ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON – CONTRIBUTING NOTES



ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON – CONTRIBUTING NOTES

METRO NEW YORK WORLD MINISTRIES

FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

REFORMATION: THINKING NEW THOUGHTS

SABBATH AFTERNOON, September 7, 2013

What we choose to think will determine what we do. What we do will determine what we become in character. What we become in character will determine our destiny. Thus we must seek God for right thoughts and right actions, that we may be right with Him. It is the thoughts that we cherish and the actions we perform that will mold our characters. And in this process we must ever remember that this is not to be done in our own strength or power - but by a constant dependence on Christ. “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.” D.A. 671

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6,7

“By unfaithfulness in even the smallest duties, man robs his Maker of the service which is His due. This unfaithfulness reacts upon himself. He fails of gaining the grace, the power, the force of character, which may be received through an unreserved surrender to God…….

Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided.” C.O.L. 356

How does this great change occur? The answer is we must pursue communion with God:

“Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.” D.A. 668

Notice from Ezekiel the change that God works in the heart when conversion and repentance have taken place:

“Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe (to detest greatly to abhor) yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.” Ezekiel 36:31

Sunday September 8

The Mind Matters

“Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the

Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:17,18

Here is a wonderful truth! God will change us by His Spirit into His image!

Notice: “I address the ministers. Lead the people along step by step, dwelling upon Christ’s efficiency until, by a living faith, they see Jesus as He is - see Him in His fullness, a sin-pardoning Saviour. One who can pardon all our transgressions. IT IS BY BEHOLDING THAT WE BECOME CHANGED INTO HIS LIKENESS. THIS IS PRESENT TRUTH.” 3S.M. 183 emphasis supplied

Now let us spend some time on this thought – because this is a point of supreme importance – that we must understand – because of its immense impact on Christian growth – what does it mean to “behold?”

The way we behold is to – MEDITATE – on God’s word. Not just glancing and casually reading – but earnestly considering with care and hunger the truths of God’s word. As one Christian said:

“It is not he who reads most but he who meditates most – that makes the choicest, wisest Christian.”

George Whitefield that great contemporary preacher of John Wesley and who was taught by Wesley wrote this of his manner of Bible study.

“My mind being now more open and enlarged, I began to read the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved meat indeed, and drink indeed, to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light, and power from above. I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men. In one word, I found it profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, every way sufficient to make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good word and work.” George Whitefield’s Journals p. 60

Now note also these two statements on the great results that come from keeping our minds fixed on Christ:

“All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes the things of Christ and shows them unto him. IF THE EYE IS KEPT FIXED ON CHRIST, THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT CEASES NOT UNTIL THE SOUL IS CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE.” D.A. 302

Emphasis supplied

“Merely to hear or to read the word is not enough. He who desires to be profited by the Scriptures must meditate upon the truth that has been presented to him. By EARNEST ATTENTION AND PRAYERFUL THOUGHT he must learn the meaning of the words of truth, and drink deep of the spirit of the holy oracles.

God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption. Then clearer and still clearer will be our perception of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought WILL BE TRANSFORMED by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures.” C.O.L. P 59-60 emphasis supplied

“Exercise the mental powers, and in no case neglect the physical. Let not intellectual slothfulness close up your path to greater knowledge. LEARN TO REFLECT AS WELL AS TO STUDY that your minds may expand, strengthen, and develop. Never think that you have learned enough and that you may now relax your efforts. The cultivated mind is the measure of the man. Your education should continue during your lifetime; every day you should be learning and putting to practical use the knowledge gained.”

M.C.P. p. 689 also 4T p. 561 emphasis supplied

Now note this: “The more we look at the promises of the Word of God, the brighter they grow. The more we practice them, the deeper will be our understanding of them.” E.V. p. 256

Monday September 9

The Mind Matters

We can all choose the thoughts that will preoccupy the mind. We must determine to do so and depend upon Christ to accomplish this in us and to reject every thought that would intrude the domain of our minds that is in any way contrary to Christ and His word.

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me.” Psalm 101:3

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly: he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.” Isaiah 14-17

This passage is plain – Those who would dwell with God will live obedient lives – and they will guard well the avenues of the soul – hearing and seeing only that which is right, good, pure and true. This is the condition to being fed with bread and water in the time of trouble and also of dwelling with God Himself. As Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Now notice the following statements on this subject: These warnings are so important – please read carefully:

“Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.

THERE IS NO INFLUENCE IN OUR LAND MORE POWERFUL TO POISON THE IMAGINATION, TO DESTROY RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS, AND TO BLUNT THE RELISH FOR THE TRANQUIL PLEASURES AND SOBER REALITIES OF LIFE THAN THEATRICAL AMUSEMENTS. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use. THE ONLY SAFE COURSE IS TO SHUN THE THEATER, THE CIRCUS, AND EVERY OTHER QUESTIONABLE PLACE OF AMUSEMENT.”

M.C.P. p. 590 emphasis supplied

In our time this warning is so needed as the power of the media is so greatly multiplied. We cannot merely depend on a filter on the computer to strain out and choose for us – but our own minds – well educated by the word of God is to be the filter. And also let us not waste our brief probationary time on apparently harmless items when we could be studying the life of Christ or spending our time to win souls for eternity!

We are warned that just before the final test comes that many of our number will leave the ranks – and the reason is given why. Note this very carefully!

“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. BY UNITING WITH THE WORLD AND PARTAKING OF ITS SPIRIT, THEY HAVE COME TO VIEW MATTERS IN NEARLY THE SAME LIGHT; and when the test is brought they are prepared to choose the easy popular side.” G.C. 608

In other words those persons who leave the Sabbath and God’s remnant people have so often read from - and listened to - the mixture of error and truth - that the fallen churches promote, and have allowed their minds to be so molded by the world, that their thinking is now like the world and they follow it. This is sobering!

Again we have this warning – may the Lord open our eyes to see the importance of these things:

“When you decide as Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and feelings, you are brought under the influence of evil angels and invite their control.” 5 Testimonies p. 310

Tuesday September 10

The Mind’s Safeguard

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We must understand this text as stating that in Christ and fellowship with Him it is possible to obey God completely in our thoughts. When wrong thoughts are introduced to us – either by the temptations of Satan or our own fallen nature – through the power of the Holy Spirit we need not in any way cherish these suggestions or be controlled by them. As was quoted in a previous lesson: “If Satan seeks to divert the mind to low and sensual things, bring it back again and place it on eternal things; AND WHEN THE LORD SEES THE DETERMINED EFFORT TO RETAIN ONLY PURE THOUGHTS, HE WILL ATTRACT THE MIND, LIKE THE MAGNET, PURIFY THE THOUGHTS, AND ENABLE THEM TO CLEANSE THEMSELVES FROM EVERY SECRET SIN. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

M.C.P. p. 595 emphasis supplied

“Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” G.C. 623

Here we see clearly stated what God will do in the mind of any one who continues to depend on Him. The battle will continue in this life, but the Lord will give us victory at every encounter as we depend on Him.

Wednesday September 11

Mind – Body Relationships

“The power of the will is not valued as it should be. Let the will be kept awake and rightly directed, and it will impart energy to the whole being and will be a wonderful aid in the maintenance of health.”

We must remember the mind affects the body and the body effects the mind. The above quote demonstrates the wonderful blessing the mind can have on the body. And health habits persistently maintained also send a wonderful influence back up to the mind. The prophet Daniel is a wonderful example of someone who was well disciplined in both mind and body care.

Friday September 13

Further Study

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus discipline in health habits and the effect it had on His spiritual life:

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Isaiah 7:14,15

Butter is fat and honey is sweet. Jesus did not over indulge in either of these knowing that this indulgence would damage his ability to keenly discriminate between right and wrong. We are to follow His example.

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