Friday, January 29, 2016
ANN Video Full Episode - January 29, 2016
ANN Video Full Episode - January 29, 2016: This week on ANN...leaders from the Seventh-day Adventist's Church humanitarian agency discuss ways to collaborate efforts in addressing the Europe Migrant Crisis...in response to a contaminated city-...
Lesson 6 Victory in the Wilderness January 30- February 5 .2016
Lesson 6*January 30-February 5
Victory in the Wilderness
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: Matt. 1:20-23, John 9:39, Matt. 3:7-12, 4:1-10, Deut. 34:1-4, Rev. 21:10.
Memory Text: "'For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost'" (Luke 19:10, NKJV).
"When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his work of depraving human nature would be interrupted. . . . Yet as the plan of salvation was more fully unfolded, Satan rejoiced with his angels that, having caused man's fall, he could bring down the Son of God from His exalted position. He declared that his plans had thus far been successful upon the earth, and that when Christ should take upon Himself human nature, He also might be overcome, and thus the redemption of the fallen race might be prevented."-Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p 66.
This week, as we look at the temptations in the wilderness, we can see, as perhaps never before so clearly revealed in the Bible, the great controversy between Christ and Satan as it is openly battled out between them. Satan had claimed the world as his, and Christ came to win it back. And central to His winning it back was the plan of salvation. Having failed to kill Jesus after His birth, Satan tried another way to sabotage the redemption of the race. This we see unfold in the wilderness temptations.
Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 6.
Immanuel to the Rescue
Read Matthew 1:20-23. What is the significance of the name given to Jesus: "Emmanuel?"
Why did Jesus come to this earth to be "with us?"
First, He came to restore the dominion that Adam lost (Rom. 5:12, 15). We catch a glimpse of the royal aspect of Jesus (having dominion) when He inspired the crowds (5,000 wanted to crown Him king) and when the children sang their hosannas (a form of praise directed at one who would save the people from their enemies). We also see His powers over creation, such as with His ability to restore broken humans into whole beings again (for example, the man born blind and the woman who bled for 12 years) and in His power over nature, such as when He stilled the storm and told the wind and the waves to be still.
Second, He came to bring judgment and to destroy the works of the devil (John 9:39, 1 John 3:8). How often do we wonder why evil prospers? Jesus addresses injustice and reassures us that the end is in sight. Jesus was recognized by demons as having power over them. They would often scream out His true identity, sometimes before Jesus was ready to reveal it. He gave peace to demon-possessed people and restored them to sanity when others would flee in fear.
Third, Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to take away their sins (John 1:29). He was made like us so that He could be a faithful High Priest and so restore us to God (Heb. 2:17). "Dealing with sin, saving humans from it, giving them grace, forgiveness, justification, glorification-all this was the purpose of the single covenant from the beginning, now fulfilled in Jesus Christ."-N. T. Wright (2009-09-25), Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision (Kindle Locations 1462-1463: InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition).
Finally, Jesus came to show us what God is like, to reveal to us-and to the onlooking universe-what His true character really is (John 14:9).
How can and should each of these reasons for Christ's coming enhance your life and walk with the Lord?
Jesus' Baptism
The appearance of John the Baptist must have sent ripples of excitement throughout the region. Here was someone who looked like the prophet Elijah (Matt. 3:4, 2 Kings 1:8). He was the first prophetic voice the people had heard in 400 years. God had never been silent for so long before. Now He was speaking to the people once again. Obviously something significant was about to happen.
Read Matthew 3:7-12. Why would John the Baptist connect themes of judgment-the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7), the axe laid to the root of the trees (Matthew 3:10), thoroughly purging the threshing floor (Matthew 3:12), and burning chaff in unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12) in his introduction to the Messiah?
The people thought they were living in the last days. They saw John come from the wilderness and encourage them to pass through the waters of the Jordan through baptism. This was a bit like a new Exodus, and getting wet (rather than walking across a dried-up riverbed) was necessary for cleansing and readiness for the new Promised Land, with the Messiah Himself leading them from victory over the Romans to the ushering in of God's eternal kingdom spoken of by the prophets. At least that is what many people had thought.
But neither John nor Jesus was leading a political movement; it was a salvation event. The explanation by Luke of what John was doing is a quotation from Isaiah, describing the way God would prepare a road for the exiles to return to the Promised Land (Luke 3:3-6). Jeremiah explains the reason for making that special road: to make it manageable for society's most vulnerable-the blind, the lame, the pregnant, mothers with toddlers-and for all others who desired to return to the Promised Land to be able to do so (Jer. 31:7-9). No wonder the people flocked to John; their hope was kindled that they, too, could be ready for the great day of God, soon to be upon them.
It came, however, in a way that most of them didn't expect, not because they hadn't been told, but because they didn't understand the meaning of the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27).
Faithful people had deep misconceptions about the nature of the Lord's first coming. How might faithful people in the last days avoid having deep misconceptions about the nature of His second one?
Stones Into Bread
Read Matthew 4:1-3. What is happening, and why? How do we see the great controversy being played out here?
"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 contemplate His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and he thought this the best time to approach Him."-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 114.
There are dramatic parallels between the account of Jesus' temptations and the experience of the Israelites in their Exodus wanderings. After coming through water, Jesus went into the desert, where He ate nothing and was tested for 40 days. Similarly, the Israelites passed through water (the Red Sea), entered the desert where they had no bread, and stayed there for 40 years. Notice how it is described in Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (NKJV). "'And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, [and] allowed you to hunger.'"
The gospel account says that after 40 days Jesus was hungry (Matt. 4:2). Then someone appears with "helpful" advice, a bit like Job's comforters. This was not the first time Satan is depicted as coming to "help" someone in crisis. Zechariah 3:1-10 records the story of the high priest at the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. As he stood before God in vision, someone appeared at his right hand. The one who stood at the right hand was always the most trusted friend, to protect and guard against any would-be attacker. But the trusted right-hand man in Zechariah 3:1-2 was none other than the "accuser," pretending to be a trusted friend.
The same thing happened to Jesus in the wilderness. The one who came to "help" revealed himself when he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matt. 4:3, NKJV). An angel from God would have no doubt about Jesus' divinity.
Again notice how Jesus' reply (Matt. 4:4) is a quotation linked to the Exodus. "'[God] fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD'" (Deut. 8:3, NKJV).
However important not to fall prey to temptation, how much more important is it to make sure that you, even unwittingly, aren't leading someone else into it?
Another Temptation
The first temptation parallels the Exodus but had its roots in the Fall. By placing a priority on faithfulness to God, instead of giving in to appetite, Jesus recovered the ground that Adam lost at the tree of knowledge. However, to completely bridge the gap from where the human race had descended since the time of Adam, Jesus had to be subjected to two more temptations.
According to Matthew, the second temptation involved Satan taking Jesus to the highest part of the temple, presumably the southeast corner that overlooked a steep ravine. Again came the taunting statement, "'If you are the Son of God,'" which showed that the tempter was no friend of Jesus.
What is Satan really getting at here? Would it have proved anything if Jesus did jump? (Matt. 4:5-7).
Jesus was not interested in cheap theatrics. His trust in God was genuine, not something contrived to impress others. Jesus' complete trust in His Father was manifested in His leaving heaven and becoming a human being, suffering the indignation, the misrepresentation, the public humiliation, and the injustice of His death (see Phil. 2:5-8). This was His destiny, and He was fully prepared for it. His mission was to reclaim the world that Adam and his descendants lost. In Jesus, all the covenant promises were to be fulfilled, and the world would have an opportunity for salvation.
Again Jesus responds with "'It is written,'" again quoting Deuteronomy, and again linking His experience to the Exodus: "'You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah'" (Deut. 6:16, NKJV). Massah was the place where the Israelites bitterly complained about lack of water, and Moses struck the rock to provide it. In evaluating this experience, Moses stated that the people had "tempted the LORD, saying, 'Is the LORD among us or not?'" (Exod. 17:7, NKJV). Jesus, of course, knew better and didn't fall for the trick, even though this time the devil threw the phrase "It is written" (Matt. 4:4, 6) back at Him.
It's not always easy to see the boundary between trusting in God for the miraculous and being presumptuous in regard to what we expect from the Lord when we pray. How have you learned to know one from the other? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.
Devil Worship
In Matthew's version, while the first temptation focused on appetite and the second on manipulating God, the third was a direct challenge to Christ Himself, to His kingship and to His ultimate mission on earth.
Read Matthew 4:8-10, Deuteronomy 34:1-4, and Revelation 21:10. What is the significance of the "exceeding high mountain" that Satan took Jesus to?
Judging by the way the Bible uses the theme of going up to the top of a very high mountain to view nations, we can see that Jesus' trip was no sightseeing tour. There is prophetic vision attached to this scenario. From a mountaintop, Moses sees the Promised Land as it would later be, and John later sees the future New Jerusalem. Similarly, Jesus sees more than just the countries of the ancient Roman world. Notice that Satan shows off everything in its best light. He shows the riches and the glamour, not the crime, suffering, and injustice.
Satan then says: "'all these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me'" (Matt. 4:9, NKJV). In the same way that Satan fooled Adam and Eve into wanting to become like God (when they already were in His image), Satan pretended that he was God, and that the ownership of the nations of the world was exclusively his and that, for a little homage, he could easily give it all to Jesus (seeLuke 4:6; compare Ps. 2:7-8).
This test focused on loyalty. Who should the human race give ultimate loyalty to? In Eden, when Adam and Eve gave in to the serpent, they were really giving Satan their first loyalty, and that infection spread quickly through each successive generation. Without direct divine intervention, the great controversy would have been decided in favor of Satan. The human race, and maybe even life on earth, could not have continued. The stakes were that high.
Notice that Jesus, like Joseph with Potiphar's wife, did not permit evil to stay near Him. Jesus commanded Satan to go away. Joseph could not do that, so he removed himself from the scene of potential evil (Gen. 39:11-12). What a simple lesson for us, as well.
In all three of these temptations, Jesus used Scripture as His defense. What does that mean to us in practical terms? That is, how can we, when faced with temptation, use Scripture in order to have the same kind of victories?
Further Thought: Though one can find writers through the centuries touching on the theme of the great controversy, and though some evangelicals today are looking at the idea more closely-no one has a deeply developed great- controversy worldview as does the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A literal, physical, moral, and spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan is, indeed, a crucial hallmark of Adventist thought. And no wonder. All through the Bible there is what one evangelical writer has called "the cosmic warfare theme," and sometimes-such as in this week's lesson on the temptations in the wilderness-that theme appears in a very stark and open manner. The idea of a battle between good and evil can be seen even outside a distinctly religious context. Poet T. S. Eliot wrote: "The world turns and the world changes / But one thing does not change. / In all of my years, one thing does not change, . . . / The perpetual struggle of Good and Evil."-The Complete Poems and Plays, 1909-1950 (New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1952), p. 98. German atheist Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote: "Let us conclude. The two opposing values 'good and bad,' 'good and evil' have been engaged in a fearful struggle on earth for thousands of years."-On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo (Vantage Books Edition: Random House, Inc., 1967), p. 52. Scripture, aided by the Spirit of Prophecy, reveals as nothing else does, the true nature of this conflict and the eternal issues at stake in it.
Discussion Questions:
- In class, go over your answers to Wednesday's question about the line, the boundary, between trusting in God's promises for the miraculous and that of being presumptuous. How do we know the difference?
- Temptation comes in many forms and shapes and sizes and colors and modes, all carefully designed to reach each of us where we are. And, of course, some things that tempt one person don't tempt another. Besides the obvious sins, what are the more subtle ways in which we can be tempted?
- Read over the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness and the humiliation that He was subjected to. As you do, think about the fact that this same Jesus was, indeed, "God with us." He was the one through whom "all things were made" (John 1:3). How can we grasp the incredible concept here, that of God-God!-enduring this fearful struggle in our behalf? Considering this truth, what else matters?
Finding True Gold-Part 2
The story thus far: Amair's parents divorced and he and his mother moved to a village on the Amazon. Later he served in the military. Afterwards, Amair went to his brother's home, looking for gold, but instead found "heavenly gold." Wanting to share this treasure, he visited his sister, later married, and eventually moved back to his home village and became the community teacher.
An Adventist friend heard that Amair and Francinette had moved to this village, and wanting to help them start a church there, joined them. They began meeting together each Sabbath under some trees by the river. Soon, other villagers began noticing them and wanted to join in their worship. Amair started giving Bible studies and the group continued to grow.
It didn't take long for word to reach Amair's mother about what was going on. She was so ashamed to learn that her son was a Seventh-day Adventist that she "unblessed" him as her son and cursed him.
Amair and Francinette began praying for his mother, but things only seemed to get worse. As soon as they started studying the Bible with someone, the next day Amair's mother would go to the person and tell them that what Amair was teaching was a lie.
"But we believed that at the right moment, God would do something," says Amair. "The people were open-hearted, and they accepted the message."
More and more villagers shared with others the truth they had found through Amair's Bible studies, and the group meeting under the tree by the river grew so large that they decided to build a Seventh-day Adventist church. A pastor from their local conference office came to baptize the new believers and to officially organize the church. Today the church, that began with just one family now has 113 members.
When Amair's mother saw how quickly the Adventist church was growing, she contacted her priest and asked that he establish a Catholic church in the village. However, her personal life was unraveling and soon she was divorced from her second husband. Nothing came of establishing a Catholic church.
Disheartened, Amair's mother decided to move away from the village. Amazingly, however, the Bible teachings she heard had influenced her. She had come to understand the truth of the seventh-day Sabbath, but was ashamed to keep it. But once she moved to another place, she began to secretly keep the Sabbath ("for God the Father", she said), and kept going to church on Sunday ("for Jesus").
God continued working on her heart, and after a series of Bible studies she came to accept the entire Adventist message and was baptized. She then returned to her village to talk with her brothers, encouraging them to accept the "treasure" that she and Amair have found.
One of the Thirteenth Sabbath offering projects is to build a "floating church" that will be used to reach more people of these remote Amazon villages. For more stories and information visit https://am.adventistmission.org/mq-adult .
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
Friday, January 22, 2016
Lesson 5 The Controversy Continues January 23-19 2016
Rebellion and Redemption
Lesson 5*January 23-29
The Controversy Continues
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: 1 Sam. 17:43-51, 2 Sam. 11:1-17, 1 Kings 18:21-39, 2 Kings 19:21-34, Esther 3:8-11, Nehemiah 1:1-11.
Memory Text: "And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, 'Let us rise up and build.' Then they set their hands to this good work" (Nehemiah 2:18, NKJV).
When we compare the lives of David, Elijah, Hezekiah, Esther, and Nehemiah, similar themes surface: God is able to use "insignificant" people to turn back the tide of evil. Through some of these accounts we can see that, despite tremendous obstacles, we don't need to buckle under overwhelming evil. Instead, we can stand firm, but only in the power of God, who is faithful to His covenant promises, promises fulfilled for us in Jesus. When God's people endure in His might, they will see that the forces of evil are not powerful enough to ultimately prevail.
The focus, and the challenge, is for us to rejoice in His deliverance. This does not always make sense in the context of the overwhelming challenges that we sometimes find ourselves in, challenges that are so much bigger than ourselves. Rejoicing in God's deliverance before deliverance comes is an act of faith and worship, rather than the logical consequence of what is happening around us. On the other hand, because of what Christ has done for us, trusting in God's faithfulness is, really, the only logical thing we can do.
Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 30.
David, Goliath, and Bathsheba
Life is complicated, and that's because, as humans, we are complicated. Imagine-creatures made in the image of God, the Creator of the universe, who then corrupt themselves. No wonder that our potential both for good and for evil can reach remarkable levels. And it isn't just that some people attain great levels of "goodness" while others, unfortunately, drop to the extremes of depravity. Instead, both extremes can be manifested in the same person! The great news is that some who, at one time, were at the lowest have, by God's grace, done great things for Him and for humanity. Of course, the opposite can happen, as well: those at the heights can fall to the depths. Satan is real, the great controversy is real, and unless connected to the Lord, even the best of us can fall prey to our foe (1 Pet. 5:8).
Read 1 Samuel 17:43-51. What words came out of David's mouth that are so crucial to understanding his victory? In contrast, read 2 Samuel 11:1-17. What stark contrast do we see here in the same man? What made the difference?
The same David who defeated the giant Goliath is the David who was defeated by his own lust and arrogance. How many women did the man already have? And he sees one more, a married woman, and suddenly where is all the talk about "the battle is the LORD'S" (1 Sam. 17:47) or "that there is a God in Israel" (1 Sam. 17:46)? If there were a time when David needed not only to know that the "battle is the LORD'S" but also to fight that battle in God's armor, it wasn't on the war zone in the Valley of Elah but in the recess of his own heart, where in each of us the great controversy rages.
Upon coming to his senses after this terrible fall with Bathsheba, David had enough grief and guilt to last a lifetime. His sorrow led him to write Psalm 51:1-19, in which he pleads for a clean heart (Ps. 51:10) and the restoration of his fellowship with God (Ps. 51:11-12). In the great cosmic struggle, mighty men are just as vulnerable as the person of the lowest rank; yet, God is willing to work with all who truly repent.
Think about yourself, right now-the triumphs, the disappointments, the victories, the failures. How can you apply lessons from either of these stories for whatever situation you face, right now?
To Turn Their Hearts
Elijah the Tishbite has to be one of the most colorful characters in Scripture. We first meet him standing before a startled king and telling him there will be no rain for the next three years (1 Kings 17:1). It was not easy either to approach a king or to escape from him, but this hairy man with his leather belt (2 Kings 1:8) just slips through the guards, delivers God's message, then runs to the mountains, about twelve kilometers (7 miles) away.
These were sorry times for the northern kingdom of Israel. Most had forsaken the Lord God (1 Kings 19:10) and were worshiping fertility gods instead. To say that it would not rain was a direct challenge to Baal, who was thought to bring rain to ensure fertile crops and herds that made farmers wealthy. The prevailing religious rites focused on fertility and income.
For the next three years the fertility gods are impotent. Then Elijah confronts the king again and asks for a showdown between himself and all the prophets of Baal and the goddess Asherah (goddess of fertility)-one man against 850 (1 Kings 18:17-20).
When the day arrives and the crowds gather at the top of Mt. Carmel, Elijah addresses the people: "How long will you falter [limp] between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21, NKJV). Bulls are chosen and prepared for sacrifice, and the people wait to see which god is powerful enough to answer by fire from heaven. The bull was the most powerful object of the ancient fertility religions. Surely the gods of fertility would show their strength.
Read 1 Kings 18:21-39. Despite the obvious reality of the great controversy here, what did Elijah really want to see happen in Israel, and why is that so relevant to us today?
First Kings 18:37 says it all. The miracle, impressive enough as it was, wasn't the real issue: the issue was Israel's faithfulness to the covenant. Notice, too, who had turned their hearts. It was the Lord Himself, even before the miracle itself unfolded. But God doesn't force hearts to return to Him. He sends His Holy Spirit, and the people, responding to that Spirit, have to first make the choice to turn back to Him; only then, in His strength, can they act upon that choice. It's no different today. It's the power of God alone that sustains the beat of every heart, but He doesn't force even one of those beating hearts to follow Him.
Words of Defiance
Hezekiah was king of Judah when the new superpower, Assyria, conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and scattered its inhabitants across Mesopotamia (2 Kings 18:9-12). "That which He could no longer do through them in the land of their fathers He would seek to accomplish by scattering them among the heathen. His plan for the salvation of all who should choose to avail themselves of pardon through the Saviour of the human race must yet be fulfilled; and in the afflictions brought upon Israel, He was preparing the way for His glory to be revealed to the nations of earth."-Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 292.
A few years later, the Assyrian king Sennacherib turned his attention to Judah and captured all its fortified cities and exacted heavy tribute (2 Kings 18:13-15). Although Hezekiah emptied the temple and palace treasuries, the Assyrian king was not satisfied and sent officials to negotiate the surrender of Jerusalem.
The Assyrians then taunted the people, warning that since the gods of the nations around them didn't save them from Assyria, what made the Jews think that their God would do any better? (See 2 Kings 18:28-30, 33-35.)
Hezekiah then did the only thing possible for him-he prayed (2 Kings 19:15-19). God had already used Isaiah to encourage Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:6), and now God sends the prophet to him again.
Read 2 Kings 19:21-34, especially 2 Kings 19:21-22. What is God's message to His people amid this terrible crisis?
The outcome of all this was seen when the huge Assyrian army camped around the walls of Jerusalem. The frightened inhabitants of the besieged city arose one morning, not to see the final actions of a conquering army about to rip open the defenses of a besieged city but to see soldiers lying scattered on the ground in a deathly stillness as far as the eye could see (2 Kings 19:35). The disgraced Assyrian king went home, only to meet his end at the hands of two of his own sons (2 Kings 19:36-37).
How can we learn, even amid the most discouraging and seemingly impossible situations, to trust in the Lord? Why must we always keep the big picture in mind, especially when things don't always end, at least now, in such a positive manner?
Death Decree
It's so hard for us today (as no doubt it has been for people from various cultures through the centuries) to understand the customs and tradition of the ancient Persian Empire, where the story of Esther unfolds. One thing is certain, though: the Lord had used that empire in the process of fulfilling the covenant promises to the nation of Israel, promises that went back to Abraham (see Gen. 12:1-3,Isa. 45:1, 2 Chron. 36:23).
The young Jewish girl Esther found herself as queen. Though her ascent was through a route rather different than, for example, Joseph's in Egypt or Daniel's in Babylon, she was (as Joseph and Daniel were) just where the Lord wanted her to be, and she was used by God in a powerful way, one that illustrates how the great-controversy theme can play out in history.
Read Esther 3:8-11. Keeping in mind what God's plans were for the Jewish people, especially in regard to the coming of the Messiah, what consequences would the success of this decree have?
"Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the true God."-Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 600, 601. And from these same people, too, would come the Savior of the world.
How fascinating that the issue started over worship (see Esther 3:5, 8) and the refusal of a distinct group of people to follow the laws and customs of the ones in power. Though, of course, the context will be different at the end of time, the reality behind it-the great controversy between Christ and Satan-is still the same, and those who seek to be faithful to God will face something as the Jews here did. We have been warned that, in the closing scenes of earth's history, the decree will go out, declaring that "as many as would not worship the image of the beast [are to] be killed" (Rev. 13:15). The one thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
Why is it that we so often tend to be distrustful of those who are different from us? Why should the powerful truths of Creation and Redemption, truths that reveal the worth of every human being, show us just how wrong this attitude is? How can we purge our hearts of this terribly faulty tendency?
Nehemiah
The story of Nehemiah also comes at a time when the nation of Israel no longer existed as a political entity but as a remnant scattered across foreign lands. God, though, as always, would be faithful to His covenant promises, even when the people failed to live up to their end of the covenant.
Read Nehemiah 1:1-11. What is the background of his prayer? In what ways is it reminiscent of Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:4-19? In both cases, what is the issue, and how does this play out in the whole great-controversy drama?
Through the grace of the king, Nehemiah is given permission to return and rebuild in Jerusalem. On his return, Nehemiah spends the first few days just looking. He tries to survey the city by night, but the piles of rubble are so extensive that he does not get far (Neh. 2:14); so, he goes outside the walls to survey them from there (Neh. 2:15).
Read Nehemiah 2:16-18. How do you think Nehemiah convinced the leaders to start working on something they had thought impossible? What could Nehemiah teach our church today?
Although Nehemiah did not at first tell the leaders why he had come, there were some people who were not happy and did all they could to prevent any work from being done to improve Jerusalem (Neh. 2:10, 19-20). When work started on repairing the walls(Nehemiah 3:1-32), these foreign officials were "furious and very indignant" (Neh. 4:1) and they mocked the efforts (Neh. 4:2-3, NKJV). When they saw that God's people were serious about their work (Neh. 4:6), they became angry and planned an attack (Neh. 4:7-8).
It would have been so easy to back down; yet, despite all sort of machinations against their work, they persisted. Trusting in God, Nehemiah saw to the rebuilding of the wall and left the threats of his enemies in the hand of God (Neh. 6:14-15).
We all face obstacles. How do we know when to back down and when to keep going?
Further Thought: No question, the Word of God, as we have studied this week, time and again shows God's faithfulness to His people. Of course, in many cases, at the time things were happening, that faithfulness wasn't always obvious or apparent. In the accounts we looked at, we were able to see the beginning to the end; some of the characters involved, such as Uriah the Hittite, didn't. Today we are ourselves immersed in the great controversy just as surely as were the people we have studied. And not only them, but there were many others just as real as the ones who made it into the text but who didn't always live to see things work out so well. That's why it's so important for us, as Christians, to remember, especially when times are rough (as they so often can be), Paul's wonderful words: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18, NKJV). Here Paul is seeking to point us to something beyond the daily toils, foibles, and weaknesses of humanity and toward the only hope that makes life here anything more than a cruel farce.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the other Bible promises that point to our ultimate hope? Gather as many as you can, and either alone or in class read them aloud and dwell on what they say. What kind of picture do they present to us?
- What made David's fall so tragic was that he had been so singularly blessed of God. And yet, despite all that he had been given-he still sinned the way he did. Yet, instead of focusing just on the negative, think about the one positive aspect of his whole sordid story: God's grace, even to someone who had fallen from so high to so low. What does that tell us about just how full and complete the redemption that we have in Jesus really is? How can we have assurance that no matter what we have done, or how far our fall, if we, like David, repent, forgiveness is ours?
Finding True Gold-Part 1
Amair was born in Manaus-the capital city of Brazil's Amazon region. Shortly after he was born, his parents divorced and his mother took him to Manacapuru, a town on the banks of the Amazon. As the family business was in agriculture, Amair's mother eventually moved up river to a small village where she bought much land.
Meanwhile, Amair continued growing and was eventually drafted for military service. After serving his 15-month tour, Amair was ready for another kind of adventure-looking for gold! During the 1980s gold fever hit Brazil and diggers flocked to where gold had been found.
Amair's brother lived in one of these "golden" areas, and so he invited Amair to come stay with him. Unbeknownst to Amair, his brother had become a Seventh-day Adventist. As they worked together, the brother began to share his faith with Amair. Just one week after he arrived, however, the government closed all the places for gold hunters, and Amair lost his job.
Although very disappointed, Amair stayed with his brother for a time and continued to learn. "My brother told me about Jesus, and this gave me happiness. I lost the gold I had been looking for, but I found the truest gold!" Amair's brother gave him a series of Bible studies, and before long Amair was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
But then his conscience began to bother him. What about the rest of his family? Who would share this heavenly treasure with them?
He first went to his sister who was living in Manaus. To his surprise and delight, she too had become an Adventist. He stayed there for a year, during which time his sister further strengthened his faith.
It was also around this time that Amair met a young woman named Francinette, who wasn't an Adventist. Not knowing where it might lead, Amair became friends with Francinette, determined that "I will get her for God and for me!" The two remained friends for a long time, and Amair was able to study the Bible with Francinette. "At first she hugged the truth, and then she started to hug me also!" Amair explains with a smile. Eventually, Francinette was baptized and later on the two were married. The couple moved to a village along the upper stretches of the Amazon, then later, at the invitation of Amair's mother, moved to the little village where she lived.
The village needed a school teacher, and during that time the government of the Amazon region stated that anyone who completed four years of primary education could qualify to be a teacher in the community. Amair was chosen to be the village's community teacher.
Amair was a natural teacher, but he wanted to share more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic with the community. He wanted to share "God's gold" that he had found!
To be continued
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Lesson 4 Conflict and Crisis: The Judges January 16-22 2016
Sabbath School Lesson Begins
Conflict and Crisis: The Judges
Lesson 4*January 16-22
Conflict and Crisis: The Judges
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: Judges 4:1-24, Judges 6:1-40, Judges 14:1-20, Heb. 11:32, 1 Sam. 2:12-25, 8:1-7.
Memory Text: "And Hannah prayed and said: 'My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation'" (1 Samuel 2:1, NKJV).
The time of the Judges was a chaotic period in sacred history. God's people did evil in the sight of the Lord, the Lord "sold" them into the hands of an oppressor, the people cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer who brought peace to the land. That is, until the same sad cycle started again.
Deborah, one of Israel's judges, was remarkable for the confidence that she inspired in the men around her. She and Jael are heroines while the men needed encouraging because of their timidity and lack of faith. A recurring subtheme in the great controversy is also seen in the story of Gideon, when God's people face impossible odds.
Samson was one of the last of the judges. After him the nation descended into anarchy and hopelessness. He was the reluctant hero, one who was more interested in chasing women than in following God, a parallel to his countrymen who were more interested in worshiping idols than in serving the Lord.
Samuel brings hope to the nation. Under him a new leadership structure with kings was established, and one of his last acts was to anoint the future King David.
Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 23.
Deborah
The story of Deborah adds interesting details to the great- controversy theme. Here we see the people of God suffering oppression and facing impossible odds. This parallels what we observed in Revelation 12:1-17, with the incredibly unfair contest between a seven-headed dragon and a newborn baby (see Tuesday's study, Lesson 1).
The main characters in this story include Jabin, king of Canaan; Sisera, his army chief; and Deborah, a prophetess and a judge (one who settled civil disputes between opposing parties) who had a very unusual degree of authority and influence for a woman of that time.
Read Judges 4:1-24. In what ways do we see the great-controversy theme expressed here? In the end, who alone brought victory to Israel, despite their unworthiness?
The heroine of the story is Heber's wife, Jael, who is not afraid to identify with God's people and who played a crucial role in the defeat of God's enemies. Judging her actions from our perspective today isn't easy. The last thing we should do, though, is use her deeds to justify deception and violence in order to achieve our ends, no matter how right those ends might be.
In the discussions leading up to the conflict, Deborah assures Barak that the battle will be God's (an echo of the great controversy, for sure). Two verbs are used to describe how God would do this (Judg. 4:7). He will "draw" Sisera (the word suggests catching fish in a net) to the River Kishon, where He will "deliver" him into Barak's hand. Deborah's song of thanksgiving (Judges 5:1-31) reveals some of the details. Sisera's chariots became bogged down in the narrow passes near the River Kishon because of heavy rain. The heavens and the clouds "pour" and the mountains "gush" water (Judges 5:4-5, NKJV), producing a flash flood that sweeps away many enemy soldiers(Judges 5:21), and Israel is delivered.
Think of the confidence these men of war had in Deborah. While on one level that was good (obviously), why must we always be careful in how much confidence we put in anyone?
Gideon
After Deborah, the land enjoyed peace for the next 40 years, but soon they were back in the hands of oppressors. This time it was the Midianites, who, with their allies, would enter Israel and destroy all the newly planted crops and steal the livestock (Judg. 6:3-5). Israel became greatly impoverished and cried out to the Lord (Judg. 6:6-7). They realized that their fashionable gods were of no use now.
Read Judges 6:12-16. What did the Angel of the LORD say to Gideon, and what was Gideon's reaction? Shouldn't he have known why they were facing what they were? See Judges 6:7-10.
Despite Gideon's complaint, which was unwarranted (they were disobedient; that's why they were oppressed), God was ready to deliver, again, but this time through Gideon. How interesting that God would call Gideon a "mighty man of valor," even though Gideon viewed himself as something else entirely: "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (Judg. 6:15, NKJV). No question, a crucial component of Gideon's strength was his own sense of unimportance and weakness.
Notice, too, what Gideon had asked of the Lord, in Judges 6:36-40. That is, aware of the odds against them and his own weakness, he sought for special assurance of God's presence. Thus, we have here a man who fully realized his utter dependence upon the Lord. We can read in Judges 7:1-25 about Gideon's amazing success against the oppressors of his people and God's deliverance of Israel.
Why did the Lord choose to use fallen humans in the course of this deliverance? That is, could He have not Himself called "more than twelve legions of angels" (Matt. 26:53) to do what was needed for Israel at that time? What role do we, as fallen human beings, have in both the great controversy and the spreading of the gospel?
Samson
The battle lines between good and evil are blurred in the story of Samson. His life starts in impressive fashion with an announcement from the Angel of the LORD that he is to be a Nazarite from birth. The Angel instructs Samson's parents how to prepare for their special baby. The mother is told not to drink alcohol or to eat forbidden food (Judg. 13:4, 13-14; see also Leviticus 11:1-47). God, indeed, had special plans for Samson; unfortunately, things didn't work out as well as they could have.
"Just as he was entering upon manhood, the time when he must execute his divine mission-the time above all others when he should have been true to God-Samson connected himself with the enemies of Israel. He did not ask whether he could better glorify God when united with the object of his choice, or whether he was placing himself in a position where he could not fulfill the purpose to be accomplished by his life. To all who seek first to honor Him, God has promised wisdom; but there is no promise to those who are bent upon self-pleasing."-Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 563.
Read Judges 14:1-4. How is it possible that God used Samson's weakness for women as "an occasion to move against the Philistines?" Judges 14:4, NKJV.
Samson "moved" against the Philistines in a number of ways, each in angry response to personal slights. First he killed 30 men and took their clothes back to his wedding feast to pay a debt (Judg. 14:19). Then he destroyed their crops when his wife was given to his best man (Judg. 14:20, 15:1-5). Then Samson killed many in revenge for the Philistines killing his wife and her father (Judg. 15:6-8). When the Philistines tried to avenge that action (Judg. 15:9-10), he killed 1,000 with a donkey's jawbone (Judg. 15:14-15). Finally he pulled down their temple and killed 3,000 for blinding him (Judg. 16:21, 28, 30).
Talk about a flawed hero. There seems to be very little from Samson that we should seek to emulate, even though he is listed in Hebrews 11:32 with some pretty exalted figures. Obviously, there's more to this story than meets the eye. Think about what God could have done with Samson. What about ourselves? How much more could we do were we living up to our potential?
Ruth
Rather than talking about vast enemy armies that threaten God's people, the story of Ruth speaks about something smaller: a family almost dying out but, instead, being revived. While it includes two larger themes-God's creation being destroyed and His people being under threat-Ruth also tells of the great controversy on a personal level, where it is, in reality, always being waged.
It is no surprise that the land of Judah suffered a famine during the time of the judges (Ruth 1:1, Deut. 28:48, 32:24; see also Judg. 17:6, 21:25). This was a sign that the people of the covenant had forsaken God. Sin and rebellion had reduced the land flowing with milk and honey to a barren dust bowl but, in the book of Ruth, God "visited" the land and put life back into it, "giving them bread" again (Ruth 1:6).
When Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two young sons first went to Moab, they did so because they wanted a future. The land of the enemy gave temporary relief but, with her husband and two sons dead, Naomi finally decided to go back home.
Ruth was from an enemy nation that had on many occasions tried to destroy Israel, but she chose to identify with God's people and worship their God. In addition, she found favor in the eyes of her adopted homeland, not just by Boaz (Ruth 2:10) but also by the people who knew of her (Ruth 2:11). Boaz was confident that she also found favor in God's eyes (Ruth 2:12), and taking his admiration for her a step further, he agreed to marry her (Ruth 3:10-11).
However, there was a closer relative than Boaz who had first claim to the land of the dead man if he married Ruth. The nearer relative was not interested in another wife, however, because it complicated his financial plans (Ruth 4:6). At this point the assembly of witnesses blessed Ruth, likening her to the great women of Israel's history (Ruth 4:11-12), which was fulfilled when she became a forebearer of the Messiah (Ruth 4:13-17; Matt. 1:5-6).
Talk about a living-happily-ever-after story. Unfortunately, there aren't too many of those in the Bible. Of course, there are not too many outside of the Bible either. Here, too, though, we can see how, despite the ebb and flow of life, God's will, in the end, shall prevail; and that's good news for all who love and trust Him.
Samuel
What does the beginning of the book of Samuel have to do with the great controversy? There is no obvious threat to the created order, and there are no vast armies at the border. The attack of evil is more subtle but no less real.
Read 1 Samuel 2:12-25. How do we see the reality of good versus evil revealed in these sad verses?
"But although he [Eli] had been appointed to govern the people, he did not rule his own household. Eli was an indulgent father. Loving peace and ease, he did not exercise his authority to correct the evil habits and passions of his children. Rather than contend with them or punish them, he would submit to their will and give them their own way."-Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 575.
In contrast to them, we see a small boy dressed as a priest (1 Sam. 2:18-19), who, like Jesus, "grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men" (1 Sam. 2:26, NKJV; Luke 2:52). This Samuel, of course, went on to become a powerful and faithful leader in Israel. "And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD" (1 Sam. 3:20, ESV).
This does not mean, however, that everything went well. The nation faced war with the Philistines, and the two sons of Eli were killed; the Philistines captured the ark of God, and 98-year-old Eli died when he heard the news (1 Sam. 4:14-18).
Unfortunately, Samuel was to face the same problem that Eli did: sons who didn't follow in his footsteps of faithfulness and fidelity (1 Sam. 8:1-7).
Samuel marked a transition point in the history of God's people. He was the last of the judges and was a key figure in the developing great controversy. His stable influence guided the people at a critical time. It's a pity his sons did not follow in his steps, but God is not dependent on human dynasties. As a result of their apostasy, the elders demanded a king-not the best move, as centuries of later history would reveal.
No matter our home life, good or bad, we are responsible for whom we serve in the great controversy. Whatever mistakes you may have made, why must you always remember that today, now, is never too late to make it right with the Lord? Tomorrow might be too late, but not today.
Further Thought: The Bible is known for not glossing over human sin, human evil. If it did, how could it, and portray accurately the state of humanity? An especially sharp depiction of human evil is found in 1 Samuel 2:12-25, when the sons of Eli are presented in contrast to the young Samuel. 1 Samuel 2:12 reads, "The sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD." Notice, first, the contrast: lineage played an important role in biblical life, and in this one line "the sons of Eli" are now, instead, "the sons of Belial." Belial is a rich word, used in a number of forms and contexts, almost always negative. In fact, it is related to the Hebrew bl and bli,which mean "no" or "not" or "without." Belial itself means "worthless," "useless," and in other places is used in the same way as it was in regard to Eli's sons; that is, other men were called "sons of Belial" (2 Chron. 13:7, 1 Kings 21:13). In Proverbs 6:12, it is equated with the wicked. (In other ancient near eastern literature, Belial is seen as another name for Satan himself.) In almost every use in the Bible, it appears as a negative. As human beings, created in the image of God, they were created for a purpose and to have meaning; and yet, according to the Bible, these men were all but worthless, "sons of worthlessness." What a tragic waste of life. We are either for the Lord, doing something of meaning and purpose for Him, or we are, in the end, worthless. That makes sense, too, considering that our whole existence and purpose for life comes only from Him.
Discussion Questions:
- The Bible makes it clear: there is no middle ground in the great controversy: we are either on one side or the other, Christ's or Satan's. Yet, life as we know it doesn't always unfold with such clear and stark contrasts, does it? Sometimes we aren't sure just what is the right decision or what is the wrong one; even with moral situations, as well. It's not always easy to determine what to do. What are some ways we can seek guidance to help us to make right choices when, at times, it's not so easy to know just what the "right" choice is?
- In what ways have people whom you have looked up to somehow disappointed you? At the same time, in what ways have you perhaps disappointed those who once looked up to you? What have you learned from these incidents about faith, trust, grace, and human frailty?
"A Dream Comes True-Part 3"
The story thus far: Samantha is a nurse in the Amazon jungle. She often faces emergencies where she must depend fully upon God. One evening a man came to the clinic whose hand had been caught in a grinder, and a boy who had been bitten by a pit viper. The only way to save their lives was by taking the fast boat to the nearest hospital, two hours away.
At last the little group arrived at Manacapuru, the closest town. The boy was admitted to the local hospital, but the man was taken to the large city of Manaus, a journey of nearly two more hours, where he could receive specialized treatment.
Samantha didn't see the man again, but after a week was able to visit the boy in the hospital. "He was doing so well! And I understood that our emergency attendance to him was crucial for his life. If we hadn't been there to help, he would have died. When I see the boy now, I think 'Jesus is awesome!' He put His hand on the situation and saved two lives. I don't know how to express how wonderful it is-it was a real present from Jesus. The boy is fine now, he loves to play soccer, and we were able to help him."
Life in the village isn't easy-with very limited water and electricity (3 hours a day), no phones or internet, and very little contact with the outside world. Samantha often goes weeks without being able to connect with her family.
But she doesn't mind the inconveniences. "Just in the time I've been here, I feel my life has changed-my mind and everything. I realize now what's really important in life. I understand much more about Jesus, and I believe that he brought me here. I can help the people, I can offer them salvation. Jesus uses me to help others, and then He blesses me even more than I can give!"
Samantha is currently serving in the Amazon region for one year. Afterwards, she plans to return home, unless God indicates otherwise. "I don't know His plans yet," she says. "I just want to hear the voice of Jesus-'you need to stay, you need to go.' But I know that my life is changed and when I go back I'm a different person. I have heard Jesus, and I just want to use my talents and nursing to bring salvation to others."
For others considering mission service, Samantha shares some advice: "When I first thought about mission service, I thought, maybe just one week or month, but here I've learned that mission service changes your entire life, and that Jesus has a plan for your life! I used to think that getting a well-paying job, a car, an apartment, all that was so important, but now I can see that it's really very little compared to what Jesus has for you. Listen to Jesus and maybe He will change your entire life, too."
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
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