Sabbath: Standing _for the_ Truth
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 20th of April 2024
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
Daniel 7:23-25; Revelation 12:6,14; Jude 1:3-4; Revelation 2:10; Acts 5:28-32; Psalms 19:7-11; 1 John 5:11-13.
Memory Text:
“ ‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life’ ” (John 3:14-15, NKJV).
The modern Turkish seacoast city of Izmir was once the biblical city of Smyrna, mentioned in the book of Revelation. This ancient city of approximately 100,000 inhabitants flourished in the late first and second centuries. It was a prosperous city, and it was fiercely loyal to Rome.
Once a year, all the citizens of Smyrna were commanded to burn incense to the Roman gods. Evidently, in the second century, Smyrna had a thriving Christian community, as well, and many were not going to comply. Polycarp, an early church leader, was martyred in Smyrna’s public square, burned at the stake for refusing to betray his Lord by burning incense to the Roman gods. When asked one last time to disavow Christ, the old man replied, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?”
Throughout the centuries, men and women have been willing to experience martyrdom rather than give up their faith in Christ. Their sacrifice rekindles our courage. The story of their commitment to Christ renews our own commitment. This week we will look at some biblical principles that motivated the Waldenses and later Reformers, such as Huss and Jerome, to stay faithful to the Lord no matter what—even at the threat of death from the same power that killed Polycarp: Rome, but now in the papal phase.
*Study this week’s lesson, based on The Great Controversy, chapters 4–6, to prepare for Sabbath, April 27.
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What is truth? Truth is not merely a concept to be understood but a tangible reality to be embraced and lived out. Truth has got the source. God is the truth. When Jesus declares in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life", he is simply saying that if I am embraced I will bring joy, fulfillment, and blessing to individuals and communities. For instance, the Bible teaches that God is love. If we live this truth, how much joy, happiness and peace will this troubled world experience? Truth has got transformative power to diminish the kingdom of darkness. We should stand up for the truth because the truth will set us free (John 8:32) from ignorance, falsehood and bondage of sin.
May God guide us as we look deeply into the topic of the week In Jesus' Mighty Name _amen.
“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7
But not always, right? For Daniel in the lion’s den and for Daniel’s 3 friends in the fiery furnace, yes. But for Job and the martyrs, no.
In Job’s story we see a bit behind the scenes. We hear the Satanic accusation of God:
If life is always easier and without suffering for God’s children, then of course everyone would want to be in His kingdom….. according to Satan…. but, if and when being a Christian is a life-and-death risk, when it means giving up comfort, giving up credibility and friendships and family ties, giving up material prosperity, giving up control over your own body…. when it’s the biggest test possible of what you love most…, what can the accuser say then? When one willingly and even gladly loses everything for Jesus…. what a testimony!
Oh, and the Lord is encamped with the martyrs too….we see they’re not delivered from bodily harm, but they are delivered from caring what men can do to them (Ps. 118:6).
Hi Esther!
So the answer is yes? But sometimes they must give way to the enemy for a greater good and just because they give way, it doesn’t mean they have left us. They are there to give strength, courage, peace, hope, and even to limit the enemies hand according to God’s will.
Amen, God always knows best! So I have to ask…are you the same Sylvia Verrill who I knew at Oxford church growing up …and once I played in your barn with Jenny??
Standing for the Truth today as it was first proclaimed during the time of the new Ecclesia - following the Word of God by faith:
1 John 5:11-13 :
”And this is the testimony: that God has given us ternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
is it possible we invite persecution via spiritual abuse
It is! There has been plenty of spiritual abuse committed by so-called "Christians" or misguided Christians (through ignorance). That has, as one would expect, stirred up hatred which has great potential to inspire persecution. It is also possible to be persecuted though we have committed no spiritual abuse as was the case with Jesus.
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?”
This got me,I got goose bumps reading it,Jesus,,,,, this is the kind of Faithfulness we all need in this Kind of time and where we are going, May He Give us the Grace to Stand Firm on the Truth in Trying Times as these.🙏❤
Which one is easier for you: to live or die for Christ?
Is this a trick question, JC 😅?…
to live for Christ is to die to self
to die to self is to live for Christ
JC both things are easier if Christ's Spirit dwells in you, for bible says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJV
The first question I asked myself when I saw the title was what truth am I to stand for? We have so many examples throughout scripture, Old and New Testament. I was also drawn to the first chapter in Steps to Christ, which for me, defines the truth that needs to be stood for. Satan had been so successful in leading many into a false understanding of God and His character. In Jesus own words, he tells all why he came. There is John 1:16-18, John 14:9, all of John 17, and the list goes on. We have Old Testament examples of Job, Daniel’s 3 friends, Daniel himself, and again the list goes on. Only God is to be worshipped. My understanding of His character is crucial for my obedience to Him and worship of Him. When we understand clearly His character, we will have to problem standing for the truth this understanding brings.