Closer To Heaven
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It was another scorching Sabbath morning at Tumbleweed Seventh-day Adventist Church and the air conditioning wasn’t cooperating. Jared, the quintessential introvert, was already perspiring through his shirt by the time the benediction mercifully concluded the service. As the congregation began filing out, Jared’s eyes darted around nervously. He knew that long-winded Deacon Delbert would soon […] Source: https://atoday.org/satire-pastor-horrified-as-childrens-story-features-jael-tale/
Our learning this quarter will show us that
God Is Working His Purpose Out – Hymn 225 so that we will Lift Up The Trumpet because
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213. You may have two hymns from which to choose for your theme hymn this quarter.
The uplifting introduction to this week of study is that Jesus is returning and He preserves His people:
The Lord Is Coming – Hymn 200,
Christ Is Coming – Hymn 201,
That Glorious Day Is Coming – Hymn 209 and
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213, all because we
Trust and Obey – Hymn 590.
It is with great pity that as a fallen human race, we have viewed the fact that
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley – Hymn 151 (Monday).
Even with great persecution when Jerusalem fell in AD 70, people heeded the instructions of
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378 as we are endeavouring to do even today.
The wonderful Legacy of Love is sung in
Hymn 406 – Love Consecrates The Humblest Act and
Hymn 579 – ‘Tis Love That Makes Us Happy all because of
Thy Love, O God – Hymn 354.
May we be more Christian, that is, more Christ-Like.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-the-central-issue-love-or-selfishness-singing-with-inspiration/
Back in my literature evangelism days, I was sitting in the Oklahoma Adventist conference president’s office along with 4 or 5 other literature evangelists. We were discussing what one book, in addition to the Bible, we should be promoting for these last days. One person said we should be promoting books warning people about the mark of the beast. I suggested if we promoted books like The Desire of Ages, and encouraged people to fall in love with Jesus, then when the mark of the beast becomes an issue, people will make the obvious choice and follow Jesus. A few of them agreed.
The Great Controversy
Several years later I was in a vespers service at my church, where the group doing the presentations were telling us that instead of preaching the three angels’ message, we should be preaching the gospel. Apparently they did not understand the three angels message is the gospel. The first angel has the everlasting gospel which prepares us for judgment. The second angel warns us against choosing man-made religions instead of God. The third angel warns us against trusting in our own works to save us instead of resting on God’s Sabbath and letting Him save us.
Over the years I have heard people say Seventh-day Adventists should not be preaching about every-day living but should be warning people about last day events. I hope those of you who have been following my contributions to Sabbath School Net the last 13 years have found my articles to be balanced. I have done my best to stay Jesus-focused, and present our Bible teachings and crucial themes like the great controversy and the three angels’ message in the light of the cross. Here is why I believe we need to have a balanced blend of the cross in all our teachings, especially about last day events.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4 NKJV
Notice first, our repentance does not lead to God’s goodness. God’s goodness leads us to repentance. Therefore, if we want the world to repent and prepare for the judgment, shouldn’t we be preaching about God’s grace and goodness? The Conflict of the Ages series, which covers the great controversy from start to finish, begins Volume 1 (Patriarchs and Prophets) of that series with one sentence. That same sentence is the very last sentence in the last book of the series. That one sentence is not “Sunday is the false Sabbath.” The author of this series well knew Sunday was not the Sabbath, but that is not the main focus of her Conflict of the Ages series. That one sentence is not, “The Ten Commandments can be obeyed.” Again she well knew that, by God’s grace, we can live in harmony with God’s law. These are important aspects to consider in the great controversy, but the opening and closing sentences in the entire Conflict of the Ages series is, “God is love.” The number one reason the Seventh-day Adventist church was brought into existence is to proclaim the unadulterated truth about Jesus. Jesus came to show us the true character of the Father.
God is love!
When we properly share the three angels’ message and great controversy themes with our friends and neighbors, we are sharing the gospel. The seventh-day Adventist Church was brought into existence to help others see the gospel more clearly. Our Bible teachings about the Sabbath, judgment, the great controversy and the three angels’ messages help us to see God’s love more clearly in a world full of deceptions and lies about God’s loving character.
This is why I believe that, if people see the love of God in all His glory, they will be so in love with Jesus that when the test of the mark of the beast comes, they will not take that mark. Maybe they knew it was coming, maybe they didn’t, but either way, they will love Jesus so much they will not fall for it. After all, throughout earth’s history, people have been tested in various ways. The Sabbath is not always the test that is given. Perhaps on the Titanic people passed the test by putting others first and giving up their place on a lifeboat for someone else. Isn’t that what the gospel is all about?
Knowing that it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), how important it must be to show God’s goodness in everyday life. After all, consider this,
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:31-40 NKJV
Consider that in the judgment Jesus did not reward people for what they preached but by what they did to show His love for others. The most crucial theme in the great controversy is if God is love or not. While Satan is busy telling all kinds of lies about God’s character, the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be showing the mercy and goodness of God with those in need. This goodness will lead people to repent from believing Satan’s lies about God’s character. This goodness will also keep people from believing Satan’s lies about Seventh-day Adventists themselves. The great controversy won’t be won by preaching behind the pulpit. It will be won by everyday Adventists loving their neighbors in everyday life.
(0)The post Winning the Great Controversy in Every-day Life appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/winning-the-great-controversy-in-every-day-life/
Daily Lesson for Monday 8th of April 2024
God’s mercy, grace, providence, and foreknowledge are clearly revealed in the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. Cestius Gallus and the Roman armies surrounded the city. In an unexpected move, when their attack seemed imminent, they withdrew. The Jewish armies pursued them and won a great victory.
With the Romans fleeing and the Jews pursuing, the Christians in Jerusalem fled to Pella in Perea, beyond the Jordan River. “The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 30.
Read Psalms 46:1 and Isaiah 41:10. What do these passages tell us about God’s providential care?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
God is sovereign and overrules events on earth for the ultimate accomplishment of His divine purposes. Although at times God alters His original plans based on our human choices, His ultimate plan for this planet will be fulfilled. There will be times when the people of God experience hardship, persecution, imprisonment, and death itself for the cause of Christ. But even in the most challenging of times with Satan’s most vicious attacks, God sustains and preserves His church.
Read Hebrews 11:35-38 and Revelation 2:10. What reality do these texts reveal about our battle with the forces of evil? How do these passages harmonize with the idea of God’s protection in the previous question? Is there a contradiction in the idea of God’s protection and God allowing some to face painful suffering and even a martyr’s death for the cause of Christ?
“In vain were Satan’s efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post. By defeat they conquered. God’s workmen were slain, but His work went steadily forward.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 41.
What should it mean to us that the Bible writers, who certainly knew pain and suffering, could nevertheless, again and again, write about the reality of God’s love? How can we experience that same love for ourselves?
(0)The post Monday: Christians Providentially Preserved appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24b-02-christians-providentially-preserved/
He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen. Psalm 105:26.
Aaron was a man of amiable disposition, whom God selected to stand with Moses and speak for him…. God might have chosen Aaron as leader; but He who is acquainted with hearts, who understands character, knew that Aaron was yielding and lacked moral courage to stand in defense of the right under all circumstances, irrespective of consequences. Aaron’s desire to have the good will of the people sometimes led him to commit great wrongs…. The same lack of firmness for the right in his family resulted in the death of two of his sons…. Nadab and Abihu failed to reverence the command of God to offer sacred fire upon their censers with the incense before Him….
Here is seen the result of loose discipline. As these sons of Aaron had not been educated to respect and reverence the commands of their father, as they disregarded parental authority, they did not realize the necessity of explicitly following the requirements of God…. Contrary to God’s express direction, they dishonored Him by offering common instead of sacred fire. God visited them with His wrath; fire went forth from His presence and destroyed them.
Aaron bore his severe affliction with patience and humble submission. Sorrow and keen agony wrung his soul. He was convicted of his neglect of duty. He was priest of the most high God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. He was priest of his household, yet he had been inclined to pass over the folly of his children. He had neglected his duty to train and educate them to obedience, self-denial, and reverence for parental authority. Through feelings of misplaced indulgence, he failed to mold their characters with high reverence for eternal things. Aaron did not see, any more than many Christian parents now see, that his misplaced love and the indulgence of his children in wrong was preparing them for the certain displeasure of God…. His gentle remonstrance, without a firm exercise of parental restraint, and his imprudent tenderness toward his sons were cruelty in the extreme.7Testimonies for the Church 3:293-295.
Courage and Conflict p. 102
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our family. Buck
—-Please pray that the advertising done for our special Sabbath program will bring people into our church and lead people to Jesus. Kathy
—-Please pray to GOD for my complete healing and recovery from Parkinson’s disease. Myke
—-I would also like to have prayers for a friend of mine who is still struggling with the death of her husband and son. Name is Reta. A couple months or so ago he went to work and literally fell dead and a month later the son died. Maryanne
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Dear Friends,
A week or so ago, I was looking at some old photos and videos of when Ronnie Jay and Esther were in college. I was reminded of something that happened after Esther’s recital. All of the attendees were invited to the main level for refreshments. I asked Ronnie Jay if he would take pictures since I had left my camera at home. He handed me his camera, so I could click away at my heart’s content.
After I had taken quite a few pictures, I decided that I’d have a few tortilla chips and a glass of punch. I hung the camera around my neck (a big mistake for someone as klutzy as I) and balanced them on my lap. Esther’s professor came over to talk to me. This made me nervous as I’m a little shy and I also knew all of the troubles he had given Esther that year, but here he was praising her profusely. Suddenly, as I turned my head to look at him (he was behind the chair that was beside me) the nearly full cup of juice became airborne and overturned all over Ronnie Jay’s camera as well as all down the front of me.
I didn’t even think of my pale blue suit that was now wet and sticky. I had only one concern. I grabbed Ronnie Jay’s camera and looked around for some way to dry it. The professor rushed to get some paper towels. I followed. After drying it carefully, I found my son to tell him what had happened. I knew how much that camera meant to him as he loved to go out into the fields and woods and take pictures of various wild animals. He was very sweet about it and assured me that it was ok. He knew it was an accident. Then, after looking it over carefully, he took a picture of me (I looked very distressed) and put the camera in its case.
On the way home, he was assessing the damage. All seemed to work except the zoom was slower than normal. I offered to see if it could be fixed, but he thought it would be alright after using it for a while. How thankful I was that Ronnie Jay understood and forgave me!
How often we fall into sin just as easily as I overturned the sticky fruit punch. Soon we are covered with our sin just as surely as the camera and I was wet with sticky juice. Soon we are in the condition Isaiah described, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5, 6 We become alarmed and attempt to clean ourselves up, but we soon find we are unable to do so. As Jeremiah says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jer 13:23
Praise God! There is Someone Who can clean us up! He, Who gave His Life for us, not only forgives us, but He helps us to follow His example. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if 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. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 1:9-2:6
Yet, although Our Loving God forgives, He does not always take away the consequences. Often the scars remain just as surely as the zoom on Ronnie Jay’s camera did not respond as quickly as it did before the sticky bath I gave it. They are reminders so we may not want to do wrong again and desire always to do the right. May we do those things that are pleasing in His sight is my prayer.
Rose
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