The God of Creation, who brought the sun, moon, and stars into existence, whose awesome power created this planet and filled it with living things, is also a God who is interested in each one of us. He is the God who delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, who guided them in their wilderness wanderings, who rained manna out of heaven, who caused the walls of Jericho to collapse, and who defeated Israel’s enemies. The same God who unleashed His infinite power to create the universe unleashes that infinite power to defeat the forces of evil that wage the battles for our souls.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 139:15-18, Acts 17:27, and Colossians 1:17. What do these verses teach us about the closeness of God?

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Theologians talk about the transcendence of God. This is the idea that God exists above and over all of the Creation. But they also talk about the immanence of God. This is the idea that God also, somehow, exists within our world and, as biblical history shows, is also intricately and intimately involved in it. Though the Lord dwells in a “high and holy place,” He is also “with him who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15, NKJV). As Jesus Himself said, talking about His faithful followers: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23, NKJV). It doesn’t get more intimate and closer than that.

The great news about our God is that His greatness and power are so vast that it reaches across the cosmos and into each of our lives. He promises to remake us, mold us, transform us into the likeness of His image. Think about what that means. The God who created and who sustains billions of galaxies is the same God not only in whom “we live, and move, and have our being“ (Acts 17:28), but also works in our hearts, to give us new hearts, to purge us of sin, and make us into new creatures in Christ. What a powerfully comforting thought to realize our God, a God of such power, loves and cares for us.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Read Revelation 14:7. How does the message of the first angel conclude? What final appeal does this judgment hour message make? (See also Isaiah 40:26, John 1:1-3, and Romans 1:20.)

Revelation 14:7 ends with a clarion call to worship the Creator; this call is especially important now, when most of the scientific and even the Christian world have accepted evolution, a teaching that strikes at the very heart of all things biblical and Christian. If evolution were true, our faith would, of necessity, be a lie. That’s how stark the issues are.

Revelation’s final appeal, then, is rooted in the Bible’s first book, Genesis. We will never fully understand the issues in this cosmic battle over worship unless we understand the significance of Creation.

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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV). This verse is the foundation for all of Scripture. “In the beginning God created.” The Hebrew word for “create” in this passage is bara′, a verb that is used only and exclusively with God Himself as the subject.

To get just a small idea of how unlimited God’s power is, let’s consider just one object of His creation — the sun. The sun produces more energy in one second than humanity has produced by oil, gas, coal, or fire since the beginning of time.

The sun has a diameter of approximately 865,000 miles and could hold one million planets the size of earth. But the sun is just one of at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. One star called the Pistol Star gives off as much as ten million times the power generated by our sun. One million stars the size of our sun can easily fit within the sphere of the Pistol Star. How do we even begin to wrap our minds around the creation?

Creation reveals a God of awesome might and unlimited power. His creative power not only brought the heavens and earth into existence, but has worked in behalf of His people through the centuries. He is the God who began this world, who is ever present in this world, and who will never forsake His people in this world.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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“Three Cosmic Messages” encourages us to 
Watch, Ye Saints – Hymn 598 as we near the end of this old world’s history to witness the Second Coming of our Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful hymn to give courage, dear people, and is our theme for this quarter.

 We will be noting at times throughout the quarter that
“Tis Almost Time For The Lord To Come – Hymn 212 and we should be proclaiming the message that 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213.

The title of this weeks’ lesson brings us 
Hymn 83 – O Worship The King and 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord. These hymns will pop up frequently during each day’s study time.

Sabbath afternoon concludes with 
Hymn 111 – It Took A Miracle. The miracles of creation continue throughout the week.

 We find Sunday encouraging us to say 
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less – Hymn 522 even 
In The Hour Of Trial – Hymn 491 like John stated. John found courage from his Heavenly Visitor to say 
How Cheering Is The Christian’s Hope – Hymn 440. “The central issue in the book of Revelation is worship” bringing us back to 
Hymn 83 – O Worship The King and 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord, with these latter two hymns being the favourite for Monday.

It is with gratefulness that we see our faith in God is not a lie (Monday): 
Hymn 533 – O For A Faith.

“The great news about our God is that His greatness and power are so vast…” says Tuesday: 
Hymn 86 – How Great Thou Art.

 It is with wonder that we are reminded on Wednesday that “Jesus as Creator ….. is Jesus as Redeemer”: 
Hymn 343 – I Will Sing Of My Redeemer, and this is given to us again on Thursday.

Thursday continues with “The first angel’s message to worship the Creator came after the cross”: 
Hymn 163 – At The Cross showing that there is 
Power In The Blood – Hymn 294.

Our final thought comes on Friday when “The One who created us invites us to surrender our lives in the act of worship”: 
Hymn 309 – I Surrender All.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

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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Key Thought : Worship has to do with the very nature and purpose of our existence. Not to worship God is to lose our reason for existence.
May 13, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 1:9, Matthew 13:21, Acts 14:22.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What is the message here for all who seek to follow Christ in the world?
3. Personal Application: Have you suffered persecution for your faith, or have you just been inconvenienced at times? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “The message of many preachers is that God wants us to prosper and be the head and not the tail. So if the message is that we must enter through much tribulation, why aren’t many Christians suffering for their faith? Is it compromise with the world, a lack of living faith in all areas of our lives, or because the time isn’t right yet?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 17:27, Colossians 1:17.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does it mean to be made a new creation?
3. Personal Application: Do we draw hope and comfort from the closeness of God, or is it frightening because God knows your darkest thoughts and secrets? Does the gospel give you peace in that context? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Have you ever had an experience where you saw the work of God in your life? You know, where God showed you His love, care, and concern for you in your life personally.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:13-17, Romans 5:17-19.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What is the mystery of God that was hidden and is now made manifest to the church mentioned in these verses?
3. Personal Application: Why is it a mystery and a stumbling block for people to know that Jesus created everything, including humans, and then became a human to die that we could have eternal life? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What’s wrong with the idea that God created through an evolutionary process, where man eventually developed and evolved into the top of the evolutionary cycle? God created, nature and man evolved naturally over time. This reconciles science and religion.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 14:7.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why is there a call to worship the Creator of all things in the everlasting gospel of the first angel?
3. Personal Application: What are some ways God may have given us to worship His creation, His creative power, and His position as our Maker? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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After His ascension to heaven (Acts 1:9), Jesus visited the last of the living apostles, John, on the island of Patmos, where John had been exiled by the ruthless Roman emperor Domitian.

Read Revelation 1:9. See also Matthew 13:21, Acts 14:22, and John 16:33. What’s the message here for all who seek to follow Jesus in this world?

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Separated from the support of his family, friends, and the Christian community, John was not left alone in the tribulations and trouble that he faced as a follower of Jesus. His ministry was not over. His witness was not complete. An angelic visitor of dazzling brightness visited John on that lonely isle and brought him a message directly from the throne of God. This message from Jesus was to echo down the corridors of time through the centuries. It was a message of hope for every generation, but especially a message to prepare God’s last-day people for the coming of Jesus. It is a serious message of warning as well as an end-time message of encouragement as we get ready to face the trials of the final days (or any trials that you might be facing now).

If you were to enter the cave where it is purported that John was visited by the heavenly angel with Revelation’s prophetic vision, you would immediately notice these words placed on a plaque at its entrance summarizing the entire book of Revelation: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7, NKJV).

The central issue in the book of Revelation is worship. We were created as worshiping beings. Every one of us worships something or someone. True worship, the worship of the Creator, enables us to discover life’s true purpose. It gives us a reason for living. It gives us not only something to die for but, even more significantly, something to live for and, if need be, to endure tribulations for. And indeed, as the final crises arise, we will better understand the words that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22, NKJV).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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