by Connie J. French | 17 February 2022 | Not long ago I wrote a letter to an adult daughter confessing my deep remorse for requiring her to attend church as a child, and so to be exposed to spiritual abuse. Her response brought tears to my eyes, and lifted a burden from my heart. […] Source: https://atoday.org/spiritual-abuse-as-ive-experienced-it/
God the Holy Spirit [Who is He and What Does He Do?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
We have learned about God the Son and God the Father in the previous episodes. In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about the third Person of the Trinity. He is invisible but existent—God the Holy Spirit. Our fifth fundamental belief says: "God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He is as much a person as are the Father and the Son. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ's life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth." The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, leads us to repentance, and transforms our lives to be like Jesus. He also helps us understand the truth God has revealed in the Bible. “His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood…Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error and expels it from the soul” (Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 13). Moreover, the Holy Spirit “strives” as Genesis 6:3 says: "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…" He also “teaches” as in Luke 12:12: "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." He convicts as John 16:8 notes: “And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” Also, He inspires as 2 Peter 1:21 indicates: "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Lastly, He sanctifies as 1 Peter 1:2 states: "…the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." We see the Holy Spirit's activity and involvement in some remarkable events in the Bible. For instance, He was active at Creation, "hovering over the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:1,2). Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." He was referring to the necessity of baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. During Jesus' incarnation, an angel told Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One Who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Jesus acknowledged the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He said in Isaiah 61:1, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." Also, before His crucifixion, Jesus assured His disciples: "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:25, 26). In Acts 10:38, Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, saying, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power…" To conclude, we are to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by surrendering ourselves to Him and allowing Him to transform our lives. He was sent to teach, guide, comfort, encourage, and transform us. However, the choice is ours to accept Him. But Jesus warned us about the consequences of resisting the Holy Spirit. With this, let us heed the call given in Psalm 95 and repeated in Hebrews 4:7: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." To know more about the Holy Spirit, Pastor Wilson encourages you to visit adventist.org/holy-spirit. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVlaqV45KCQ
ATSS: Dr. Katrina Blue on Spirituality and Seventh-day Adventists
17 February 2022 | What is Biblical spirituality? Seventh-day Adventists speak in terms of spiritual experience, but in practice much of our spirituality seems rooted in doctrines and interpretation. Ellen White encourages us to experience God, but also warns against trusting feelings and experiences. Our top church leaders warn against meditation and mysticism. And many […] Source: https://atoday.org/atss-dr-katrina-blue-on-spirituality-and-seventh-day-adventists/
Matrimonio, famiglia e combattimento spirituale
Versetto introduttivo: 2 Corinzi 11:2-3 Meditazione a cura del pastore Eugen Havresciuc Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccV_UYcwcYY
AT INTERVIEW: Dr. Carolyn Joy Cooper
17 February 2022 | University of the West Indies Professor Emerita, and Jamaica Gleaner columnist, Dr. Carolyn Cooper on Burnett Robinson, sexism in religion, and our troubled male-female relationships . Links referred to: Carolyn Joy Cooper writings Burnett Robinson news story Lindsey Painter article on purity culture Loren Seibold article on men’s temptations To join […] Source: https://atoday.org/at-interview-dr-carolyn-joy-cooper/
February 2022 President’s Report: ‘Former Enemies’
There are experiences in life that touch us to the core, and the ongoing saga of the former rebels of Mindoro, Philippines, is one of them. The greatest battle they ever fought was a spiritual one—the battle for their hearts. And the spectacular victory that followed was a triumph of God’s love overcoming hatred and hostility. Below is a short video where I interview the former leader of the rebel forces and his wife, alongside the military secret service agent who pursued them relentlessly. But that’s all in the past, because now they’re fully reconciled, recently baptized—and no longer enemies but friends! And they’re actively training to become evangelists! That’s the power of God’s Spirit transforming hearts and bringing conviction to the soul—and I love it when he uses Adventist World Radio to do it! Yours in the Blessed Hope,
Duane McKey MB013AYHH5RXA7A Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_da8T7AEqo
La forza creatrice dell’Universo: amore o potere divino?
Versetto introduttivo: Luca 6:27-28. Meditazione a cura di past. tirocinante Liudmilla Biscardi Registrato presso la Chiesa Cristiana Avventista del settimo giorno il 12/02/2022 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxgIEmy-0OM
Inside Story: Sabbath or Scholarship?
Sabbath or Scholarship?
It was an offer that the Seventh-day Adventist girl could not refuse: a full scholarship to study at a private non-Christian school.
Image © Pacific Press
Malevelev, who grew up in an Adventist home, had been taught since she was young to remember God in all her decisions. The girl had planned to enter middle school at Taiwan Adventist Academy when she finished sixth grade, but then recruiters from the private school showed up in her village in the southern Kaohsiung region of Taiwan. They encouraged Malevelev and her parents, who belonged to the Rukai indigenous people group, to accept the full scholarship.
Tuition was high at Taiwan Adventist Academy, and it would be difficult for the parents to afford. They asked the girl to go to the private school.
During summer vacation, Malevelev visited the school and saw that she would be required to attend classes on Sabbath. She would not be able to go to church to worship God. A conflict erupted within her: Should she accept the full scholarship or keep the Sabbath? As she struggled with the decision, she remembered God. She knew that she should choose the Sabbath.
At the end of the summer, Malevelev’s parents insisted that she go to the private school. The girl felt dreadfully discouraged, and she prayed fervently.
“God, help me,” she prayed. “Show me what to do.”
Taking courage, she spoke kindly but firmly to her parents.
“I want to go to Taiwan Adventist Academy,” she said. “I will not go to classes on Sabbath because I want to go to church.”
She explained her desire to remain faithful to God by keeping all ten commandments, including the fourth, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8; NKJV).
“I don’t want to betray the truth taught by my grandfather,” she said.
Seeing the girl’s determination, her parents allowed her to study at Taiwan Adventist Academy.
Today, Malevelev has studied for five years at the school and is in the 11th grade.
“I’m very happy here,” she said. “I have wonderful teachers and classmates, and we are like a big family. More important, I have made many Christian friends. We have morning and evening worship together, we pray together, and we study together. I cherish every moment at the school. Although I don’t know what will happen in the future, I know that God will lead me and fulfill His wonderful plan for me.”
She is glad that she was taught from childhood to remember God always. Repeating Ecclesiastes 12:1, she said, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’”
“When you need to make an important decision, believe in God and choose according to His will and pleasure,” she said. “I encourage myself with this verse all the time. Now I am sharing my secret with you, and may God bless you.”
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
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Friday: Further Thought ~ Jesus, The Mediator of the New Covenant
Further Thought:
“If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, ‘I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.’ Hebrews 10:16.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience — the service and allegiance of love — is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the Scripture says, ‘This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.’ ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ 1 John 5:3; 1 John 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. …
The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan’s delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you.
No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character; but if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ.” — Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, Pages 60, 64, 65.
Discussion Questions:
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Amen!(0)
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-jesus-mediator-of-new-covenant/
8.JESUS, THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT – THE MESSAGE OF HEBREWS | Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A.
Series THE MESSAGE OF HEBREWS with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A.
8.JESUS, THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT
It is great to have a mediator in the centre of the universe.
Memory Text: Hebrews 8:6 – But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Content:
8.0 Introduction
8.1 The Need of a New Covenant
8.2 New and Renewed
8.3 The New Covenant Has a Better Mediator
8.4 The New Covenant Has Better Promises
8.5 The New Covenant Has Solved the Problem of the Heart
8.6 Summary
My God bless you today and always.
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