And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV 

In John 8:1-11 Some men with terrible intentions seduced a woman and dragged her to Jesus  to see if He would condemn her or even allow her to be stoned to death. As evil as their intentions were, what they inadvertently did was to bring a woman to the feet of Jesus where she found salvation. As terrible as it was – and believe me it was not Jesus’ idea for them to treat her that way – in the end, Jesus turned things around to workout in her favor and to God’s glory.

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Terrible things happened to Jesus. Satan worked through evil men to make the Son of God a degraded spectacle on the cross. Yet through it all, Jesus became the Savior of the world. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that the One who was so despised, rejected and degraded is Lord. In the process a multitude that no one can number will be saved.

The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.- Ellen White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, Page 71. 

What a wonderful promise that nothing can touch us but what infinite love permits, and all these things work together for our good if we love God. Without ever reading Romans 8;28 or this passage from Mount of Blessing I just shared, Joseph realized that all the bad breaks he endured worked out to develop his character so he could save lives. Instead of being bitter and resentful, Joseph saw that even the bad breaks and evil intentions of others were working to his advantage. Not only did Joseph forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery, but, instead of blaming them, he said it was actually God who did it – and He did it for the good of others. 

But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5 NKJV

Not only did Joseph not blame his dysfunctional family for all the bad breaks in his life, but he refused to acknowledge them as bad breaks. Instead he realized that through all of the evil intentions of his dysfunctional family and even Potiphar’s wife’s terrible accusations, God was working to refine his character in order to get him exactly where he needed to be in order to save many lives. 

When bad breaks come our way, instead of blaming others for our situation, let’s trust God the same way Jesus and Joseph did. Let’s share in their hope and encouragement. Surely God is working out something wonderful in our lives. 

Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they could ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil; and that the bloodstained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter.-Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Page 679.

Instead of being resentful and bitter over supposedly bad  breaks lets bask in the love of God! God’s great love is working through our tribulations and persecutions making us more than conquerors. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NKJV 

Amen!(0)

The post Even With all the bad Breaks we are More Than Conquerors! first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/mrZuxXDCngY/

This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.

Week 7_Rest, Relationships & Healing_study this lesson for Aug 14 from SPD Discipleship on Vimeo.

Amen!(0)

The post 7: Rest. Relationships and Heading – SPD Discipleship Video first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/cHQ02aJD998/

You can view an in-depth discussion of “Rest, Relationships and Healing” 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 7: Rest, Relationships and Healing – HopeSS Video Discussion first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/Br5rme1O9Pk/

In order to forgive, I must admit that I have been hurt. This can be hard to do, as we are sometimes more inclined to try to bury our feelings rather than work through them.

Acknowledging unchristian feelings of resentment and even anger before God is fine. We see this often expressed in the Psalms. I can feel free to tell God that I didn’t like what happened or how I was treated and that it makes me sad or angry or both.

Image © Stan Myers at Goodsalt.com

In Joseph’s story, we see him crying as he sees his brothers again and relives some of the feelings of his past.

What does Jesus’ declaration on the cross tell us about the timing of forgiveness? Read Luke 23:34.

Jesus didn’t wait for us to ask for forgiveness first. We do not have to wait for our offender to ask for forgiveness. We can forgive others without having them accept our forgiveness.

What do Luke 6:28 and Matthew 5:44 teach about how we relate to those who hurt us?

Forgiveness, like love, begins with a choice rather than a feeling. We can make the choice to forgive, even if our emotions may not agree with this decision. God knows that in our own strength this choice is impossible, but “with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). This is why we are told to pray for those who have hurt us. In some cases, this person may have already died, but we can still pray for the ability to forgive him or her.

No question, forgiveness isn’t always easy. The pain and the damage done to us can be devastating, leaving us hurt, crippled, broken. Healing will come, if we allow it, but holding on to bitterness and anger and resentment will make healing much harder, if possible at all.

The Cross is the best example of what it cost God Himself to forgive us. If the Lord can go through that for us, even though He knew that so many would, nevertheless, reject Him, then we certainly can learn to forgive, as well.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Wednesday: Making it Practical first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/dK0RXuNwzGA/

Key Thought: Joseph’s life illustrates the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness releases us from the poison of bitterness and resentment.
August 14, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 42:21-24.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What was Joseph trying to do in the first meeting with his brothers? What did he hear?
3. Personal Application: What family difficulty can you work to facilitate reconciliation and bring resolve to? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Joseph could have held a great grudge against his brothers. He could have easily gotten even. Why did he choose not to get revenge, or at least give them a hard time?” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Matthew 18:31-35.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does forgiving others do for us?
3. Personal Application: How are we supposed to respond to those who hurt us? How are we doing in that regard? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “If we forgive someone, does that mean there won’t be consequences? Does it mean they are allowed to continue abusive and destructive patterns? If forgiveness a blank check for them?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Genesis 50:15-21..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What were Joseph’s brothers worried about?
3. Personal Application: What happens when forgiveness doesn’t turn out so well? How do we deal with less than happy endings? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I’ll forgive someone when they confess to me and say they are sorry and ask for my forgiveness. If they can’t admit they were wrong and tell me they are sorry, I’m not going to forgive them.“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Luke 23:34; 6:28; Matt 5:44..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Is there any importance to the timing of forgiveness?
3. Personal Application: Is there anyone you need to forgive, not only for their sake but also for your own?” 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).

Amen!(0)

The post 7: Rest, Relationships, and Healing – Teaching Plan first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/Te7u7MnDOcs/