Friday: Further Thought ~ Ablaze With God’s Glory
Further Thought:
“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.
The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.” — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 612.
Discussion Questions:
|
(9)
Well, we have come to the end of our study of the three angels' messages and I want to reiterate a thought that I made right at the beginning of this study. Have we just reaffirmed an interpretation that was seminal in the formative years of our church? Is this just another, "Our pioneers got it right!" set of lessons? Or, have we been challenged with the notion that the message is still alive and kicking and that it would be a good idea to make it relevant to the 21st century?
We have had a good discussion among ourselves but this is not an Adventist message. It is global!
This quarter I enjoyed the discussions about the lessons as much as I enjoyed studying the lessons. It is essential to remember that it is the Holy Spirit that should be our teacher. He is the one that is designated to guide us into all truth and to reveal Christ to us. Thank you Maurice and everyone else for your insights and thoughts about the lessons this quarter. I was indeed blessed.
I hope that we do not lock ourselves from other truths and perhaps, in our pride, try to search the deep of the oceans while we still have light and fresh air where we are! Have a wonderful prep day!
Monday's lesson quotes Jesus' statement that the truth will set us free.
A world that was once perfect and beautiful is now polluted and broken. There was a time not so long ago when a man's word was his bond, but that no longer applies. The absolutes on which we could once stake our life have been eroded and decreasing day by day. However, truth is, and always has been, and always will be an absolute.
When lies and deception exist all around us, truth continues to exist as an absolute. Jesus tells us that he is truth. When we hold fast to Jesus and believe fully in him, we stand on a rock that can never be kicked out from beneath us. When we hold fast to the truth taught to us by God's Spirit, we can know for a surety that we can not be deceived or misled. Holding onto truth sets us free by removing doubt and uncertainty that is so rife in the world around us. Free indeed.
The question was asked about the difference between keeping the commandments of God and legalism. I think it's the motive of my heart. When I can obey out of love rather than duty, I will know I have been sealed by God's grace. Please pray for me.
Thanks to Maurice and the other contributors who have provided their invaluable thoughts on this quarter's lesson.
I am wondering if anyone could provide their idea about the question posted on Friday's lesson. I am particularly interested to understand the second part of the question. Thanks!
Antonio, I've known people bragging about all the things they are *not* doing - as in not keeping the Sabbath as they were taught in their parents' homes. They thought it a sign of liberation that they were *not* following health principles, as taught in the Adventist church. Apparently they were very focused on what they *should* do as Adventists, so that when they were "liberated," they focused on what they were *not* doing, seeing it as their "freedom in Christ." I figured they were still legalists because they were still focused on outward actions, rather than a heart commitment to Jesus. (And, by the way, *not* being in harmony with God's will actually results in slavery, not freedom. There is the highest sense of freedom in doing His will. See Ps 119:45)
In my mind, anyone who focuses on what to do or not to *do* in order to be saved is a legalist. Salvation is not gained by our individual actions, but by faith in Jesus. The direction of our lives determines our character: Are we daily drawing closer to Jesus and becoming more like Him, or are we not. Our focus needs to be on *Jesus,* not our actions.
Thank you, Inge! 🙂
“The message will be carried not so much by arguments as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides.” –
Ellen G. White's quotes place the focus on where it needs to be placed to highlight the effect of God’s Glory as it works its marvelous work of salvation in the hearts of man.
Matt.24:3; 1Peter 5:8; Luke 21:35-36 are Scriptures pointing out that the faithful ought to take a sober look at how they conduct their life and their relationship with the Creator Father to assess if there is room for improvement. The call to ‘come out of Babylon my people’ cannot be taken lightly under any circumstances.
This world is full of distractions, full of attention seeking cares and obligations. How do we sort through all the demands on us without neglecting what is needful for us to do and to remain vigilant at the same time?
I find the more immersed I am in seeking to see matters of life through the lens of their spiritual application/impact on life, I can remain vigilant. If I neglect being ‘ablaze’ with God’s Glory, spiritual discernment, my attention becomes drawn to address the cares of this world through the mind's 'solution seeking' efforts.
It is the balancing act between the tug of the flesh to engage or relax, and the recognition to fulfill the call to be the vigilant sentinel keeping the watch. I think our Lord’s Holy Spirit is more than able to let us know how to do both in proper measure to maintain being ‘ablaze’ with God’s Glory.
“Man fully alive is the Glory of God” – St. Irenaeus of Lyons
I think an answer to Monday’s final question about truth setting people free would cover the whole week’s study.
The Jews claimed that they’d never been enslaved to anyone. Jesus had counseled that as His disciples they “will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn 8:32). However, Jesus was addressing their present condition. He affirmed that they were sin slaves; that their presence in the house as slaves/servants was temporary unless Jesus Himself sets them free (Jn 8:31-38). The Jews had a presence in God’s house having been delivered by Moses from Egyptian physical slavery and brought into covenant relationship with God. They were servants/slaves in God’s house (Heb 3:1-6; Gal 4:21-31; Rom 9:4-8; Gen 21:9-13). The servants do not partake in the distribution of the inheritance. The children, sons and daughters, are heirs. When Christ sets the slaves free from sin slavery He makes them sons and daughters (Gal 4:1-7). If the slave is not redeemed, he/she is cast out.
Israel was brought “near” through the Old Covenant, Mt Sinai. They did not gain full access to God, they served behind the thick veil in the Holy Place separated from the Holy of Holies. This was the earthly ministry (Gal 4:22-26; Heb 12:18-25). God gave them the Sabbath even before they got to Mt Sinai. It became the sign of the covenant (Ex 31:15-17). God told them that the Sabbath was a memorial of their deliverance, redemption, rescue, release from Egyptian slavery (Dt 5:13,14). Since they were slaves/servants God gave them the 7th day of their work-week as a Sabbath of rest (Ex 23:12). It was in the likeness of God’s rest, which was Spiritual rest, since God is Spirit (Ex 20:8-11).
Jesus, in one of His miracles, explained what their Sabbath should have meant to them. After healing a woman of some awful scoliosis Jesus said: “…You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox… and lead him away to water? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for 18 long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Lk 13:10-16). Those miracles testified of the deliverance or redemption from sin to come through Christ’s death and resurrection.
God blessed and sanctified the 7th day because He, too, had gotten relief, refreshing (Spiritual) when He ceased work on the 7th day, which never ended, by the way (Gen 2:2,3; Heb 4:3).
But God swore in wrath that those Israelites at Mt Sinai, to whom He gave the Sabbath: “they shall not enter My rest.”(Ps 95:11; Heb 3:11). Although they had a Sabbath it was not God’s rest. He later told Israel that their Sabbaths and feasts and assemblies were abominations to Him since they were performing those rituals but their hearts were elsewhere in their sins (Isa 1:10-17). God denounced: “I will put an end to all her gaiety, her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her festal assemblies.” (Hos 2:11). All things in the Law including their Sabbath were types and shadows of future good things to come thru Christ (Heb 10:1; Col 2:8-23). This Sabbath rest comes through faith in Christ, spiritual rest - deliverance from Satan’s bondage, from sin slavery, from dominion of the flesh. This is the Sabbath rest of the New Covenant, the heavenly ministry (Matt 11:28-30; Heb 4:3-11).
We rest from our works of sin and our own works of righteousness, as God did from His works (Heb 4:10; Phil 3:3-10). We don’t go back to our former works. Israel went back to her work after twenty-four hours. Their work was never finished as God’s was. We serve Our Lord Jesus with our hearts and eyes fixed on Jesus in the heavenly to the honor and glory of God. We are sons and daughters of God who imitate their Father in all things (Eph 5:1).
We may observe the Old Covenant Sabbath consistent with Rom 14:1-12, not in anyway thinking that we are justified before God in keeping sabbath of the Law or in Sunday observance (Gal 5:1-6,13-18).
Condolences to the families of victims of this past week's scientific mishap.
This quarter's Sabbath School lessons have certainly served to encourage faithfulness during these tumultuous times. May the sentiments of my prayer be yours, as well:
Lead me to study Your truth, Heavenly Father; whereby I may know you - the secret things that only You can reveal - even as I am already known by you. -Duet. 29:29
I love you, Lord! Draw me closer to You. I pray claiming the promise of Your word: Make me wiser and more discerning than the enemies surrounding me, I pray in Jesus' name. -Psalm 119:98
Transform the hearts of my family members and me [first me], thus creating a continuum of undeniable legacy in You, to the glory of Christ Our Risen Lamb. -2Corinthians 3:17
Keep us and our children close to You, Our Father. Keep us peaceful, while being ablaze in the glory of JESUS, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith. Amen.
-Revalation 2:11
-Isaiah 54:13