Archived-Sabbath School Lessons DAILY STUDY

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Thursday November 1

Extreme Heat

1 Corinthians 4:5 NKJV 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Isaiah 43:1-7 NKJV 1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

Isaiah 43:2-7 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth- 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."

Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJV 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Read in your Bible Psalms chapter 23

Psalms 103:13-14 NKJV 13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

Matthew 28:20 NKJV 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Peter 1:7 NKJV 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

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I pray that this will be of help in your study of God's Word.

 

[thecountrydoc]

[SIZE=+1]Extreme Heat[/SIZE]

(Genesis 22, 2 Corinthians 1)

Refiner's Finer: Lesson 5

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[SIZE=-1]Introduction: There are stories in the Bible, just like there are sad events in life, that I do not understand. Sure, I have explanations and, I suppose, a partial understanding. But, in my human intellect (see 1 Corinthians 13:12), the matter is not clear. One of those stories is the sacrifice of Isaac. My plan is to spend most of our time this week on this story to see if any light shines into our minds about how God tests us. Let's dive in!

1. What Purpose?
   1. Read Genesis 22:1-2. Do you think Abraham thought God was serious? (If you read Genesis 21:9-14, you see that God had previously instructed Abraham to send away his other son, Ishmael.)
      1. Was God serious? Would God have Abraham kill his son in what seemed very much like a pagan sacrifice? (Read Jeremiah 32:35. No. God never had in mind killing Isaac. Instead, God instituted the death penalty for anyone who sacrificed his child (Leviticus 20:1-5).)
   2. Our lesson is titled "Extreme Heat." No doubt this command created "extreme heat" for Abraham. Notice again Genesis 22:1. What does it say was the purpose for this command? ("God tested Abraham.")
      1. What kind of a test is this? God never intended to have Abraham follow His command. The command was completely contrary to the character of God. To obey (that is kill his son) would be to follow the will of Satan!
      2. Have you ever had a test of this nature? (I doubt it. I cannot pass the test of doing things I'm supposed to do. Things I know I should do. How could my logical brain ever hope to pass a "test" of doing something that I knew was completely contrary to God's will and contrary to my own will?)
      3. Is there a difference between a "test" and a "temptation?" (The commentary, Be Obedient, has a very interesting approach to this. It says that temptations - the desire to following evil impulses - seem completely logical. They are used by Satan to bring out the worst in us. On the other hand, tests come from God, they seem unreasonable, and they are designed to bring out the best in us.)
         1. Do you think you have any hope of separating the two in your mind?
   3. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that a real test has to defy logic, it must be something that we want to resist (like killing our son)! Do you agree? (I'm not so sure that we can draw such neat, tidy lines between tests (illogical and we don't want to do) and temptations (logical and we want to do). For example, the last hours of Jesus' life involved mixed motives - He wanted to save us, but He did not want to be tortured and humiliated. Obviously this was a test in part, but a very large part of it was a temptation.)
   4. If you are not familiar with the Abraham/Isaac story, read Genesis 22:3-8. Why did they have a practice of sacrificing animals? (This practice looked forward to the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf to take away our sins. Its purpose was to teach the people about the coming Messiah and how He would substitute for their sins.)
   5. Read Genesis 22:9-12. If the Be Obedient commentary is right that tests bring out the best in us, what is the "best of us" that this test was supposed to bring out in Abraham?
   6. Read Genesis 22:15-18. We now get back to something that seems logical to me. What relationship does this promise have to this test? (God says that because Abraham was willing to give up his son, God is willing to give Abraham many sons - "descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.")
      1. Is there a parallel to Jesus giving up His life so that He could "get back" all of us?
      2. What purpose did God have in this special relationship with Abraham and his descendants? (To share the nature of God with the world.)
   7. Are you beginning to see how the pieces of this mental puzzle are coming together? God asks Abraham to do something that illustrates what God did for us. God gives this test of the loss of a child to someone God is going to entrust with numerous descendants. The purpose of God's special relationship with Abraham and his descendants is to share the message that God is willing to give up His Son for us.)
   8. If God were to create a parallel test for you, what would it be? (The test is about selfishness and trust. Being willing to give all that we have and we are in love to God.)
   9. If Abraham believed that he would have to kill his son, how do you think Abraham rationalized that with his knowledge of God and trust in God? (Read Hebrews 11:19. Abraham thought God would raise Isaac back to life. Such an amazing trust!)
      1. Consider how that anticipated what God did for His own Son in the parallel situation.
   10. What if God did not restrain Abraham from killing his son and did not raise Isaac back to life? Would we have a different, or merely a longer, test of faith? (Read Hebrews 11:39-40. Part of the background for this is Hebrews 11:35-38, which describes followers who suffered terribly here on earth and did not see any victory on earth. All of those in Hebrews 11 had some part of God's promise left unfulfilled. We may end up going through things here on earth that will not be "made right" in terms of our personal interests, until we enter heaven.)

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1. 1. Of the difficulties that come your way, what percentage are tests and what percentage are temptations?
      1. What percentage do you think come only from God? (Genesis 22:1 & 12 plainly state that Abraham's situation was a test from God. In my situation, it seems that sins and errors on my part, coupled with Satan's work, create all the trouble I can handle. I doubt that God has to add much to my burdens to discern or grow my character!)
2. The Purpose
   1. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. What positive purpose does trouble serve in our life? (Paul writes that when he suffered, God comforted him. That taught him how to comfort those around him who suffered trouble.)
      1. Have you seen this in your life? (If you have suffered from medical problems, you are more sympathetic to others with similar medical problems. If you suffer from marital problems, you are more sympathetic to others with marital problems.)
      2. We were painting a picture of "God the tester," when we considered Abraham and Isaac. What picture of God does Paul paint in this test? (God the compassionate comforter.)
         1. Are these pictures consistent? "Here, let me break your leg. By the way, I will also set it, put it in a cast, pray for you and send you a card. If you need anything else, let me know." (I think the leg breaking illustration is misleading because there is nothing to be gained. God is much like the physical education teacher who says "Let's run 10 miles together - by the way, I'll bring the water.")
   2. Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. What other purpose does trouble serve? (It causes us to rely on God.)
      1. Paul has a very interesting way that he describes God. He refers to Him as "God, who raises the dead." Why refer to God that way? (As a practical matter, the ultimate danger/ trouble that we fear is death. God is equipped to handle even that. What is not to trust? As you recall, that was Abraham's thought process.)
   3. Friend, are you going through trouble? Do you feel tested? God not only has a purpose in the testing, but He comes with comfort and compassion and a promise of life eternal. Will you, like Abraham, trust Him.
3. Next week: Struggling with All Energy.

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Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

From Red's earlier Post:

"His ultimate purpose of shaping us into the "likeness of his Son"? (Rom. 8:29, NIV).

"Can that be true, as Christ would be what I would consider the ultimate in 'sinless perfection'...hmm"

I'm quite sure that you all have noticed the debates about sinless prefection that have been taking pace wth one side saying that it's impossible for man to reach a state of sinless prefection and the other side saying it is possible for man to do just exactly that.

With he above text in mind I ask you to consider these points:

If you were to ask most Christians today, including SDAs, how was it possible for Jesus Christ to live a sinless life of prefection for thirty three and one half years here on this sin-filled earth? Most would respond it was because He was the son of God.

However I would submit to you that this is a false belief. It was not because He was the son of God, but rather He did something to achieve this state of sinless prefection that is available to each of us today; He excerised a complete faith in, and dependency on, God the Father.


If Christ had used even the slightest bit of His divinity to lead that sinless life, Satan would have been right in his accusations that it was/is impossible to live up to God's standard of prefecion, God's Law, without being Divine. It also would have ment that Jesus Christ did not experience every trial and tempetation just as we do because He would have had an unfair advantage over us. Ergo, the plan of redemption would be a lie.


Does that mean that we will reach a state of sinless prefecion before Chrst second coming? Consider this. There are many examples of given, by both parble and actual happenings, pertaining to Christ second coming. Probably the most well know example is that of Noah.


In Gen. 6 we read the account of earth prior to the flood and why God decided to destroy mankind because of his wickedness. We also find God's instructions to Noah on how to prepae or the flood. However there a couple of verses in Gen. 6 that are all too often overlooked. First in Gen. 6:8 we read;

"But Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord."

This verse alone tells us that Noah, with God's help, was living up to the standard that God required of him. Second in Gen. 6:22 we read;

"Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."

Here it is clear that Noah did what God had told him to do and it would seem quite reasonable that Noah was living up to all that he had knowledge of pertaining to God's requirments for mankind.


After the ark was finished and the animals were guided into it, Noah and his faimly entered into the ark and the door was closed by unseen hands. In Gen. 7:10 we find that it was seven days later that the rain begain to fall. Two things must be considered here. First; Noah and his family had met God's requirements before judgement begain. Second; Probation closed for both the saved and the unsaved before judgement was meeted out. Probation closed with the closing of the door, not the start of the following storm.

One last question for now: Should mankind, whether saved or unsaved expect any different treatment or preferential treatment in regards to God's requirements, at the close of probation, and the results of being faithful or unfaithful at the final hour of His return?

Respectfully, your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Listen and watch the complete SS Lesson pesentation for this coming Sabbath, 11/3/07, given by Pastor Doug Batchelor.

DON'T FOTGET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK"S FREE OFFER!!!

Please note that this is an excellent way to both review what you have studied through the week as well as to give new insights into this weeks Lesson.

Be sure to keep a note book handy to make notes and to write down additional text that will be given.

You will also want to take advantage of this weeks free offer, "When Days are Dark."

Click below and Enjoy!

http://www.amazingfacts.org/Televis.../SID/1/SQT/4-2007/7/Extreme-Heat/Default.aspx

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

FRIDAYFRIDAY November 2


Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, "The Test of Faith," pp. 145-155, in Patriarchs and Prophets; "Praise Ye the Lord," pp. 315-319, in

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5.

"God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character. . . . He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him.... Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them."—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 129, 130. "If in the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father's hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness as well as in the day.

Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is for our good?. . . Even in the night of affliction how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary?"—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 316.
NOTES:

Discussion Questions:

In class, have someone recount his or her own test of faith such as Abraham had. What can you learn from this person's experience, from his or her successes or failures?
NOTES:

Review the last 24 hours of Christ's life. What extremes did He face? How did He endure? What principles can we take from His example and apply for ourselves when in the midst of our own crucible?
NOTES:

Discuss the idea, touched on this week, about how through our own suffering we can minister to others who are suffering. However true it might be, what are some of the problems we might encounter with this idea?

NOTES:

Ellen White wrote above: "Let us trust Him in the darkness as well as in the day." That's easier said than done. How can we help each other develop the kind of faith that will enable us to do just that? Why is it important to trust God in the bad times?
NOTES:

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I N S I D E Story

God Saved Me Twice
by KIZITO KYAKULAGA

Before I knew God, He knew me and saved me. I was studying in a government secondary boarding school near my town in Uganda. At the end of the year I was preparing for my 0-level exams when I became very sick. The nurse put me in a spare room to rest, and I fell asleep.

As I slept, the candle the nurse had left fell over, catching the room on fire. I awoke smelling smoke but was too weak to even stand, but someone rushed in and pulled me from the burning room. Everything in the room was burned, but I was saved.

I was still ill when I took my exams, but when the results came back I had passed. Later I received a letter from Bugema Secondary School, offering me a scholarship to study the A level, the college entrance level. I was so happy, because my parents could not afford to send me on to school.

But when I arrived at Bugema, I discovered that the school was Seventh-day Adventist. Students worshiped on Saturday, but Sunday was a workday. We had worship every morning and even had Bible class every day! This was too much religion for me! I thought about going home, but I decided to stick it out. Soon I realized it wasn't so bad after all. Teachers helped me understand what the Bible meant, and I learned more in a week than I had learned in a year in my home church.

During the Week of Prayer I gave my life to Jesus. I had attended church all my life, but no one had ever invited me to accept Jesus as my Lord. I was baptized later in the year, but I did not tell my parents right away, for I feared they would be angry.

When I did tell my parents, they were not so angry, just disappointed. My father threatened to withhold the small allowance he had been sending me to buy soap and stuff, but Mother saw to it that I still received it. My mother listens when I talk to her about what I believe, and I invite her and my younger sister to attend church with me. I hope someday my little sister can study at Bugema and find there what I found-a relationship with Jesus.

Your mission offerings support schools such as Bugema Secondary School and Bugema University in Uganda. Your faithfulness helped introduce me to Jesus. Thank you. KIZITO KYAKULAGA now studies at Bugema University in Uganda.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Web site: www.adventistmission.org

 

[thecountrydoc]

Friday November 2, 2007


Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the Church, vol 5. pp. 315-319

Chap. 35 - "Praise Ye The Lord"
"Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." Have any of us duly considered how much we have to be thankful for? Do we remember that the mercies of the Lord are new every morning and that His faithfulness faileth not? Do we acknowledge our dependence upon Him and express gratitude for all His favors? On the contrary, we too often forget that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." {5T 315.1}

How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer, and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine, whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God. {5T 315.2}

God is love. He has a care for the creatures He has formed. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them (p. 316) that fear Him." Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." What a precious privilege is this, that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Then let us not mourn and grieve because in this life we are not free from disappointments and afflictions. If in the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father's hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness as well as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is for our good? "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Even in the night of affliction how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary? {5T 315.3}

What a theme for meditation is the sacrifice that Jesus made for lost sinners! "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." How shall we estimate the blessings thus brought within our reach? Could Jesus have suffered more? Could He have purchased for us richer blessings? Should it not melt the hardest heart when we remember that for our sakes He left the happiness and glory of heaven and suffered poverty and shame, cruel affliction and a terrible death? Had He not by His death and resurrection opened for us the door of hope, we should have known nothing but the horrors of darkness and the miseries of despair. In our present state, favored and blessed as we are, we cannot realize from what depths we have been rescued. We cannot measure how much deeper our afflictions would have been, how much greater our woes, had not Jesus encircled us with His human arm of sympathy and love, and lifted us up. {5T 316.1}

We may rejoice in hope. Our Advocate is in the heavenly sanctuary, pleading in our behalf. Through His merits we (p. 317) have pardon and peace. He died that He might wash away our sins, clothe us with His righteousness, and fit us for the society of heaven, where we may dwell in light forever. Dear brother, dear sister, when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, and doubt, resist his suggestions. Tell him of the blood of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin. You cannot save yourself from the tempter's power, but he trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged. Then will you not gratefully accept the blessings Jesus bestows?

Will you not take the cup of salvation that He presents, and call on the name of the Lord? Do not show distrust of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Do not for a moment pain the heart of the pitying Saviour by your unbelief. He watches with the most intense interest your progress in the heavenly way; He sees your earnest efforts; He notes your declensions and your recoveries, your hopes and your fears, your conflicts and your victories. {5T 316.2}

Shall all our devotional exercises consist in asking and receiving? Shall we be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive? Shall we be recipients of His mercies and never express our gratitude to God, never praise Him for what He has done for us? We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. If the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanksgiving and praise, we would have far more power in prayer. We would abound more and more in the love of God and have more bestowed to praise Him for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants. {5T 317.1}

Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise. It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace. There are multitudes who do not appreciate the great love of God nor the divine compassion of (p. 318) Jesus. Thousands even regard with disdain the matchless grace shown in the plan of redemption. All who are partakers of this great salvation are not clear in this matter. They do not cultivate grateful hearts. But the theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the ransomed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? Should we not praise God with heart and soul and voice "for His wonderful works to the children of men"? {5T 317.2}

Praise the Lord in the congregation of His people. When the word of the Lord was spoken to the Hebrews anciently, the command was: "And let all the people say, Amen." When the ark of the covenant was brought into the city of David, and a psalm of joy and triumph was chanted, "all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord." This fervent response was an evidence that they understood the word spoken and joined in the worship of God. {5T 318.1}

There is too much formality in our religious services. The Lord would have His ministers who preach the word energized by His Holy Spirit; and the people who hear should not sit in drowsy indifference, or stare vacantly about, making no responses to what is said. The impression that is thus given to the unbeliever is anything but favorable for the religion of Christ. These dull, careless professed Christians are not destitute of ambition and zeal when engaged in worldly business; but things of eternal importance do not move them deeply. The voice of God through His messengers may be a pleasant song; but its sacred warnings, reproofs, and encouragements are all unheeded. The spirit of the world has paralyzed them. The truths of God's word are spoken to leaden ears and hard, unimpressible hearts. There should be wide-awake, active churches to encourage and uphold the ministers of Christ and to aid them in the work of saving souls. Where the church is walking in the light, there will ever be cheerful, hearty responses and words of joyful praise. {5T 318.2}

Our God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, (p. 319) declares: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me." All heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist: "While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." "Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee." - {5T 318.3}

Chap. 36 - Parental Responsibility: Parents are in a great degree responsible for the mold given to the characters of their children. They should aim at symmetry and proportion. There are few well-balanced minds, because parents are wickedly negligent of their duty to stimulate weak traits and repress wrong ones. They do not remember that they are under the most solemn obligation to watch the tendencies of each child, that it is their duty to train their children to right habits and right ways of thinking. {5T 319.1}

Sometimes parents wait for the Lord to do the very work that He has given them to do. Instead of restraining and controlling their children as they should, they pet and indulge them, and gratify their whims and desires. When these children go out from their early homes, it is with characters deformed by selfishness, with ungoverned appetites, with strong self-will; they are destitute of courtesy or respect for their parents, and do not love religious truth or the worship of God. They have grown up with traits that are a lifelong curse to themselves and to others. Home is made anything but happy if the evil weeds of dissension, selfishness, envy, passion, and sullen stubbornness are left to flourish in the neglected garden of the soul. {5T 319.2}

Parents should show no partiality, but should treat all their children with tenderness, remembering that they are the purchase of Christ's blood. Children imitate their parents; hence great care should be taken to give them correct models. (p. 320) Parents who are kind and polite at home, while at the same time they are firm and decided, will see the same traits manifested in their children. If they are upright, honest, and honorable, their children will be quite likely to resemble them in these particulars. If they reverence and worship God, their children, trained in the same way, will not forget to serve Him also. {5T 319.3}
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Part 2 to folow.

Your broher in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Friday October 2, 2007 Part 2

Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 129-130

Abraham could not explain the leadings of Providence; he had not realized his expectations; but he held fast the promise, "I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." With earnest prayer he considered how to preserve the life of his people and his flocks, but he would not allow circumstances to shake his faith in God's word. To escape the famine he went down into Egypt. He did not forsake Canaan, or in his extremity turn back to the Chaldean land from which he came, where there was no scarcity of bread; but he sought a temporary refuge as near as possible to the Land of Promise, intending shortly to return where God had placed him. {PP 129.1}

The Lord in His providence had brought this trial upon Abraham to teach him lessons of submission, patience, and faith--lessons that where to be placed on record for the benefit of all who should afterward be called to endure affliction. God leads His children by a way that they know not, but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him. He permitted affliction to come upon Job, but He did not forsake him. He allowed the beloved John to be exiled to lonely Patmos, but the Son of God met him there, and his vision was filled with scenes of immortal glory. God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil." Jeremiah 29:11. The very trials that task our faith most severely and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace which He will give us in exchange. {PP 129.2}

God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He (p. 130) gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them. When God calls them to action, they are ready, and heavenly angels can unite with them in the work to be accomplished on the earth. {PP 129.3}

During his stay in Egypt, Abraham gave evidence that he was not free from human weakness and imperfection. In concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, he betrayed a distrust of the divine care, a lack of that lofty faith and courage so often and nobly exemplified in his life. Sarah was fair to look upon, and he doubted not that the dusky Egyptians would covet the beautiful stranger, and that in order to secure her, they would not scruple to slay her husband. He reasoned that he was not guilty of falsehood in representing Sarah as his sister, for she was the daughter of his father, though not of his mother. But this concealment of the real relation between them was deception. No deviation from strict integrity can meet God's approval. Through Abraham's lack of faith, Sarah was placed in great peril. The king of Egypt, being informed of her beauty, caused her to be taken to his palace, intending to make her his wife. But the Lord, in His great mercy, protected Sarah by sending judgments upon the royal household. By this means the monarch learned the truth in the matter, and, indignant at the deception practiced upon him, he reproved Abraham and restored to him his wife, saying, "What is this that thou hast done unto me? . . . Why saidst thou, She is my sister? So I might have taken her to me to wife. Now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way." {PP 130.1}

Abraham had been greatly favored by the king; even now Pharaoh would permit no harm to be done him or his company, but ordered a guard to conduct them in safety out of his dominions. At this time laws were made prohibiting the Egyptians from intercourse with foreign shepherds in any such familiarity as eating or drinking with them. Pharaoh's dismissal of Abraham was kind and generous; but he bade him leave Egypt, for he dared not permit him to remain. He had ignorantly been about to do him a serious injury, but God had interposed, and (p. 131) saved the monarch from committing so great a sin.

Pharaoh saw in this stranger a man whom the God of heaven honored, and he feared to have in his kingdom one who was so evidently under divine favor. Should Abraham remain in Egypt, his increasing wealth and honor would be likely to excite the envy or covetousness of the Egyptians, and some injury might be done him, for which the monarch would be held responsible, and which might again bring judgments upon the royal house. {PP 130.2}

Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the Church, vo 5, p. 316

What a theme for meditation is the sacrifice that Jesus made for lost sinners! "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." How shall we estimate the blessings thus brought within our reach? Could Jesus have suffered more? Could He have purchased for us richer blessings? Should it not melt the hardest heart when we remember that for our sakes He left the happiness and glory of heaven and suffered poverty and shame, cruel affliction and a terrible death? Had He not by His death and resurrection opened for us the door of hope, we should have known nothing but the horrors of darkness and the miseries of despair. In our present state, favored and blessed as we are, we cannot realize from what depths we have been rescued. We cannot measure how much deeper our afflictions would have been, how much greater our woes, had not Jesus encircled us with His human arm of sympathy and love, and lifted us up. {5T 316.1}

We may rejoice in hope. Our Advocate is in the heavenly sanctuary, pleading in our behalf. Through His merits we (p. 317) have pardon and peace. He died that He might wash away our sins, clothe us with His righteousness, and fit us for the society of heaven, where we may dwell in light forever. Dear brother, dear sister, when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, and doubt, resist his suggestions. Tell him of the blood of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin. You cannot save yourself from the tempter's power, but he trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged. Then will you not gratefully accept the blessings Jesus bestows? Will you not take the cup of salvation that He presents, and call on the name of the Lord? Do not show distrust of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Do not for a moment pain the heart of the pitying Saviour by your unbelief. He watches with the most intense interest your progress in the heavenly way; He sees your earnest efforts; He notes your declensions and your recoveries, your hopes and your fears, your conflicts and your victories. {5T 316.2}
_______________________________________________

I pray that this may have given you new insights into this very inportant topic.

Your rther in Christ,
Doc

 

[reddogs]

Its been a long week....

Shabat Shalom...

Happy Sabbath to everyone.....

 

[thecountrydoc]

LESSON 6*November 3 - 9
Struggling With All Energy

SABBATH AFTERNOON November 3, 2007

Read for This Week's Study: Genesis 32; Matt. 5:29; John 16:5-15; Col. 1:28, 29; 1 Pet. 1:13.

Memory Text: "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me" (Colossians 1:29, NKJV).

A man and woman sat together on a talk show. Both had experienced the murder of a child. The woman's son had been murdered 20 years before, and her anger and bitterness were as great as ever. The man was totally different. His daughter had been murdered by a terrorist a few years earlier. He spoke about forgiveness toward the killers and about how God had transformed his hurt. However terrible the pain, this man had become an illustration of how God can bring healing to the darkest moments of our lives.

How can two people respond so differently? How does spiritual change occur in the life of the Christian, enabling us to mature through life's crucibles rather than being completely overwhelmed by them?

The Week at a Glance: What is the role of our wills, and willpower, in the battle with self and sin? How can we avoid the trap of letting our feelings rule the decisions we make? Why must we persevere and not give up when in the crucible?



*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 10.
_______________________________________________

Don't forget to post your comments and questions.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

[SIZE=+2]Lesson 6[/SIZE]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=-1][SIZE=+1]Struggling with All Energy[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial](Luke 13, Colossians 1, Romans 7 & 8, Matthew 5) [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Introduction: Struggling. What a difficult word. Hebrews 12:4 speaks of the "struggle against sin." Is struggling what God wants of us? Is it all He wants? I feel so inadequate because God has to forgive me of the same sins over and over again. I teach others, why am I still struggling? God offers to lift our burdens, should I ignore my sin and let God handle it? If that is true, how can the Bible speak of the "struggle" against sin? When Luke 13:24 tells us "to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many ... will try to enter and will not be able to" this sounds like serious work. I believe in righteousness by faith, not righteousness by works. How can these texts be true? Let's dive into the Bible and see what we can learn about the Christian's struggle!

1. Struggle of the Few
   1. Read Luke 13:22-23. What question is asked of Jesus?
      1. What answer would you think Jesus would give?
   2. Read Luke 13:24. What is Jesus' answer? Does he say "Yes, only a few?" (He does not. He says "many" will try, unsuccessfully, to enter. Thus, it seems that more do not enter than enter. But, Jesus does not say only a few enter. It is a narrow door and many fail to enter.)
      1. How do we enter this door? (It involves "effort" on our part. "Make every effort to enter the narrow door.")
   3. Read Luke 13:25. What does this tell us about entering into the narrow door. What is the first requirement in our "effort?" (Act promptly. It is a limited time offer because "once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door" it will be too late.)
      1. What requirement does the owner give for entering his door, other than being prompt? (The owner needs to know the person who wants to enter. That makes sense. Who wants to let strangers into their home?)
         1. Since this is obviously a parable about God, what does the all-knowing God need to know? What does it mean "I don't know ... where you come from?" (The owner says that he does not know the most basic information about these people. He does not even know their background.)
   4. Read Luke 13:26. Do the people correct the home owner? Is this just a case of poor recollection?
   5. Read Luke 13:27. Does the owner admit this a matter of mistaken recollection? (No. Apparently, just being around the homeowner is not enough for him to know them. He does not deny that he taught in their neighborhood or ate with them. Notice again Luke 13:24 which says "many ... will try to enter and will not be able to." This paints a picture of people who want to enter. People who made some effort to enter. The rejected people heard the teaching of the owner, yet it does not say they followed the teaching. Instead, the owner calls them "evildoers.")
   6. Read Luke 13:28-30. What is NOT required to enter? (You do not have to be Jewish (or part of the accepted group). This is not a "group thing." People from all over are allowed to enter. You do not have to be "first" here on earth to enter. This is not a worldly status thing.)
   7. Is this just a message to the Jewish nation of Jesus' time? Or, are eternal principles stated here?
      1. If you say "eternal principles," what do these verses suggest is the key to entering? (Having the homeowner know you. Making "every effort" to enter the door. Not being classified among the "evildoers." )
   8. Read Romans 1:21-23, 28. What does this suggest about this idea of knowing God and God knowing us? (Just having the knowledge is not enough. We have to think the knowledge "worthwhile to retain" and we have to be thankful for it and use it to glorify God.)
   9. What kind of a link can you begin to see between "struggling" and being known by the homeowner?
2. The Meaning of Struggling
   1. Read Romans 7:21-24. Does this sound like a struggle? If so, what is the struggle about?
   2. Read Romans 7:25. Jesus will rescue us. The question is: will He rescue us from the struggle or from something else? (Jesus rescues us "from this body of death.")
   3. Read Romans 8:1-3. From what do these verses suggest we are rescued? (We are rescued from "condemnation.")
   4. Read Colossians 1:19-23. What must I do to be free from accusation? (Christ's death on my behalf allows me to be presented "holy" "without blemish and free from accusation." Here we are rescued from "accusation.")
      1. What a glorious thing! We are rescued by Jesus from both accusation and condemnation! Is that the end of it? (The text looks towards the future. "If you continue in your faith... not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." Being saved is a free gift. Living the Christian life is a partnership with God.)
   5. Read Colossians 1:24-29. On what point is Paul struggling? (Read Colossians 1:28-29 several times. Paul is working with the power of the Holy Spirit (all His energy) to promote the gospel. He is a partner with God in getting the work done. My imagination sees Paul, like a fireman, holding a water hose with tremendous water pressure. It takes a partnership to do the best work to put out the fire of evil in our life and the lives of others.)
3. Life Struggle
   1. Read Matthew 5:27-30. Here is the ultimate work in struggling - cutting off body parts! Let's assume for a minute that you regularly think lustful thoughts about the opposite sex. Would pulling out your right eye fix that problem?
      1. What if you have a compulsion to steal? Would cutting off your right hand stop you from stealing? (I suppose plucking out both eyes and cutting off both hands might slow us down a bit - but these things are more matters of the mind.)
      2. If Jesus is not asking us to cut off body parts - and I don't think He is - what does He mean by this language? (He is calling us to radical action to avoid sin. If you have a weakness for a particular sin, then you should avoid doing things that might not be sin, but which lead you closer to your favorite sin.)
   2. Let's ask the tough question. If salvation is a free gift from God, then how can Jesus refer to "making every effort" to enter the narrow door and cutting off body parts to avoid being sent to hell (i.e., missing the narrow door)? (We cannot earn salvation. Our reading in Colossians 1:22 tells us that Jesus' death on our behalf makes us "without blemish and free from accusation." Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. But, our Christian life does not end with salvation. God expects us to push on in partnership with Him. This partnership requires effort on our part to resist our character defects and to promote the gospel.)
      1. So, what about my struggle with the same sins? What about you and your struggle with the same sins? (I think this is what the Christian life is about. When you stop struggling, you are dead - eternally. Romans 7 & 8 are critical to this issue. If you are not familiar with these chapters read them. Now read Romans 8:12-14. I think this is where the struggle exists in the life of the Christian. We are "by the Spirit [to]... put to death the misdeeds of the body. We also struggle to bring the gospel to others.)
   3. Friend, how about you? Have you turned your life over to God? Have you determined to set your mind on what God requires, rather than what your nature requires? Are you serious about, through God's power and His partnership, putting to death the deeds of the body? God calls us to turn our hearts and our minds over to Him to live a life in accord with His will.
4. Next week: Indestructible Hope.

[/FONT][/SIZE]Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[reddogs]

"..What is the role of our wills, and willpower, in the battle with self and sin? How can we avoid the trap of letting our feelings rule the decisions we make? ..."

That is a hard question, self or Gods will?

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hi Red,

Yor question:

"..What is the role of our wills, and willpower, in the battle with self and sin? How can we avoid the trap of letting our feelings rule the decisions we make? ..."

That is a hard question, self or Gods will?"

This is a question that every Christian needs not only to understand, but also to understand the answer.

The answer starts with that gift that was given to mankind at creation by our Creator which we call 'The power of free will.'

While God never takes back a gift once given, we must use that gitft as God intended it to be used or it's use will not prouce the results that we want nor that God intended. In order to achieve the intended goal of free will we must first surrender our will, and our willpower to Him. If we as humans refuse to let God guide us in our decision making over self and sin two things will hapen. First we are not allowing God to provide the benfits He would like for us to have as a result of the gift He has given us. Second by not surredering our will to God, He allowes us to contine making our choices with our own faulty judgent. Decisions made soley by our use of "fee will," produce results that are, shall we say 'tainted' by our own self centered interest and a lack of communication with our creator.

Just as surely as we must take that first step toward our salvaion by accepting the free grace offered by Christ death on the cross, we must also let God guide us in all things as we travel salvtions highway to our heavenly home. "The trap," as you so well put it, is to be avoided by letting God be our guide.

Respectfully, your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

SUNDAYSUNDAY November 4


The Spirit of Truth

Have you ever prayed, "Please, God, make me good!" but little seems to change? How is it possible that we can pray for God's great transforming power to work within us, but our lives seem to remain the same? We know that God has unlimited supernatural resources that He so eagerly and freely offers us. We really want to take advantage of it all, and yet, our lives don't seem to change in a way that matches what God is offering.

Why? One reason is disturbingly simple: While the Spirit has unlimited power to transform us, it is possible to restrict by our own choices what God can do.

Read John 16:5-15.

In this passage, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the "Spirit of truth" (vs. 13, NIV). What does this imply that the Holy Spirit does for us?


While the Holy Spirit can bring us the truth about our sinfulness, He cannot make us repent. He can also show us the greatest truth about God, but He cannot force us to believe or obey it. If God did compel us in even the slightest way, we would lose our free will, and Satan would accuse God of manipulating our minds and hearts and thus be able to accuse God of cheating in the great controversy. When the great controversy broke out in heaven, our Father did not compel Satan or any of the angels to believe that He was good and just or compel the angels to repent. And in the Garden of Eden, when so much was at stake again, God made the truth about the tree in the middle of the Garden very clear but did not prevent Eve and Adam from exercising their free will to disobey. God will not act any differently with us today. So, the Spirit presents the truth about God and sin and then says, "In view of what I have shown you, what will you do now?"

It is the same when we are in the crucible. Sometimes the crucible is there precisely because we have not obeyed or repented of our sins. For our Father to work in such cases, we must consciously choose to open the doors of repentance and obedience in order for God's power to enter through and transform us.

What convictions has the "Spirit of truth" brought to you recently? How well are you listening to His voice? And, most important, what choices are you making with your free will?

_______________________________________________

Don't forget to post your comments and questions.
__________________________________________


Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Lesson 6*November 3 - 9

Struggling With All
Energy


Memory Text: Colossians 1:29 NIV 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
“Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION”. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Used by Permission.

Sunday October 4, 2007

The Spirit of Truth

John 16:5-15 NKJV 5 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' 6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 16:13 NKJV 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

________________________________________________

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

[SIZE=+2]Lesson 6[/SIZE]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=-1][SIZE=+1]Struggling with All Energy[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial](Luke 13, Colossians 1, Romans 7 & 8, Matthew 5) [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Introduction: Struggling. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]What a difficult word. Hebrews 12:4 speaks of the "struggle against sin." Is struggling what God wants of us? Is it all He wants? I feel so inadequate because God has to forgive me of the same sins over and over again. I teach others, why am I still struggling? God offers to lift our burdens, should I ignore my sin and let God handle it? If that is true, how can the Bible speak of the "struggle" against sin? When Luke 13:24 tells us "to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many ... will try to enter and will not be able to" this sounds like serious work. I believe in righteousness by faith, not righteousness by works. How can these texts be true? Let's dive into the Bible and see what we can learn about the Christian's struggle!

1. Struggle of the Few
   1. Read Luke 13:22-23. What question is asked of Jesus?
      1. What answer would you think Jesus would give?
   2. Read Luke 13:24. What is Jesus' answer? Does he say "Yes, only a few?" (He does not. He says "many" will try, unsuccessfully, to enter. Thus, it seems that more do not enter than enter. But, Jesus does not say only a few enter. It is a narrow door and many fail to enter.)
      1. How do we enter this door? (It involves "effort" on our part. "Make every effort to enter the narrow door.")
   3. Read Luke 13:25. What does this tell us about entering into the narrow door. What is the first requirement in our "effort?" (Act promptly. It is a limited time offer because "once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door" it will be too late.)
      1. What requirement does the owner give for entering his door, other than being prompt? (The owner needs to know the person who wants to enter. That makes sense. Who wants to let strangers into their home?)
         1. Since this is obviously a parable about God, what does the all-knowing God need to know? What does it mean "I don't know ... where you come from?" (The owner says that he does not know the most basic information about these people. He does not even know their background.)
   4. Read Luke 13:26. Do the people correct the home owner? Is this just a case of poor recollection?
   5. Read Luke 13:27. Does the owner admit this a matter of mistaken recollection? (No. Apparently, just being around the homeowner is not enough for him to know them. He does not deny that he taught in their neighborhood or ate with them. Notice again Luke 13:24 which says "many ... will try to enter and will not be able to." This paints a picture of people who want to enter. People who made some effort to enter. The rejected people heard the teaching of the owner, yet it does not say they followed the teaching. Instead, the owner calls them "evildoers.")
   6. Read Luke 13:28-30. What is NOT required to enter? (You do not have to be Jewish (or part of the accepted group). This is not a "group thing." People from all over are allowed to enter. You do not have to be "first" here on earth to enter. This is not a worldly status thing.)
   7. Is this just a message to the Jewish nation of Jesus' time? Or, are eternal principles stated here?
      1. If you say "eternal principles," what do these verses suggest is the key to entering? (Having the homeowner know you. Making "every effort" to enter the door. Not being classified among the "evildoers." )
   8. Read Romans 1:21-23, 28. What does this suggest about this idea of knowing God and God knowing us? (Just having the knowledge is not enough. We have to think the knowledge "worthwhile to retain" and we have to be thankful for it and use it to glorify God.)
   9. What kind of a link can you begin to see between "struggling" and being known by the homeowner?
2. The Meaning of Struggling
   1. Read Romans 7:21-24. Does this sound like a struggle? If so, what is the struggle about?
   2. Read Romans 7:25. Jesus will rescue us. The question is: will He rescue us from the struggle or from something else? (Jesus rescues us "from this body of death.")
   3. Read Romans 8:1-3. From what do these verses suggest we are rescued? (We are rescued from "condemnation.")
   4. Read Colossians 1:19-23. What must I do to be free from accusation? (Christ's death on my behalf allows me to be presented "holy" "without blemish and free from accusation." Here we are rescued from "accusation.")
      1. What a glorious thing! We are rescued by Jesus from both accusation and condemnation! Is that the end of it? (The text looks towards the future. "If you continue in your faith... not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." Being saved is a free gift. Living the Christian life is a partnership with God.)
   5. Read Colossians 1:24-29. On what point is Paul struggling? (Read Colossians 1:28-29 several times. Paul is working with the power of the Holy Spirit (all His energy) to promote the gospel. He is a partner with God in getting the work done. My imagination sees Paul, like a fireman, holding a water hose with tremendous water pressure. It takes a partnership to do the best work to put out the fire of evil in our life and the lives of others.)
3. Life Struggle
   1. Read Matthew 5:27-30. Here is the ultimate work in struggling - cutting off body parts! Let's assume for a minute that you regularly think lustful thoughts about the opposite sex. Would pulling out your right eye fix that problem?
      1. What if you have a compulsion to steal? Would cutting off your right hand stop you from stealing? (I suppose plucking out both eyes and cutting off both hands might slow us down a bit - but these things are more matters of the mind.)
      2. If Jesus is not asking us to cut off body parts - and I don't think He is - what does He mean by this language? (He is calling us to radical action to avoid sin. If you have a weakness for a particular sin, then you should avoid doing things that might not be sin, but which lead you closer to your favorite sin.)
   2. Let's ask the tough question. If salvation is a free gift from God, then how can Jesus refer to "making every effort" to enter the narrow door and cutting off body parts to avoid being sent to hell (i.e., missing the narrow door)? (We cannot earn salvation. Our reading in Colossians 1:22 tells us that Jesus' death on our behalf makes us "without blemish and free from accusation." Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. But, our Christian life does not end with salvation. God expects us to push on in partnership with Him. This partnership requires effort on our part to resist our character defects and to promote the gospel.)
      1. So, what about my struggle with the same sins? What about you and your struggle with the same sins? (I think this is what the Christian life is about. When you stop struggling, you are dead - eternally. Romans 7 & 8 are critical to this issue. If you are not familiar with these chapters read them. Now read Romans 8:12-14. I think this is where the struggle exists in the life of the Christian. We are "by the Spirit [to]... put to death the misdeeds of the body. We also struggle to bring the gospel to others.)
   3. Friend, how about you? Have you turned your life over to God? Have you determined to set your mind on what God requires, rather than what your nature requires? Are you serious about, through God's power and His partnership, putting to death the deeds of the body? God calls us to turn our hearts and our minds over to Him to live a life in accord with His will.
4. Next week: Indestructible Hope.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc
[/FONT][/SIZE]

 

[thecountrydoc]

MONDAYMONDAY November 5


The Divine-Human Combination

What is your greatest accomplishment ever? Chances are, whatever you achieved did not happen simply by rolling out of bed in the morning. If we want to achieve something worthwhile in this life, it takes time and effort. Our discipleship to Christ is no different.

Read Colossians 1:28, 29.

Though Paul talks about God working in him, in what ways does he show the human effort also involved? See also Deut. 4:4, Luke 13:24, 1 Cor. 9:25, Heb. 12:4.


In Colossians 1:29 there is a very interesting insight into the way Paul sees his relationship with God in this work. He says that he is struggling—but with the power of God.

The word for "labor" means to "grow weary," to "work to the point of exhaustion." This word was used particularly of athletes as they trained. The word for "struggle," which comes next, can mean in some languages "to agonize." So, we have the word picture of an athlete straining with everything to win. But then Paul adds a twist to the idea, because Paul is not straining with everything he has but with everything that God gives him. So, we are left with a simple conclusion about Paul's ministry—it was a ministry done with great personal effort and discipline but done with God's power. This relationship works in exactly the same way as we pursue the development of Christ's character in us. This is important to remember because we live in a world in which we want more and more with less and less effort. That idea has crept into Christianity, too. Some Christian evangelists promise that if you just believe, the Holy Spirit will fall upon you with amazing supernatural power and perform great miracles. But this can be a dangerous half-truth, because it can lead people to the conclusion that we just need to wait for God's power to come while sitting comfortably in our seats!

What is your own experience with the kind of striving Paul talked about? What things has God laid upon your heart that you are struggling with? How can you learn to surrender to God's will?

________________________________________________

Don't forget to post your coments and questions.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Monday

The Divine-Human Combination

Colossians 1:28-29 NKJV 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Deuteronomy 4:4 NKJV 4 "But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.

Luke 13:24 NKJV 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Hebrews 12:4 NKJV 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Colossians 1:29 NKJV 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
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May the Holy Spirit guide you as you study God's Word.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

TUESDAY
TUESDAY November 6

The Disciplined Will

One of the greatest enemies of our wills is our own feelings. We are increasingly living in a culture bombarded with pictures and music that can appeal directly to our senses, triggering our emotions—anger, fear, or lust—without us realizing it. How often do we think such things as "What do I feel like eating for supper?" "What do I feel like doing today?" "Do I feel good about buying this?" Feelings have thus become intimately involved in our decision-making. Feelings are not necessarily bad, but how I feel about something may have little to do with what is right or best. Indeed, our feelings can lie to us ("The heart is deceitful above all things" [Jer. 17:9].) and can create a false picture of reality, causing us to make bad choices, setting us up for a crucible of our own making.

What examples can you find from the Bible where people made choices based on feelings rather than on God's Word? What were the consequences? See, for example, Gen. 3:6; 2 Sam. 11:3, 4; ,Gal. 2:11, 12.


Read 1 Peter 1:13.

What is Peter concerned about, and what does he want his readers to actually do?


Peter understood that the mind is the rudder for the body that we control. Take away the control of the mind, and we will be controlled by whatever feelings blow our way. Imagine walking along a narrow path to the Shepherd's home. Along the way there are many paths leading in different directions. Some of these paths go to places that we would not want to visit. Others look tempting; they appeal to our feelings, our emotions, our desires. If, though, we take any one of them, we get off the right path and go in a way that might be exceedingly difficult to get off.

What important decisions are you facing? Ask yourself honestly, "How can I know if I am basing my choices on feeling, emotion, or desire, as opposed to the Word of God?"

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Don't forget to post your comments and questions.


Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Tusday November 6


The Divine-Human Combination

Colossians 1:28-29 NKJV 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Deuteronomy 4:4 NKJV 4 "But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.
Luke 13:24 NKJV 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Hebrews 12:4 NKJV 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.[/font]

Colossians 1:29 NKJV 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
________________________________________________

Your brother inChrist,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

WEDNESDAYWEDNSDAY November 7

Radical Commitment

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell" (Matt. 5:29, NIV).

Dwell on the words of Jesus in the above text. Would you call them radical? If so, why?


Radical action is necessary not because God has made the Christian life difficult, but because we and our culture have drifted so far away from God's plans for us. People often wake up and wonder to themselves, "How could I have gone so far away from God?" The answer is always the same: just one step at a time.

Read Matthew 5:29, 30.

Jesus is speaking in the context of sexual sin. However, the underlying principles apply to dealing with other sin, as well. Indeed, the principles can apply to our growth in Christ in general.

What crucial point is Jesus telling us with those words? Are we really called to literally maim ourselves?


Jesus isn't calling us to physically harm our bodies—not at all! Rather, He is calling us to control our minds and therefore our bodies, no matter the cost. Notice that the text does not say that we should pray and that God will instantly remove the sinful tendencies from our lives. Sometimes God may graciously do this for us, but often He calls us to make a radical commitment to give up something, or start doing something, that we may not feel like doing at all. What a crucible that can be! The more often we make the right choices, the stronger we will become and the weaker the power of temptation in our lives.

God sometimes uses crucibles to catch our attention when there are so many noisy distractions around us. It is in the crucible that we realize how far we have drifted from God. The crucible may be God's call for us to make a radical decision to return to our Father's plan for us.


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Don't forget to post your comments and questions.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc