Romans 14:17 reads: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (NASB). That is, joy is love’s reaction to the blessings of God and His great mercy and forgiveness. Now, human joy often is focused upon earthly things and is affected by the … Continue reading –>
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray….Luke 18:1 NLT As Sunday’s lesson talks about abiding in Christ, I have found for myself that praying often is not the answer. I must pray always. I used to have a golf cart relationships with Jesus. Golf carts charge their batteries early in … Continue reading –>
1. The fruit of the spirit. Are you often encouraged in your Christian life by the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Which of the gifts bring to mind most vividly the blessings of being deeply involved with God as a Christian? What about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? What would your life be … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 5:22 and 1 Corinthians 13. Why is love the first and foremost aspect of the fruit of the Spirit? How does love affect all the following aspects of this fruit? Love appropriately leads and crowns the various characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit and permeates the whole fruit. In a sense all … Continue reading –>
Read John 15:1-11. Why can fruit come forth only out of a living relationship with Jesus, the vine? Why is abiding in Jesus so important? How do we abide in Him? The first secret to genuine Christian fruit bearing is to abide in Christ. Apart from Christ, we cannot produce genuine spiritual fruit. The fruit … Continue reading –>
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. John 15:5 NLT Is it that simple? Can I be fruitful by just remaining and abiding in Christ? I was reading John 15 the other morning, when this phrase jumped out at me. If I just live in Jesus I can be … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: John 15:1-11, Gal. 5:22, 1 Corinthians 13, Rom. 14:17, Eph. 5:9, Matt. 5:5. Memory Text: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB). The fruit of the Spirit is the true essence … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “Like Unto Leaven,” pp. 95-102 in Christ’s Object Lessons. How do we even begin to grasp the holiness of God when our nature is fallen and corrupt and His is uncompromisingly holy? His holiness defines Him as singular and separated from the world of sin and death that we humans experience. … Continue reading –>
Read Psalm 15:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24; and 2 Timothy 2:21. What do they tell us about holiness? Holiness is the precondition for enjoying the happiness of fellowship with God. It is the precondition for our usefulness to God. We know the truth of the saying: “Sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a … Continue reading –>
We know that God calls us to keep His law. The question arises, though, why should we keep His law if we cannot be saved by it? The answer is found in the idea of holiness. Read Romans 7:12 and 1 Timothy 1:8. What attributes does Paul use to describe the law? How does the … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Holy Spirit and Living a Holy Life” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline … Continue reading –>
May He sanctify you. Our lesson opens with the beautiful benediction in 1 Thessalonians: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB). How closely connected are God’s holiness and … Continue reading –>
