LESSON 6 *July 30–August 5
Struggling With All Energy
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 16:5–15; Col. 1:28, 29;
1 Pet. 1:13; Matt. 5:29; Genesis 32.
Memory Text: “To this end I strenuously contend, struggling with
all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29, NIV).
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 terrorists
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 a Christian, enabling that individual 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
mistake 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, August 6.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, July 30
Lesson 6 - Struggling With All Energy
In order that God might qualify him for his great work as the keeper of
the sacred oracles, Abraham must be separated from the associations of
his early life. The influence of kindred and friends would interfere with the
training which the Lord purposed to give His servant. . . .
It was no light test that was thus brought upon Abraham, no small
sacrifice that was required of him. There were strong ties to bind him to
his country, his kindred, and his home. But he did not hesitate to obey the
call. . . .
Many are still tested as was Abraham. They do not hear the voice of
God speaking directly from the heavens, but He calls them by the
teachings of His word and the events of His providence. They may be
required to abandon a career that promises wealth and honor, to leave
congenial and profitable associations and separate from kindred, to enter
upon what appears to be only a path of self-denial, hardship, and sacrifice.
. . . [He] leads them to feel the need of His help, and to depend upon Him
alone, that He may reveal Himself to
them.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 126, 127.
Why is it that religion occupies so little of our attention, while the
world has the strength of brain, bone, and muscle? It is because the whole
force of our being is bent in that direction. We have trained ourselves to
engage with earnestness and power in worldly business, until it is easy for
the mind to take that turn. This is why Christians find a religious life so
hard and a worldly life so easy. The faculties have been trained to exert
their force in that direction. In religious life there has been an assent to
the truths of God’s word, but not a practical illustration of them in the life.
To cultivate religious thoughts and devotional feelings is not made a
part of education. These should influence and control the entire being. The
habit of doing right is wanting. There is spasmodic action under favorable
influences, but to think naturally and readily upon divine things is not the
ruling principle of the
mind.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 264.
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 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. . . . 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.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 129, 130.
SUNDAY July 31
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 by our own choices to restrict what
God can do.
Read John 16:5–15. In this passage, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the
“Spirit of truth” (John 16:13, NIV). What does this imply that the Holy
Spirit does for us?
* Your notes will not be saved!
While the Holy Spirit can bring us the truth about our sinfulness, He
cannot make us repent. He also can 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 would 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 them 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 in 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?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, July 31
The Spirit of Truth
The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that
reached every heart. The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His
church. It was as if for ages this influence had been held in restraint, and
now Heaven rejoiced in being able to pour out upon the church the riches
of the Spirit’s grace. And under the influence of the Spirit, words of
penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven.
Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. All heaven bent low
to behold and to adore the wisdom of matchless, incomprehensible love.
Lost in wonder, the apostles exclaimed, “Herein is love.” They grasped the
imparted gift. And what followed? The sword of the Spirit, newly edged
with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through
unbelief.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 38.
The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the
salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly
seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made
on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to
open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures.
Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the
standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit withdraws the affections from
the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. “He
will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), the Saviour declared. If men are
willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the
whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the
soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need
err therein.—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 52, 53.
As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in
our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in
times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid
rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and
precious privileges, but have not improved them, will, under one pretext
or another, go out from us. Not having received the love of the truth, they
will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and will depart from the faith. But,
on the other hand, when the storm of persecution really breaks upon us,
the true sheep will hear the true Shepherd’s voice. Self-denying efforts
will be put forth to save the lost, and many who have strayed from the
fold will come back to follow the great Shepherd. The people of God will
draw together and present to the enemy a united front. In view of the
common peril, strife for supremacy will cease; there will be no disputing
as to who shall be accounted
greatest.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 400, 401.
MONDAY August 1
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, and 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 Greek word translated “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 straining, not 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?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, August 1
The Divine-Human Combination
The agency of the Spirit of God does not remove from us the necessity
of exercising our faculties and talents, but teaches us how to use every
power to the glory of God. The human faculties, when under the special
direction of the grace of God, are capable of being used to the best
purpose on earth. Ignorance does not increase the humility or spirituality
of any professed follower of Christ. The truths of the divine word can be
best appreciated by an intellectual Christian. Christ can be best glorified
by those who serve Him intelligently. The great object of education is to
enable us to use the power which God has given us in such a manner as to
represent the religion of the Bible and promote the glory of God.
We are indebted to Him who gave us existence, for the talents that
have been entrusted to us, and it is a duty we owe our Creator to cultivate
and improve these talents. Education will discipline the mind, develop its
powers, and understandingly direct them, that we may be useful in
advancing the glory of
God.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, pp. 361, 362.
I saw evil angels contending for souls, and angels of God resisting
them. The conflict was severe. Evil angels were crowding about them,
corrupting the atmosphere with their poisonous influence, and stupefying
their sensibilities. Holy angels were anxiously watching these souls, and
were waiting to drive back Satan’s host. But it is not the work of good
angels to control minds against the will of the individuals. If they yield to
the enemy, and make no effort to resist him, then the angels of God can do
but little more than hold in check the host of Satan, that they should not
destroy, until further light be given to those in peril, to move them to
arouse and look to heaven for help. Jesus will not commission holy angels
to extricate those who make no effort to help themselves.
If Satan sees he is in danger of losing one soul, he will exert himself to
the utmost to keep that one. And when the individual is aroused to his
danger, and, with distress and fervor, looks to Jesus for strength, Satan
fears he shall lose a captive, and he calls a re-enforcement of his angels to
hedge in the poor soul, and form a wall of darkness around him, that
heaven’s light may not reach him. But if the one in danger perseveres, and
in helplessness and weakness casts himself upon the merits of the blood of
Christ, Jesus listens to the earnest prayer of faith, and sends a reenforcement
of those angels which excel in strength to deliver him.
. . . And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven,
come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back,
well knowing that their battle is
lost.—Messages to Young People, pp. 52, 53.
TUESDAY August 2
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 our 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. 11:2–4; and Gal. 2:11,
12.)
Read 1 Peter 1:13. What is Peter concerned about, and what does he
want his readers actually to 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?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, August 2
The Disciplined Will
We have each of us an individual work to do, to gird up the loins of our
minds, to be sober, to watch unto prayer. The mind must be firmly
controlled to dwell upon subjects that will strengthen the moral powers. . .
. The thoughts must be pure, the meditations of the heart must be clean, if
the words of the mouth are to be words acceptable to Heaven and helpful
to your associates.
The mind should be guarded carefully. Nothing should be allowed to
enter that will harm or destroy its healthy vigor. But to prevent this, it
should be preoccupied with good seed, which, springing to life, will bring
forth fruit-bearing branches. . . .
[He] who finds joy and happiness in reading the Word of God and in
the hour of prayer is constantly refreshed by drafts from the Fountain of
life. He will attain a height of moral excellence and a breadth of thought of
which others cannot conceive. Communion with God encourages good
thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and lofty purposes
of action. Those who thus connect their souls with God are acknowledged
by Him as His sons and daughters. They are constantly reaching higher
and still higher, obtaining clear views of God and of eternity, until the
Lord makes them channels of light and wisdom to the
world.—My Life Today, p. 83.
Few realize that it is a duty to exercise control over the thoughts and
imaginations. It is difficult to keep the undisciplined mind fixed upon
profitable subjects. But if the thoughts are not properly employed, religion
cannot flourish in the soul. The mind must be preoccupied with sacred and
eternal things, or it will cherish trifling and superficial thoughts. Both the
intellectual and the moral powers must be disciplined, and they will
strengthen and improve by exercise.
In order to understand this matter aright, we must remember that our
hearts are naturally depraved, and we are unable of ourselves to pursue a
right course. It is only by the grace of God, combined with the most
earnest effort on our part, that we can gain the
victory.—God’s Amazing Grace, p. 327.
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded:
therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be
ashamed. Isaiah 50:7.
Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power
of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for
strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his
passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the man is
measured by the power of the feelings that he subdues, not by the power
of the feelings that subdue him. The strongest man is he, who, while
sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. Such
men are true heroes.—The Faith I Live By, p. 316.
WEDNESDAY August 3
Radical Commitment
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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 making with those words? Are we really
called literally to maim ourselves?
Jesus isn’t calling us to harm our bodies physically—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.
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, August 3
Radical Commitment
The Christian life is a warfare. The apostle Paul speaks of wrestling
against principalities and powers as he fought the good fight of faith.
Again, he declares: “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against
sin.” Ah, no. Today sin is cherished and excused. The sharp sword of the
Spirit, the word of God, does not cut to the soul. Has religion changed?
Has Satan’s enmity to God abated? A religious life once presented
difficulties and demanded self-denial. All is made very easy now. And why
is this? The professed people of God have compromised with the power of
darkness.
There must be a revival of the strait testimony. The path to heaven is no
smoother now than in the days of our Saviour. All our sins must be put
away. Every darling indulgence that hinders our religious life must be cut
off. The right eye or the right hand must be sacrificed if it cause us to
offend. Are we willing to renounce our own wisdom and to receive the
kingdom of heaven as a little child? Are we willing to part with selfrighteousness?
Are we willing to give up our chosen worldly associates?
Are we willing to sacrifice the approbation of men? The prize of eternal
life is of infinite value. Will we put forth efforts and make sacrifices
proportionate to the worth of the object to be
attained?—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 222.
It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of
the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the
eternal. God does not design that our will should be destroyed, for it is
only through its exercise that we can accomplish what He would have us
do. Our will is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again, purified
and refined, and so linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour
through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful
this surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet “it is
profitable for thee.”
Not until he fell crippled and helpless upon the breast of the covenant
angel did Jacob know the victory of conquering faith and receive the title
of a prince with God. . . . So the Captain of our salvation was made
“perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10), and the children of faith “out
of weakness were made strong,” and “turned to flight the armies of the
aliens” (Hebrews
11:34).—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 62.
What kind of faith is it that overcomes the world? It is that faith which
makes Christ your own personal Saviour—that faith which, recognizing
your helplessness, your utter inability to save yourself, takes hold of the
Helper who is mighty to save, as your only hope. It is faith that will not be
discouraged, that hears the voice of Christ saying, “Be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world, and My divine strength is yours.” It is the faith
that hears Him say, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 21.
THURSDAY August 4
The Need to Persevere
Read the story of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32). What does
this story say to us about perseverance, even amid great
discouragement? (Keep the whole context of Jacob’s situation in mind
before you answer.)
We can know what is right and exercise our wills to do the right thing;
but when we are under pressure, it can be very difficult to keep holding on
to God and His promises. That’s because we are weak and fearful.
Therefore, one of the important strengths of the Christian is perseverance,
the ability to keep going despite wanting to give up.
One of the greatest examples of perseverance in the Bible is Jacob.
Many years before, Jacob had tricked his brother, Esau, and his father into
giving him the birthright (Genesis 27), and ever since, he had been running
in fear of Esau’s desire to kill him. Even though he had been given
wonderful promises of God’s guidance and blessing in his dream of a ladder
reaching to heaven (Genesis 28), he was still scared. Jacob was desperate
for God’s assurance that he was accepted and that the promises made to him
many years before were still true. As he fought someone who was actually
Jesus, Jacob had his hip dislocated. From that point on, it could not have
been possible to fight, as the pain would have been too excruciating. There
must have been a subtle shift from fighting to hanging on. Jacob is hanging
on to Jesus through unbearable pain until he receives an assurance of His
blessing. So, Jesus says to him, “ ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak’ ” (Gen.
32:26, NIV).
Jacob’s blessing came because he held on through the pain. So it is with
us. God also may dislocate our “hip” and then call us to hang on to Him
through our pain. Indeed, God allowed the painful scars to continue—Jacob
was still limping when he met his brother. To outside appearances it was a
weakness, but for Jacob it was an indication of his strength.
What are some practical choices you can make (associations, lifestyle,
reading material, health habits, spiritual life) that will help you better
persevere with the Lord amid discouragement and temptation?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, August 4
The Need to Persevere
The warfare which we are to wage is the “good fight of faith.” “I also
labor,” said the apostle Paul, “striving according to His working, which
worketh in me mightily.” Colossians 1:29.
Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, turned aside to pray. He was filled
with one overmastering purpose—to seek for transformation of character.
But while he was pleading with God, an enemy, as he supposed, placed his
hand upon him, and all night he wrestled for his life. But the purpose of
his soul was not changed by peril of life itself. When his strength was
nearly spent, the Angel put forth His divine power, and at His touch Jacob
knew Him with whom he had been contending. Wounded and helpless, he
fell upon the Saviour’s breast, pleading for a blessing. He would not be
turned aside nor cease his intercession, and Christ granted the petition of
this helpless, penitent soul, according to His promise, “Let him take hold
of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace
with Me.” Isaiah 27:5. Jacob pleaded with determined spirit, “I will not let
Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Genesis 32:26. This spirit of persistence
was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It was He who gave
him the victory, and He changed his name from Jacob to Israel, saying, “As
a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Genesis 32:28. That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own
strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. “This is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John
5:4.—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 144.
God requires [all] to possess moral courage, steadiness of purpose,
fortitude and perseverance, minds that cannot take the assertions of
another, but which will investigate for themselves before receiving or
rejecting, that will study and weigh evidence, and take it to the Lord in
prayer. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Now the
condition: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. . . .” This petition
for wisdom is not to be a meaningless prayer, out of mind as soon as
finished. It is a prayer that expresses the strong, earnest desire of the
heart, arising from a conscious lack of wisdom to determine the will of
God.
After the prayer is made, if the answer is not realized immediately, do
not weary of waiting and become unstable. Waver not. Cling to the
promise, “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” Like the
importunate widow, urge your case, being firm in your purpose. Is the
object important and of great consequence to you? It certainly is. Then
waver not, for your faith may be tried. If the thing you desire is valuable,
it is worthy of a strong, earnest effort. You have the promise; watch and
pray. Be steadfast and the prayer will be answered; for is it not God who
has promised? If it costs you something to obtain it you will prize it the
more when obtained. You are plainly told that if you waver you need not
think that you shall receive anything of the Lord. A caution is here given
not to become weary, but to rest firmly upon the promise. If you ask, He
will give you liberally and upbraid
not.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 130, 131.
FRIDAY August 5
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Night of Wrestling,”
pp. 195–203, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “Consecration,” pp. 43–48, in
Steps to Christ.
“This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was
at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been
working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin
and misery of man.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.
515.
“In order to receive God’s help, man must realize his weakness and
deficiency; he must apply his own mind to the great change to be wrought
in himself; he must be aroused to earnest and persevering prayer and effort.
Wrong habits and customs must be shaken off; and it is only by determined
endeavor to correct these errors and to conform to right principles that the
victory can be gained. Many never attain to the position that they might
occupy, because they wait for God to do for them that which He has given
them power to do for themselves. All who are fitted for usefulness must be
trained by the severest mental and moral discipline, and God will assist
them by uniting divine power with human effort.”—Ellen G. White,
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 248.
Discussion Questions:
-
1. To what extent do you think that we actually recognize that our
wills were “at the Fall given into the control of Satan”? How, by
focusing on the character of Jesus, can we better understand just how
fallen we are and how great God’s grace is toward us?
-
2. Read the story of Jesus in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36–42). What
were Jesus’ own feelings and desires, as opposed to God’s will? What
can we learn from this example?
-
3. As a class, talk about the distinct things in your own culture that
can work to break down our defenses and leave us more vulnerable to
Satan’s attacks. What can we do to help other church members be
aware of these dangers, as well as help those who feel the need for
help?
-
4. Do you know someone in your church who hasn’t been there for
quite a long time, who might be getting ready to give up or already
has given up? What can you do as a group to encourage this person,
to help him or her not turn away from Jesus? What practical things
can you do to help?
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, August 5
For Further Reading
The Upward Look, “Follow Christ’s Example of Sacrifice,” p. 235;
Patriarchs and Prophets, “The Night of Wrestling,” pp. 195–203.
INSIDE STORY
Part 6: Temple Plot Foiled
By ANDREW MCCHESNEY
Months passed before Junior and Mother found out why Father had
changed his mind and went to Junior’s baptism. Evil spirits had forbidden
Father from going to the Sabbath afternoon baptism, so he had turned down
his son’s invitation to attend. On the day of the baptism, Father felt restless
and asked Mother to drive him to the Candomblé temple in Manaus, Brazil.
Around 5:00 P.M., spirits at the temple told Father to dress in his highpriestly
robes and go to Alpha Seventh-day Adventist Community Church.
They promised to possess people in the church to prevent Junior from being
baptized.
Father donned his robes and hailed a taxi. He could hear an invisible
legion of evil spirits swirling around him. At the church’s entrance, the
spirits suddenly declared that they could not go in.
Father remembered the most important lesson that the spirits had taught
him years earlier: Never leave a job undone. If he started a task, he had to
finish it. Father boldly entered the church. As he walked into the crowded
main hall, a sweet, sanctified energy flowed over him. It was unlike
anything he had ever experienced, and it felt good. Later he realized that it
must have been the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Father’s anger about the baptism vanished. A deacon, Roberto
Fernandez, met him at the back, gave him a hug, and led him to the
baptismal pool. Father turned around and looked at the congregation, where
he saw people with bowed heads. He thought they were frightened but later
understood that they were praying. When he saw Junior in the baptismal
pool, he realized that the spirits had lied to him. Junior wasn’t being forced
to join the Adventist Church. It was his own decision.
After a song, Pastor Ricardo raised his arm and said, “As a minister of
the gospel, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit. Amen.” Then he immersed Junior under the water.
After the baptism, Junior took the microphone and looked at Father.
“Daddy, despite your religion, I love you very much,” he said.
He hugged Father and started crying. His words broke Father’s heart.
When the ceremony ended, church members showered Father with hugs.
He was shocked. He never expected to be treated with such love. “This is
such a nice place, and the people are so nice,” he said as he got into the car.
Back home, Father called everyone he knew to announce proudly that
his son had been baptized. He described the experience as incredible.
Mother realized that the Holy Spirit had started to work in his heart. An
unbelievable peace filled their home for four days. Then the evil spirits
ordered Father to kill Mother and Junior.
Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help open eight churches in the South American Division,
including four in Brazil, where Father (EDUARDO FERREIRA DOS SANTOS) and his family live.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
