sdarm qtr. 3 1992 bible study

8/8/2019 SDARM Qtr. 3 1992 Bible Study

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Sabbath Bible Lessons

TH MIGHTY WORK

OF TH HOLY SPIRIT

esson Titles

Page

1 The GreatestNeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2 The Holy Spirit

in

the Life of]esus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

3

The

Promise of the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 The Fullness of the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

5 Working

in

God s Power 17

6 God s Plan for His Church 20

7 A Serious Warning Against Hypocrisy 23

8 From Fiery Persecutor to Humble Follower. . . . . . 26

9

The

Vivifying Power of the Holy Spirit 29

In the Spirit and Power of Elijah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

The

Work of the Holy Spirit in Mankind 36

2

The

Desire for Revival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

39

3

Preparation for the Latter Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42

Volume

Number

The Sabbath ible ssons

(USPS 005-118) is published quarterly by the Seventh

Day Adventist Reform Movement General Conference,Sabbath School Department,

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FOR WOR

nd I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another

Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of

truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be

in

you John 14:16, 17 .

Christ, the Great Teacher, had an infinite variety of subjects

from which to choose, but the one upon which He dwelt most

largely was the endowment of the Holy Spirit. What great things

He predicted for the church because of this endowment. Selected

Messages book 1 p. 156.

Although the Holy Spirit is a mystery to human understand

ing, there is

no

doubt that His work is a reality. Through the Holy

Spirit we can rightly understand the Word of God, and be led to

discern and confess our sins.

is also through Him that we are

born again and can overcome sin. He maintains our spiritual life,

and gives us power for the carrying through and accomplishment

of the gospel work. Indeed, He is the best gift that the Saviour

has promised to all of His followers.

Since this subject

is

of such great importance, we should

in-

tensively engage ourselves in deep consideration and careful in-

vestigation of it various aspects. Thus the Sabbath school lessons

are not to be superficially skimmed through at the last minute

in order to merely grasp at quick answers to the questions.

Rather, they should be diligently and prayerfully studied each

day. This way, the instruction will not remain a dead theory, but

instead will live and bring forth fruitfulness in our Christian ex

perience. The Spirit of Prophecy recommends:

Let

the Sabbath-school lesson be learned, not by a hasty

glance

at

the lesson scripture on Sabbath morning, but by careful

study for the next week on Sabbath afternoon, with daily review

or illustration during the week. Thus the lesson will become fixed

in the memory, a treasure never to be wholly lost. -Education pp.

251,252.

The General Conference Sabbath School Department


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Special

roj ect ffering

for

issionary

Schools

in

urope

In the final work of reformation education-especially education for the work of

the

Lord is

one of the greatest needs. Regrettably not as much has been done in this

line as s required. Plans have existed but the ability to carry out those plans has not

always been within immediate reach.

Some time ago the General Conference committee decided that the establishment

of a missionary school in Europe should be our first priority in the field of education

but only n 1989-1990 was it possible to make a start. From mid-November 1989

through mid-June 1990 a seminar was held n Graz Austria as an experimental step

towards the realization of this decision. Invitations were sent out n due time to our

unions and fields in Europe and nine students from different European countries

were enrolled.

It had been the plan of the school board to use English as the medium of educa

tion but right from the beginning it became evident that that idea was not prac

ticable because only a few of the students knew enough English to dispense with

translation. So they used German which was understood by the majority of the

students.

The

seminar in Graz brought to our attention a fact that was not clearly

understood

before the

language barrier n Europe.

s

very difficult or practically

impossible to use one common language as a medium of education and the use of

translation makes the work more difficult.

Now that countries which were under restrictions are opening their doors and

granting religious liberty the brethren

n

these countries are asking the General on-

ference Council to assist them in starting their own schools. This means that by the

help of God more than one school will possibly have to be established n Europe in

the near future.

Many brethren will be delighted to hear that didactic materials for missionary

schools are presently being prepared by the General Conference committee and will

be supplied to our unions and fields before long. And wherever and whenever possi

ble personal assistance will also be rendered n the establishment of such schools.

When the seminar was held n Graz financial aid as well as other forms of help

came from the General Conference from the church in different countries and also

from individual members. In fact even the erection of the building

at

Graz had been

made possible through the generosity of contributors to the Thirteenth Sabbath offer

ing during the third quarter of 1988. We take this opportunity to thank all those who

extended a helping hand both toward the construction of the mission house and n

behalf of the seminar.

For the project now n

view to

establish more than one school in

urope

we

need the help of all brethren and friends around the world. Therefore we appeal to

people everywhere: Please think about this project and make preparations through

out the entire quarter to bring a generous gift for the Special Project Offering at the

end of the quarter. God will certainly bless the donors and their gifts

h General onference Sabbath School epartment


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Lesson 1

Sabbath July 4

1992

THE GRE TEST NEE

A revival

of t rue

godliness

among

us

is the greatest and most urgent

of al l

our

needs.

To seek this should

be

our first work. Selected

essages

book

1

p. 121.

KEY TEXT: 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 Revelation 3:18).

THE CONDITION OF

THE LAODICEAN

CHURCH

Sunday

June

1. What

does

the

True

Witness say concerning the spiritual condition

of

the

last

church? Revelation

3:14 15.

Why

are

they in

this

condition? Revela-

tion 3:17.

The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe

present truth.

The

greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no

zeal.

They profess to love the truth, yet are deficient in Christian fervor and devo

tion. They dare not give up wholly and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are un

willing to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith. - estimonies

vol. 4,

p.

87.

2. What

will

happen to those

who

remain in the Laodicean condition? Revela-

tion 3:16.

What advice does the faithful

and true

Witness

give

to save the

honest ones?

Revelation

3:18.

Again and again has the voice from heaven addressed you. Will you obey this

voice? Will you heed the counsel of the TrueWitness to seek the gold tried in the fire,

the white raiment, and the eyesalve? The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is

the righteousness of Christ, the eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will

enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see

truth and obey it. - estimonies vol.

5 p.

233.


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PARTAKERS OF

THE DIVINE

NATURE

3. For

what

gift should we earnestly pray? Luke 11:13.

o

Monday

June 29

The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to us than parents are to give

good gifts to their children.

For

the baptism of the Spirit every worker should be

pleading with God. Companies should be gathered together to ask for special help for

heavenly wisdom that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. -

Testimonies

yol. 8

p.

22.

4. Describe one

major

aspect of

the work

which the

Holy

Spi ri t per fo rms in

mankind.

Titus 3:5.

Pray that the mighty energies of the Holy Spirit with all their quickening

recuperative and transforming power may fall like an electric shock on the palsy

stricken soul causing every nerve to thrill with new life restoring the whole man

from his dead earthly sensual state to spiritual soundness. You will thus become par

takers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that

is

in the world through

lust; and

in

your souls will be reflected the image of Him by whose stripes you are

healed. -

Testimonies

yol. 5

p

267.

REVIVAL

THROUGH DIVINE MERCY

o

Tuesday

June 30

5.

What is

necessary

for

those who

would

ente r th e

kingdom of

God? John

7:37-39;

4:14.

He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains of this world will drink only

to thirst again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied.

They

long for something to supply

the need of the soul. Only One can meet that want.

The

need of the world

The

Desire of all nations is Christ.

The

divine grace which He alone can impart is as liv-

ing water purifying refreshing and invigorating the soul. -

The Desire

of

ges

p

187

6.

With whom only

can the

Lord

dwell?

Isaiah 57:15; 1 Corinthians

3:16;

6:19.

When

the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart it transforms the life. Sin

ful thoughts are put away evil deeds are renounced; love humility and peace take

the place of anger envy and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness and the counte

nance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden or be

holds the light descend from the courts above.

The

blessing comes when by faith the

soul surrenders itself to God.

Then

that power which no human eye can see creates a

new being in the image of

God. The Desire of ges p 173

A

LIFE

CONSECRATED

TO

GOD

o

Wednesday

July 1

7. How is

it possible to live

a victorious life? Romans

8:2-4;

Galatians

5:

16.

Our future eternal happiness depends upon having our humanity with all its

capabilities and powers brought into obedience to God and placed under the control of

Divinity

Jesus became a man that He might mediate between man and God


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Through Jesus Christ every man may overcome in his own behalf and on his

own account. -That I May Know Him p

291.

Through love the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in us, who walk not

after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4). -

Thoughts From

the

Mount o Blessing

p.78.

8.

How will

the

Christian

live while

under

the

guidance

of

the

Holy Spirit?

Galatians

2:20.

There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes

room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly con

secrated to God. - The Desire 0 Ages pp 250, 251.

THE PETITION IN VIEW

OF OUR GREATEST

NEED

o Thursday

July 2

9. What earnest request

should be

placed before the Lord when the greates t

need

is acknowledged?

Psalm 51:9-12.

0 that we as a people might humble our hearts before God, and plead with Him

for the endowment of the Holy Spirit -The Review and

Herald

ovember 29,1892.

Realize every moment that you must have the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Testimonies to Ministers

p. 310.

We

need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit every hour of the day, lest we be

ensnared by the enemy and our souls be imperiled. -Ibid., p 223.

10. What intercessory prayer

did

the

apostle

Paul

offer

to God? Ephesians

3:16-19.

[Ephesians 3:16-19 quoted.] Here are revealed the heights of attainment that

we may reach through faith in the promises of our heavenly Father, when we fulfill

His requirements. Through the merits of Christ we have access to the throne of In

finite Power. He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how

shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

The

Father gave

His Spirit without measure to His Son, and we also may partake of its fullness. - The

Great

Controversy

p

477.

THOUGHT AND REVIEW

QUESTIONS

a. Am I

aware

of my spiritual condition?

b. Do I know my greatest need?

o Friday

July 3

c. Is

it

my sincere prayerful desire to experience a revival in my spiritual life?

d.

For

what purpose am I to

l ive now?

e. How

often

is

it

necessary for me to be sanctified by

the Holy

Spirit?


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Lesson 2

Sabbath, July

11,

1992

TH HOLY SPIRIT

IN TH LI O SUS

Direct

from the

throne

issue

the beams of

His glory.

The

heavens are

opened,

and upon

the

Saviour s

head descends

a dovelike

form of

purest

light,

-

fit

emblem

of

Him,

the

meek and lowly One.

-

The Desire ges

p.

112.

KEY TEXT: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul

delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him (Isaiah 42:1).

PROPHECIES

CONCERNING

THE EFFECTIVE

WORK OF

CHRIST

1.

Which prophecy

was

fulfilled

at

the bir th

of

Jesus?

Micah

5:2.

o

Sunday

July 5

Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they journey from their home

in

Nazareth to

the city of David.

The

decree of imperial Rome for the enrollment of the peoples of her

vast dominion has extended to the dwellers among the hills of Galilee. As

in

old time

Cyrus was called to the throne of the world s empire that he might set free the captives

of the Lord, so Caesar Augustus

is

made the agent for the fulfillment of God s purpose

in

bringing the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem. She

is

of the lineage of David, and the

Son of David must be born

in

David s city. TheDesireof ges p 44.

2.

What did John the

Baptist announce about

the

work of

Jesus?

Matthew

3: 11.

In

the time

of

John the Baptist, Christ was about to appear as the revealer of the

character of God. His very presence would make manifest to men their sin. Only as they

were willing to be purged from sin could they enter into fellowship with Him. Only the

pure

in

heart could abide

in

His presence. Thus the Baptist declared God s message to

Israel. -

The Desire

of

ges p 108.

CHRIST S

WORK

IN

THE

FULLNESS

OF

THE

HOLY

SPIRIT

Monday

July 6

3. How

do certain prophecies

of

Isaiah depict

the Messiah?

Isaiah 42:1; 11:1-3

(first part);

61:1.

In His life

no

self-assertion was to be mingled.

The

homage which the world gives

to position, to wealth, and to talent, was to be foreign to the Son

of od

None of


9/44

the means that men employ to win allegiance or to command homage, was the

Messiah to use. -Prophets and Kings pp 692, 693.

The

Messiah was to be hid

in

God, and God was to be revealed in the character

of His Son. -Ibid. p 693.

4. At which opportunity did

Jesus

indicate

the fulfillment of these prophecies?

Luke 4:16-21.

Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning

Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of

the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the

blind, and revealing to the world the light of truth. His impressive manner and the

wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt be-

fore. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down. - The

Desire of

ges p 237.

PROOF

OF

HIS MESSIAHS

HIP

o

Tuesday

July 7

5.

What

took

place

immediately after the baptism

of

Jesus?Matthew 3:16,1 7.

Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank

Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear

to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father

Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of

His glory.

The

heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour s head descends a dovelike

form of purest

light,-fit

emblem of Him, the meek and lowly

One. -The Desire of

Ages

pp

l l

2

6. What

occurred at the

beginning of His Messiahship, and for what purpose?

Mark 1:12,

13.

When

Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit

of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to con

template His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for

the bloodstained path He was to

travel. -Selected

Messages

book

I, p 227.

The

prince of this world cometh, said Jesus, and hath nothing in Me (John

14:30).

There was

in

Him nothing that responded to Satan s sophistry. He did not

consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So it may be with us.

Christ s humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the

in-

dwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature.

So

long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God

reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of

Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. - The

Desire of

Ages p 123.

LIFE

AND

POWER

FROM GOD

o Wednesday

July 8

7. What did Jesus accomplish through the power of the Holy Spirit? Acts 10:

38; John 17:4; Matthew 12:28.

Toward

the close of His ministry

in

Galilee, He again visited the home of His

childhood. Since His rejection there, the fame of His preaching and His miracles had

filled the land. None now could deny that He possessed more than human power.

The


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people of Nazareth knew that He went about doing good and healing all that were op-

pressed by Satan. About them were whole villages where there was not a moan of

sickness in any house; for He had passed through them and healed all their sick. The

mercy revealed

in

every act of His life testified to His divine anointing. -

The

sir of

Ages p 241

As a man He supplicated the throne of God till His humanity was charged with

a heavenly current that connected humanity with divinity. Receiving life from God

He imparted life to

men. -Education

pp 80 81

8.

With

what were the words of Chris t permeated? John 6:63.

The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. was by His word

that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea and

raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke

the word of God as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old

Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation

of

Christ and the Saviour desired to

fix the faith of His followers on the word. When His visible presence should be

withdrawn the word must be their source of power. -

The

sir of

Ages p

390

A

CHRISTLIKE LIFE

THROUGH

THE

GIFT

OF THE

DIVINE

SPIRIT

9. What essential truth did Jesus teach Nicodemus?

John 3 :5 .

Thursday

July

Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. He said to Nicodemus It is

not theoretical knowledge you need so much as spiritual regeneration. You need not

to have your curiosity satisfied but to have a new heart. You must receive a new life

from above before you can appreciate heavenly things. Until this change takes place

making all things new it will result

in

no saving good for you to discuss with Me My

authority or My

mission. The sir of

Ages p 171

10. What is

necessary

in order for

a

pe rson to become

a

true child

of God?

Ezekiel 36:26

27.

Man

needs a power outside of and beyond himself to restore him to the

likeness of God and enable him to do the work of God; but this does not make the

human agency unessential. Humanity lays hold upon divine power Christ dwells

in

the heart by faith; and through cooperation with the divine the power of man be

comes efficient for

good. The sir of

Ages pp 296 297

THOUGHT AND REVIEW QUESTIONS

a. Is the leading of

the

Holy Spirit discernible also

in

my life?

b. Do I

long for

the renewing work of the Holy

Spirit?

Friday

July 10

c. Does the Holy Spirit lead me in my work

in

behalf of

my

neighbor?

d. Describe the manifestation of

the

Holy Spir it in the daily life of Christ.

e. What does it

mean

to be born again ?

1


11/44

Lesson

3 Sabbath

July

18 1992

TH PROMIS O TH HOLY SPIRIT

In

giving us His Spiri t God gives us Himself

making

Himself a

fountain

of

divine influences to give health and

life

to the world. - Testimonies vol. 7, p. 273.

KEY TEXT: I

will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that

he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16).

THE

MOST PRECIOUS GIFT

o Sunday

July

2

For what

situation

was Jesus preparing His disciples? John 13:33.

[John 13:33 quoted.]

The

disciples could not rejoice when they heard this.

Fear

fell upon them.

They

pressed close about the Saviour. Their Master and Lord, their

beloved Teacher and Friend, He was dearer to them than life.

To

Him they had looked

for help in all their difficulties, for comfort in their sorrows and disappointments. Now

He was to leave them, a lonely, dependent company. Dark were the forebodings that

filled their hearts. The sir of ges

p

662.

2. What comforting promise

did

Jesus give to His disciples? John 14:16-18;

16:7.

Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim, Christ sought for the most

essential and complete gift to bestow upon His followers, a gift that would bring

within their reach the boundless resources of grace. [John 14:16-18, margin quoted.]

Before this the Spirit had been

in

the world; from the very beginning of the

work of redemption He had been moving upon men s hearts. But while Christ was on

earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His

presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He would come. -

The

sir

of

ges pp 668, 669.

A

GUIDE

SENT

FROM HEAVEN

o

Monday

July

3

3.

What important mission of the Holy Spirit did Jesus emphasize? John

16:8-11.

The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified

in

the words of Christ: When

He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and

of

judgment


12/44

(John 16:8).

is

the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the

quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the

importance of obeying the divine requirements. - The cts of the postles p 52

4. For what important service was the Holy Spiri t promised to the believers?

John 16:13.

Jesus

saw that [the disciples] did not lay hold of the real meaning of His words.

He compassionately promised that the Holy Spirit should recall these sayings to their

minds. And He had left unsaid many things that could not be comprehended by the

disciples. These also would be opened to them by the Spirit. The Spirit was to quicken

their understanding, that they might have an appreciation of heavenly things. -

The

Desire of ges pp 670 671

THE NECESSARY HELP FOR

WITNESSING

5. What enabled the disciples to be living witnesses? Acts 1:8.

Tuesday

July 14

The

Saviour knew that no argument, however logical, would melt hard hearts

or break through the crust of worldliness and selfishness. He knew that His disciples

must receive the heavenly endowment; that the gospel would be effective only as it

was proclaimed by hearts made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge

of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life.

The

work committed to the disciples

would require great efficiency; for the tide of evil ran deep and strong against them. A

vigilant, determined leader was in command of the forces of darkness, and the

fol-

lowers of Christ could battle for the right only through the help that God, by His

Spirit, would give them. - The cts

of

t postles

p

31

Before one book of the New Testament was written, before one gospel sermon

had been preached after Christ s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying

apostles. Then the testimony of their enemies was, Ye have filled Jerusalem with

your doctrine (Acts

5:28 . -The

Desire

of

ges

p 672

6. What promise are we to

keep

in our hearts at all t imes? John 14:26,27.

At

all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the out

look seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Com

forter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us

from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the

heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He

is

always at our

right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer. - The Desire

of

ges

pp 669

670

A

SUPPORT AT

ALL

TIMES

o Wednesday

July 15

7.

What

is

required

in

order

to

receive

this

promise?

Matthew 7:7

first part);

Luke

11:13.

The

Holy Spirit, the representative of Himself, is the greatest of all gifts. All

good things are comprised

in

this.

The

Creator Himself can give us nothing greater,

nothing better. When we beseech the Lord to pity us

in

our distress, and to guide us

by His Holy Spirit, He will never turn away our prayer. It is possible even for a parent

2 -


13/44

to turn away from his hungry child, but God can never reject the cry of the needy and

longing heart. - Thoughts From the Mount ofBlessing p 32

8. For which times has the Lord

promised us

His special

support?

Luke

12:11

12.

The

servants of Christ were to prepare no

set

speech to

present

when

brought

to trial. Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious

truths of God s word, and through

prayer

strengthening their faith.

When

they were

brought into trial,

the

Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance

the

very truths

that would be needed. The Desire of ges

p

355

THE

VISIBLE

WORK OF THE

HOLY

SPIRIT

o

Thursday

July 16

THOUGHT

AND

REVIEW QUESTIONS

9. What encouraging

assurance

is disclosed

in

the

power

of the gospel? Mark

16:17 18.

Through the

gift of

the

Holy Spirit the disciples were to receive a marvelous

power. Their testimony was to be confirmed by signs and wonders. Miracles would

be wrought, not only by the apostles, but by those who received their message. -

The

Desire of ges p.

82

10. What else is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit? John 15:26; 16:14.

The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of His love; so

the

Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the world.

The

very image of

God is to be reproduced in humanity.

The

honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved

in

the

perfection of the character of His people. -

The Desire

of

ges p

67

Friday

July 17

a.

Am

I prepared to

open my

heart constantly to the vivifying influence of the

Holy Spirit?

b.

Have

I

experienced in

difficult

situations

that

the

Holy

Spirit

has

put

the

right

words into my

mouth?

c. Do I realize the

necessity

to

pray

for the gift of the Holy Spirit?

d. Under what

circumstances is the Holy

Spirit

a welcome

Comforter

to me?

e. How is the

work

of the Holy

Spirit manifested

in my life?

3

-


14/44


15/44

heart searching. They put away all differences and drew close together in Christian

fellowship. - Testimonies vol 8 p 15

As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their

hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief. As they called to remem

brance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His death they understood

more fully their meaning. - The cts

the postles p

36

4. What took

place when they acted according

to the

instructions of Jesus

putt ing away all differences? Acts 2:1 2.

The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that reached

every heart. The Infinite One revealed Himself

in

power to His church. was as if for

ages this influence had been held

in

restraint, and now Heaven rejoiced

in

being able

to pour out upon the church the riches of the Spirit s grace. And under the influence

of the Spirit, words of penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins

forgiven. Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. All heaven bent low to

behold and to adore the wisdom of matchless, incomprehensible love. Lost

in

wonder,

the apostles exclaimed, Herein is love.

They

grasped the imparted gift. - The cts

the postles p. 38.

DIVINE CONFIRMATION

o

Tuesday

July 21

5.

What

special ability did

the

Lord confer on

the disciples? Acts 2:3 4.

The

Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those as

sembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled

them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted.

The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor

and the power that would attend their work. - The cts

the postles p 39

6. What miracle

showed that

God was

leading

them?

Acts

2:5-12.

Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of

languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God

therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy

Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a

lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with ac-

curacy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was

a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of

Heaven.

The cts the postles

pp

39 40

PROPHECY FULFILLED

o

Wednesday

July 22

7.

What

close cooperation between heaven and earth can we acknowledge by

this occurrence? Acts 2:32-36.

Christ s ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive

the promised blessing.

For

this they were to wait before they entered upon their

work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the

5 -


16/44

adoration

of

the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit

descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with

the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was

Heaven s communication that the Redeemer s inauguration was accomplished. Accord

ing to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token

that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the

Anointed One over His

people. The

ctsof

the postles

pp

38 39

8. What

was

the effect of Peter s dynamic preaching at Pentecost? Acts 2:37.

Among those who listened to the disciples were devout Jews, who were sincere

in

their belief. The power that accompanied the words of the speaker convinced them

that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. -

The Acts of the Apostles

p 43

AMAZING RESULTS

o Thursday

July 23

9. How did Peter respond to the honest inquiry of the people? Acts 2 :38, 40.

Repent, repent, was the message rung out by John the Baptist

in

the wilderness.

Christ s message to the people was, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish

(Luke 13:5). And the apostles were commanded to preach everywhere that men

should repent. -Evangelism

p

179.

10.

What overwhelming

event

did the disciples experience? Acts

2:41.

On

that memorable occasion large numbers who had heretofore ridiculed the

idea of so unpretending a person as Jesus being the Son of God, became thoroughly

convinced of the truth and acknowledged Him as their Saviour. Three thousand souls

were added to the church. The apostles spoke by the power of the Holy Ghost; and

their words could not be controverted, for they were confirmed by mighty miracles,

wrought by them through the outpouring of the Spirit of God. The Story of Redemp-

tion p.

245.

But

the Holy Ghost sent those arguments home with divine power to their

hearts. They were as sharp arrows of the Almighty, convicting them of their terrible

guilt

in

rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory. Ibid.

THOUGHT

AND REVIEW QUESTIONS

o

Friday

July 24

a. Am I complying

with the

conditions

on

which

the Lord promised to

send us

the Holy Spirit?

b.

What

hindrances

must

be removed in my life so

that

the Holy Spirit may

take

possession of me?

c. Would I like

to

be used by the Holy Spirit as a witness in these last days?

d. Describe

the

cooperation between heaven and earth

as

manifested

at

Pentecost.

e. To what factors may the success of e t e r ~ preaching be attributed?

6

-


17/44

Lesson 5 Sabbath, August 1, 1992

WORKING IN GO S POWER

The disciples

of Chr is t had

a

deep sense of their own

inefficiency,

and

with

humiliation and

prayer they

joined their

weakness

to

His

strength,

their

igno

rance

to His

wisdom,

their unworthiness to

His righteousness, their poverty

to

His exhaustless wealth. Thus

strengthened

and

equipped,

they

hesitated

not

to press

forward in the

service

of

the

Master.

-

The cts

of

the postles

p. 57.

KEY TEXT: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived

that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they

took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

IN

THE POWER OF JESUS

NAME

D Sunday

July 26

Where did Peter and John go

after

the overwhelming

occurrence

of

Pentecost? Acts

3:

A short time after the descent of the Holy Spirit, and immediately after a

season of earnest prayer,

Peter

and John, going up to the temple to worship, saw

at

the gate Beautiful a cripple, forty years of age, whose life, from his birth, had been

one of pain and infirmity. This unfortunate man had long desired to see Jesus, that he

might be healed;

but

he was almost helpless, and was far removed from the scene of

the great Physician s labors. His pleadings

at

last induced some friends to bear him to

the gate of the temple,

but

upon arriving there, he found that the One upon whom his

hopes were centered, had been put to a cruel death. -TheActsoftheApostles pp

57

58

2. Relate the

experience

of the

two

disciples and the

lame

man. What was the

reaction

of the people?

Acts

3:2-11.

[The

people] were astonished that the disciples could perform miracles similar

to those performed by Jesus. Yet here was this man, for forty years a helpless cripple,

now rejoicing in the full use of his limbs, free from pain, and happy in believing in

Jesus. - The cts of

t

postles pp

58 59

SAVING

FAITH

3.

How

did the apostle

explain

this

miracle?

Acts

3:12-16.

Monday

July 27

[Peter] assured [the people] that the cure had been wrought

in

the name and

through the merits of Jesus of Nazareth, whom God had raised from the dead. -The

ctsof t postles

p.

59

7

-


18/44

4. What

was

the main

theme

of Peter s

subsequent

message? Acts

3:17-21, 26.

[Peter] declared that the Holy Spirit was calling upon them to repent and be

converted and assured them that there was no hope of salvation except through the

mercy of the One whom they had crucified. Only through faith in Him could their sins

be forgiven. - The cts

t postles p 59

CONTRASTING REACTIONS

Tuesday

July

28

5. How did many people

receive

the message preached by the

disciples?

Acts 4:4.

Thus the disciples preached the resurrection of Christ. Many among those who

listened were waiting for this testimony and when they heard it they believed.

brought to their minds the words that Christ had spoken and they took their stand in

the ranks of those who accepted the gospel. The seed that the Saviour had sown

sprang up and bore fruit. - The cts t postles p 60

6.

What

consequence

came

upon the disciples as a result of their fruitful

ministry? Acts 4:1-3.

Converts to the new faith were rapidly increasing and both Pharisees and Sad

ducees agreed that if these new teachers were suffered to go unchecked their own

in-

fluence would be in greater danger than when Jesus was upon the earth. Accordingly

the captain of the temple with the help of a number of Sadducees arrested

Peter

and

John and put them in prison as it was too late that day for them to be

examined.

The cts

the postles pp 60 61

TRIAL

BEFORE THE

NATIONAL COUNCIL

Wednesday

July

29

7.

Who officiated at

the

gathering in Jerusalem, and

what

question did they

put to the disciples? Acts

4:5-7.

On the day following the healing of the cripple Annas and Caiaphas with the

other dignitaries of the temple met together for the trial and the prisoners were

brought before them. - The cts t postles

p

62

8. What

was significant

about the

location

of the hearing, and how was Peter

able

to answer in

full determination

and

without

fear? Acts

4:8-12.

In

that very room and before some of those very men Peter had shamefully

denied his Lord. This came distinctly to his mind as he appeared for his own trial. He

now had an opportunity of redeeming his cowardice.

Those present who remembered the part that

Peter

had acted at the trial of his

Master flattered themselves that he could now be intimidated by the threat of im-

prisonment and death. But the

Peter

who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest

need was impulsive and self-confident differing widely from the

Peter

who was

brought before the Sanhedrin for examination. Since his fall he had been converted.

He was no longer proud and boastful but modest and self-distrustful. He was filled

8 -


19/44


20/44

Lesson 6

Sabbath, August

8, 1992

GOD S P N FOR HIS HUR H

From the

beginning

it h as been God s plan that through His church

shall

be

reflected

to

the world

His fullness

and His

sufficiency.

The members of the

church,

those

whom He has

called

out of

darkness

into

His

marvelous light,

are

to

show

forth

His

glory.

-

The

Acts

of

the

postles

p. 9.

KEY TEXT:

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a

peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath

called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

1

Peter 2:9).

THE

COOPERATION

OF

-

THE CHURCH IN THE

WORK

OF SALVATION

Sunday

August 2

What gospel

commission

did

Jesus give to

His

disciples? Mark 16:15 .

Christ gave this commission to His disciples as His chief ministers, the archi

tects who were to lay the foundation of His church. He laid upon them, and upon all

who should succeed them as His ministers, the charge of handing His gospel down

from generation to generation, from age to age.

The disciples were not to wait for the people to come to them.

They

were to go

to the people, hunting for sinners as a shepherd hunts for lost sheep. -

Testimonies

vo 8

4_

2.

Who

is

included

in this commission? 1

Peter

2:9.

The Saviour s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes

all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work

of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly in-

spiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ

are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church

was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged

to be co-workers with Christ.

The Desire of ges p

822

EFFECTIVE

MESSENGERS

OF

THE

LOVE

OF JESUS

Monday

August 3

3. How

did

the

early disciples gain

the

power needed to car ry out this commis-

sion? Mark 16:20 .

The

commission that Christ gave to the disciples, they fulfilled. As these mes

sengers of the cross went forth to proclaim the gospel, there was such a revelation

-

2


21/44

of the glory of God as had never before been witnessed by mortal man. By the

cooperation of the divine Spirit, the apostles did a work that shook the world. - The

cts

of

the postles

p 593.

4. What did the

f irst church

do in order

to

grow spiritually? Acts 2:42; 5:32.

From

the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to

all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have

accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanc

tifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more

clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer s love and of His saving

grace. -

The cts of the postles p 49

A LIVING AND

GROWING

CHURCH

Tuesday

August 4

5. What was

the

strength

of

the

early church?

Acts

4:32; 2:46,

47

first

part).

Every Christian saw

in

his brother the divine similitude of love and benevo

lence. One interest prevailed. One subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The

only ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ s character and to

labor for the enlargement of His kingdom. -Testimonies

vol 8

p 20

6.

How did

unity among

the believers affect the

work

of the gospel? Acts 4:33;

2:47 last part) .

The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with

the burden of souls.

The

gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they

claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy

Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted

in

a day. -

Testimonies vol 8 p

21

A

NEW ARRANGEMENT FOR

THE WELL-BEING

OF

THE

CHURCH

Wednesday

August 5

7. What

was necessary

when the

church became

larger? Acts

6:1,

2.

The

disciples of Jesus had reached a crisis

in

their experience. Under the wise

leadership of the apostles, who labored unitedly

in

the power of the Holy Spirit, the

work committed to the gospel messengers was developing rapidly.

The

church was

continually enlarging, and this growth in membership brought increasingly heavy

burdens upon those in charge.

No

one man, or even one set of men, could continue to

bear these burdens alone, without imperiling the future prosperity of the church.

There was necessity for a further distribution of the responsibilities which had been

borne so faithfully by a few during the earlier days of the church.

The

apostles must

now take an important step in the perfecting of gospel order in the church by laying

upon others some of the burdens thus far borne by themselves.

Summoning a meeting of the believers, the apostles were led by the Holy Spirit

to outline a plan for the better organization of all the working forces of the church.

The

time had come, the apostles stated, when the spiritual leaders having the over

sight of the church should be relieved from the task of distributing to the poor and

from similar burdens, so that they might be free to carry forward the work of

preaching the gospel. - The cts of the postles pp

88

89

-

2


22/44

8.

On what basis

was

the selection

of new

church officers made? Acts 6:3,

4.

[Acts 6:3, 4 quoted.] This advice was followed, and by prayer and the laying on

of hands, seven chosen men were solemnly set apart for their duties as deacons.

The appointment

of

the seven to take the oversight of special lines

of

work, proved

a great blessing to the church. These officers gave careful consideration to individual

needs as well as to the general financial interests of the church, and by their prudent

management and their godly example they were an important aid to their fellow officers

in

binding together the various interests of the church into a united whole. - The cts

of

the postles p. 89.

IN THE POWER OF GOD S SPIRIT

o Thursday

August 6

THOUGHT

AND

REVIEW

QUESTIONS

9.

Who

became a powerful instrument in

th e hands

of God? Acts 6:5 (first

part),

8,

10.

Stephen, the foremost of the seven deacons, was a man of deep piety and broad

faith. Though a Jew by birth, he spoke the Greek language and was familiar with the

customs and manners of the Greeks. He therefore found opportunity to preach the

gospel in the synagogues of the Greek Jews. He was very active in the cause of Christ

and boldly proclaimed his faith. Learned rabbis and doctors of the law engaged in

public discussion with him, confidently expecting an easy victory. But they were not

able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Not only did he speak in

the power of the Holy Spirit, but it was plain that he was a student of the prophecies

and learned in all matters of the law. He ably defended the truths that he advocated

and utterly defeated his opponents. -

The cts

of

the postles

p

97

10. What

gift

has Christ promised to

His

followers? Acts 2:38,

39.

Why is it not

received today as fully

as

it should

be?

Christ declared that the divine influence of the Spirit was to be with His followers

unto the end. But the promise

is

not appreciated as it should be; and therefore its

ful-

fillment is not seen as it might be. The promise of the Spirit is a matter little thought

of;

and the result is only what might be

expected-spiritual

drought, spiritual

darkness, spiritual declension and death. Minor matters occupy the attention, and the

divine power which

is

necessary for the growth and prosperity

of

the church, and which

would bring all other blessings

in

its train,

is

lacking, though offered

in

its infinite

plenitude. -

Testimonies

vol 8

p 21

To

us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs.

God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those

who on the Day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit

and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him

at

His

word. -Ibid.

p

20

o

Friday

August 7

a.

In which manner

do I fulfill

my commission to save

others?

b. Am I

s tr iv ing to develop

a Christlike

character?

c. Am I so firmly

grounded in the t ru th tha t

I can

convincingly represent it?

d. How

was

Stephen able

to act

as a

powerful witness for Jesus?

e.

What

has prevented the Lord

from pouring out His Spirit

fullness upon me?

-


23/44

Lesson 7 Sabbath August 15 1992

SERIOUS W RNING

G INST HYPO RISY

When

in the church

of today

it is

seen

that by

the

power

of

the

Spirit

the

members have taken their affections from the things o f the world and that

they a re willing to

make

sacrifices

in

order that their

fellow

men may hear

the gospel the truths proclaimed

will

have

a powerful

influence upon the

hearers. -

he

cts of

the

Apostles p. 71.

KEY TEXT: Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day

of redemption (Ephesians 4:3 Y

FOR OUR INSTRUCTION AND ADMONITION

Sunday

August 9

What characteristic distinguished

the early

church?

Acts

2:44

45;

4:34-37.

Many of these early believers were immediately cut off from family and friends

by the zealous bigotry of the Jews, and it was necessary to provide them with food

and shelter.

The

record declares, Neither was there any among them that lacked, and it

tells how the need was filled. Those among the believers who had money and posses

sions cheerfully sacrificed them to meet the emergency. Selling their houses or their

lands, they brought the money and laid it

at

the apostles feet, and distribution was

made unto every man according as he had need.

This

liberality on the part of the believers was the result of the outpouring of

the Spirit. The converts to the gospel were of one heart and of one soul. One com

mon interest controlled them-the success of the mission entrusted to them; and

covetousness had no place in their lives. Their love for their brethren and the cause

they had espoused, was greater than their love of money and possessions. Their

works testified that they accounted the souls

of

men of higher value than earthly

wealth. - The Acts 0 the Apostles pp 70 71

2. What

spiritual

problem arose even in

the

first

church?

Acts 5:1 2.

In

sharp contrast to the example of benevolence shown by the believers, was

the conduct of Ananias and Sapphira, whose experience, traced by the pen of Inspira

tion, has left a dark stain upon the history of the early church Deep conviction

had rested upon all present, and under the direct influence of the Spirit of God,

Ananias and Sapphira had made a pledge to give to the Lord the proceeds from the

sale of certain property.

-

23


24/44


25/44

tending that they had given all, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, and, as a

result, they lost this life and the life that

is

to come. - The cts of the postles pp 75 76

8.

What

would

God

like

to show

us

through

this

account?

1 Timothy

6:

10

11.

The

same God who punished them, today condemns all falsehood. Lying lips are

an abomination to Him. He declares that into the Holy City there shall in no wise

enter anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a

lie (Revelation 21:27). Let truth telling be held with no loose hand or uncertain grasp.

Let it become a part of the life. Playing fast and loose with truth, and dissembling to suit

one s own selfish plans, means shipwreck of faith. -

The cts

of

the postles p

76

DETECTING THE DANGER IN TIME

o

Thursday

August

13

9.

What

dangerous

tendency

interferes

with

our

communion

with

God?

Ephe

sians 4:30.

Why do people

still lie to

God? Ecclesiastes 8:

11.

The number of those who commit the sin of Ananias and Sapphira

is

increas

ing. Men do not lie to man, but to God in their disregard of the pledges which His

Spirit moved upon them to make. Because sentence against an evil work

is

not, as in

the case of Ananias and Sapphira, executed speedily, the hearts of the sons of men

are fully set in them to do evil, to strive against the Spirit of God. How will these men

stand in the judgment? ounsels Stewardship p 314

10.

How

can we make

our

foundation sure?

2

Timothy 2:19; Ephesians 4:23

24;

6:14-18.

In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, the sin of fraud against God was speedily

punished. The same sin was often repeated

in

the after history of the church and is

committed by many in our time. But though it may not be attended by the visible

manifestation of God s displeasure, it

is

no less heinous in His sight now than in the

apostles time. The warning has been given; God has clearly manifested His abhor

rence of this sin; and all who give themselves up to hypocrisy and covetousness may

be sure that they are destroying their own souls. -

The

cts

of

the postles

p

76

THOUGHT AND REVIEW

QUESTIONS

o Friday

August 14

a.

Do

I believe

that external piety

can replace

the inward life

of faith?

b.

Am I

constantly aware

that

not only

my actions

but also my

motives are

open before God?

c.

Do

I

expect to have

the

leading of

the

Holy

Spirit

even

when

dealing

with

half truths?

d. How common

is

the sin

of

Ananias and Sapphira today and wha t emboldens

people in

its

practice?

e. How can

I,

in my spiritual

life,

obtain

strength

and protection against

presumption hypocrisy and

covetousness?

- 25


26/44

Lesson 8

FROM FIERY

TO HUM LE

Sabbath

August 22 1992

PERSE UTOR

FOLLOWER

The

conversion

of

Saul is

a

striking

evidence of the

miraculous power

of the

Holy

Spi rit to convict

men

of

sin. - The Acts

of the

Apostles p. 120.

KEY TEXT: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but

unto us which are saved it is the power of God 1 Corinthians 1:18).

AN

OPEN

CONFLICT AGAINST CHRIST

D

Sunday

August 16

1.

What

did Saul

in

his rel igious zeal undertake to do to the Christians?

Acts 9 :1

2;

22:3-5.

[Saul s] activity in causing holy men and women to be dragged before tribunals,

where some were condemned to imprisonment and some even to death, solely be

cause

of

their faith

in

Jesus, brought sadness and gloom to the newly organized church,

and caused many to seek safety

in

flight. - The Acts of the Apostles p 113

2. What happened shortly

before

the

zealous

persecutor arrived

at

Damascus?

Acts

9:3

4.

Christ here identifies Himself with His people. In persecuting the followers

of

Jesus, Saul had struck directly against the Lord of heaven. In falsely accusing and

testifying against them, he had falsely accused and t ~ s t i f i against the Saviour of the

world. The

Acts

of

the Apostles

p. 117.

A

SURPRISING TURN OF

EVENTS

o Monday

August 17

3. As Saul was greatly frightened how did

he react

to

the

voice?

What

answer

did

he receive?

Acts 9:5 6.

No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of

Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israe1.

The Acts of the Apostles p. 117.

-

6


27/44

4. What did Saul realize after

the

light

of heaven

had

disappeared? Acts

9:7,

8.

When the glory was withdrawn, and Saul arose from the ground, he found him

self totally deprived

of

sight. The brightness of Christ s glory had been too intense for

his mortal eyes; and when it was removed, the blackness of

night settled upon his vision.

He believed that this blindness was a punishment from God for his cruel persecution of

the followers of Jesus. In terrible darkness he groped about, and his companions, in

fear and amazement, led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

-The

cts

of

the postles p.

117.

TRUE CONVERSION

o Tuesday

August 18

INSTANT

HUMAN DOUBTS

5. What experience did

the

persecutor undergo in

Damascus? Acts

9:9.

These

days of soul agony were to him as years. Again and again he recalled,

with anguish of spirit, the part he had taken in the martyrdom of Stephen. With hor

ror he thought of his guilt in allowing himself to be controlled by the malice and pre

judice of the priests and rulers, even when the face of Stephen had been lighted up

with the radiance of heaven. In sadness and brokenness oCspirit he recounted the

many times he had closed his eyes and ears against the most striking evidences and

had relentlessly urged on the persecution of the believers in Jesus of Nazareth. -

The

ctsof the postles

p.

118.

Thus

he seemed to be shut away from all human sympathy. His only hope of

help was

in

a merciful God, and to Him he appealed

in

brokenness of heart. . . .

As

Saul yielded himself fully to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, he saw

the mistakes of his life and recognized the far-reaching claims of the law of God. He

who had been a proud Pharisee, confident that he was justified by his good works, now

bowed before God with the humility and simplicity of a little child, confessing his own

unworthiness and pleading the merits of a crucified and risen

Saviour. -Ibid. p

119

6.

How did

the

Lord

bring th is

humiliated

Pharisee

into contact with His

church? Acts 9:10-12.

The Lord then sent His angel to one of the very men whom Saul had hoped to

take captive and revealed to him

in

vision that he should

go

into the street called

Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold,

he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his

hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

-Early Writings p 2

o

Wednesday

August 19

7. Why

was the disciple

Ananias surprised by

the

Lord s instruct ion? Acts

9:13, 14.

Ananias could scarcely credit the words of the angel; for the reports of Saul s

bitter persecution of the saints

at

Jerusalem had spread far and

wide. -The

cts

of

the

postles p.

121.

8. With what words did

the

Lord

order

him to act? Acts 9 :15, 16.

The command was imperative: Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me,

to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

The

cts

of

the postles p.

121.

2 7 -


28/44

A

SERVANT

IN CHRIST S STEAD

Thursday

August 2

9. How

did

Ananias obey

his

Lord,

and wha t

effect did

this have

on Saul? Acts

9:17-19.

In

this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ s ministers

upon the earth, who are appointed to act

in

His stead. In Christ s stead Ananias

touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ s stead he places his

hands upon him, and, as he prays

in

Christ s name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All

is

done

in

the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church

is

the channel of communication. -

The cts

the postles p 122

10. What was th e purpose of Paul s life from then on? 1 Corinthians 1:17,

18;

2:2-5.

Throughout his later ministry, Paul never lost sight of the Source of his wisdom

and strength. Hear him, years afterward, still declaring, For to me to live is Christ

(Philippians 1:21). -

The cts

the postles

p

128

THOUGHT

AND

REVIEW

QUESTIONS

o

Friday

August 21

a. Can my

fellowmen

see through my life

that

I

am

a

follower

of Jesus?

b.

What result

does

my convers ion have on

my neighbors?

c. Am I ready

to allow

God

to work

through me?

d.

What

role

did the

church p lay in nurturing

the

spiritual

life

of Paul?

e. What noteworthy lessons can I gain

from

the examples of both Ananias and

~

- 8


29/44


30/44

they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the

divine. -

The cts

of

the postles pp 49 50

DESIRING

THE POWER OF

GOD

Monday

August 24

3. What important

question-essential

to

their spiri tual

l ife-did

Paul

direct

to

the believers? Acts 19:2 (first

part).

It

is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless. Learn

ing, talent, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but,

without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner won to

Christ. On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit

are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will

tell upon hearts. God makes them channels for the outflowing of the highest influence

in the universe. - Testimonies

vol 8

pp

21 22

4. In

order to be

filled with

the Holy Spirit,

what

is first necessary? Isaiah

44:3; Mat thew 5:6 .

f you have a sense of need in your soul, if you hunger and thirst after righteous

ness, this is an evidence that Christ has wrought upon your heart, in order that He may

be sought unto to do for you, through the endowment of the Holy Spirit, those things

which it is impossible for you to do for yourself. We need not seek to quench our thirst

at shallow streams; for the great fountain

is

just above us. - Thoughts From the Mount

of

Blessing

p.

19.

Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this

is

the

means by which we are to receive power? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach

concerning it? - Testimonies

vol

8 p 22

The Spirit awaits our demand and reception. -Christ s Object Lessons p 121

THE NECESSARY PREPARATION

Tuesday

August 25

5.

With

what basic condit ions are

we

to comply

before

we can receive the

promised

blessing?

1

John

1:8,

9;

Acts

3:19.

t

is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to

fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. -Selected

essages

book 1 p 121

The Spirit can never be poured out while variance and bitterness toward one

another are cherished by the members of the church. Envy, jealousy, evil surmising,

and evilspeaking are of Satan, and they effectually bar the way against the Holy

Spirit s working. -Testimonies,

vol 6 p 42

The

Lord bids us empty our hearts of the selfishness which is the root of aliena

tion. He longs to pour upon us His Holy Spirit in rich measure, and He bids us clear

the way by self-renunciation. -Ibid., p 43

6. How shall we show our willingness to

carry

out

God s will?

Acts

5:32; 1

John

2:3.

Where

there is not only a belief in God s word, but a submission of the will to

Him; where the heart

is

yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there

is

-

3


31/44

faith-faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is

renewed

in

the image of God. And the heart that

in

its unrenewed state is not subject

to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights

in

its holy precepts, exclaiming

with the psalmist,

0

how love I Thy

law

it is my meditation all the day (Psalm

119:97). And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled

in

us, who walk not after the

flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1 . -Steps

to

Christ

pp. 63 64.

THE

RECEPTION

OF

VITAL POWER

7. How do we receive

the Holy

Spirit? Galatians 3:14.

Wednesday

August 26

We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us Only to those who

wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given.

The

power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed

by faith, brings all other blessings

in

its train. is given according to the riches of the

grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive.

- The

Desire of

ges p.

672.

8. By wha t means does

the

power

of God

work in us? Ephesians 6:17; John

6:63.

The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is

in

the word of God.

This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by

the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One.

transforms the nature and re-creates the soul

in

the image of God. -Education,

p.

126.

AN INEXHAUSTIBLE

SOURCE

OF POWER

Thursday

August 27

9.

With

what

assurance

should we

go

to

the throne

of

mercy? 1

John

5:14, 15;

Hebrews 4: 16.

My

brethren and sisters, plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands back of every

promise He has made. With your Bibles

in

your hands, say: I have done as Thou hast

said, I present

Thy

promise, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). -Testimonies, vol.

8

p.

23.

10. What

possibilities are within

our

reach th rough the power of

the Holy

Spirit? Ephesians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11.

There

is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes

room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly con

secrated to God. -Testimonies, vol. 8

p. 19.

The

Spirit furnishes the strength that sustains striving, wrestling souls

in

every

emergency, amidst the unfriendliness

of

relatives, the hatred of the world, and the

realization of their own imperfections and mistakes. -Ibid. p.

22.

Continued page 35

-

3 1


32/44

Lesson 10

Sabbath, September

5, 1992

IN THE SPIRIT N POWER

OF ELIJ H

With the

earnestness

that characterized Elijah

the prophet

and John the

Baptist, we

are

to strive to

prepare the

way for Christ s

second advent. -

The

SDA

Bible

Commentary

[E.G.

White Comments],

vol. 4, p. 1184.

KEY TEXT: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the

great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5).

PREPARING

THE

WAY

FOR

THE

LORD

o Sunday

August

30

1. In what way was John th e Bap tis t to perform

his

duty, and how

can a

parallel

be drawn in our days?

Luke

1:16,

17.

John the Baptist went forth

in

the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way

of the Lord and to turn the people to the wisdom of the just. He was a representative

of those living

in

these last days to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present

before the people to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ. - Testimonies

vol 3

pp

61 62

2.

What importan t

duty

does

the la st

church

have?

Revelation 14:6-12.

In

this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ

in

the clouds of heaven,

God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand

in

the great day of the Lord. Just

such a work as that which John did, is to be carried on in these last days.

The

Lord is

giving messages to His people, through the instruments He has chosen, and He would

have all heed the admonitions and warnings He sends As a people who believe in

Christ s soon appearing, we have a definite message to

bear,- Prepare

to meet thy

God.

The SDA Bible Commentary

[E G White

Comments]

vol 4

p 1184

THE

NECESSITY OF

PERSONAL

PREPARATION

o

Monday

August

31

3.

What is the promise to those

that

proclaim

the las t

message

of

redemption?

Malachi

4:5, 6.

The Lord is sending His angels, preparing the hearts of the people to receive

the truth. And if we are only consecrated to His service, we shall be sent forth

in

the

spirit and power of Elijah. Manuscript

eleases

vol 5

p

72

-

3 2


33/44

We need the breath of the divine life breathed into us. Weare to be channels

through which the Lord can send light and grace to the world. Backsliders are to be

reclaimed. Weare to put away our sins, by confession and repentance humbling our

proud hearts before God. Floods of spiritual power are to be poured forth upon those

prepared to receive it. - Testimonies

vol 8 p

46

4.

What

experience

is necessary

in

order to

be

an effective instrument

in

the

hand of God?

John 3:27-30;

Hebrews

12:2.

[John the Baptist] looked upon the King

in

His Beauty, and self was lost sight

of. He beheld the majesty of holiness and knew himself to be inefficient and unwor

thy.

was God s message that he was to declare.

was

in

God s power and His

righteousness that he was to stand. He was ready to go forth as Heaven s messenger,

unawed by the human, because he had looked upon the Divine. -Testimonies vol

8

pp 331 332

In

order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a spiritual ex

perience like his. The same work must be wrought

in

us. We must behold God, and

in

beholding Him lose sight of self. -Ibid. p

333

TO

THE

GLORY OF

GOD

Tuesday

September 1

5.

What

did

Elijah

demand of

the

apostate

people

of

Israel? 1 Kings 18:21.

What parallel

can

be seen between

the

days of

Elijah

and

our days?

The present age is one of idolatry, as verily as was that in which Elijah lived.

No

outward shrine may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet

thousands are following after the gods of this world-after riches, fame, pleasure, and

the pleasing fables that permit man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate

heart. Multitudes have a wrong conception of God and His attributes, and are as truly

serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal. Many even of those who claim to

be Christians have allied themselves with influences that are unalterably opposed to

God and His truth. Thus they are led to turn away from the divine and to exalt the

human. -Prophets and ings pp

177

178

6. What

decisive

issue is to

be brought forth

before

the

people

in the

last

con

flict? Revelation 14:7 9 12.

The

time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The obser

vance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us.

The

contest will be between the

commandments of God and the commandments

of

men. Those who have yielded step

by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the

powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprison

ment, and death. At

that time the gold will be separated from the dross. -Prophets and

Kings

p 188

In the closing work of God

in

the earth, the standard of His law will be again ex

alted

The

whole force of the popular current may be turned against the truth;

plot after plot may be formed to overthrow the people of God; but in the hour of

greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instrumentalities to bear a mes

sage that will not be silenced. -Ibid. pp 186 187

-

3 3


34/44

A WORK OF WORLD-WIDE EXTENT

Wednesday

September 2

7.

What

represents the climax of the message for our time? How will th is be

realized in practical terms? Revelation 18:1-5.

The

angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel s message is to

lighten the whole e arth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted

power is he re

foretold. -The

Great ontroversy

p

611

Servants

of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration,

will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of

voices, all over th e earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the

sick will

be

healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers

The

message

will

be

carried not so much by argument as

by

the deep conviction of the Spirit of

God. -Ibid. p 612

The

Spirit of the Lord will so graciously bless consecrated human instrumen

talities that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and thanksgiving,

filling the e arth with the knowledge of God, a nd with His unsurpass ed glory, as the

waters cover the sea. -The SDA Bible

ommentary

[E.G. White Comments], vol. 7 p 984

8. What

illustration fitly

represents

the closing work of the Gospel proclama

tion? Hosea

6:3;

Joel 2:23.

The

work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the former rain

was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit

at

the opening of the gospel, to cause

the upspringing of the precious seed, so the latter rain will be given

at

its close for

the ripening of the harvest. -The

Great

ontroversy

p

611

We

must not wait for the latte r rain. is coming upon all who will recognize

and appropriate the dew and showers of grace th at fall upon us. When we

gather

up

the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to

have us

trust

Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. [Isaiah 61:11 quoted.] The

whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God. -The

SDA Bible Commentary [E.G.

White Comments], vol.

7

p 984

SHARERS

IN

SUFFERING

AND IN

ETERNAL HAPPINESS

Thursday

September 3

9. What factors are to dis tinguish the faithful? Philippians 2:15;

John

14:21,

23.

Among earth s inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have

not bowed the knee to Baal. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Euro pe

and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark

corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones

that

will yet shine

forth amidst the darkness

In the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan s

supreme effort is made to cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and

bond, to receive, u nd er penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false

rest

day,

these faithful ones, blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, will

shine as lights in the world Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:

15 . -Prophets and Kings,

pp 188 189

Those

who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be

wide awake during the time t ha t the third angel s message is proclaimed with g rea t

power. -The

SDA Bible Commentary [E.G. White Comments], vol. 7 p 984

-

3 4


35/44

10. W h a t promise does the Lord give to those who

through

H is S pi ri t have

f ai th fu ll y o be y ed H is c o m ma n ds ?

Daniel 12:3;

Matthew

2 5: 34 ; 1 3: 43 .

[The children of God] will stand before the throne accepted in the Beloved.

All

their sins have been blotted out all their trangressions borne away. Now they can

look upon the undimmed glory of the throne of God. They have been partakers with

Christ in His sufferings they have been workers together with Him in the plan of

redemption and they are partakers with Him in the joy of seeing souls saved in the

kingdom of God there to praise God through all eternity. -Testimonies, vol 9

p

285

THOUGHT

AN D

REVIEW QUESTIONS

o Friday

September 4

a.

W h a t can

I learn

from

Jo hn th e Baptist fo r

my personal

preparation?

b.

W h a t spiritual

influence does

the

law of

God

have on

my

life?

c. How should

I

prepare myself to da y in order to be able to cooperate in the

closing work?

d.

Describe t he e ve nt s which

are

to

sdarm qtr. 3 1992 bible study

Documents