Middletown New York Seventh day Adventist Church

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Lesson 3 The Holy Spirit July 12-18

Lesson 3*July 12-18

The Holy Spirit

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: John 14:16-18; John 14:26; John 15:26; Matt. 12:31-32; John 16:8; John 3:5-8; Luke 11:9-13.

Memory Text: And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever (John 14:16, NKJV).

Of the three Persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the least understood. It is ironic that the Person who is closest to us, the Being who produces the new birth in us, who dwells in us and transforms us, is the One we know so little about.

Why? To begin with, the Bible is less explicit regarding the Holy Spirit than it is about the Father and the Son. There are many references to the Spirit in Scripture, but most are metaphoric or symbolic. The Bible gives us ample information about the work of the Spirit, but it says little about His nature.

Another reason arises from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is constantly trying to focus our attention on Christ, not on His own Person. In the plan of salvation, the Spirit plays a subordinated role, serving the Father and the Son, although this function does not imply inferiority in essence.

This week, as we listen to what Jesus taught about the Spirit, let us eagerly pray for His transforming presence in our lives.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 19.

SundayJuly 13

The Representative of Christ

With fear and sadness, the disciples listened as Jesus announced His imminent death. When they were deprived of His presence, who would be their Teacher, Friend, and Counselor? Knowing their desperate need, Christ promised to send His representative to be with them.

What particular name did Christ use for His representative? See John 14:16-18. In what sense was that name so appropriate? See also John 14:26.

Helper, Counselor, and Comforter are various translations of the Greek parakletos, which is made up of the preposition para,beside, and the adjective kletos, called. It literally means one called to the side of, giving the idea of a person summoned to one’s aid. It may refer to a mediator, an intercessor, a helper, an advisor, or even a legal advocate.

Only John uses the term parakletos in the New Testament. Interestingly, he also applied this word to Jesus Himself (1 John 2:1).

During His earthly ministry, Christ was the disciples’ Counselor, Helper, and Comforter. Therefore, it is quite appropriate for His successor to receive the same name. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father at the request of the Son, and in the name of the Son (John 14:16, 26). The Spirit continues Christ’s work on this earth.

Through the Holy Spirit the disciples had the presence of Jesus. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18, NKJV), said the Lord. He was not talking about paying them an occasional visit, which wouldn’t be of much comfort to helpless orphans.Rather, He was announcing a permanent and intimate relationship: I in you (John 14:20, NKJV). This was going to be possible only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Of course, Christ’s human nature hindered Him from being personally in every place at the same time. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7). By the Spirit, our Savior is accessible to all, independent of where they are or the physical distance that separates them from Christ.

In what ways have you experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit, even though His nature and how He works in our lives is not easy to understand?

MondayJuly 14

The Holy Spirit Is a Person

Ellen G. White wrote that the nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. . . . Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. -The Acts of the Apostles, p. 52.

Nevertheless, she also affirmed that the Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. . . . He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. — Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 616, 617. This statement was based on the Bible (Rom. 8:16 and 1 Cor. 2:10-11). So, although we are limited by our human nature, through the Scriptures we can at least know that the Holy Spirit is a Person and that He is Divine. What Jesus said about the Holy Spirit confirms this conclusion.

What are some of the actions of the Holy Spirit that show us He is a Person? See John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-14.

Jesus mentioned several activities the Spirit carries out, all of which imply a personality. Who better than a person can teach us and bring to our remembrance all the things that Christ said (John 14:26)? Or who better than a personal being can testify of Jesus (John 15:26), convict the world (John 16:8), guide us into all truth, and also hear and speak (John 16:13)?

Following the teachings of Jesus, the New Testament writers made it clear that the Holy Spirit has the essential characteristics of a person: will (1 Cor. 12:11), intelligence (Acts 15:28, Rom. 8:27), and emotions (Rom. 15:30, Eph. 4:30).

Because the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, we must humbly surrender ourselves to His will and guidance. We will invite Him to dwell in our hearts (Rom. 8:9), to transform our lives (Titus 3:5), and to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our characters (Gal. 5:22-23). On our own, we are helpless; only through His power working in us can we become what we have been promised in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is a gift; like most gifts, it can be rejected. How can you make sure, day by day, that you are not turning away from what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in your life?

TuesdayJuly 15

The Holy Spirit Is Divine

When Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to the disciples, He called Him another Helper (John 14:16). The Greek word Jesus used foranother is allos, which means another of the same kind, in contrast with heteros, another of different kind or quality. The same likeness of nature that bonds the Father and the Son is revealed in the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will tell you things to come (John 16:13, NKJV). Only a divine Being can announce the future (Isa. 46:9-10).

The divinity of the Holy Spirit is also attested by His role in the inspiration of the Scriptures, a function that Jesus explicitly acknowledged. He argued that David himself said by the Holy Spirit (Mark 12:36, NKJV) what is recorded in Psalm 110:1.

While on this earth, Jesus was constantly under the direction of the Holy Spirit. After being anointed by the Spirit in His baptism(Matt. 3:16-17), He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke 4:1, NKJV). Victorious over the tempter, He returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee to carry on His ministry (Luke 4:14, NKJV). The miracles He performed were done through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28). The fact that the Son of God depended on the Spirit is another demonstration of the divine character of the Spirit, for it’s hard to imagine the Son of God dependent upon anything less than the Divine.

Further evidence for the deity of the Spirit lies in His association with the Father and the Son in texts that mention the three Persons as equal. Thus, Jesus commissioned the apostles to baptize the new disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, NKJV).

How do the following verses help us to understand the divinity of the Holy Spirit? See Matt. 12:31-32.

The comparison between speaking against the Son of Man, a sin that may be forgiven, and speaking against the Holy Spirit, a sin that cannot be forgiven, shows that the Spirit is not a common being. Blasphemy is a sin committed directly against God. Thus, we conclude that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Godhead. Though much has been written about the unforgivable sin, the immediate context shows people so hardened against the Spirit and His role in salvation that they attribute His work to the devil!

WednesdayJuly 16

The Work of the Holy Spirit

We have already mentioned the important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the incarnated Christ and in the inspiration of Scripture. Let us focus now on what Jesus taught about the Spirit’s work for our salvation.

What indispensable work does the Holy Spirit do in order to prepare us to accept the Savior? See John 16:8.

Who takes their medicine unless they acknowledge that they are sick? By the same token, we cannot be saved unless we recognize that we are sinners. Softly but steadily the Holy Spirit convinces us that we have sinned, are guilty, and are under the righteous judgment of God.

Then the Spirit guides us to Christ, testifying about Him (John 15:26), the only One who can save us. Since Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), by taking us to Jesus the Spirit is also taking us into all truth (John 16:13). It could not be any other way; after all, the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).

Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins) and are directed to Jesus and His truth, we are ready for the Holy Spirit to do His greatest work.

Why is it so crucial to be born of the Spirit ? See John 3:5-8.

Those who have tried to reform their lives by themselves know how futile their efforts are. It is impossible for us, without divine intervention, to transform our deteriorated sinful lives into a new being. The regeneration of a sinner requires the kind of creative power that only the divine Holy Spirit can provide. We are saved through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit(Titus 3:5, NKJV). What the Spirit does is not a modification or improvement of the old life but a transformation of nature, the creation of a new life. The results of such a miracle are clearly visible and constitute an irrefutable argument in favor of the gospel.

The operation of the Holy Spirit is not necessary only at the beginning of our Christian life; we need Him constantly. To foster our spiritual growth, He teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught (John 14:26). If we allow Him, He abides with us forever as our Helper, Comforter, and Counselor (John 14:16).

Bad character habits are hard to change, are they not? And even when we stop, unless constantly vigilant, we can be overcome by them again, as well. What should our inherent weaknesses and propensities to sin tell us about our constant need to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit?

ThursdayJuly 17

Filled With the Holy Spirit

No doubt, it is important to know who the Holy Spirit is. But this knowledge would be pointless unless it leads us to completely open our lives to be filled with Him. Jesus made it clear that if we fail to invite the presence of the heavenly Guest to abide in us daily, there is another kind of spirit that is eager to enter into the empty life and produce a spiritual disaster (Matt. 12:43-45). Jesus Himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, NKJV). Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 139.

What does xtell us about the way we may receive the Holy Spirit? What do these verses show us regarding the Father’s willingness to give us the Holy Spirit?

At the Last Supper, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit. He emphasized the Spirit’s comforting and teaching ministry, which was to meet their need at that time. After Christ’s resurrection, however, the context was different, and the disciples faced new challenges.

What was the focus of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection? See Acts 1:4-8.

Acts 1:5 contains the only record of Jesus talking about being baptized with the Holy Spirit (NKJV). John the Baptist had announced this special baptism (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33), but it had to wait until Christ’s ascension. What does baptism with the Spirit mean?

In Acts 1:8, Jesus Himself explained this with a parallel expression. You are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, NKJV) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8, NKJV). To be baptized is to be totally immersed in something, usually water. It includes the whole person. Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to be totally under the influence of the Spirit, completely filled with the Spirit(Eph. 5:18, NKJV). This is not a once and forever experience, but is something that needs to be constantly renewed.

If someone asked you, Have you ever been filled with the Spirit, what would you answer, and why?

FridayJuly 18

Further Study: Ellen G. White, The Power Promised, pp. 19-23, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8; The Gift of the Spirit, pp. 47-56, in The Acts of the Apostles.

At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter 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. — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 669, 670.

The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He [Jesus] could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. -Page 671.

Discussion Questions:

Given the human tendency to self-exaltation, what lessons does the humble and subordinate operation of the Holy Spirit teach us?
In dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the Spirit to the wind. What spiritual lessons may we learn from that comparison?
Some people claim that the evidence of being filled with the Spirit is to be able to speak in what is commonly referred to as tongues. How should we respond to this claim?
We tend to think of the work of the Holy Spirit on an individual, one-to-one basis, which is, of course, correct. At the same time, how can we, as a corporate body, experience the reality of His presence in our church as a whole?

Inside Story~ Euro-Africa Division: Czech

A River of Life

I’m a fourth-generation Adventist in the Czech Republic, the second-most atheistic country in Europe. Going to church was part of my life, like grocery shopping and eating. I enjoyed church because I had friends there, but I didn’t have a relationship with God.

I had developed a rather twisted picture of God. Many other young people did, too, and lots of them stopped attending church when they enrolled in a university.

The Adventist Church leaders prayed for a way to reach university-age people across the Czecho-Slovakian Union. God answered their prayers with INRI Road, which means Jesus’ way. It’s a program primarily for university students.

When I began my university studies a youth pastor invited me to attend INRI Road. It’s like no church I’ve ever been to. Casual weeknight meetings provide lots of opportunities to bond with other students. The program includes Bible studies, of course, but we can also join language conversation groups, sports teams, and other activities. I continued going because I enjoyed the fellowship.

Mark, the founder of INRI Road and leader of the group in the city where I am studying, asked me if I’d like to join the planning team for INRI Road. I agreed. We were encouraged to try our outreach ideas to see if they’ll work. And we have lots of smaller groups that make up INRI Road.

For instance, an Adventist girl studying medicine invited another Christian girl to pray in the stacks of the library. Others joined them, and the group grew. They wanted a place to meet, and INRI Road invited them to join. This is typical of the way INRI Road is growing. Many members are not Adventists, but are friends.

I attend two Bible study groups, and the in-depth study we do has opened God’s Word in new and amazing ways for me. I see how far God has taken me in my walk with Him. I’m learning to rely on God for everything. He is giving me opportunities to act on the lessons He’s taught me, to share what I’ve learned with others.

I want to pass what I’m learning about God and life and ministry on to others. I want to help others see that their lives are a gift from God, a gift they’re responsible to give to others. This realization has changed my life.

Last year INRI Road received part of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to help expand the program to other university cities, to train leaders, and provide resources that will bring other young people to a knowledge of the Savior. Thank you for caring about the youth of Europe.

Jan Justra is studying pharmacology and theology in Brno, Czech Republic.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Lesson 2 The Son July 5-11, 2014

Lesson 2*July 5-11

The Son

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 24:30; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 11:27; Luke 5:17-26; John 8:58; Matt. 20:28.

Memory Text: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45, NKJV).

After more than two years of public ministry, Jesus asked His disciples: Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? (Matt. 16:13, NKJV). It was not difficult for them to report what they had heard people saying about Jesus. More challenging, however, was Jesus’ next question: But who do you say that I am? (Matt. 16:15, NKJV). Now it became a personal issue. Jesus did not ask their opinions about His external appearance or about His character traits. His question, instead, went to the essence of Jesus’ very being. It required the disciples to express their individual conviction and faith.

Sooner or later, everyone has to answer this same question. Each has to decide, individually, who Jesus is. It doesn’t help to repeat what other people say or believe; the answer must be genuinely our own personal belief. And, of course, on that answer the destiny of every human being hangs.

This week we will seek the answer on the basis of what Jesus Himself said and did. Our aim will be to arrive, by faith, at the same response Peter gave: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (vs. 16, NKJV).

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 12.

SundayJuly 6

The Son of Man

This title, the Son of Man, was Jesus’ favorite designation for Himself. He referred to Himself as Son of Man more than eighty times. Other people never addressed Him that way. He, of course, selected this special designation for Himself with a purpose in mind.

This idiomatic expression was common in the Old Testament. With just one exception, it always referred to a human; thus, Jesus used it in order to emphasize His humanity.

Scripture presents Jesus as a true human being. He was born as a baby, grew up as a child (increasing in wisdom and in stature [Luke 2:40, 52]), and had sisters and brothers (Matt. 13:55-56). He ate (Matt. 9:11), slept (Luke 8:23), was tired (John 4:6), and suffered hunger and thirst (Matt. 4:2, John 19:28). He also experienced sorrow and distress (Matt. 26:37).

To the casual observer, Jesus seemed to be a common man who walked among the people as one of the multitude. Many of His contemporaries did not recognize in Him anything more than a man (John 7:46). People treated Him as one of them; they laughed at Him (Luke 8:53), criticized Him (Matt. 11:19), even mocked and beat Him (Luke 22:63). To them, He was just another human being.

Unfortunately, they failed to perceive that there is more to be found in this title. According to Daniel 7:13 and 14,

One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days, and received eternal dominion, glory, and a kingdom. The Jews identified this Son of Man with the Messiah. So, when Jesus used this title, He was revealing, in a half-concealed way, that He was also the promised Messiah, the incarnate Christ.

Read Matthew 24:30, 25:31, 26:64. What elements in Jesus’ words recorded in these verses are reminiscent of Daniel 7:13-14?

Why is it so important for us to know that Jesus was fully human? What implications does His full humanity have for our salvation? What implications does it have for our daily lives, especially in our battles with temptation and sin?

MondayJuly 7

The Son of God

The title Son of God was used not only by Gabriel (Luke 1:35) but also by several people when addressing Jesus (Matt. 14:33, Mark 15:39, John 1:49, 11:27). He accepted that title but was very careful not to apply it directly to Himself, lest He be stoned to death. Nevertheless, the Bible does reveal in different ways His special relationship with the Father.

The Father acknowledged Jesus as His Son at His baptism (Matt. 3:17); the same as at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:5).

Their Father-Son relationship is unique. Christ is the only Being in the universe who enjoys that kind of relationship, because only He is of the very same nature as the Father. As believers, we have been granted the privilege of becoming children of God. But Jesus always was, is, and will be the Son of God.

What do the following texts reveal about the perfect unity of the Father and the Son? Matt. 11:27, John 3:35, 5:17, and10:30.

The complete unity of Jesus and the Father includes a mutual and perfect knowledge of each other: a unity of will, purpose, and objectives. Moreover, it includes a unity of nature. The Son and the Father are two persons (I and the Father ) but of the same nature (are one ), a fact emphasized by the neuter pronoun one (compare with 1 Cor. 3:8).

We have to be aware, however, that because He came to live as a man, Christ while here voluntarily subordinated Himself to the Father (Phil. 2:6-8). This limitation was functional but not part of His essence Himself. Jesus subordinated Himself for a specific purpose, a specific goal.

With this concept in mind we can understand why Jesus said: the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do(John 5:19, NKJV); because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 5:30, NKJV). From this functional point of view, He could say: My Father is greater than I (John 14:28, NKJV).

Jesus was fully God and fully human. What does this amazing truth tell us about the close link between heaven and earth? What comfort can we draw from this close connection?

TuesdayJuly 8

Christ’s Divine Nature: Part 1

The deity of Christ is the foundation of our faith. A human being could never be our savior, no matter how extraordinary his life may have been. Throughout the entire New Testament, we have evidence of His divinity. We will focus on what Jesus Himself taught about this subject.

It was, for starters, not a simple matter for Jesus to explain who He was. His mission required Him to make known that He was the Messiah, God in the flesh; however, there is no record of Him saying publicly, I am God or I am the Messiah. Had He done so, His life could have immediately been taken. Therefore, He chose to hint at His divine nature and indirectly led His hearers to know His deity.

As Jesus gradually revealed His divine nature, most of His hearers understood Him but refused to accept His claim because it didn’t fit with their preconceived idea of the Messiah. This is evident by their request: How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly (John 10:24, NKJV). Unfortunately, the context shows that their question was not sincere.

As we saw yesterday, Jesus made many references to His special relationship with His Father. This was one of the methods He used to reveal His deity. Many understood clearly that when He said that God was His Father, He was making Himself equal with God (John 5:18).

Read Luke 5:17-26. In what very powerful ways did Jesus here reveal His divinity without openly saying it?

It required nothing less than creative power to restore health to that decaying body. The same voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth had spoken life to the dying paralytic. — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 269, 270.

Jesus claimed the divine prerogative to forgive sins. He also said that He Himself will sit on the throne of His glory (Matt. 25:31, NKJV) and judge all the nations, deciding the eternal destiny of each one, something that rests on God’s authority alone. How much more could He have done here to reveal who He really was?

Think about how hard-hearted some of these leaders were toward Jesus. And these men were supposed to be the spiritual guardians of the people? How can we make sure we don’t become hard-hearted in our own ways, as well?

WednesdayJuly 9

Christ’s Divine Nature: Part 2

Jesus declared and demonstrated that He had the same power as the Father to overcome death. As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will (John 5:21, NKJV). Only God can state: I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25, NKJV).

Another clear indication of His divinity is found in His assertion to preexistence. He came down from heaven (John 3:13, NKJV)because the Father sent Him (John 5:23). Then, again, He reaffirmed His preexistence: And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (John 17:5, NKJV).

Why is John 8:58 one of Jesus’ more direct and profound statements about His deity? See also Exod. 3:13-14.

In contrast with Abraham, who came into being (which is the literal meaning of the Greek root g\EDnomai, translated here as was,Jesus announced Himself to be the self-existent One. He was not only there before Abraham’s birth but existed eternally. I am implies continuous existence. Furthermore, I AM is the title of Yahweh Himself (Exod. 3:14). The leaders understood, unmistakably, that Jesus claimed to be the I AM revealed in the burning bush. For them, He was guilty of blasphemy and therefore they took up stones to throw at Him (John 8:59, NKJV).

The Gospels show that Jesus, without showing disapproval, accepted worship from others. He knew very well that, according to the Scriptures, only God deserves man’s adoration, for He said to Satan: It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. (Matt. 4:10, NKJV). Therefore, by accepting worship from others, He was revealing His divinity. The disciples on the sea (Matt. 14:33), the blind man healed (John 9:38), the women at Jesus’ tomb (Matt. 28:9) and the disciples in Galilee (Matt. 28:17)all worshiped Him openly, recognizing His deity. Thomas’s words to Jesus, My Lord and my God! (John 20:28, NKJV) would not have been spoken by a Jew back then unless he clearly understood that he was talking to God.

Read John 20:29. What are things that you have not seen, yet believe in? What are the implications of your answer for the whole question of faith?

ThursdayJuly 10

Christ’s Mission

After considering who Jesus was, we are in a better position to understand what He came to do for us.

Satan made accusations against God. In order to meet those accusations, Jesus came to represent the Father’s character, and to correct the false concept that many had developed about the Godhead. He wanted us to know God, because to know Him is indispensable in order to have eternal life (John 17:3). However, we need more than knowledge to be saved. We need God to provide us a Savior, which is precisely the meaning of the name Jesus: Yahweh is salvation (Matt. 1:21). Jesus described His mission in very clear terms: the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10, NKJV). In Eden, humans lost their relationship with God, lost their holiness, lost their home, and lost eternal life. Jesus came to restore everything: He reestablishes our relationship with the Father (John 1:51); He forgives us our sins (Matt. 26:28); He gives us an example how to live (1 Pet. 2:21); and, of course, He gives us eternal life (John 3:16).

How did Jesus define the essence of His mission? John 10:11, Matt. 20:28.

Why did Jesus have to die? It was because He voluntarily took our place and bore the punishment of our sin. We are all sinners (Rom. 3:10-12) and, as such, deserve eternal death (Rom. 6:23). The price for our salvation was so high that only the life of the Son of God was enough to pay for it.

The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. In all the universe there was but one who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 63.

Look around at our world and the fate of us all in this world. If everything ended in the grave, what hope would we have? We would have none at all, were it not for the plan of salvation. How, then, can we show our gratefulness to God for what He has done for us in Christ?

FridayJuly 11

Further Study: Ellen G. White, Divine-Human Saviour, pp. 1126-1128 in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5.

While God’s Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding His pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with His Father. . . . The world was made by Him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3). If Christ made all things, He existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. — Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 247.

In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. He that hath the Son hath life. 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 530.

Discussion Questions:

Demons knew and confessed that Jesus was the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24, NKJV), the Son of God (Mark 3:11), Son of the Most High God (Mark 5:7, NKJV). See also James 2:19. Why is this kind of acknowledgment not enough for our salvation? How can we avoid the trap of being satisfied with a mere intellectual acceptance of Jesus?
When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God (Mark 15:39). The best place to understand Jesus is at the foot of His cross. How often do you go there? When was the last time you were there? Why don’t you take a moment, right now, to meditate on the infinite sacrifice He made for your salvation?
A good number of Jesus’ contemporaries rejected Him because they had wrong ideas about the Messiah. Unfortunately, many people today refuse to yield their lives to Jesus, because they have prejudices or a distorted concept about Him. How can we help them to see Jesus as He really is? What do we have as Seventh-day Adventists in particular that could help give them a clearer view of who Jesus really is?

Inside Story~ Euro-Asia Division: Russia

The Power of Many

Believers in western Russia work together to win their neighbors—and sometimes thieves—to Jesus. They write the names of people for whom they are praying in a book at church. Then they deliver tracts or newsletters to those people during the week.

One woman who owns a goat farm asked God who to pray for, and God showed her in an unusual way. The woman noticed that her goats were disappearing. Then she found a man lifting one of her goats from its pen. She stopped him. My family is hungry, the man said. If I sell the goat, they can eat.

The woman asked the man to put the goat back into its pen while she prepared food for his family. She gave him the food and some missionary tracts as well. The man’s family read the tracts. The man now works as a goat herder for the Adventist woman, and his family worships with the Adventist congregation in town.

Three sisters were praying for an apartment to rent. An old woman offered to rent them an apartment, and the sisters moved in.

Then they discovered that their landlady spoke to the spirits. The sisters prayed for the woman, but they were afraid to speak to her about her alliance with the devil. Instead, they left some Bible tracts on the table where she would find them. The woman picked up the tracts and read them. One of the tracts dealt with the devil’s skillful lies. While reading it, the landlady realized that her alliance was with the devil. The landlady has asked the sisters for more tracts and a book about God.

Through their faithfulness in sharing their faith, a congregation has grown. But the members had no church in which to meet. The nearest church was several miles away in another town. They struggled to raise money for a church until the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering helped make their dream a reality. Today a simple church stands in this town in western Russia, a lighthouse and a testimony to the power of many working together as one to finish God’s work.

Members celebrate their new church in Temryuk, Russia.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org