Getting to know Him

Comments On 2nd Quarter Lessons 2004: #1

King Salomon said in Ecclesiastes, “…there is nothing new under the sun.” Isaiah presents grievances against Judah that are not new, for their time nor ours. A quick reading of this first chapter will let us see into how far they were from God. It is amazing how much it sounds like our spiritual condition. There is evil and corruption everywhere. The fatherless and the widows are left neglected as they are abused with no one to intercede for them. The people in their guilt think that God can be manipulated by accepting sacrifices, burnt incense, rituals, and the observance of Sabbaths He never ordered. Sounds familiar? Our spiritual condition is no different. Paul predicts our condition in his letter to Timothy:

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The Lord reveals to John in Revelation about our times:

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

You ask any Adventist about salvation and they will say, “It is by Faith.” And yet, as you observe them and hear them speak you will see and hear what they truly believe. I would dare say that many of us believe that as long as we do not work our job during the Sabbath hours, do not watch TV nor read the paper, we go to church Saturday morning, pay tithes, and spend the day with other Adventists we are OK. Of course, we will abstain from eating unclean meats. But, a little wine does not hurt. And, when it comes to dating and going to a club or theatre is fine, as long as we do not have sex. Where is God in this picture? Well, He should be happy we at least go to church. What else does He wants? Of course He wants more. He sends His prophets to let us know and reprove us. And we, like the Jews, reject them too. When we reject them we reject God and His invitation. Invitation?

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah accepted this invitation. He tasted the Lord and saw that it was good. And, he wanted his people to also accept God’s invitation. This is the same invitation that the Lord tells John to write for us in Revelation.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Beyond, just doing as you are told, God wants you to get to know Him. Spend time with Him, share with Him, and fall in love with Him. You will not regret it. He will cleanse and transform you. Then you will know that you can trust Him. And, because you can trust Him you will believe Him when He says, “you will overcome and be victorious over Sin and death.” You will believe Him when He says “He will reward you with eternal life, in an incorrupt and immortal body, dwelling in a perfect dwelling with God’s throne at the public square.” You will love Him. This is what God wanted from the Jews. This is what God wants from us. It is what He’s always wanted.

The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/

Remember

Something to make you ponder.

Remember

Remember that first person you were in love with
Remember how you felt when you saw him/her
How nervous you got
The butterflies in your stomach
How you had such a hard time saying any word
And, you could not stop staring at him/her
Remember the 1st time you talked
The 1st words you exchanged
Remember the 1st time you held hands
Remember the 1st time you kissed
That electricity going through your body
Remember how giggly you felt
Everything about him/her was your main interest
Remember how you spoke on the phone for hours
And how at every opportunity you told everyone of him/her
And, you knew they felt the same way
Because, You saw it their eyes
You felt it in their touch
The way they said your name
And others complaining how you were the only thing he/she spoke about
This is God
That’s how I feel about you
And, that’s what I want from you


The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/

The Passion

Thought I shared this with you. Enjoy.

The Passion
He chose to love us
While we were yet his enemies
He took our flesh, our sinful nature (and yet sinned not)
And sought to understand us
Before he sought to for us understand Him
He took upon himself our suffering
He died for us…eternally
So we could live…eternally
He paid the price we owed
He took for us what we deserved…
To die hanging from a tree and be accursed forever
And yet we thanked Him not
We despised him and rejected him
With beat Him with a whip
We gave to Him our scorn
We mocked Him
We spat on Him
A crown of thorns we placed on His brow
We nailed Him to the cross
So while hanging from it He would die
We choose to remain the enemies
Of Him who chooses to die for us
Of Him who chooses to love us
Of Him who offers to pardon us
So we can live eternally with Him

The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/

Are we any different?

Comments to Sabbath School Lesson #13: The Power Of The Resurrection

The resurrection was a grand event. There had been nothing like it since the creation of this world. In fact, the same power that made possible the creation also made possible the resurrection. It is a shame that no one, except for a few Roman Soldiers, witnessed it. And, they ran away scared. Any witnesses would have told us exactly what happened. Then again, since our Scripture is inspired, we probably do know what did happen. The Power that made creation and resurrection possible is still at work today. It is the same power used by the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. It is this power that puts away the old man, and creates in us a new man. It is this power that allows us to be born again. It is this power that gives us victory over Sin.

This power the disciples had not yet received at Jesus’ resurrection. In fact they were disheartened by the death of Jesus. They disregarded all that Jesus had said about His Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and the disciples were sure they would find His corps in the tomb. At this point, it seems that, even the Pharisees believed more than the disciples. They heard Jesus say He would rise again on the third day. They believed Jesus. Otherwise they would have not asked to seal the rock covering the tomb’s entrance. They also bribed the Roman soldiers to start a rumor that the disciples themselves had removed the body.

As Mary Magdalene was mourning by the tomb Jesus appeared to her. At first she did not recognize Him. But, when Jesus called her name she recognized His voice. Immediately, her sad semblance turned to joy. Jesus also appeared to the disciples later on. Thomas was not there. He was incredulous when he heard his partners. “Unless I touch His scars myself, I will not believe,” said Thomas. The next week Jesus appeared again with Thomas present. Jesus challenged Thomas to touch Him. Thomas just said, “My Lord and my God!” He last appeared to a few of the disciples who were fishing. At this time Peter was re-commissioned to ministry.

We look back at this account and think about Mary and the disciples. We may feel tempted to think of them as foolish or dumb. What will it take for them to get it? Remember, that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. They had not yet received the Holy Spirit. What will it take for us to get it? Are we any different than Mary and the disciples? We brag about our Health Message. According to preliminary results of Health Study 2, 60% of the respondents are overweight. After all the light we have we still live in darkness. We have no excuse. We have been promised the Holy Spirit, just like the disciples. Are we choosing to let Him work in us? We’ve known for years that our divorce rates are not too different from those of non-adventists. I would dare say that our debt rate is probably as bad, if not worse, than those of non-adventists.

Let’s look at this week’s passages. Mary recognized the Lord’s voice at the point when He mentioned her name. Most Adventists I talk to, do not believe God speaks to them, but Christ said His sheep know His voice and know Him. Thomas believed when He saw, do we even look? We live in very solemn times. Prophecies are being fulfilled in our very own eyes. And, yet we live as if the second return will never happen. We carry on like most unbelievers, “eating, drinking, and being merry, for tomorrow we die.” We live like in the days of Noah: “marrying and giving ourselves in marriage.” We live too worried about owning homes, growing families, and going up the career ladder. We are more interested in sports, the market, and the news than reading and studying the Bible. We are more interested in gossip than praying. We never ask God for His will, but instead ask Him to bless ours. Are we any different? What will it take for us to get it?


The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/