Read the story of Jacob’s wrestling with God (Genesis 32:1-32, NIV). What does this story say to us about perseverance, even amid great discouragement? (Keep the whole context of Jacob’s situation in mind before you answer.)

We can know what is right and exercise our wills to do the right thing; but when we are under pressure, it can be very difficult to keep holding on to God and His promises. That’s because we are weak and fearful. Therefore, one of the important strengths of the Christian is perseverance, the ability to keep going despite wanting to give up.

Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com

One of the greatest examples of perseverance in the Bible is Jacob. Many years before, Jacob had tricked his brother, Esau, and his father into giving him the birthright (Genesis 27:1-46, NIV), and ever since, he had been running in fear of Esau’s desire to kill him. Even though he had been given wonderful promises of God’s guidance and blessing in his dream of a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 28:1-22, NIV), he was still scared. Jacob was desperate for God’s assurance that he was accepted and that the promises made to him many years before were still true. As he fought someone who was actually Jesus, Jacob had his hip dislocated. From that point on, it could not have been possible to fight, as the pain would have been too excruciating. There must have been a subtle shift from fighting to hanging on. Jacob is hanging on to Jesus through unbearable pain until he receives an assurance of his blessing. So Jesus says to him, “Let me go, for it is daybreak” (Genesis 32:26, NIV).

Jacob’s blessing came because he held on through the pain. So it is with us. God may also dislocate our “hip” and then call us to hang on to Him through our pain. Indeed, God allowed the painful scars to continue — Jacob was still limping when he met his brother. To outside appearances it was a weakness, but for Jacob it was an indication of his strength.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Amen!(2)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/thursday-need-to-persevere/

You can view an in-depth discussion of Struggling with All Energy; in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Amen!(0)

The post 6: Struggling with All Energy – Hope SS Video Discussion appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-struggling-with-all-energy-hope-ss-video-discussion/

“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29-30).

Dwell on the words of Jesus in the above verse. Would you call His words radical? If so, why?

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

Radical action is necessary not because God has made the Christian life difficult, but because we and our culture have drifted so far away from God’s plans for us. People often wake up and wonder to themselves, “How could I have gone so far away from God?” The answer is always the same: just one step at a time.

Read , Matthew 5:30. Jesus is speaking in the context of sexual sin. However, the underlying principles apply to dealing with other sin, as well. Indeed, the principles can apply to our growth in Christ in general.

What crucial point is Jesus telling us with His words in Matthew 5:29-30? Are we really called literally to maim ourselves?

Jesus isn’t calling us to harm our bodies physically — not at all! Rather, He is calling us to control our minds and therefore our bodies, no matter the cost. Notice that the verses do not say that we should pray and that God will instantly remove the sinful tendencies from our lives.

Sometimes God may graciously do this for us, but often He calls us to make a radical commitment to give up something, or start doing something, that we may not feel like doing at all. What a crucible that can be! The more often we make the right choices, the stronger we will become, and the weaker the power of temptation in our lives.

God sometimes uses crucibles to catch our attention when there are so many noisy distractions around us. It is in the crucible that we realize how far we have drifted from God. The crucible may be God’s call for us to make a radical decision to return to our Father’s plan for us.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(4)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-radical-commitment/

One of the greatest enemies of our wills is our own feelings. We are increasingly living in a culture bombarded with pictures and music that can appeal directly to our senses, triggering our emotions — anger, fear, or lust — without our realizing it. How often do we think such things as “What do I feel like eating for supper?” “What do I feel like doing today?” “Do I feel good about buying this?” Feelings have thus become intimately involved in our decision-making. Feelings are not necessarily bad, but how I feel about something may have little to do with what is right or best. Indeed, our feelings can lie to us (“The heart is deceitful above all things” [Jeremiah 17:9]) and can create a false picture of reality, causing us to make bad choices, setting us up for a crucible of our own making.

Image © Ron Bell at Goodsalt.com

What examples can you find from the Bible where people made choices based on feelings rather than on God’s Word? What were the consequences? See for example, Genesis 3:6; 2 Samuel 11:2-4; Galatians 2:11-12.

Read 1 Peter 1:13. What is Peter concerned about, and what does he want his readers actually to do?

Peter understood that the mind is the rudder for the body that we control. Take away the control of the mind, and we will be controlled by whatever feelings blow our way.

Imagine walking along a narrow path to the Shepherd’s home. Along the way there are many paths leading in different directions. Some of these paths go to places that we would not want to visit. Others look tempting; they appeal to our feelings, our emotions, our desires. If, though, we take any one of them, we get off the right path and go in a way that might be exceedingly difficult to get off.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-disciplined-will/

Having scanned through the lesson quarterly, there are so many hymns from which to choose a theme. In effect, there is a commencing theme hymn which changes through the quarter to the finale theme hymn. To start with, we could use:
Hymn 552 – The Lord’s My Shepherd or 
Hymn 545 – Savior, Like a Shepherd.

Somewhere in the middle of the quarter one could change the theme and add in
Hymn 159 – On a Hill Far Away which is where we complete our studies in Lesson 13.

Sabbath afternoon’s introductions tells us of our will and how it has impact on our choices, so 
Prince of Peace, Control My Will – Hymn 153.

On reading John 16:5-15 (Sunday), we are encouraged to request 
Come, Holy Spirit – Hymn 269, 
Hymn 266 – Spirit of God so that we may then be able to sing 
Sweet, Sweet Spirit – Hymn 262 because we have prayed 
Spirit of the Living God – Hymn 672.

Time and effort are required “to achieve something worthwhile in this life” which shows we are 
Working, O Christ, With Thee – Hymn 582. Continuing on in Monday, we find Paul struggling with God requesting he 
Come, Labor On – Hymn 357.

Tuesday has the theme of 
Prince of Peace, Control My Will – Hymn 153 from Sabbath afternoon’s introduction, and again presents for Wednesday.

Ellen G White’s writings on Friday will have us singing
Just a Closer Walk With Thee because:

<blockquote>I am weak but Thou art strong,
Jesus keep me from all wrong,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Just a closer walker with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
(writer/composer unknown)</blockquote>

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 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.”

Amen!(0)

The post 6: Struggling with All Energy – Singing with Inspiration appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/6-struggling-with-all-energy-singing-with-inspiration/