by Stephen Ferguson | 13 January 2020 | Am I the only person confused with this whole story about impeaching US President Donald Trump? Maybe it is because I am not an American. In my defense as a mere foreign observer, I recently saw a television survey (okay, I admit this was from Fox News) […] Source: https://atoday.org/like-mitch-mcconnell-jesus-isnt-an-impartial-juror/
Every Word of God Proves True
Every word of God proves true…Proverbs 30:5 NLT
God’s Word said “if you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will die.” The serpent said, “You won’t die!” insinuating God is a liar. The serpent was talking so it appeared defiance to God actually gave him special powers. Eve believed in what she heard and saw from the serpent instead of believing God’s Word. Turns out God’s Word was true. She died.
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
God told us through the prophet Daniel that Europe would never be reunited into a one-world empire after Rome fell. In World War 2 Arthur Maxwell’s superiors were so afraid Hitler would take over Europe that they asked him not to publish his article claiming, according to Daniel 2, that there was no way Hitler could win and take over Europe. Maxwell published his article anyways. Good thing he did, because it turned out God’s Word was true. Hitler lost. Europe has never been reunited into a one-world empire.
In the wilderness Satan wanted to tempt Jesus and make Him doubt He was the Son of God. After all He probably did not look the best after 40 days of fasting. Jesus said He did not need any signs, like turning stones to bread to prove He was God’s Son. He had already heard God call Him “Son” at His baptism. Jesus put His faith in God’s Word instead of appearances. Turns out God’s Word is true. Even the centurion knew Jesus was God’s Son.
A boy told a story about dying and going to heaven. The Bible says when you die you remain in your grave, unconscious until Jesus comes and resurrects us. Like Eve, many people put their faith in what they saw and heard instead of God’s Word. The boy later recanted his story. Turns out the Bible is true. Those who die sleep until Jesus comes.
The moral of my story is, whenever appearances, sight, sound and feeling all contradict God’s Word, God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures will prove true every time. Trust God. Trust His Word above anything you see, feel, or hear.
(0) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/Q1HpcR8i0XA/
Sharing Scripture for January 12 – 18
This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS Lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […] Source: https://atoday.org/sharing-scripture-for-january-12-18/
Tuesday: The Image – Part One
Read Daniel 2:24-30. What does Daniel say here that’s so important for us always to remember? (See also John 15:5).
In response to prayer, God reveals the content of the dream and its interpretation. And Daniel does not hesitate to tell the king that the solution for the mystery comes from the “God in heaven”. Also, prior to reporting the content of the dream and its interpretation,
Daniel mentions the unexpressed thoughts and concerns of the king as the latter lay sleepless in bed. This circumstantial information further emphasizes the credibility of the message, because such information known only to the king must have come to Daniel through a supernatural power. But as Daniel proceeds to report the content of the dream, he risks triggering another crisis, because the dream is not necessarily good news for Nebuchadnezzar.
Read Daniel 2:31-49. What does the dream say is the fate of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom?
The dream consists of a majestic image with its head “of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Dan. 2:32-33, NKJV). Eventually a stone “struck the image on its feet” (Dan. 2:34, NKJV), and the whole structure was destroyed and scattered like chaff on the wind. Daniel explains that the different metals represent successive kingdoms that will replace one another throughout the course of history. For Nebuchadnezzar, the message is clear: Babylonia, with all its might and glory, will pass away and be replaced by another kingdom, which will be followed by others until a kingdom of a completely different nature will replace them all: God’s eternal kingdom, which will last forever.
| Look at how fleeting and temporary all human things are. What should this fact teach us about the great hope we have in Jesus, and in Jesus alone (see John 6:54, 2 Cor. 4:18)? |
(0) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/u_DtL9u3AlQ/
True Sanctification
I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32.
What is genuine sanctification? Read Exodus 31. In that chapter we shall understand the term, for God Himself has defined it. The Lord Jesus had given the special directions how to build the tabernacle. As the children of Israel had been compelled to work on the Sabbath, the sacredness of the day was not preserved. As slaves in Egypt, they had largely lost the knowledge of the Sabbath. This is the reason the commandments of God were given in awful grandeur upon Mount Sinai. The Lord would guard His Sabbath in particular, and He knew the people would forget the commandment of the Sabbath, and in their zeal the workmen would say, “This work is the Lord’s, and under His supervision, and we can do His work without observing the Sabbath….” Therefore the seventh day was distinguished as God’s memorial and was to be kept holy unto the Lord that the people “may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify” them. This is genuine sanctification….
But the work must needs go deeper, take firmer hold of the life and of the character. Some have thought they could easily persuade a sinner to give up his idols, to keep God’s commandments, to believe Jesus is soon to come in the clouds of heaven. When they can awaken no interest, no desire to search the Scriptures to see if these things are indeed truth; when they see no conviction assured in the minds of those who transgress the law of God; when they are frequently met with flimsy excuses, with indifference or decided opposition and ridicule; when their hearers turn aside to heap contempt upon God’s holy law, they become discouraged. Where they looked for success, they found defeat….
Oh, how many lessons those young in the faith will have to learn in the exercise of winning souls to Christ! Some will learn in defeat and failure the lessons they would not otherwise have learned, but a few repulses have so chilling an influence that the spark of grace almost becomes extinct in their own souls and they think it does not pay to make efforts to save souls, and they no longer shine as lights in the world. The thought of turning souls from the errors of their ways, the sense of obligation to impart to others the precious light of truth, dies, and they do nothing….
These difficulties, opposition, disappointments and discouragements they must meet again in a more decided, intense manner, but they must be firm as a rock to principle. If we are Christians, we must be Christlike, we must reflect light.—Letter 19c, April 20, 1874, to W. C. White.
The Upward Look p. 124
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Hannah who is in ICU and her family. Rose
—-Please pray that God will give us wisdom in an upcoming decision. RJ
—-I need prayers for my marriage. Kristina B
—-I pray that you all will join me in prayer that God will work in a mighty way to open my children’s hearts and minds to the need for a relationship with Him. They were raised to know God but they each have gone their own way. Pray please, that God will work in a mighty way in their hearts and minds. Kathy
—-Please pray for Dahlia and Hannah who live fifteen miles from the erupting volcano. Also please pray for the people and animals of Australia who are suffering because of the fires. Rose
—-Our dog, Zoey, has an auto-immune disease that lifts the nail off the quick and is very painful. We have been giving her medicine and sometimes she seems better but she is not up to normal yet. She still likes to run but I can tell she doesn’t feel as good as she should. Buddy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
This morning I was going through a folder on my email labled “Things to Keep” and found the words to a song that Esther wrote when she was a teenager. I thought I would share it with you this morning. May it be the prayer of our hearts.
Rose
A New Heart
Lord give me a clean heart,
A kind and a true heart,
Lord through me please show
Others You care.
Lord give me a new heart,
A loving and pure heart,
So others may find You
And know that You care
Though this would is rough and dirty,
A new heart is waiting for you.
Though you sins may be many,
Jesus is waiting for you.
Lord give me a clean heart,
A kind and a true heart,
Lord through me please show
Others You care.
Lord give me a new heart,
A loving and pure heart,
So others may find You
And know that You care
Lord, give me a new heart
And keep me in your care.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/w7-fQZ3odWg/true-sanctification.html

