Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.
Week 13_ The Ultimate Rest_ study this lesson for Sept 25 from SPD Discipleship on Vimeo.
(1)The post 13: The Ultimate Rest – SPD Discipleship Video first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/0HKYQiRJhVs/
You can view an in-depth discussion of The Ultimate Rest 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.
(0)The post 13: The Ultimate Rest – HopeSS Discussion Video first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/3EvR4JAcIQE/
For long centuries now, Christians have been awaiting Christ’s return. It is, truly, the culmination of all our hopes — and not just ours, but the hopes of all God’s faithful throughout all history.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
In many ways, these verses make no sense if the common and popular version of death were true. What is the passage talking about, these people “not having received the promises”? They’re dead, supposedly now up in heaven with Jesus enjoying their great reward. When, for example, Billy Graham died, over and over we heard how he was now in heaven with Jesus.
There’s an irony, too, in this view, because often when someone dies, we hear, “May he [she] rest in peace.” But what is going on here? Are such people resting in peace, or are they up in heaven doing whatever they are supposed to be doing (such as watching all the “fun” down here)?
In fact, the idea of their resting “in peace” is, of course, the truth about what happens at death, isn’t it? The dead, truly, are at rest. “To the believer, death is but a small matter. Christ speaks of it as if it were of little moment. ‘If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death,’ ‘he shall never taste of death.’ To the Christian, death is but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness. The life is hid with Christ in God, and ‘when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.’ John 8.51-52; Colossians 3:4.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 787.
Jesus compares a person’s condition between death and resurrection morning to an unconscious sleep (John 11:11, John 11:14), but He also emphasizes that both the saved and the lost will receive their reward after the resurrection ( John 5.28-29). He highlighted the necessity of being prepared for death, whenever it comes.
| What comfort do you get from knowing that your deceased loved ones are, indeed, now at rest? |
(0)The post Wednesday: Rest in Peace first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/MZRLxgscCb8/
The prophetic big picture of history doesn’t just allow us to sit back and do nothing as events unfold, events that we really can’t control. So often the attitude can be, “Well, final events are going to happen as predicted, so what can we do about it other than just simply go along with them? After all, what can I alone do?”
But that’s not how Christians are to relate to the world around them and, especially, to final events. Revelation 14 tells us that our purpose at this time in history is to tell others about God’s judgment and help them prepare for the second coming of Jesus.
Image © Philippians McKay Goodsalt.com
As Adventists, we believe that “present truth” (2 Peter 1:12) is found, specifically, in these verses that we refer to as “The Three Angels’ Messages.” Here we find the essence of what our calling is at this time in earth’s history.
Notice, it starts out with the “everlasting gospel,” the wonderful news of Christ’s death and resurrection, upon which our only hope of salvation rests. There is also the message that “the hour of His judgment has come” (Revelation 14:7),a powerful waymark that points to the end of time. Then, too, there is the call to worship the one “who made heaven and earth,” in contrast to the fearful warning about those who, staying in Babylon, worship “the beast and his image.” Finally there is the depiction of God’s end-time people: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (NKJV).
No rest, day or night, for those who worship the beast and his image? Though various ideas exist regarding what this exactly means, all would agree that these people do not experience the kind of rest that God offers those who are faithful to Him.
| Why do you think the first part of the Three Angels’ Messages is the “everlasting gospel”? Why must we keep this wonderful truth always before us as we proclaim these messages to the world? How is understanding the gospel so central to the concept of rest? |
(0)The post Tuesday: Marching Orders first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/RS9S-OjH7BY/
Rest. The word used most frequently in our Sabbath School Lesson pamphlet this quarter. “Thou shalt rest, Thou shalt rest!” These are words repeated in each verse of
Hymn 387 – Come, O Sabbath Day, our theme hymn for this quarter.
We could add to the theme
Hymn 529 – Under His Wings. Each week of study this quarter, gives more and more of showing God’s deepest care for us, His children. As God’s children we find out about the Biblical family growing pains, and this still happens today. Yet, we are still “under His wings”.
Sabbath afternoon’s introduction points us to the fact that the battle in the great controversy is between God and Satan. “I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side” is in
Hymn 331 – O Jesus I Have Promised, “we can rest in Jesus in the face of global unrest….” the notation in the lesson study then states.
On Sunday, it is prudent to ask
Be Thou My Vision – Hymn 547. John on his prison island would gladly sing
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213, remembering that
We Know Not the Hour – Hymn 604.
Monday we find that Jesus wants us “to rest confidently in His love” as is sung in
Under His Wings – Hymn 529. Matthew 24:36 says
We Know Not the Hour – Hymn 604 when Jesus will come. Meantime, we are to
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378 says Matthew 24:14.
Tuesday reminds us again to tell it to every kindred and nation, as does
Hymn 202 – Hail Him the King of Glory. The three angels message truly is resounded in verse 1 of
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213. Until Jesus comes, we are to teach the Truth to everyone –
Hymn 17 – Lord of All Being, Throned Afar (verses 4 and 5),
Hymn 60 – Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word and
Hymn 203 – This Is the Threefold Truth. In the present we are able to enjoy
Peace, Perfect Peace – Hymn 463 in comparison to those who “do not experience the kind of rest that God offers”.
Wednesday commences at the peak of
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope. It will be a triumphant day when all the dead in Christ shall rise, just as Jesus did in
Hymn 166 – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,
Hymn 171 – Thine Is the Glory,
Hymn 175 – Now the Green Blade Rises,
Hymn 196 – Tell Me the Old, Old Story and
Hymn 526 – Because He Lives.
For Thursday’s title you may have the Copyright abilities to sing “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice”. In the SDA Hymnal you may wish to choose to sing
Hymn 221 Rejoice, the Lord Is King and
Hymn 599 – Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers.
Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.
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.”
(0)The post 13: The Ultimate Rest – Singing with Inspiration first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/3h0t_xdJhWY/
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
