart coming out sooner or later.

True Christians are to be apart from the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15–17. Jesus said that the world will pass away and all the lusts, but whoever does the will of God will abide forever. He said, “I always do the will of My Father.” He did not say, “Yes, I pray five times and I study so long.” No, He said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father.” John 5:30.

One of the worst-case scenarios at the end of time is found in Matthew 7. There is a group of people who go around converting people in the world with great success, but then the Lord will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Matthew 7:23. The reason for this is that they did not do the will of His Father. Jesus said that they might have done all the right things, but it was not from the heart, not from the will.

Jesus spoke of “all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” 1 John 2:16. These are the three things of which the world consists. The word lust means passion or passionately liking something. It is far more than just a like or a dislike. It involves selfishness. For example, I want everything for me. I want nice clothes and my belly full. The lust of the eyes would be greed. You have enough, but you want more, and you also want what the other person has. You see it and you want it. The pride of life is the self-identity that we have. It may not be really true, but I build myself up to think highly of who I am, considering myself better than others. It is who I am in my own estimation, disregarding who I am in Christ. Others might see me differently than I see myself. This is the pride of life.

These are the three things that include everything in this world and provide the motives for everything we do. It applies to each business transaction, how we present ourselves in the church and in our homes. Sadly, this includes selfishness, greed and our ego or pride.

In Galatians 5:19–23, Paul talks about the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” We must be aware of the works of the flesh and fight against those kinds of fruits, for a tree is known by its fruits.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6. Here is the description of how Eve fell. Three things Satan promised Eve that were going to happen. Then, when she bit into it, it seemed like it had happened. The fruit tasted good. It was like black light. You can see things under black light that you have never seen before, but remember—it is black light, not light!

Isaiah 14:13 says, “For you [Satan] have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.’ ” Above the stars, me! I’m going to be over all this. And then, “sit on the mount of the congregation” and look over my kingdom; I am going to have it all!

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Verse 14. In other words, Satan would have the adoration that belonged to Christ. He said, “I’m somebody; I’m not just a servant around here.”

God did not create sin. He wants each person to think freely and choose wisely. Which direction are you putting your thoughts, inward or outward? Satan turned his inward. He said, “I don’t have to do what God says; I can do what I want to do.” That is exactly what many children do. They get to be old enough and then say, “You’re not going to tell me what to do again.” That is the same thinking that started the sin problem. Satan was a free thinker, and he turned inward saying, “I am going to do.” As long as our mind is running in the same direction there is no difference. The problem begins with what is in our hearts.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14, 15.

How can this be? Jesus did not have a wife. He did not have children that were born to Him. He didn’t suffer a broken arm, or get cancer or those kinds of things, so how could He be tempted in all points as we are?

When you examine carefully the temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness, they boil down to just three. He overcame sin on a very basic level. The problem we have is not dissecting our temptations to the basic level. We are often so concerned about our own little situation and do not recognize the root problem, preferring to just take a pill and make it go away.

Let’s examine the temptations that Jesus endured. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.” Matthew 4:2. I remember years ago something that happened in Ireland. The English were fighting against the Irish and England had rounded up some Irish men and put them in jail. The Irish prisoners went on a hunger strike that lasted about 35 or 38 days. They refused to give in to the English, resulting in ten or twelve of them dying. Forty days is about the maximum anyone can last fasting.

Stones into Bread

After forty days, the first thing Jesus would think is, “I need something to eat.” It was at that point that Satan came as an angel of light suggesting that He turn the stones into bread. Didn’t He need to take care of Himself? After all, didn’t He have to live and save the world? Wasn’t that the reason for Him being there? He tried to put doubt in Jesus’ mind that His Father would take care of Him, so wouldn’t it be better to try and take care of Himself?

How often we readily fall for this same temptation and stop waiting on the Lord. We pray, and things keep happening. Then an idea may come and we take matters into our own hands, forgetting to wait on the Lord and do what we think is best. Jesus refused to accept the temptation from Satan.

Cast Thyself Down

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give his angels charge over You,” and, “In their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.” ’ ” Matthew 4:5, 6.

Basically, the devil said, “You want people to believe You. You want people to know who You are. You didn’t change the stones into bread, ok. But, hey, the Bible says You can do this. It’s permissible to show them that you are the One.” The devil tempted Jesus to prove who He was to all. But Jesus replied, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Verse 7.

Fall Down and Worship Me

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” ’ ” Matthew 4:8–10. As soon as Jesus saw this presentation, He turned so that He was not drawn by the desires.

In His humanity, Jesus overcame every temptation that we have to overcome. We need to bow down in the morning and surrender our lives to Him. Then in the evening bow again, asking forgiveness for where we have fallen short during the day. Jesus led a holy life. He was the second Adam who did not sin.

Paul contrasts the two natures: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16, 17. Here we get the idea that when we walk in the Spirit, we are not part of the world. We live in the world, but are not part of it, with all the lust and passionate desires controlling our lives.

When He was arrested, Jesus’ disciples did not understand, because their hearts were still in this world. They told Him, “No, we’ll die for you. No problem!” And they may have died if there would have been a battle between Him and the high priest, his guards and Herod. Peter whipped out the sword, and he was going to fight. Peter rebuked Jesus because He humbled Himself ready to meet death and allowing them kill Him. Peter said, “No, you can’t do that.” Jesus said to him: “You favor things that be of men, not that be of God” (Matthew 16:23). Peter did not know his true motivation.

As Jesus preached to the people, they realized that He was getting serious, and they were not prepared to face the real issues that He was coming down to so they all left. Finally, when only the twelve were there, Jesus asked, “Are you also going to leave?” But they said, “Where would we go?”

Galatians 5:18–21 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” He was not finished with the list but ended that way because there would be too many to mention.

He continued, “Just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Jesus had none of these characteristics in Himself. The Bible says that, if possible, the very elect would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). But the very elect are not deceived because Satan’s temptations have no appeal to their senses.

We need to understand why we always want more money or bigger houses, etc. The reason is because of greed. We must admit and confess our wrong fruits and repent; otherwise we will never be overcomers. Some people walk with the Lord for a time and then say, “I’ve had enough of this self-sacrifice. I’ve had enough of this self-denial. Everybody else is doing those things that I am restricting and they are still here; it hasn’t hurt them.” They start living for self. Jesus was tempted on all points as we are, and He overcame and promises us the victory also in His strength.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23. Jesus was perfect. He went about healing and doing good for the thirty years that He lived on earth. When you think about this, don’t think of the three and a half years that He ministered, but think of the thirty years that He lived, when He was in the shop, when He worked, when He delivered the furniture and when He talked with the people. And when He got home His brothers would say things like: “You’re just no good. You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know how to run this business.” Read the chapter in The Desire of Ages about Judas. Mrs. White definitely says that they thought Jesus was making a big mistake by not listening to Judas. Unbelievable! Why? Because Judas had a fine way about him, and he knew what to do. Because of his demeanor, all the rest of the disciples saw eye to eye with him, and when he doubted what Jesus did, that doubt influenced their minds. They never would have believed that Judas was the one who would betray Him.

But Judas was too smart. Because of his evil greed and his selfishness, he thought he could make a good deal. Judas thought, “This is enough now. I’ve been with Jesus three years and I have lost a lot of money because I was in business. Jesus doesn’t know how to handle money and even when the situation was right to make Him king He did not accept it.” Selfish people can be helpful people, but they help so they can help themselves. Judas thought he had made a good deal with the priests, so he thought that if Jesus was who He said He was, there would be no way that He would allow Himself to die; that would be silly. He was convinced, so decided to push the issue. Thinking himself pretty smart, he came up with a little plan. Jesus was captured, and he thought that if Jesus was not who He said He was, he would have the thirty pieces of silver.

Judas had no idea what He was all about, because Jesus gained the victory right from the beginning. He already dealt with the issue of dying, dying to self, not wanting anything of this world or its ensuing pride. Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Exactly nothing! Satan could not appeal to Him, so he was furious and threw the final vehemence at Him because there was nothing with which he could accuse him. That is why we need the mind of Jesus.

There will come a time when people in the world are no longer appealing to Christ for forgiveness in the sanctuary, for all sins will be forgiven. The blood will cease to flow in the heavenly sanctuary and Jesus will have no more work to do and will no longer need to intercede. He will take off His high priestly robe and put on His kingly robe and claim His people who He has cleansed from sin. Heaven will be free of sin. There will be no more temptation because the one who began sin will finally be done away with and there will be joy in heaven.

May God help us to see and understand this issue as we study how to overcome sin at its root, and let God put His seed in us every day.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

John Korponay and his wife, Robin, moved to Wichita from Washington state in July, 2012, after John had accepted a position at Steps to Life. John and Robin are life-long Adventists with much experience in self-supporting work. He may be contacted by email at: johnkorponay@stepstolife.org.

The Lord’s Favorite Theme

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Jesus was both a teacher and a preacher. It is often said that during His ministry He spent more time healing the people than in either preaching or teaching. Ellen White says, in the book, Christ’s Object Lessons, 40, that there was one subject that He favored above all others. “Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If the grace of God was His favorite theme, it should also be our favorite subject to study and to know well. The Bible has many fascinating passages on the subject of grace, but especially in the book of Ephesians.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:3–7.

Notice that by the glory of His grace He has caused us to be accepted in the Beloved and that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.

The Importance of Grace

Grace brings salvation; it is grace that brings forgiveness of sins. This is all that many Christians seem to know about grace, but it has far more to do than bringing forgiveness of sins. In 11 Corinthians 12:9 and 10, we read that the apostle Paul prayed three times for the Lord to deliver him from a certain affliction. His prayer was not answered in the affirmative, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We are living in a pessimistic age today where the subject of grace is not understood. Many are discouraged and doubt their salvation believing it impossible to reach the Bible standard for the Christian, because they see themselves as such sinners. Grace does not only bring forgiveness of sins, but it is divine power that gives all the help and assistance needed for whatever circumstance.

The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient.” Sufficient for what? The Bible is very specific about its requirements. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. Only holy people whose lives are in perfect harmony with the law of God will dwell in God’s presence. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ ” Romans 7:7. “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Verse 12. “… the law is spiritual.” Verse 14.

The law is holy. Holy people will be in harmony with the law in their outward life, their inward life, their thoughts and their feelings as well as their words and actions. But we find that we have a sinful human nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

What can we do then with this impossible situation? It is through grace alone that a person receives power to accomplish what God requires in their life. It is through grace alone that a person is able to resist and subdue the tendencies of the fallen nature. Paul discusses this in detail in Romans 6, 7 and 8. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4.

Everything that God requires can be accomplished through grace. Successfully resisting the tendencies of the sinful, fallen depraved human nature can be done only through grace. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16.

It is through grace that we can receive the help that is needed to resist temptation. One great battle that occurs in the human heart is against unlawful thoughts. Jesus talked about it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Paul says, “Some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:2–5.

If every thought is in obedience to Christ, the thoughts will be pure, and through grace the mind will be barricaded against licentiousness. Salvation comes only through grace. Without grace we can never be holy, and unless we are holy we cannot see God. Grace enables us to do what is right, not only with our hands, but to control our minds, our thoughts and our words. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11, 12.

Notice, he says this grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The apostles predicted it; Jude predicted it; Peter predicted it and Paul predicted that in the latter days there would be some people who would come into the church and make merchandise of the grace of God. They would use the subject of grace to lead men to believe that you can live any way you want and just keep asking to have your sins forgiven.

Grace is provided to forgive sins, but it is also the power of God to enable you to live righteously now. To live soberly means to not be intoxicated; righteously means doing what is right; and godly means to live in a holy way, in the present.

Paul describes himself in I Corinthians 15:9, 10: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

He said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” It is through grace that we receive everything including the forgiveness of sins. It is grace that subdues the tendencies of the fallen sinful nature to enable us to live a holy life in harmony with all of God’s requirements.

My Grace is Sufficient

Jesus sent out His disciples on the missionary journey and told them that persecutions (Matthew 10:23) would come. He told them that they would be hated (verse 22) by all men. Then He said, “Do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Verse 26. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Verse 28.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29–31. Jesus here says that in spite of the fact that you are going to be hated by all nations and even your own family will deliver you up to death, He said, you do not need to be afraid. He repeats over and over again, do not fear them; do not worry. Why? Ellen White explained this in The Desire of Ages, 354. She said, “God’s grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency.”

Do you have any emergencies in your life or get into difficult situations, either in your job, or with your family, or with your friends? There is enough grace for all who are going through crises or emergencies. Our Lord is equal to any emergency; He gives to us more grace as it is needed.

“His grace is sufficient” means all that you need. If you are weak and sinful and need more grace, you will receive all the grace that you need. That is the divine promise. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not only has He promised you for the crisis situation you are in, but also in the future. You never need to worry about any crisis or emergency for God has promised His grace is sufficient.

The Bible teaches that God’s children are children of a divine King; not only a Creator and Redeemer, but a King. The title written over His cross was Jesus of Nazareth, King; of the Jews.

If you are the child of the King, then you are an elevated person in thought, ennobled in mind and in body. God wants to lift you up from the miasma, the pit, the fog and darkness of sin. He wants to lift you up into a holy, righteous, and peaceful atmosphere and ennoble your mind so that your thoughts, aspirations, desires and your feelings will be holy and righteous. This is only possible when God imparts to you His grace.

We need God’s grace; it is our only safety. We have a fallen, sinful human nature and without grace every thought, word and action will be sinful because it proceeds from a fallen, sinful, selfish human heart. Selfishness is the root of sin. But grace lifts you into a holy, righteous and peaceful atmosphere of mind.

We are all surrounded by an atmosphere, which can be poisonous with sinful thoughts and desires, or righteous, pure and holy because we have received the grace of God. Our only safety is to receive the grace of God and to walk by His grace. It is only by His grace that our tongues are controlled. Notice what James 3:6–8 says: “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, or reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

An uncontrolled tongue breaks up marriages and causes divorce. It causes trouble in the family between parents and the children. It causes strife and commotion and unhappiness in the church. It causes a world of trouble in the workplace and nations are set at war with each other by the tongue. James says that no man can tame it. The only hope that we have of getting it under control is to receive grace. “Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 175.

To receive grace is the only way we are going to be able to control our tongues; the only way we are going to be able to form new habits that will be in harmony with the law of God; the only way we can have help sufficient for the emergencies and trials that we go through in life. That is the only way we can receive salvation. That’s the only way our thoughts can become pure. That’s the only way we can do everything that God requires. That is the only way we can be barricaded against licentiousness, and it is the only way that we can overcome the depravity of human nature and receive forgiveness of the sins that we have committed. It is the only way we can be saved. Salvation is entirely of grace.

How Can You Receive Grace?

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” He says in verse 11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”

Number 1—Ask for it!

This is the most powerful and precious gift that God has to give to you without money and without price. Before you leave the bedroom in the morning or the dinner table, pray to the Lord and say, “Lord, please, bestow your grace upon me and help me to walk by faith and be empowered by grace to do your will, today.” The gospel is the power of God unto salvation and it imparts to man the grace of God by which we are saved and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

Number 2—How do you ask?

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in His heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23, 24. You will not receive grace unless you ask and expect to receive it.

Number 3—In Luke 6:38 is a divine principle:

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The more grace you give to others the more you will be able to receive. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6. The Christian’s words should be continually imparting grace to others.

Grace is something unique to this sinful world. Angels do not need it because they have never sinned. Human beings need grace because of our fallen, depraved nature that makes all kinds of mistakes. Grace is linked with mercy. We should show the same grace and mercy to others that God shows us. Notice what James 2:13 says: “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Those who refuse to give grace or mercy to others cannot expect their heavenly Father to show them grace or mercy. Jesus expressed this same thought. He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.

A principle for receiving grace is to give grace to others. We receive grace through faith; ask for it and believe that you will receive it. Paul expresses that very succinctly in Ephesians 2:8. He says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” I’ve heard many people say that we are saved by faith. All the faith in world would not save you if it was not for the grace of God. If Jesus had not died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, all the faith in the world would not save you. But you are saved through faith because grace is available, and when you have faith in God and you believe, then the grace will be given to you.

Where Does Faith Come From?

If you receive grace through faith, where do you get the faith that you need to receive the grace that you want? Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. The Bible is a treasure house for grace. It is in the Bible that you find the promises of God, and if you accept these promises and ask for them by faith you will receive all the grace that you need. It does not matter how much treasure you mine, you will never run out. The grace of God is an inexhaustible treasure, but to receive it, we must do our part and cooperate with the heavenly agencies. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.

It is God Who works in you a work of grace. Grace is promised only to those who are humble. “Surely He [God] scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34. Grace cannot be purchased with money. It cannot be acquired with silver or gold or any of the precious things of this earth. It is given free to all who seek it by repentance and faith.

If you are willing to forsake your sins and follow Jesus, all the grace needed will be given to overcome temper, wrong words, wrong thoughts and wrong feelings. He will give you all the grace that you need. There is only one thing that you do need to be concerned about and that is that you use it for what it was intended, to follow Jesus and do His will.

But what happens if you receive the grace of God and refuse to live soberly and become intoxicated; you don’t live righteously, but break God’s law and live wickedly? Then you have received the grace of God in vain. Paul talks about this in II Corinthians 6:1. He says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28–31. It is a fearful thing to receive the grace of God in vain and instead of using the power to follow Christ, continue to live sinfully.

The great delusion of our time is that people profess to accept Christianity, get baptized and become members of a church, but don’t follow Jesus and receive His power to overcome their besetting sins and live righteously. The grace of God is used for lasciviousness and loose living believing that there is always time to confess their sins. Watch out! The God we serve is not Someone to be trifled with. This is not a game. It is dangerous to be guilty of presumptuousness and misuse the grace of God.

How is it with you? Even if you are the weakest and most sinful person, God has promised you all the grace that you need that you might be able to follow Jesus and walk as He walked. We are still living in probationary time. Do not be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who ran out of oil. They did not have enough grace in their lamp to carry them through the second coming of Christ. Call on God today and He will hear and answer your prayer and shower you with His blessings. His grace is equal to any emergency.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Bible Study Guides – The 144,000

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September 22, 2013 – September 28, 2013

Key Text

“These [the hundred and forty and four thousand] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:4.

Study Help: Early Writings, 36–38; Testimonies, vol. 5, 207–216.

Introduction

“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 445.

1 PERFECT OVERCOMERS

  • What evidence do we have that the sons of Jacob became completely different men from what they were in their early days of cruelty to their brother Joseph? Genesis 50:15–18.

Note: “During the years since Joseph had been separated from his brothers, these sons of Jacob had changed in character. Envious, turbulent, deceptive, cruel, and revengeful they had been; but now, when tested by adversity, they were shown to be unselfish, true to one another, devoted to their father and, themselves middle-aged men, subject to his authority.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 225.

“He [Jacob] saw in his sons evidence of true repentance; he saw his family surrounded by all the conditions needful for the development of a great nation; and his faith grasped the sure promise of their future establishment in Canaan.” Ibid., 233.

  • How does the earthly life of Jesus give us a flawless example of perfect submission to the will of our heavenly Father? John 8:29; 14:30.

Note: “There was in Him [Christ] nothing that responded to Satan’s sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So it may be with us.” The Desire of Ages, 123.

2 SIGNIFICANT FRUITS

  • Name some outstanding characteristics of the overcomers in the last days. Zephaniah 3:13; Revelation 14:5, 12; 12:17.

Note: “A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a union of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. They must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle with outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin in all its forms—must be overcome if we would enter into a union with Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 231.

  • How are we to cultivate these noble traits of character? John 8:12; 16:13, first part; 17:17.

Note: “Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth—these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 216.

  • Describe the mental outlook necessary to be total overcomers. Philippians 2:1–8; II Peter 3:11, 14.
  • What will be the reward of these overcomers? Psalm 37:11.

Note: “Many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.” Early Writings, 71.

3 THE SEAL OF GOD

  • Explain the work of the sealing angel before the seven last plagues will be poured out. Ezekiel 9:4–6; Revelation 7:1–3.

Note: “I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, ‘Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.’ ” [Author’s italics.] Early Writings, 38.

“The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 505.

  • What are some key points to realize when one considers the seal of God? Exodus 20:8–11; Leviticus 20:7; Ezekiel 20:12.

Note: “What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption.

“The angel with the writer’s ink horn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel follows this angel.

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1161.

“Those who trample upon God’s authority, and show open contempt to the law given in such grandeur at Sinai, virtually despise the Lawgiver, the great Jehovah. …

“By transgressing the law which God had given in such majesty, and amid glory which was unapproachable, the people showed open contempt of the great Lawgiver, and death was the penalty.” Ibid., 1162.

4 FEW TO QUALIFY

  • Explain the spiritual depth of the seal of God, and why it is essential that believers in the third angel’s message understand its true significance. Psalm 24:3–5; Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14.

Note: “Let church members bear in mind that the fact that their names are registered on the church books will not save them. They must show themselves approved of God, workmen that need not be ashamed. Day by day they are to build their characters in accordance with Christ’s directions. They are to abide in Him, constantly exercising faith in Him. Thus they will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ—wholesome, cheerful, grateful Christians, led by God into clearer and still clearer light. If this is not their experience, they will be among those whose voices will one day be raised in the bitter lamentation: ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved! Why did I not flee to the Stronghold for refuge? Why have I trifled with my soul’s salvation, and done despite to the Spirit of grace’ (Jeremiah 8:20.)?” Testimonies, vol. 9, 48.

“The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts.” Ibid., vol. 5, 216.

  • When did the sealing begin, and how many will receive the seal of the living God? Revelation 7:4; 14:1, 9–12. What is the “covering,” “shelter,” or “protection” that we must have for the time of trouble?

Note: “The enemies of the present truth have been trying to open the door of the holy place, that Jesus has shut, and to close the door of the most holy place, which He opened in 1844, where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by the finger of Jehovah.

“Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble.” Early Writings, 43. [Written in 1849.]

5 THE ULTIMATE VICTORY

  • What privilege belongs to the faithful souls described in Revelation 14:13? How do we know that Sister White and many others who have fallen asleep in Jesus will be among the 144,000 who are alive at His coming? Daniel 12:1, 2.

Note: “As he [the prophet John] looked with intense interest he beheld the company of God’s commandment-keeping people. They had upon their foreheads the seal of the living God, and he said: [Revelation 14:12, 13 quoted].” Testimonies, vol. 6, 15.

“I may live until the coming of the Lord; but if I should not, I trust it may be said of me: ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them’ (Revelation 14:13).” Selected Messages, Book 1, 55, 56.

“The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.” Early Writings, 285.

“The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people.” The Great Controversy, 640.

“The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice.” Early Writings, 15.

  • What is the significance of the song sung by the 144,000 sealed saints? Revelation 14:2–4; 15:2, 3.

Note: “They [the company of them who were redeemed from among them] sing ‘a new song’ (Revelation 14:3) before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance.” The Great Controversy, 648, 649.

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Explain the depth of genuine union with Christ.

2 Why is it so important to receive the seal of God?

3 Why do the 144,000 have the joy of singing a unique song?

© 2007 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Faith and Righteous

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January 26, 2014 – February 1, 2014

The Gospel Potential

Key Text

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4.

Study Help: Gospel Workers, 51–54; 259–269.

Introduction

“Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the sustaining strength of God becomes real to us through an abiding trust.” Education, 255.

1 GRASPING THE GREAT PRINCIPLES

  • In what is revealed the righteousness of God and how is this demonstrated in the life of the just? Romans 1:17.

Note: “The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day God labors for man’s sanctification, and man is to co-operate with Him, putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication. Our Saviour is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones. Gladly He grants them the blessings they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them.” The Acts of the Apostles, 532.

  • How did Abel show that he was righteous? Hebrew 11:4.

Note: “Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw himself a sinner, and he saw sin and its penalty, death, standing between his soul and communion with God. He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed. Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice, Christ dying on the cross of Calvary; and trusting in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was righteous, and his offering accepted.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 72.

“Abel was determined to worship God according to the directions God had given. This displeased Cain. He thought that his own plans were best, and that the Lord would come to his terms. Cain in his offering did not acknowledge his dependence upon Christ. He thought that his father Adam had been treated harshly in being expelled from Eden. The idea of keeping that sin ever before the mind, and offering the blood of the slain lamb as a confession of entire dependence upon a power outside of himself, was torture to the high spirit of Cain. Being the eldest, he thought that Abel should follow his example.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 77, 78.

2 A PERSONAL WALK

  • What does the Scripture say about the life of Enoch and how was he rewarded? Hebrews 11:5, 6.

Note: “Did he [Enoch] see God by his side? Only by faith. He knew that the Lord was there, and he adhered steadfastly to the principles of truth. We, too, are to walk with God. When we do this, our faces will be lighted up by the brightness of His presence, and when we meet one another, we shall speak of His power, saying, Praise God. Good is the Lord, and good is the word of the Lord.

“We can have what Enoch had. We can have Christ as our constant companion. Enoch walked with God, and when assailed by the tempter, he could talk with God about it. He had no ‘It is written’ as we have, but he had a knowledge of his heavenly Companion. He made God his Counsellor, and was closely bound up with Jesus. And Enoch was honored in this course. He was translated to heaven without seeing death. And those who will be translated at the close of time, will be those who commune with God on earth. Those who make manifest that their life is hid with Christ in God will ever be representing Him in all their life-practices. Selfishness will be cut out by the roots.

“Let us realize the weakness of humanity, and see where man fails in his self-sufficiency. We shall then be filled with a desire to be just what God desires us to be—pure, noble, sanctified. We shall hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ. To be like God will be the one desire of the soul.

“This is the desire that filled Enoch’s heart.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1087.

3 THE ATTRIBUTE THAT MOVES THE HEART

  • What motivated Noah to build the ark? Hebrew 11:7.

Note: “While Noah was giving his warning message to the world, his works testified of his sincerity. It was thus that his faith was perfected and made evident. He gave the world an example of believing just what God says. All that he possessed, he invested in the ark. As he began to construct that immense boat on dry ground, multitudes came from every direction to see the strange sight and to hear the earnest, fervent words of the singular preacher. Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the people.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 95.

“How often those who trusted the word of God, though in themselves utterly helpless, have withstood the power of the whole world—Enoch, pure in heart, holy in life, holding fast his faith in the triumph of righteousness against a corrupt and scoffing generation; Noah and his household against the men of his time, men of the greatest physical and mental strength and the most debased in morals; the children of Israel at the Red Sea, a helpless, terrified multitude of slaves, against the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe; David, a shepherd lad, having God’s promise of the throne, against Saul, the established monarch, bent on holding fast his power; Shadrach and his companions in the fire, and Nebuchadnezzar on the throne; Daniel among the lions, his enemies in the high places of the kingdom; Jesus on the cross, and the Jewish priests and rulers forcing even the Roman governor to work their will; Paul in chains led to a criminal’s death, Nero the despot of a world empire.

“Such examples are not found in the Bible only. They abound in every record of human progress. The Vaudois and the Huguenots, Wycliffe and Huss, Jerome and Luther, Tyndale and Knox, Zinzendorf and Wesley, with multitudes of others, have witnessed to the power of God’s word against human power and policy in support of evil. These are the world’s true nobility. This is its royal line. In this line the youth of today are called to take their places.

“Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the sustaining strength of God becomes real to us through an abiding trust.” Education, 254, 255.

4 FAITH IN THE POWER

  • How does Paul describe the gospel to all who believe? Romans 1:16.
  • The righteousness of God is His perfect will, or a transcript of His character, so what constitutes unrighteousness? I John 5:17, first part.
  • In Whom only should our faith be and why? Acts 4:12; Hebrews 7:25; I Timothy 2:5.

Note: “God is approached through Jesus Christ, the Mediator, the only way through which He forgives sins. God cannot forgive sins at the expense of His justice, His holiness, and His truth. But He does forgive sins and that fully. There are no sins He will not forgive in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the sinner’s only hope, and if he rests here in sincere faith, he is sure of pardon and that full and free. There is only one channel and that is accessible to all, and through that channel a rich and abundant forgiveness awaits the penitent, contrite soul and the darkest sins are forgiven.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 912, 913.

5 VICTORY

  • Describe the event leading up to the walls of Jericho falling down and what actually caused them to fall. Hebrews 11:30.
  • Why were the Scriptures written? Romans 15:4.
  • What did Enoch, Noah, Abel and many others have in common that enabled them victory in this life? Explain in your own words I John 5:1–5.

Note: “The work of conquering evil is to be done through faith. Those who go into the battlefield will find that they must put on the whole armor of God. The shield of faith will be their defense and will enable them to be more than conquerors. Nothing else will avail but this—faith in the Lord of hosts, and obedience to His orders. Vast armies furnished with every other facility will avail nothing in the last great conflict. Without faith, an angel host could not help. Living faith alone will make them invincible and enable them to stand in the evil day, steadfast, unmovable, holding the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, 182, 183.

Additional Reading

“The greatest victories gained for the cause of God are not the result of labored argument, ample facilities, wide influence, or abundance of means; they are gained in the audience chamber with God, when with earnest, agonizing faith men lay hold upon the mighty arm of power.

“True faith and true prayer—how strong they are! They are as two arms by which the human suppliant lays hold upon the power of Infinite Love. Faith is trusting in God—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessings. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.

“ ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’ (I John 5:4). It is faith that enables us to look beyond the present, with its burdens and cares, to the great hereafter, where all that now perplexes us shall be made plain. Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator at the right hand of God. Faith beholds the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. Faith sees the robe and crown prepared for the overcomer, and hears the song of the redeemed.

“Perfect faith, the surrender of self to God, simple trust in His pledged word, should be a part of every minister’s experience. Only as a minister has this experience can he make the subject of faith plain to the doubting and distrustful.

“Faith is not feeling. ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). True faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption, for presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith.

“Faith claims God’s promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequences of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” Gospel Workers, 259, 260.