Friday: Further Thought ~ Living the Advent Hope

Further Thought:

Read Ellen G. White, “Called to Reach a Higher Standard”, pages 309-322, in The Acts of the Apostles; “Desolation of the Earth”, pages 653-661, in The Great Controversy.

“When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life. While probation continued they were blinded by Satan’s deceptions, and they justified their course of sin.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

The rich prided themselves upon their superiority to those who were less favored; but they had obtained their riches by violation of the law of God. They had neglected to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to deal justly, and to love mercy … They have sold their souls for earthly riches and enjoyments, and have not sought to become rich toward God. The result is, their lives are a failure; their pleasures are now turned to gall, their treasures to corruption”. – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 654.

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love”. – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 678.

Discussion Questions:

Explain how what you have studied this week demonstrates that life, here and now, matters. Compare this with the belief some hold that we need not worry about this life and this world because God will destroy it all and start again. How can we be careful, too, not to use this truth of the promise of new existence to neglect those in need (after all, in the end, God will make it all right)? Even worse, how can we make sure we don’t become one of those who have used this truth to exploit others?
The Seventh-day Adventist understanding of Bible prophecy expects evil, trouble, and suffering to increase as we get nearer to the return of Jesus. When such things happen we often refer to Matthew 24. How should we view these tragedies in light of Matthew chapter 25?

Summary:

Our God will not allow evil to continue forever. The Bible’s great hope is the return of Jesus to bring an end to evil, to heal injustice and create a new world as it was meant to be. Built on the resurrection of Jesus, this hope transforms today and gives courage to our service for God and others as we wait for His return.

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Reflecting on the week's lesson, perhaps the biggest question is how should we respond to the challenge individually. Most readers of this blog probably know the Seventh-day Adventist doctrinal positions fairly well. and can recite a few key texts to support those positions. But when it comes to interacting with the real world, are we guilty of hiding behind the church and asking the church to take corporate responsibility for us. How often do we hear the words, "The church should be doing ..."

I am not trying to absolve the church from its responsibility, but I am asking whether we are doing our own personal bit. I am mindful that church folk are doing their bit, often without fanfare and without the interference of publicity. The other day I just happened to meet an old friend an in conversation mentioned a "needs" issue that was being cared for by someone we both knew. It turns out that this person I was speaking to knew of the need and provided the money for the other person who had the time and skill to fulfill the need.

The cooperation of time and money support by individuals and small cooperative groups is evidence that Christ is living still in our community. They are tackling the problems of this world at the grass-roots level, not to win favor with God but because its the sort of thing that God's mob does.

For all of our fine doctrinal position, theological soundness, church structure, and organization, if they do not transform us into living Christians interacting with a needy world, then Christ is still dead. In spiritual terms, we must be the living Jesus.

How is this for a takeaway quote:

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2: 6-10

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Comments

Friday: Further Thought ~ Living the Advent Hope — 4 Comments

Maurice Ashton on September 12, 2019 at 2:14 pm said:

Reflecting on the week's lesson, perhaps the biggest question is how should we respond to the challenge individually. Most readers of this blog probably know the Seventh-day Adventist doctrinal positions fairly well. and can recite a few key texts to support those positions. But when it comes to interacting with the real world, are we guilty of hiding behind the church and asking the church to take corporate responsibility for us. How often do we hear the words, "The church should be doing ..."

I am not trying to absolve the church from its responsibility, but I am asking whether we are doing our own personal bit. I am mindful that church folk are doing their bit, often without fanfare and without the interference of publicity. The other day I just happened to meet an old friend an in conversation mentioned a "needs" issue that was being cared for by someone we both knew. It turns out that this person I was speaking to knew of the need and provided the money for the other person who had the time and skill to fulfill the need.

The cooperation of time and money support by individuals and small cooperative groups is evidence that Christ is living still in our community. They are tackling the problems of this world at the grass-roots level, not to win favor with God but because its the sort of thing that God's mob does.

For all of our fine doctrinal position, theological soundness, church structure, and organization, if they do not transform us into living Christians interacting with a needy world, then Christ is still dead. In spiritual terms, we must be the living Jesus.

How is this for a takeaway quote:

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2: 6-10

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- Richard Ferguson on September 14, 2019 at 9:18 am said:
  
  Maurice,
  
  I really like your point about what the church actually is: A social body of people in which persons who are intentional about serving the needs of others for Christ’s sake can network to accomplish that work. The church I am currently attending was praying about how they could serve this community. The church is located next to the courthouse and has some picnic tables in its backyard.
  
  When the circuit court was in session, some church members noticed that during breaks and at lunch, people from the court sessions would come out and sit at the tables. They saw an opportunity to provide refreshments and lunch for these people, so that they could mingle with them as ones desiring their good.
  
  So they brought the matter before the court clerk, who immediately said she would let people know not to use the tables. Oh no, the members said, we want to provide refreshments and lunch for these people. After the clerk recovered from surprise, she advised that that would be a fine idea.
  
  Over time, this simple service to the community has provided many opportunities to lend a listening ear, to extend comfort and to console as one would with a friend. The court personnel appreciate the refreshment, since some must travel a significant distance for the circuit court. The church even purchased a small pavilion to shade the tables in the summer and protect from cold and inclement weather. It has been a blessing to the church, the community and the court.
  
  If we look to serve Christ, there are opportunities for the Spirit to guide us into all truth.
  
  Richard
  
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  - Maurice Ashton on September 14, 2019 at 1:12 pm said:
    
    A great example of practical Christianity within the community.
    
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Newbegin Devaraj on September 12, 2019 at 6:15 pm said:

Living the Advent Hope - The hope Christ had imparted unto us is a living hope which rests upon Christ. Hope in Christ is life eternal.
“How Long, O LORD?” - "Time" colors and predominates every move made by a human being. This accounts for the obsession to travel at ever greater speeds. This seems to forestall death in the framework of time. It cannot exist in the presence of the Eternal God, the Great "I AM." Heaven can only operate in the environment of eternity which is outside of sin.*"
THEN SHALL THE SANCTUARY BE CLEANSED Ellen G. White
A Certain Kind of Hope - This hope rests in the power of Christ to raise those who are dead in Christ.
Resurrection Hope - Resurrection hope distinguishes Christianity from all other religions.
Judgment Hope - Those of us In Christ don't have to fear the judgment. Daniel 7: 21-22 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
No More Tears or Pain- Foreign words for those of us living in sin. Can you imagine having fallen asleep two hundred years ago and waking up today. The world will surely look different; however, soon after the resurrection the resurrected person in the sinful world will discover the core of humanity did not change.
However, In Christ,
5And the One seated on the thronesaid, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” Nothing of this world will be remembered in heaven.
Advent hope - Sin has a definite end. There is a new heaven and new earth. Instead of death life and living water will flow from the throne of God. God is love will be declared by all.

What is one work we will not do in heaven? Tell others about being redeemed from sin.

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