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1 Contents 1 Crisis in Heaven December 26 January Crisis in Eden January Global Rebellion and the Patriarchs January Conflict and Crisis: The Judges January The Controversy Continues January Victory in the Wilderness January 30 February Jesus Teachings and the Great Controversy February Comrades in Arms February The Great Controversy and the Early Church February Paul and the Rebellion February 27 March Peter on the Great Controversy March The Church Militant March Redemption March Editorial Office Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD Come visit us at our Web site at Principal Contributor David Tasker Editor Clifford R. Goldstein Associate Editor Soraya Homayouni Publication Manager Lea Alexander Greve Editorial Assistant Sharon Thomas-Crews Pacific Press Coordinator Wendy Marcum Art Director and Illustrator Lars Justinen The Teachers Edition components were written by the following: The Lesson in Brief, Lessons 1 13, and The Learning Cycles, 1 13: Gilbert Ojwang, PhD, professor, Oakwood University, Huntsville, Ala., U.S.A General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. All rights reserved. No part of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (Teachers Edition) may be edited, altered, modified, adapted, translated, reproduced, or published by any person or entity without prior written authorization from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The division offices of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists are authorized to arrange for translation of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (Teachers Edition), under specific guidelines. Copyright of such translations and their publication shall remain with the General Conference. Seventh-day Adventist, Adventist, and the flame logo are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and may not be used without prior authorization from the General Conference. 1

2 Rebellion and Redemption Somehow, and we don t know exactly why, sin arose in God s perfect creation, and that sin became the starting point for what we understand as the great controversy. One thing, though, we do know, and very well too: as human beings, we are caught in the middle of this controversy. It s a battle that none of us escape. It wasn t, though, supposed to be that way, not in the beginning. Creation was very good and blessed by God. Although the Lord was recognized as the Sustainer of this perfect creation, He gave Adam and Eve the responsibility of taking care of what He had made for them. The great controversy came to earth when Satan deceived Adam and Eve with flattery and deception, diverting their allegiance from God to himself. Had they remained faithful to what God had told them, had they obeyed His simple commands, the world as we know it, with all its miseries, trials, and suffering, never would have arisen. Satan s efforts to misrepresent the character of God, to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator, and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love; his endeavors to set aside the divine law, leading the people to think themselves free from its requirements; and his persecution of those who dare to resist his deceptions, have been steadfastly pursued in all ages. They may be traced in the history of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, of martyrs and reformers. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 12, 13. In answer to this tragedy, God, who had foreseen all this happening before the 2

3 foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), put in place His rescue plan. It s what we know as the plan of Redemption. This Redemption is prefigured in the account of God meeting with Abram in Genesis 15, when He passed between the animal pieces. The ancient ceremony was an assurance to Abram; and thus, to all of us that God is personally involved in providing a solution to the problem caused by sin. Yes, God has pledged to bear in Himself the full responsibility for all human rebellion and to suffer the consequences for every evil we have committed. Only in this way could God restore His relationship with the human race, relationships between humans, and humanity s relationship with the rest of creation. It is in this overarching context that we see Satan s insatiable passion to deface creation and to obliterate God s people. His strategies are revealed in the Bible, where good and evil are played out between siblings, in families, and in besieged nations. It is seen in times of oppression, famine, slavery and exile, in frustrated attempts to rebuild after disaster, in divided loyalties, and in the enticement of idolatrous practices. God has pledged to bear in Himself the full responsibility for all human rebellion and to suffer the consequences for every evil we have committed. Throughout Scripture, God is constantly defeating Satan s purposes. Jesus coming as Immanuel, God with us, recovered the territory stolen from Adam and Eve. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed. In His ministry, Jesus showed His authority over creation and the forces of evil. Just before His return to heaven, Jesus recommissioned His followers and at Pentecost empowered them to extend the borders of His heavenly kingdom. Jesus has won the decisive victory at the cross. The challenge has always been where we place our loyalties, on the side that has won or on the side that has lost. Though the choice should be easy and obvious, because the controversy still rages and the deceptions are ever-present, the battle for our hearts and minds continues. Our hope and prayer, then, is that this quarter s lessons will reveal some of these deceptions and thus help us not just to choose Christ but to remain with Him because, as He has promised, He who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 24:13, NKJV). David Tasker, field secretary of the South Pacific Division, has a PhD in Old Testament, and has been a church pastor in his native New Zealand, mission president in the Solomon Islands, and lecturer in biblical studies at Pacific Adventist University (Papua New Guinea) and Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (Philippines). He and his wife, Carol, have two married sons (Nathan and Stephen) and three grandchildren. 3

4 How to Use This Teachers Edition Get Motivated to Explore, Apply, and Create We hope that this format of the Teachers Edition will encourage adult Sabbath School class members to do just that explore, apply, and create. Each weekly teachers lesson takes your class through the following learning process, based on the Natural Learning Cycle: 1. Why is this lesson important to me? (Motivate); 2. What do I need to know from God s Word? (Explore); 3. How can I practice what I ve learned from God s Word? (Apply); and 4. What can I do with what I ve learned from God s Word? (Create). And for teachers who haven t had time to prepare during the week for class, there is a one-page outline of easy-to-digest material in The Lesson in Brief section. Here s a closer look at the four steps of the Natural Learning Cycle and suggestions for how you, the teacher, can approach each one: Step 1 Motivate: Link the learners experiences to the central concept of the lesson to show why the lesson is relevant to their lives. Help them answer the question, Why is this week s lesson important to me? Step 2 Explore: Present learners with the biblical information they need to understand the central concept of the lesson. (Such information could include facts about the people; the setting; cultural, historical, and/or geographical details; the plot or what s happening; and conflicts or tension of the texts you are studying.) Help learners answer the question, What do I need to know from God s Word? Step 3 Apply: Provide learners with opportunities to practice the information given in Step 2. This is a crucial step; information alone is not enough to help a person grow in Christ. Assist the learners in answering the question, How can I apply to my life what I ve learned? Step 4 Create: Finally, encourage learners to be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). Invite them to make a life response to the lesson. This step provides individuals and groups with opportunities for creative self-expression and exploration. All such activities should help learners answer the question, With God s help, what can I do with what I ve learned from this week s lesson? When teachers use material from each of these four steps, they will appeal to most every student in their class: those who enjoy talking about what s happening in their lives, those who want more information about the texts being studied, those who want to know how it all fits in with real life, and those who want to get out and apply what they ve learned. 4

5 Lesson 1 *December 26 January 1 (page 6 of Standard Edition) Crisis in Heaven Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Isa. 14:4, 12 15; Ezek. 28:2, 12 19; John 12:31; Rev. 12:7 16; Luke 10:1 21. Memory Text: Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:10, NKJV). The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34. So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there was perfect harmony throughout the universe. All it took was one rebel, and everything changed. Lucifer thought that he could do a better job than God did. He wanted God s position and the prestige that went with it. His lust for power resulted in a war in heaven (Rev. 12:7). By tricking Adam and Eve at the forbidden tree in Eden, Satan brought that war to earth, and we have been living with the consequences ever since. The plan of salvation is God s way of dealing with the rebellion and restoring the order and harmony that Satan had disrupted. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 2. 5

6 Sunday The Fall in Heaven December 27 (page 7 of Standard Edition) Read Isaiah 14:4, What descriptions of the king of Babylon indicate that he is speaking of someone much greater than a mere human ruler? No earthly king has ever fallen from heaven, a truth that suggests that verses are focusing on someone bigger than the king, even of Babylon. Furthermore, the images of ascending to heaven, of being in a position higher than angels, and of presiding over the assembly on the mountain in the far north are all recognized descriptions of deity in the ancient Near East. Satan s ambitions are exposed clearly here, in this kind of dual prophecy. Jesus uses a similar tactic in His description of the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24). Although the disciples ask about the destruction of the temple, in His reply, Jesus describes both the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in a.d. 70 and the greater reality of the end of the world. In the same way, Isaiah describes the attributes of an earthly king but applies it all to something much grander and larger than just a mere human king. Read Ezekiel 28:2, How is Satan depicted here? Ezekiel 28:13 describes a perfect being present in Eden ( the garden of God ) one decorated with all the kinds of precious stones later found on the breastplate of the high priest and one commissioned as a guardian cherub at the throne of God. The perfect being, however, corrupted himself because of his beauty. By using human parallels, these glimpses allow us to understand divine realities. The prophets used that which is closer and more easily understandable in order to explain something that, in and of itself, might be harder for us to understand. What happens in heaven may be difficult for us on earth to grasp, but we are all able to understand the effects of the blatant and destructive political ambitions of earthly rulers. Isaiah and Ezekiel give us insight into the inexplicable transition, at some point in history, when all that was beautiful and perfect in God s order of things was marred by destructive ambition. If a perfect being, created by a perfect God, in a perfect environment, could mess himself up because of pride, what should that tell us fallen beings about how deadly this sentiment really is? 6

7 Monday December 28 The Prince of This World (page 8 of Standard Edition) Read John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11. Why does Jesus call Satan the prince of this world? When God first established Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He entrusted them with the management of Eden (Gen. 2:8, 15) and the care of all creatures in the waters, skies, and upon the earth (Gen. 1:26, 28). When Adam named all the animals, he demonstrated his stewardship over them. Usually the one with authority over something can give it a name; so, by naming all creatures, Adam was clearly demonstrating his status as the ruler of the world. When Adam lost that dominion, Satan very quickly filled the vacuum. Part of the restoration of the human race, made possible by Christ s sacrifice at Calvary, will be when the redeemed are given Adam s and Eve s privilege of reigning with God for the rest of eternity as kings and priests (Rev. 1:6, 5:10). The opening chapters of the book of Job reveal to us just how extensive Adam s loss was. As we are given a glimpse into the throne room of the universe, we can also see how subordinate to nature the human race has become since the Fall. Read Job 1:6, 7 and 2:1, 2. Why does Satan introduce himself to the assembly of the sons of God as the one walking to and fro on the earth? Walking to and fro or walking back and forth is not just the act of a tourist. In Scripture it is a sign of ownership. When God gave the land to Abraham, He told him to walk its length and breadth (Gen. 13:17), and similarly to Moses and Joshua (Deut. 11:24, Josh. 1:3). Satan, in a sense, is flaunting himself as the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). The introduction of Satan in the first two chapters of Job parallels what happened in Genesis 3. Satan initiates trouble in paradise and then leaves the human victims to suffer in his wake. What evidence can we see of Satan s work in this world? How can you draw hope from the promise that one day this whole mess will be over? 7

8 Tuesday War in Heaven December 29 (page 9 of Standard Edition) We have no idea what war in heaven means; that is, we don t know what kind of physical battles were fought other than the casting out of Satan and his angels. The fact is, the Bible does not say anything about the physical aftermath of this heavenly conflict. It deals, instead, with the spiritual results here on earth. Read Revelation 12:7 16. What does it tell us about the great controversy as it impacted heaven and then earth? Note the positive way that John talks about the continuing war between the accuser of our brethren and the overcomers. He links it to salvation and the coming of the kingdom of God (Rev. 12:10, 11). This positive theme is underscored throughout the chapter and is an important aspect of the great controversy. It is crucial that we note the overall context of chapter 12. Three great threats are described there, but each is followed by an incredible deliverance. In a dramatic vision, John is shown the struggle between Christ and Satan and how totally mismatched it all appears to be. For instance, a great red dragon (Satan, Rev. 12:9) prepares to eat a baby (Jesus) about to be born. What baby could survive that? But He does and is caught up to the throne of God. The dragon then attempts to persecute the mother (a symbol of the people of God; see Rev. 12:13). How much can a mother who has just given birth defend herself against a dragon? But she also escapes miraculously (Rev. 12:14). In a third attempt to destroy God s chosen, the dragon causes a flood to gush out after the woman (Rev. 12:15). A woman against a flood? But, again, God steps in and delivers her (Rev. 12:16). The dragon now turns his attention to the remnant of the woman s seed. He is furious and wars against them. History clearly shows how God s people have been hunted, oppressed, and persecuted over the years. Too often we see the impossibility of the struggle and wonder how the faithful will survive, forgetting that the story does not end there. It continues in Revelation 14, where we see the faithful standing before God s throne; thus, they, too, have been delivered. At times when you feel overwhelmed by forces greater than yourself, how can you learn to take courage in the Lord, who is greater than all things? 8

9 Wednesday Satan Evicted December 30 (page 10 of Standard Edition) As we have seen, the war in heaven was not confined to heaven but affected the earth too. For some time it appears that Satan (the accuser of our brethren, Rev. 12:10) was still able to stand before God s throne and make accusations against God s people. Job was one biblical character who suffered this indignity. Read Luke 10:1 21. What was the meaning of Christ s words about Satan here? Before Jesus sent out the Seventy, He instructed them not to take any spare clothing or money (Luke 10:4) and to ask God s blessing on their hosts (Luke 10:5). He warned that they were like lambs walking among wolves (Luke 10:3) a concern reflected in Revelation 12, where the dragon attempts to make war with God s people. On their joyous return (Luke 10:17) the disciples reported that the demons were subject to them, and this must have brought Jesus great joy (Luke 10:21). It is in this context that Jesus makes His statement about Satan falling like lightning from heaven. He warns the disciples that their joy must not be based on their success over demonic forces but rather on having their names written in heaven (Luke 10:20). This reminder places human salvation firmly where it belongs in the hands of our Savior. It is Jesus, not we, who has defeated the enemy. Jesus followers, however, are given the privilege of witnessing about the salvation Jesus has won. This episode in Luke 10:17 20 seems to link the work of witnessing that Jesus entrusts to His people with power over Satan in this great controversy. The work of witnessing erodes the power that Satan has over the people of this world and gives humankind opportunity to resume their original work of expanding the borders of God s kingdom. Power over our adversary is only possible because of the victory Jesus won at the cross. Paul states that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers and triumphed over them (Col. 2:15, NKJV). In Him, God s people are triumphant. Satan s demise is assured. The ruler of this world will be cast out (John 12:31, NKJV), never to malign God s people again. We can surely rejoice that the battle is the Lord s! Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Dwell on these words. What are they saying, and why is that such a great reason to rejoice? 9

10 Thursday December 31 The Continuing Battle (page 11 of Standard Edition) Just as the reflexes of a twitching, freshly killed poisonous snake can cause it to reach around and inject its poison if you pick it up, Satan s bite is still deadly. He may have been defeated at Calvary, but the danger is not over yet. Read John 16:33. How did Jesus warn His disciples of the continuing struggle against evil? Jesus was clear that His followers would not have an easy time, but instead of focusing on the challenges, He focused on the victory that they would have in Him. Reflecting on this guarantee, Paul assured the believers in Rome that God would crush Satan beneath their feet (Rom. 16:20). And John told the last-day church of the same thing their victory was assured through the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11). Read Hebrews 12:1, 2. Who are the witnesses, and how do they encourage us? See Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 quickly sketches the lives of some of the famous heroes of faith. Abel offers a perfect sacrifice, and he is not forgotten even though he is dead. Enoch habitually draws near to God so is taken straight to heaven to be with Him. Noah warns of unseen events and offers salvation to a world drowned in sin. Abraham leaves a great civilization to go to a land of promise. Sarah gives birth to a promised son even though she is too old to have a child. Moses chooses to suffer with his people rather than to live in a king s palace. And Rahab witnesses to God s greatness (Josh. 2:9 11). These are among those who form the great cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews 12:1. They are not passive witnesses, like spectators watching a game; instead, they actively witness to us that God is faithful, sustaining them in whatever struggles they faced. We are not alone in this great battle. 10 Look at some of those mentioned in Hebrews 11. Who were they, and what were they like? What encouragement can you draw from the fact that they were not flawless and faultless human beings but were people with fears, passions, and weaknesses just like we all are?

11 Friday January 1 (page 12 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: We do not know why sin arose in Lucifer. Ellen G. White tells us that little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35. The fact that this occurred in a perfect being reveals in a powerful way the reality of free will and free choice as part of God s government. God created all intelligent creatures as good; they were moral beings with a good moral nature. There was nothing in them leaning toward evil. How, then, did sin arise in Lucifer? The answer is that there is no answer. There is no excuse for sin. If an excuse for it could be found, then God could ultimately be held responsible for it. As humans, we are used to cause/effect relationships. But sin does not have a cause; there is simply no reason for it. It s irrational and nonsensical. Lucifer could not justify his actions, especially as one so favored of God. Somehow, though, through abusing free will, Lucifer corrupted himself, and from being the light bearer, he became Satan, the adversary. Though there s a lot we don t understand, we should understand enough to know just how careful we ourselves need to be with the sacred gift of free will and free choice. Discussion Questions: Jealousy played a large part in Satan s rebellion against God. In your own experience, what kind of damage has jealousy caused? How can we learn to fight against this very common emotion? Dwell more on the amazing gift of free will and free choice. How do we use these gifts every day? Look at some of the terrible consequences of the wrong use of this gift. How can we learn to use it correctly? Think about the role of the law in the context of free will and free choice. The mere fact that God has a law should be a testimony to the reality of free will. After all, what is the purpose of a moral law unless you have moral creatures who can choose to follow it? Dwell more on the implications of the law and what it says about human freedom. There s a powerful tendency, especially in certain parts of the world, to reject the idea of a literal devil. Why is such a view so contrary to even the most basic understanding of the Bible? 11

12 inside Story Light Bearer to the Amazon The longest river in South America is the Amazon, flowing from the Andes mountains of Peru to the Atlantic Ocean a distance of nearly 4,000 miles (6,400 km). In the 1930s, Pastor Leo and Jessie Halliwell started a mission to reach people living there. Navigating the Amazon in their handcrafted wooden boat, the Luzeiro ( light bearer in Portuguese), the Halliwells brought hope and healing to countless people living along this famous waterway. Many mission stories have come from the Halliwells experiences. Below is a favorite, written by Charlotte Ishkanian. Angels on the Amazon Pastor Halliwell steered the Luzeiro along the river while his 15-yearold son, Jack, stared into the jungle hoping to see a jaguar, the jungle leopard. Overhead, a brilliant macaw flew by, squawking loudly. Then the boat s engine slowed, and Jack noticed three well-dressed men waving at the Luzeiro from a canoe. Hello! one man called out. Can you give us a tow upstream? Pastor Halliwell knew it was dangerous to give hitchhikers a ride. But something impressed him to stop. Throw them a line, Jack, he called to his son. Jack threw the men the rope, and the men attached it to their boat. Two men climbed aboard and stood beside Pastor Halliwell as he steered the boat up the river. Suddenly, one of the men grabbed the wheel and turned the boat around. The boat shuddered and moved suddenly away from the riverbank and out into the middle of the river. The sudden movement nearly threw Jack overboard! Pastor Halliwell stared at the waters they had just crossed. Not 20 feet from where they had been heading, the jagged points of hundreds of rocks lay just beneath the surface of the water. If the boat had hit those rocks, it would have been ripped apart. Whew! Pastor Halliwell exclaimed. Thank you! You saved our boat and probably our lives! The man smiled but said nothing as he steered the boat through the rocky waters. Then the man gave the wheel back to Pastor Halliwell. Thank you for the ride, sir, the man said. If you stop, we ll get out now. This is strange! thought Pastor Halliwell. There are no signs of a village nearby. Nevertheless, he stopped the boat, and the two men climbed back into their canoe and pushed off into the current. Watch where they go, Leo called to Jack. Dad, they ve disappeared! Jack called. Leo turned from the wheel. The river was empty. There was no bend in the river, no ripples in the water. The three men and their canoe had disappeared. Charlotte Ishkanian, former Mission quarterly editor. 12 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

13 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Revelation 12:7 The Student Will: Know: Begin to comprehend the great controversy as a universal struggle between good and evil. Feel: Sense the struggle against sin in his or her own life and in the surrounding world. Do: Accept Christ as Lord in order to be victorious against evil forces. Learning Outline: I. Know: The Great Controversy and Its Aftermath in Our World A As a result of Adam s and Eve s yielding to Satan s deception, how was the custodianship of the earth affected? B What is meant by Satan s becoming the ruler of this world (John 12:31)? II. Feel: The Reality of the Forces of Evil A What does the imagery of Christians as sheep among wolves, or as a woman facing a terrifying dragon, make you feel about your own inadequacy to face evil in and around you? B What are the effects of Satan s rebellion and the subsequent fall of humanity into sin? III. Do: Obeying God s Law of Love A In view of the victory won by Christ, how can that victory become yours in your daily life? B What does the fact that sin arose in a perfect being and a perfect world teach us about the power of choice with which God imbued intelligent beings? Summary: Even though we may never fully comprehend how sin could originate in a perfect creation, God has won victory for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are invited to accept Christ s atoning sacrifice, which alone has power to save us from the assaults of evil in and around us. 13

14 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate 14 Spotlight on Scripture: Revelation 12:7 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Not only was there war in heaven, but Christ conquered and emerged victorious by His death on the cross (Rev. 5:9). By that same blood, God s people overcome Satan and his agents (Rev. 12:11). Just for Teachers: Every human being is involved in spiritual warfare. War no doubt conjures different images in our minds. Warfare in the ancient world conjures images of armored soldiers, horses, spears, and arrows. War in modern times makes us think of tanks, artillery, AK-47s, or even nuclear bombs. We imagine death, displaced populations, and destroyed property. Along with destroying the landscape and human life, war also triggers annihilative emotions within the landscape of the human soul: bitterness, hatred, and vengeance. At the center of all war lies a point of contention. The matter in dispute may be one of territorial concern, economic advantage, cultural advantage, or bigotry. The war in heaven, as described by the revelator, though not fought with earthly weaponry, is no less intense and fierce. It is spiritual warfare, having moral and legal dimensions. The point of contention is God s law. Satan is not only an accuser of the brethren but also an accuser of God. He has charged that God s laws are unjust and arbitrary. Now the matter must be settled in the cosmic battlefield that is human allegiance. While the devil employs deception, misrepresentation, insinuation, coercion, destruction, and other such weapons, Christ s weapon of choice is love self-sacrificing love. Opening Activity: Share stories of recent wars around the world. Ask for volunteers from among the members of your class to share experiences in their own lives, or in the lives of people they know, that testify to the reality of spiritual warfare. How did they overcome the obstacles and besetments of such warfare? STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: This week we study the genesis of the great controversy. Emphasis is placed on the fact that Christ has won a decisive victory against the forces of evil on our behalf. Even

15 teachers comments though Satan continues to terrorize the world, and though we should not ignore his lethal attempts to deceive and destroy, he has been defeated by means of Christ s atoning sacrifice on the cross. We shall explore Scripture passages that shed light on this cosmic conflict. Bible Commentary I. War in Heaven (Review Revelation 12:7 13 with your class.) We may never fully comprehend how sin could originate in a perfect universe with perfect beings; that is, first with Satan in heaven and, subsequently, with humans on earth. Notwithstanding, we do know that God imbued His intelligent creation with the freedom of choice. Satan s rebellion and Adam s disobedience against God s law of love stand as deliberate choices that Satan and Adam each made. Revelation 12:7 9 describes this primordial crisis, which started in heaven and spread to our world. Since then our world has been embroiled in the struggle between good and evil (Rev. 12:10 13). God s people are like lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3) when it comes to facing the forces of evil. However, their victory is assured (Rev. 12:11), as Christ, who cast the devil from heaven (Luke 10:18), also came to earth to defeat Satan, the usurper of His territory. Discussion Questions: Suppose someone said, Well, I am neutral; I am neither on Satan s side nor on Christ s side. What is wrong with this type of thinking? What does the imagery of lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3) suggest about the human ability to withstand satanic deception? II. The Fall of Satan Described (Review Isaiah 14:4, and Ezekiel 28:2, with your class.) It is clear that the figure described in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 represents more than the kings of Babylon and of Tyre, respectively. These passages go beyond those human kings to depict the fall of the figure commonly referred to as Lucifer, son of the morning (KJV) or Morning Star, son of dawn (according to the NIV and several modern translations for the Hebrew phrase hêlēl ben-shāhar in Isaiah 14:12). Lucifer started out as an exceptional being, pure and selfless. As the signet of perfection, he was wise, beautiful, and blameless in his deeds 15

16 teachers comments from the day of creation (note that he was a created being). According to Ezekiel 28:13, his abode was in Eden, the garden of God (NKJV). The Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, sheds light on this expression, Eden, the garden of God, as it reads: in the splendor of the Paradise of God you were placed (author s own translation). Our English Paradise is from the Greek paradeisos, which means a place of blessedness (compare Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 2:7). Lucifer occupied the most exalted place any created being could desire on God s holy mountain, surrounded by luxury and wealth. The verbal form in Ezekiel 28:14 depicts Lucifer as one who is walking to and fro among the stones of fire. The phrase walking to and fro (Hebrew, hithhallāktā) recalls from the story of Job what Satan says he had been doing on earth (Job 1:7). From the book of Job we know that Satan masquerades as the leader of the earth. However, as a result of pride (Ezek. 28:17; compare Ezek. 28:2, 6), he reveled in his position of privilege (the gift of power assigned to him went straight to his head and defiled his heart); he began to think more highly of himself than he actually was. Corrupting wisdom (shihhat hokmāh, Ezek. 28:17) suggests that Lucifer bent his intellectual abilities to do evil, and he sinned. Revelation 12:7, along with Ezekiel 28:15 17, goes on to describe the expulsion of Satan from heaven. He came to our world and wrested dominion out of Adam s and Eve s hands. Satan now became the ruler of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; and 16:11; Job 1:6, 7; 2:1, 2). But God did not abandon human beings to their own devices. God announced the good news of salvation. Humanity was to be on God s side rather than the devil s. God put enmity between Satan and the promised Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15); that is, Christ. Herein is our hope in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. Consider This: Why is it correct to say that the figure described in Isaiah and Ezekiel is supernatural and goes beyond a representation of the literal kings of Babylon and Tyre? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: The fall of Satan and, subsequently, that of Adam and Eve involved the exercise of free will. As you encourage class members to apply the principles of this week s lesson to their lives, it is essential to highlight the importance of properly using our intellectual powers to make good choices. Thought/Application Questions: Given that fallen human beings still have the freedom to choose, how can you best exercise this power? 16

17 teachers comments If we note the characteristic features of Satan s rebellion, how are those desires, ambitions, jealousies, and thoughts manifested in the lives of human beings, including believers? How is the gradual manner in which Satan slid into rebellion related to the process by which we abandon our faith in Christ? How can we as Christians live fully aware of Satan s unrelenting plot to deceive and destroy, yet do so without the fear that such consciousness may engender? What can you do this week that will help you and those around you to overcome the advances of Satan? Activity: Ask members of your class to cite evidence or relate experiences that teach that all human beings are subject to the consequences of the Fall. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: Assist the members of your class in reflecting on the implications of their freedom of choice (either the use or misuse). With the gift of freedom comes the onus of responsibility. Also assist them in reflecting on the dangers of pride, often as a result of some talent they may have. Under such circumstances, how may our God-given talents become our bane? Each of these two themes, freedom of choice and the dangers of pride, can form the basis of skits to further the students understanding. Activity: Ask members to brainstorm to create a skit that depicts the exercise of the freedom of choice. One example is to depict a young teenager who has come of age and no longer wishes to be bound by parental dos and don ts. 17

18 Lesson 2 *January 2 8 Crisis in Eden (page 14 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Gen. 1:28; Rom. 8:17; Matt. 6:26; Gen. 2:15 17; 3:1 7, Memory Text: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15, NKJV). After the Creation of the world, God declared everything was very good (Gen. 1:31). However, it s obvious now that everything in the world is not very good. Despite various -isms and ideologies that, over the centuries, have tried to make things right, our world continues toward chaos, insecurity, violence, war, pollution, oppression, and exploitation. If the 20th century began with all sorts of optimism about the future and what humans could do to improve the future, the 21st century has certainly lost that optimism and with good reason too. How did we get into this situation? The answer is found in the great controversy, which, though beginning in heaven, had, unfortunately, come to earth, and fairly early on in earth s history too. This week we will look at how Satan was able to exploit human freedom and, thus, start the devastation that we all experience even today. The story of the Fall remains a powerful reminder that our only safety as human beings exists not only in believing what God tells us but, more important, in obeying what He tells us, as well. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 9. 18

19 Sunday Three Blessings January 3 (page 15 of Standard Edition) In the context of Creation, the phrase and God saw that it was good appears seven times in Genesis 1: light (Gen. 1:4); dry land and sea (Gen. 1:10); plants yielding seed and fruit trees bearing fruit (Gen. 1: 12); sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 1:16); seas swarming with fish and skies filled with birds (Gen. 1:21); and beasts, cattle, and creeping things (Gen. 1:25). Finally, when God s work is finished, we get the sentence: Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good (Gen. 1:31, NKJV). As well as declaring everything He made very good, God went a step further and blessed His creation in three specific areas. First, He blessed the sea creatures and the birds. He encouraged them to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth (Gen. 1:22, NKJV). Second, when Adam and Eve were created, God blessed them, too, with similar encouragement: Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth (Gen. 1:28, NKJV). Read Genesis 1:22, 28. Both blessings begin in the same way, but what extra is added for Adam and Eve? Humans share with fish and birds the divine encouragement to be fruitful and multiply, but the difference comes when Adam and Eve are given the responsibility to care for the earth and all its creatures. Here we see a glimpse of the significance of being created in God s image. The Creator invited our first parents to be coregents with Him to uphold and care for the created realm (see Rom. 8:17; Heb. 1:2, 3). The third blessing given in the Creation story is the seventh-day Sabbath (Gen. 2:3). Here is further confirmation that people are far more than just animals; they were created to enjoy fellowship with the Creator in ways none of the other creatures can. Here we see unmistakable evidence of the special place humans have been given in the Creation. Jesus underscored this point: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt. 6:26, NKJV). Without devaluing other creatures, He made it clear that people are unique and special on earth. In what ways does the biblical Creation account give a dignity to humanity that an alternative view of origins, such as evolution, can t? In light of the biblical account of human origins, ask yourself: Are you treating everyone as they deserve to be treated? 19

20 Monday The Test at the Tree January 4 (page 16 of Standard Edition) God created everything by a series of separations with clearly defined boundaries: light and darkness, waters above and waters below, land and sea, night and day, creatures according to their kind, a day separated from the others, a woman separated from a man, and a tree set apart from the others. Read Genesis 1:4, 6, 7, 14, 18, 21, 24, 25. Why is it important that clearly defined boundaries are outlined even before the creation of human beings? As well as God forming man, beast, and bird from the ground (Gen. 2:7, 19), He also caused beautiful trees with delicious fruit to spring up from the ground (Gen. 2:8, 9, ESV). God also chose a special piece of land in which He planted a garden. We can only try to imagine its beauty; the wonderful gardens we see today surely are a bare reflection of what Eden must have been like. In the middle of this specially planted garden in Eden (separated out from the rest of the world) there were two unique trees the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Fruit from the second tree was not to be eaten, or there would be severe consequences (Gen. 2:17). Read Genesis 2: How is the idea of separation revealed here, in this test of Adam and Eve's obedience to God? The division is clear and concrete: eat from all the other trees, but not from this distinct one, which was separate from the others. There was nothing ambiguous about God s words. Adam and Eve were created as moral beings, and morality cannot exist without freedom. Here was a test to see what they would do with that freedom. The tree of knowledge had been made a test of their obedience and their love to God. The Lord had seen fit to lay upon them but one prohibition as to the use of all that was in the garden; but if they should disregard His will in this particular, they would incur the guilt of transgression. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p What are some things in your life that you definitely need to separate yourself from?

21 Tuesday The Fall: Part One January 5 (page 17 of Standard Edition) Described as more crafty than any other animal (Gen. 3:1, NIV), the snake became a powerful symbol throughout Bible history. Moses lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole to stop people from dying in a plague of deadly serpents during the Exodus (Num. 21:5 9). The same bronze serpent became an object of idolatry and of occult practice and was destroyed by King Hezekiah about seven hundred years later (2 Kings 18:4). In the book of Revelation, the serpent of old is clearly identified as the devil, or Satan (Rev. 12:9, NIV). Read Genesis 3:1 5. What tactic did Satan use in his attempt to deceive Eve? The first words uttered by the snake were words of cynicism and doubt: Did God really say? (Gen. 3:1, NIV). Instead of Eve wondering why a snake was talking to her, she was immediately drawn into the faith-destroying taunts. When Satan asked, Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden? (Gen. 3:1, NIV), the implication (based on the original language) was that God forbade them to eat from all the trees, when, in fact, that wasn t what God had forbidden them to do. God s character is being questioned here. This is a direct attack on Him. The serpent must have confused Eve, because her reply adds a detail that, according to the biblical record, God did not give: We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die (Gen. 3:2, 3, NKJV; italics added; compare Gen. 2:17). The part about not touching it, she added, perhaps in her own confusion. Satan s success up to this point made him bold; so, he then directly challenged God s authority: You will not surely die (Gen. 3:4, NKJV). The fact that he, in the tree, was touching the fruit and remained alive made his statements believable. He then threw in the final thought: God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Gen. 13:5, NKJV). The tempter made it appear that God was not only dishonest but also withholding something good from them. Satan mixed truth with error. What are some things people believe that are a mixture of truth and error? Why is that always a deadly mix, especially in terms of theology? 21

22 Wednesday The Fall: Part Two January 6 (page 18 of Standard Edition) When God decided to create Adam and Eve, He stated that they would be made in God s image and according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26). The bait on the tempter s hook was that if they ate the forbidden fruit, they would become like God. The reality is that they already were like God. They had been created in His image, but the sad fact is that in the heat of temptation, they lost sight of this sacred truth. Additionally, God was the original provider of their food, but part of the rebellion involved Adam and Eve choosing something to eat outside of God-given boundaries. It would be like being invited to someone s home for a meal and, instead of eating from their table, you go to their cupboard or refrigerator and help yourself to something that attracts you. Not only would that be an insult to your hosts, but it would also show that you do not value your relationship with them. Read Genesis 3:4 7. The tempter had assured Eve that by eating the fruit her eyes would be opened. What did Adam and Eve see when their eyes were opened, and what did that new sight symbolize? Eve became overwhelmed by her senses (Gen. 3:6). The tree was beautiful, and as she sank her teeth into a piece of the fruit, Eve imagined that she entered into a higher state of existence. When she shared her experience with Adam, yes, their eyes were opened (Gen. 3:7), but they were embarrassed by what they saw. One major issue here is the rejection of God as the Provider of every good thing and choosing instead a man-made solution to human need (in this case, the desire to eat). God had previously assured Adam and Eve of their food and had provided the menu. Their eating from the forbidden tree was a move outside of that provision and showed a lack of trust that was not warranted, especially given their unique circumstances. What kind of forbidden fruit (which often appears so tempting, so pleasing, and so full of promise) is made available to us today? How can we learn not to make the same kind of error when presented with such a powerful deception? 22

23 Thursday January 7 The Consequences (page 19 of Standard Edition) We may be well into eternity before we understand fully how much damage was caused by that one incident at the tree. All that God did during Creation week started to unravel. Relationships that God established were fractured: between people and God (they hid from Him), between each other (Adam blamed Eve for his trouble), and between humans and the environment (the serpent became an enemy; the ground would now produce thorns and thistles and would only provide food after much human labor). Read Genesis 3: What did Adam s and Eve s excuses reveal about how damaged they had already become? Notice how God dealt with these excuses. Before God could redeem them, Adam and Eve had to admit responsibility for what they had done; so God carefully explained to them the results of their individual actions. First, though, the serpent was cursed and would eat dust, be loathed by the woman, and have its head bruised (Gen. 3:14, 15). Then the Lord told Eve that she was to experience great pain in childbirth (Gen. 3:16). Adam, meanwhile, was to toil and sweat for food rather than live as a king (Gen. 3:17 19). Adam and Eve were now faced with the choice of either continuing in rebellion or returning to God. Accepting responsibility for their wrong was their first step in returning to God, but even that acknowledgment was not enough to solve the problem sin caused humanity. There had to be another way to ensure the future of the human race. So, God provided an animal sacrifice to point to a Savior (Gen. 3:21). It was a creature, a snake, that had introduced them to sin, loss, and fractured relationships; it would be a creature, a lamb, that would point forward to the Deliverer, who would ensure restoration, reconciliation, and a future (see Gen. 3:15). However, rather than being regents ruling over the earth, Adam and Eve were now dependent on the earth and each other as never before. Among the lower creatures Adam had stood as king, and so long as he remained loyal to God, all nature acknowledged his rule; but when he transgressed, this dominion was forfeited. Ellen G. White, Education, p. 26. Immediately after the Fall, we were given hope of salvation. See Genesis 3:15. How can you make that hope your own? How can you learn to rejoice in it, knowing that it applies to you, regardless of your past choices? 23

24 Friday January 8 (page 20 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Though we are a long way away from Eden, from the original Creation, there s still so much in creation that speaks to us of the goodness of God. Look around: we can see not only incredible beauty but incredible design as well, all of which testifies to our Creator s love. For instance, think about such things as apples, oranges, tangerines, strawberries, blueberries, avocados, tomatoes, lemons, limes, watermelons, almonds, pecans, pears, plums, carrots, peas, bananas, pineapples, pomegranates, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, onions, raspberries, cherries, celery, papaya, eggplant, rhubarb, spinach, melons, and on and on. Is it just by chance that all these are so tasty (well, some people don t like brussels sprouts!), so good for us, and just happen to grow out of the ground bearing their own seed? Of course not. Not everyone has access to these bounties, however, and there are floods and famines and pestilences, and people do go hungry. This is, of course, testimony to how greatly damaged our world has become because of sin. But if we can, for a moment, get behind the damage in creation and just view the creation itself wow! What a powerful testimony to God s love. We just have to remember: the hope is not in the creation itself but only in the Creator Himself. Discussion Questions: As human beings, we were never meant to die. Death is an aberration, something that humans should have never known or experienced. Hence, the universal abhorrence of death that we all feel is, no doubt, a vestige of what we have taken with us from Eden. Dwell on all the Bible promises of eternal life that we have been given. How can they help us to deal with the terrible trauma of death now? What parts of the created world talk to you in a powerful way about the reality of God and God s love for us? Read again in Genesis 3 about how Adam and Eve started justifying their sin. Why is that so easy to do? What are ways that we seek to do the same? That is, how often do we claim heredity, environment, or other people as being the causes of our mistakes? How can we get out of this dangerous mind-set and own up to our responsibility for our actions? 24

25 Story inside A Dream Comes True: Part 1 Ever since she was a little girl, Samantha loved to listen to the exciting stories about the Luzeiro mission boat. Fascinated, she imagined what it might be like to work as a missionary along the Amazon, just like Leo and Jessie Halliwell. Little did she know that one day her dream would come true. After graduating from high school, Samantha was accepted into the nursing program at the State University of West Paraná in southern Brazil. While there, she faced a challenge because some classes were held on Sabbath. Although she was able to take the classes on alternate days, it meant staying in school an extra year. In the end, however, things worked out for the best. At the end of her university experience, Samantha had many job possibilities, but her heart was in mission. When an invitation came offering the opportunity to be a volunteer missionary for a year in the Amazon region of northern Brazil, Samantha seriously considered the possibility. Jesus, she prayed, if You want me to go, please open all the doors for me. I don t know what to do, but if You want me to go to the Amazon, I will go. After her prayer, doors began opening quickly. I was given money for the tickets, and people gave me everything I needed. My heart s desire grew stronger, and I knew that Jesus had a plan for me. Soon, Samantha was in the heart of the Amazon region, training with Salva Vidas, a supportive Adventist Mission organization that teaches volunteers to work in the jungles using health evangelism and giving Bible studies. After three months, the project coordinator approached Samantha: I have a place for you, and that place is in a small village, and you will be a nurse on the Luzeiro. Samantha could hardly believe the news. I was so happy! she recalls. Here I can use my nursing skills all the time. The people are very simple, with simple problems, and I can help them. This is exactly what I want to do to educate people who don t have any knowledge about health. I get to help, and I m so happy! As a Luzeiro nurse, Samantha now works with ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) and is based in a village where she operates a small clinic. Every week she goes on the Luzeiro XXVI visiting many villages along the Amazon, and providing the only health care available to thousands of people. Whether on the Luzeiro or in the village clinic, Samantha often faces emergencies where she knows only God can help. Many times she has seen His direct intervention in saving lives. Early one evening, Samantha watched as a small boat headed to shore. As soon as the boat arrived, a man jumped out, holding his hand in bloodied bandages. Quickly, Samantha unwrapped the cloth, finding mangled fingers and a mutilated palm. To be continued in next week s Inside Story. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 25

26 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Genesis 3:15, 21 The Student Will: Know: Review the biblical account of the Fall. Feel: Appreciate his or her status as an heir of God s riches in Christ. Do: Play a part in alleviating the suffering in the world. Learning Outline: I. Know: Full Restoration in Christ A What were the implications of Adam s and Eve s eating the forbidden fruit? B By yielding to Satan s deception, Adam and Eve betrayed their relationship with God. What were the other consequences of their action? C How well does the world as we see it today reflect God s original Creation? D What makes Genesis 3:15 good news? II. Feel: Acknowledging the Powers of Deception and Restoration A Why is it important to acknowledge the power of deception, the problem of falling into temptation, and the consequences it brings, including sickness and death? B How does Christ s sacrifice affect ruptured human relationships? C As it relates to the care for creation, what responsibility is placed upon those who have experienced the peace that comes with knowing that Christ has forgiven their sins and restored them as fellow heirs of God s riches? Discuss. III. Do: Experiencing Restored Relationships A In what ways does God want you to obey Him in your life? B How can you minister to a grieving family when they come to terms with the reality of death? Summary: In Christ, we are heirs of God s riches. Until we receive our full inheritance, we have the privilege of enjoying God s creation and of serving as stewards in the preservation of the environment. 26

27 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: Genesis 3:15 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: By declaring enmity between the serpent and the woman, God announced the plan of salvation, which brings hope to all of us. Just for Teachers: Lead the class to discuss what salvation means to them personally, allowing each person to share a brief testimony of his or her experience of conversion, as time permits. Opening Activity: Have two to three members of the class share something about what salvation means to them, or what it means to be at enmity with the devil. Select a hymn from The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal that illustrates the experience of salvation. Consider This: Although God has declared the devil an enemy, why are many human beings still acting as though God is the enemy? STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: This week we review what is commonly referred to as the Fall (of Adam and Eve into sin), its tragic consequences, and God s early intervention. We will see that, as chaotic as our world is, God s plan of salvation is sufficient to restore us to our first estate. Bible Commentary I. Sin Enters Into the World (Review Genesis 3:1 7 with your class.) Sin entered our world when first Eve, and then Adam, ate the fruit from the tree forbidden by God (Gen. 2:16, 17). The results were death, chaos, suffering, pain, sickness, and hopelessness. But at stake in Genesis 3:1 7 is more than just the eating of a fruit. In his interrogation of Eve, the devil challenges both the character and authority of God. The devil then has the audacity to state that the consequences stated by God were not true. You will not surely die (Gen. 3:4, NKJV). By asserting that God was trying to prevent Adam and Eve from being like God (Gen. 3:5, NKJV), the devil contradicted what God had explicitly stated in Genesis 1:26. Humankind was already 27

28 teachers comments formed in God s image and likeness. Therefore, the insinuation that somehow God did not want Adam and Eve to be like the One in whose image they were made should have alerted our first parents to Satan s sophistry. In this episode we can see clearly the anatomy of deception. Deception, in this context, refers to a person who is led to ignore so much of what he or she already knows due to falling under the baleful influence of words that are twisted, rearranged, added, or omitted. Deceived, the victim behaves in an irrational manner. For example, Eve saw that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was pleasing to the eye and good for food (Gen. 3:6), when in fact all the trees in the garden were pleasant to the sight, and good for food (Gen. 2:9). In the end, by yielding to the deception of the devil, Adam and Eve distrusted God s ability to provide food, as well as His right to be God. Consider This: Think about the alluring power of deception. How can we avoid things that seem to overpower us even though we know that they are deceptive? II. Consequences of the Fall (Review Genesis 3:16 19 with your class.) In Genesis 3:16 19 God pronounces the consequences of the Fall as it relates to Adam and Eve. First, beginning with Eve, the process of childbirth would become painful. Second, her desire would be for her husband, and third, he would rule over her (Gen 3:16). As a consequence of Adam s disobedience, first, the ground would be cursed, requiring increased labor in order to cause the earth to yield its produce. Second, Adam (whose name is related to the Hebrew word for ground, ădāmāh), would return to dust, for he is dust (Gen. 3:19). Had God not warned, In the day that you eat of it [the fruit] you shall surely die (Gen. 2:17, NKJV)? It is important to note that in the judgments handed down after the Fall, only the devil is cursed directly by God (Gen. 3:14). There is no explicit curse directed at Adam and Eve. In the case of Adam, for example, the word for curse is used with reference only to the ground (Gen. 3:17, Hebrew, ărûrāh), albeit on account of Adam s disobedience. Perhaps, in this context, it is better to read the declarations against Adam and Eve not as curses but as God s corrective and mitigating interventions, instituted in order to meet humans in their fallen condition. 28 Discussion Question: Was the increased toil imposed on Adam a blessing or a curse? Discuss your answer in light of the following statement by Ellen G. White: And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be

29 teachers comments man s lot was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to develop habits of self-control. It was a part of God s great plan of man s recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 60. III. Plan of Salvation Announced (Review Genesis 3:15, 21 with your class.) Genesis 3:15 has been popularly referred to as the first gospel (Protoevangelium). In condemning the action of the serpent, God declared Satan an enemy of the human race (Gen. 3:15), not a friend. This text announces the coming of the One (Christ) who would vanquish the devil. Further, in Genesis 3:21, God takes the initiative of clothing Adam and Eve. Together, the promised Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) and the sacrificial animal, whose skin was used to clothe Adam and Eve so as to cover their nakedness (Gen. 3:21), point to Christ. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, NKJV), whose righteousness is counted on behalf of every believer. Consider This: How does a proper understanding of the Fall, the deceptive power of sin, and its dire consequences enable us to better see the announcement of the plan of salvation as good news? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: As we explore the passages dealing with the great controversy as it entered into our world, it is important to keep in mind how sin is deceptive and to examine how we may be deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8, 9). Thought/Application Questions: How may we continue to enjoy the good things of Creation? In what ways does our world still reflect the goodness of the original Creation? Why are humans still terrified of death? What does that tell you about the purpose for which human beings were created? 29

30 teachers comments How are we like Adam and Eve in the way we justify our shortcomings? How are humans to care for creation as responsible stewards? What can you do this week that will demonstrate your care for creation? Death is one of the ultimate consequences of sin. What can you do to comfort a family that is dealing with grief as a result of losing a loved one? Activity: Role-play a visit to a grieving family. Or, depending on availability of time, role-play how you would respond to a child who asks, Why do people die? STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: In today s world, it is increasingly becoming important to care for the environment. Lead your class members in discussing how they can care for the environment, such as recycling. Also discuss how your church can better minister to bereaved families and foster forgiveness and healing among members in need. 30 Activity: Paint a picture (either with words or with watercolor, pastel, etc.) of what Eden might have looked like. What features are prominent in your picture? Why?

31 Lesson 3 *January 9 15 Global Rebellion and the Patriarchs (page 22 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Gen. 4:1 15; Gen. 3:9, 10; Gen. 4:9; Gen. 6:1 13; Ps. 51:1; Gen. 22:1 19; Gen. 28: Memory Text: Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you (Genesis 28:15, NKJV). The stories that follow the Fall take the themes of deception and broken relationships, first seen in Eden, to a deeper level. During this time, the conflict spreads and diversifies over the globe. In the story of Cain and Abel, worship becomes the catalyst for discord and death, a recurring theme throughout history. The story of the Flood reveals how rebellion and sin cause the unraveling of everything that God created. Sin not only distorts creation, it destroys it. Abraham s experience is a major encouragement in the conflict, with God demonstrating His willingness to take the consequences of rebellion upon Himself. He would become our Substitute. Then in the stories of Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his brothers, we see the continuing interplay of fractured relationships being the means that Satan uses to destroy families and people groups. Yet through it all, the faithfulness of God, as He sustains and nurtures His harassed children, continues. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January

32 Sunday Cain and Abel January 10 (page 23 of Standard Edition) Read Genesis 4:1 15. What does this tell us about how deeply ingrained sin had become? At the birth of Cain, Eve was ecstatic. She fully believed that she had just given birth to the Deliverer promised in Genesis 3:15. I have acquired a man from the Lord (Gen. 4:1, NKJV). The text, translated literally, could read, I have made a man the Lord. At its basic level, it simply reveals that Eve thought she had delivered the One whom the Lord had promised (Gen. 3:15). Nothing is said of the joy of Cain s boyhood years and the novelty of new parents proudly enjoying the development of their first baby. The narrative jumps quickly to a second birth and then to the two young men worshiping. However, as we so often see, differences over worship lead to tragedy. Read Genesis 3:9, 10; 4:9. Compare Adam s reaction with Cain s reaction when God questioned them after each one sinned. What is similar? What is different? Note the differences in Adam s emotions as compared with Cain s. Adam appears confused, frightened, and ashamed (Gen. 3:10), but Cain is angry (Gen. 4:5), cynical, and rebellious (Gen. 4:9). Instead of offering a weak excuse as Adam did, Cain tells a blatant untruth. However, out of the despair came a measure of hope and optimism. With the birth of Seth, Eve again thinks she has delivered the Promised One (Gen. 4:25). The name Seth is from the word that means to place or to put, the same word used in Genesis 3:15 for a Deliverer who would be put in place to challenge the serpent and crush its head. In a further parallel to Genesis 3:15, Eve describes her new son as the seed to replace Abel. Thus, even amid so much despair and tragedy, and as the great controversy between good and evil continued to spread, people still clung to the hope of redemption. Without it, what do we have? 32 Imagine the woe of Adam and Eve over the death of their son, which would have been bad enough if not for the fact that another son had killed him. Thus, they lost two sons. How can we learn the hard lesson that sin has consequences far beyond the immediate sin itself?

33 Monday The Flood January 11 (page 24 of Standard Edition) Read Genesis 6:1 13. In what ways do we see the great controversy between good and evil expressed here, only now even more intensely than before? In the Flood we see a partial reversal of the special acts of Creation; many of those things that God had separated are now brought back together. The waters above and the waters below, the sea and the dry land, the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living creatures that moved on the earth, all coming together. The earth seems to move back toward being formless and empty (Gen. 1:2, NIV). Despite this apparent win by the forces of evil, God s creative genius is still at work. He initiates a new creation, by again separating different elements. First, He separates Noah (a just and blameless man) from the people of the time, whose wickedness is great and whose every thought is evil, corrupt, and violent (compare Gen. 6:8, 9 and Gen. 6:5, 11 13). God then tasks Noah with building an enormous boat. He then separates out a small group of people, birds, and animals and puts them in the safety of the boat so that they could survive what is coming. Based on the grace of God, life will go on, and a new world will arise out of the dregs of the old. There is a new creation. But it s hardly a perfect one. Some time after the Flood, as Noah and his family are getting themselves established again, we are reminded of the frailty of human goodness. Noah becomes drunk, and shameful things occur (Gen. 9:20 27). Thus, even one of the heroes of faith (see Heb. 11:7) had his bad moments. The great controversy continues, not only on a massive scale but also in the hearts of individuals. The Bible describes the Flood as blotting out all life (Gen. 7:4, ESV). A similar expression is used elsewhere in the Bible to describe the actions of the Redeemer in forgiving sin (Isa. 25:8, 43:25, Ps. 51:1). Either our life is blotted out, or our sins are. How does this stark reality show just how black-and-white the issues really are? 33

34 Abraham Tuesday January 12 (page 25 of Standard Edition) While Abraham (first called Abram) is known for his faithfulness, his life experiences are more about God s faithfulness to him. Twice God has assured Abraham that he would have a son. He first told him when Abraham was about 75 years old (Gen. 12:2, 4), then about ten years later (Gen. 13:16) God told him again. Eventually, even after much stumbling on Abraham s part, the child of promise the child of the covenant was born, and God s faithfulness to His sometimes-wavering servant was revealed (see Gen. 17:19, 21; Gen. 21:3 5). Read Genesis 22:1 19. What hope is revealed here in regard to the whole great controversy? 34 It was to impress Abraham s mind with the reality of the gospel, as well as to test his faith, that God commanded him to slay his son. The agony which he endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted that he might understand from his own experience something of the greatness of the sacrifice made by the infinite God for man s redemption. No other test could have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the offering of his son. God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame. The angels who witnessed the humiliation and soul anguish of the Son of God were not permitted to interpose, as in the case of Isaac. There was no voice to cry, It is enough. To save the fallen race, the King of glory yielded up His life. What stronger proof can be given of the infinite compassion and love of God? 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? Romans 8:32. The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good, nor solely for the benefit of succeeding generations; but it was also for the instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds. The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out is the lesson book of the universe. Because Abraham had shown a lack of faith in God s promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 154, 155.

35 Wednesday Jacob and Esau January 13 (page 26 of Standard Edition) The struggle between God s purposes and individual rebellion makes further progress in the story of Jacob and Esau. It was customary in antiquity for the firstborn son to receive the father s blessing (the birthright) before the death of the father. This included most of the family s wealth; thus, the eldest son became responsible for the family s welfare. Esau hated his brother Jacob after being tricked out of that great honor, and he planned to kill him after their father died (Gen. 27:41). Rebekah sent Jacob away for safekeeping, thinking all would be well again after a few days (Gen. 27:43, 44). A few days turned out to be 20 years, and Rebekah never saw Jacob again. Read Genesis 28: What great hope was found in Jacob s dream? By repeating the promises made to Abraham, God was assuring Jacob that plans were on track. Even though Jacob s actions seemed to ignore God s plan, God was still there for him. However, Jacob had to endure 20 years of being tricked by his father-in-law, first in his marriage, then in his wages (Gen. 29:20, 23, 25, 27; 31:7). Yet, in a strange twist, all those years serving for his wife seemed like just a few days, the time Rebekah thought Jacob would be away from her (Gen. 29:20). When Jacob decided to go back home, first Laban pursued him (Gen. 31:25, 26), and then Esau set out with 400 men to meet him. Both of those situations were life threatening, and God had to step in twice to deliver him; first in a dream to Laban, to tell him not to harm Jacob (Gen. 31:24); then in person, to wrestle with Jacob and cripple him (Gen. 32:24 30). The sight of Jacob hobbling with a walking stick could have impressed Esau that Jacob posed no threat. The gifts were sent on ahead and, together with the careful way Jacob spoke, it all seemed enough to heal the break between the two brothers. The last we see of them together is when they bury their father (Gen. 35:29); thus, any previous plan Esau had of killing Jacob after the funeral was now forgotten. Look at all the pain and suffering these foolish choices brought to these people, both to the innocent and to the guilty. How can we learn to think, think, think before we act? 35

36 Thursday January 14 Joseph and His Brothers (page 27 of Standard Edition) Just as Jacob deserved a lot worse from his brother Esau after the way he treated him, we see something similar in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Here, again, we see brother hating brother because of one being shown favor over the other (Gen. 37:3, 4). The tunic of many colors was not just made from a striped bed sheet. The original word implies that it was an expensive robe worn by royalty and would have been covered with rich embroidery and colorful needlework, taking up to a year to make. Then, when Joseph told his brothers about his dreams (Gen. 37:5 11), he incited even more hatred and envy against himself. So, at the first opportunity, they plotted to get rid of him (Gen. 37:19, 20). The brothers must have congratulated themselves on how easy it was to remove him from their lives. None, though, had any idea how God would use this situation to save them years later. Read Genesis 45:4 11. What was the bigger picture that Joseph saw? What was his main focus? Think of what might have gone through Joseph s mind as a boy in chains, walking behind a camel and looking toward the hills of his boyhood home as they disappeared into the distance. Then being put on the auction block and having inquisitive buyers prodding him and humiliating him in their close inspection before bidding for him. Many have given up their faith for less humiliation and suffering than this. Joseph could have chosen to become bitter and anti-god, but he chose instead to maintain his faith amid this harrowing struggle, the great controversy being played out in his own life in a dramatic way. He soon adjusted to the household of one of the most important military men in the country, and under the blessing of God he soon gained his trust (Gen. 39:1 4). Eventually, the slave became a leader in Egypt. Despite the incredible family dysfunction revealed in this story, despite the treachery and evil, it had a happy ending. How, though, do you keep your faith intact and have a gracious attitude when things don t seem to be turning out as well as they did for Joseph? 36

37 Friday January 15 (page 28 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: No question, as these stories show, life on this earth, amid the great controversy, doesn t always play out as we might have wanted. For instance, Adam and Eve would not have scripted, as they held their newborns in their arms, that one would kill the other. Zipporah, when she married Moses, certainly didn t have the future that she envisioned. And do you think Leah s married life was what she, as a very young girl, had dreamed about? And youthful Jeremiah whatever his hopes and ambitions they surely didn t include being railed against, castigated, and deemed a traitor by his own nation. And wouldn t David and Bathsheba have preferred a different narrative than the one that ultimately unfolded (no doubt Uriah would have)? What about Jesus? Of course, Jesus came to earth to die; that was the whole point. But from His human side, the side born out of the same clay as us, the side that cried out in Gethsemane, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me... (Matt. 26:39, ESV) getting beaten, scorned, mocked, and crucified at age 33 surely wasn t what anyone would have hoped for. No question, life can and does do us dirty. But it shouldn t be surprising, should it? What do you expect in a fallen, sinful world paradise? Eden s long gone. But it will be back, and when it is, the gap between what our lives are now and what they will be like then will be infinitely greater than the gap between what we had hoped for but got instead. Discussion Questions: What are the significant differences between the siblings who maintained faith in God and those who did not see the need to? When sibling rivalries and jealousies seem to overpower God s purposes for families today, how is it possible for them to see a positive tomorrow? What can be done for the families of your church to help them see God s bigger purpose for them? What can be done for the people in your congregation who feel that they are alone in the world and that their lives are meaningless and of no value? Even if your life isn t turning out as you had hoped, how can the promise of eternal life help keep the disappointment from overwhelming you? 37

38 inside Story A Dream Comes True: Part 2 The story thus far: Samantha is thrilled to be working in the Amazon jungle as a nurse on the Luzeiro mission boat and in a village clinic offering the only medical assistance for thousands of people along the river. She often faces medical emergencies where she must depend fully upon God. One evening, a man arrived at the clinic holding his hand in bloodied bandages. What happened? she asked the man. I was using a grinder, he replied, when my hand got caught in the blades. Samantha and her assistant, Gloria, carefully cleaned the hand, applied antibiotic ointment and rewrapped it tightly in clean bandages. As they prayed with the man, they knew that he needed a higher level of care than they were able to provide, and asked God for help. A few minutes later, a mother, father, and ten-year-old son showed up in front of the clinic. The boy had been bitten on the foot by a surucucu, a venomous pit viper one of the most poisonous snakes of the Amazon. How long ago was he bitten? Samantha asked. About five hours ago, came the reply. Samantha was shocked. According to all the medical literature, the boy should have been dead long before now. Quickly, she provided emergency care, doing all she could to stop the spread of the poison. The family had tried to treat the boy themselves, putting coffee on the bite wound and having their son eat the tail of the snake, thinking it would protect him. As he grew weaker, the parents decided to bring him to the clinic. Samantha knew that it was only through a miracle that the boy was alive, and to survive he would continue to need divine help. She also knew that both boy and man needed to be taken to the nearest hospital an eight-hour trip using a regular boat, or two hours by ADRA s fast boat the Jessie Halliwell. While the fast boat was clearly the best option, it also took the most fuel and would completely deplete the clinic s reserve for the month. The fuel reserve had been saved for emergencies that might arise from a visiting group from the South American Division office who had come to make improvements to the clinic and village. Knowing that two lives were in jeopardy, Herber Kalbermatter, the ADRA Brazil director for the Amazon region, approached the group, explaining the situation. Immediately they told him to use the fuel and that they would trust in God for protection. It was dark and rainy by the time Samantha, her two patients, and the boy s mother climbed into the Jessie Halliwell for a fast two-hour ride to the nearest hospital. Pelting down rain mixed with river spray as the little boat and its precious cargo sped down the river. Samantha did her best to care for her charges and continued to pray that God would intervene. To be continued in next week s Inside Story. 38 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

39 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Genesis 28:15 The Student Will: Know: Understand that God promises to be with everyone who accepts His plans. Feel: Distrust the evil that lurks deep at the core of our being. Do: Bring healing and reconciliation to broken relationships, including his or her relationship with God. Learning Outline: I. Know: The Great Controversy Does Not Spare Even Siblings. A What makes worship, as seen in the case of Cain and Abel (and in their respective sacrifices), a major source of contention in their day as well as in ours? B What do the questions, Where are you? (Gen. 3:9, NKJV), in respect to Adam, and Where is Abel your brother? (Gen. 4:9, NKJV) tell us about God? C Considering the reason given in Genesis 6:5, 6, 11 for the Flood, what does this reveal about the locus of evil in humans? D How do the lives of Jacob and Esau demonstrate the great controversy theme? II. Feel: Evil Is Deeply Rooted in Humans. A Imagine the pain of Adam and Eve burying their son Abel. B How does the Flood narrative give insight into the evil that issues from the human heart? III. Do: Be an Agent of Healing and Reconciliation. A What can I do in my own life to mitigate the effects of evil? What can I do to assist others to be reconciled to God? B Summary: Believers are assured of God s abiding presence to guide and bless in a world fraught with human wickedness and broken relationships. Through it all, God will bring to fruition His purposes of salvation for everyone who trusts Him. 39

40 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate 40 Spotlight on Scripture: Genesis 28:15 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The great controversy manifests itself in human relationships, sometimes, unfortunately, pitting sibling against sibling. On the other hand, God graciously works out His plan of salvation in the life of every believer, while bringing healing and reconciliation. Just for Teachers: Cain killed his brother Abel, the first murder recorded in the Bible. People in Noah s generation sunk deeper and deeper into wickedness until God could bear it no longer, leading to the worldwide Flood. Jacob cheated his unsuspecting brother Esau out of the family inheritance, leading to brotherly estrangement. His grandfather Abraham s obedience, by comparison, stands out like a cup of cold water in the midst of a hot desert, a model of how God works in the lives of sinful human beings to transform them into children of His kingdom. After all, by His grace, there is hope for each of us to emerge victorious in the raging battle between good and evil. Opening Activity: Ask class members to share personal testimonies that narrate how families are fractured by sin. Invite them to relay how they read the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah s generation, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, and so forth, for themselves. As a teacher, share a story you may have heard that illustrates the pitfalls and dangers of human wickedness; a heart of sin; a mind of hatred, bigotry, slander; and their destructiveness on personal or interpersonal relationships. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: As you consider the passages for this week, encourage class members to approach these stories as first-time readers. Assist them in imagining how it must have been for Adam to bury his son Abel or for Joseph to forgive his brothers who had mistreated him so badly. Assist the students in personalizing the stories by relating them to their own experiences or those of someone they know. Bible Commentary I. Death Strikes the First Family as the Great Controversy Pits Sibling Against Sibling (Review Genesis 4:1 15 and 45:4 11 with your class.)

41 teachers comments Eve thought that her firstborn, Cain, was the promised Redeemer (Gen. 4:1). The name Cain comes from the Hebrew word that means to redeem (Hebrew qānāh, with God as subject; compare Exod. 15:16, Ps. 74:2). And, indeed, Eve acknowledges that she has acquired a man, with God [ s help]. This is the sense in which Cain could have been thought of as the promised redeemer (Gen. 3:15). Such high expectations! Yet, how demoralizing that the one expected to be the promised redeemer turns out to be the first murderer. Parents whose children have not turned out as expected (or sometimes even worse) can easily relate to Adam s and Eve s heartbroken disappointment. The point of contention at the heart of all narrative threads of the great controversy theme, including this one, is worship: whether to worship God in ways that He has prescribed or to follow our own sentiments and preferences. Abel s fate demonstrates that all who aspire to live godly lives will attract persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Regarding Cain, one would hope that, after the gruesome murder of his brother, he might feel sorrow and remorse for his actions. But here he disappoints parental expectations yet again this time of his heavenly Father. When God asks him, Where is your brother Abel? he responds that he was not his brother s keeper. Yes, he was. Yes, we are. Even after the loss of Abel, with Cain having turned murderer, Adam and Eve do not lose hope. Their son Seth embodied further that expectation promised by God to put (the same word as Seth, see Gen. 5:3) enmity between the woman and the serpent. The promise of a redeemer was not to fail. Consider This: Despite being in a culture in which murder is on TV or in the news almost daily, we are still devastated when death strikes. Discuss the depth of Adam s and Eve s devastation at the death of Abel. II. Humanity Sinks Deeper Into Sin (Review Genesis 6:1 13 with your class.) In stating the reason for the Flood, God declares, Every intent of the thoughts of his [humanity s] heart was only evil continually (Gen. 6:5, NKJV). The Hebrew word rā ā h, translated wickedness in Genesis 6:5, includes in its range of meanings: evil intent to harm others, perverseness, and crime. The word translated intent (yatser) implies thoughts, impulses, and tendencies. The word for thoughts (machshābā h) includes ideas and intentions of the heart (lēb, also inner self, seat of feelings and impulses, seat of secrets in one s heart, mind, character, disposition, inclination, loyalty, concern ). See The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Mass.: 41

42 teachers comments Oxford at Clarenden Press, 1907), pp. 364, 428, 523, 524. It is as if all the nouns that describe evil are packed into this one verse. The result is that the earth became corrupted and filled with violence (Gen. 6:11). Who and what we truly are in our innermost being is characterized by one of two choices: we are either indwelt by the Holy Spirit or infested with evil and sin. The things we do in life are simply outward manifestations of who we are at the core of our inner being. Divine intervention would see the end of all flesh as God declared to Noah (Gen. 6:13). However, in the midst of this widespread wickedness, Noah found grace (Hebrew, chēn) before the Lord (Gen. 6:8). Discussion Questions: Considering that Noah remained faithful to God amid widespread rebellion and wickedness, what does this tell us about the perceived inevitability of evil? Taking Genesis 6:8 as the reason for Genesis 6:9, what was the source of Noah s righteousness? III. Abraham Sees the Day of Christ (Review Genesis 22 with your class.) In directing his young men to remain with the donkey while he and Isaac went up the mountain (Gen. 22:5), Abraham uses a verbal form (the cohortative mood) that allows for some uncertainty, probability, or possibility. His words may be translated: You stay here with the donkey, while I and the young man [Isaac] would like to go over there. We hope to worship, and hopefully come back to you. If we allow that Abraham could not guarantee or be absolutely sure as to whether he would return with Isaac, what does this tell us about Abraham s faith and courage to do as God asked? Consider This: What is the difference between faith and certainty? IV. Jacob and Esau, Joseph and His Brothers (Review Genesis 28:12 15 and Genesis 45:4 11 with your class.) In Genesis 28:13 16, God renews His covenant with Jacob. God promises to be with you [Jacob] (Gen. 28:15, NKJV). Through the twists and turns of life, God s providence leads each believer to accomplish His purpose of salvation. Similarly, the story of Joseph is one in which God s providence is at work, guiding faithful Joseph to eventually become the prime minister of Egypt and using his position to save the fledgling nation of Israel. Many factors were on hand to impede God s progress of preserving Israel through Joseph. Who knows what kind of ending history would have written to this story had God not been with them. 42

43 teachers comments Consider This: How can one ensure a happy ending to his or her story? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful. This is what we see in the generation of Noah. Lead your class members to examine themselves in light of the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah and his generation, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. Thought/Application Questions: What does the turning of events in Joseph s story tell us when things don t seem to go well for us or when they seem to take too long? In what ways does your own life story mirror those of Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his brothers? How does the story of Joseph and his brothers demonstrate the great controversy? God s providence? Activity: For individual members: write a note to someone whom you have felt jealousy toward, telling this person how much you appreciate that God has blessed his or her life. Mention the specific blessings. For the group: as a class, plan a visit to those who have lost faith in God or church. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: This week s study has focused on how human beings are sinful to the core and how God s promise of a Redeemer provides hope. As a teacher, assist the students in reliving the experiences of the patriarchs, determining to follow God s will in all things. Activity: Read a poem on jealousy, sibling rivalry, compassion, forgiveness, or reconciliation. Review and summarize Genesis 6:5. If all these qualities were to be found in the same individual, then what would that tell you about the human condition and our only hope for transcending it? 43

44 Lesson 4 *January Conflict and Crisis: The Judges (page 30 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Judges 4, Judges 6, Judges 14, Heb. 11:32, 1 Sam. 2:12 25, 8:1 7. Memory Text: And Hannah prayed and said: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation (1 Samuel 2:1, NKJV). The time of the judges was a chaotic period in sacred history. God s people did evil in the sight of the Lord, the Lord sold them into the hands of an oppressor, the people cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer who brought peace to the land. That is, until the same sad cycle started again. Deborah, one of Israel s judges, was remarkable for the confidence that she inspired in the men around her. She and Jael are heroines, while the men needed encouraging because of their timidity and lack of faith. A recurring subtheme in the great controversy is also seen in the story of Gideon, when God s people face impossible odds. Samson was one of the last of the judges. After him, the nation descended into anarchy and hopelessness. He was the reluctant hero, one who was more interested in chasing women than in following God, a parallel to his countrymen who were more interested in worshiping idols than in serving the Lord. Samuel brings hope to the nation. Under him, a new leadership structure with kings was established, and one of his last acts was to anoint the future King David. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January

45 Deborah Sunday January 17 (page 31 of Standard Edition) The story of Deborah adds interesting details to the great controversy theme. Here we see the people of God suffering oppression and facing impossible odds. This parallels what we observed in Revelation 12, with the incredibly unfair contest between a seven-headed dragon and a newborn baby (see Tuesday s study in Lesson 1). The main characters in this story include Jabin, king of Canaan; Sisera, his army chief; and Deborah, a prophetess and a judge (one who settled civil disputes between opposing parties) who had a very unusual degree of authority and influence for a woman of that time. Read Judges 4. In what ways do we see the great controversy theme expressed here? In the end, who alone brought victory to Israel, despite their unworthiness? The heroine of the story is Heber s wife, Jael, who is not afraid to identify with God s people and who played a crucial role in the defeat of God s enemies. Judging her actions from our perspective today isn t easy. The last thing we should do, though, is use her deeds to justify deception and violence in order to achieve our ends, no matter how right those ends might be. In the discussions leading up to the conflict, Deborah assures Barak that the battle will be God s (an echo of the great controversy, for sure). Two verbs are used to describe how God would do this (Judg. 4:7). He will draw Sisera (the word suggests catching fish in a net) to the river Kishon, where He will deliver him into Barak s hand. Deborah s song of thanksgiving (Judges 5) reveals some of the details. Sisera s chariots become bogged down in the narrow passes near the river Kishon because of heavy rain. The heavens and the clouds pour and the mountains gush water (Judg. 5:4, 5, NKJV), producing a flash flood that sweeps away many enemy soldiers (Judg. 5:21), and Israel is delivered. Think of the confidence these men of war had in Deborah. While on one level that was good (obviously), why must we always be careful in how much confidence we put in anyone? 45

46 Gideon Monday January 18 (page 32 of Standard Edition) Read Judges 6:1. What is happening here? See Judges 6:10. After Deborah, the land enjoyed peace for the next 40 years, but soon Israel was back in the hands of oppressors. This time it was the Midianites, who, with their allies, would enter Israel and destroy all the newly planted crops and steal the livestock (Judg. 6:3 5). Israel became greatly impoverished and cried out to the Lord (Judg. 6:6, 7). They realized that their fashionable gods were of no use now. Read Judges 6: What did the angel of the Lord say to Gideon, and what was Gideon s reaction? Shouldn t he have known why they were facing what they were? See Judges 6:7 10. Despite Gideon s complaint, which was unwarranted (they were disobedient; that s why they were oppressed), God was ready to deliver, again, but this time through Gideon. How interesting that God would call Gideon a mighty man of valor, even though Gideon viewed himself as something else entirely: O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father s house (Judg. 6:15, NKJV). No question, a crucial component of Gideon s strength was his own sense of unimportance and weakness. Notice, too, what Gideon had asked of the Lord, in Judges 6: That is, aware of the odds against them and his own weakness, he sought for special assurance of God s presence. Thus, we have here a man who fully realized his utter dependence upon the Lord. We can read in Judges 7 about Gideon s amazing success against the oppressors of his people and God s deliverance of Israel. Why did the Lord choose to use fallen humans in the course of this deliverance? That is, could not He Himself have called more than twelve legions of angels (Matt. 26:53) to do what was needed for Israel at that time? What role do we, as fallen human beings, have in both the great controversy and the spreading of the gospel? 46

47 Samson Tuesday January 19 (page 33 of Standard Edition) The battle lines between good and evil are blurred in the story of Samson. His life starts in impressive fashion with an announcement from the angel of the Lord that he is to be a Nazarite from birth. The angel instructs Samson s parents on how to prepare for their special baby. The mother is told not to drink alcohol or to eat forbidden food (Judg. 13:4, 13, 14; see also Leviticus 11). God, indeed, had special plans for Samson; unfortunately, things didn t work out as well as they could have. Just as he was entering upon manhood, the time when he must execute his divine mission the time above all others when he should have been true to God Samson connected himself with the enemies of Israel. He did not ask whether he could better glorify God when united with the object of his choice, or whether he was placing himself in a position where he could not fulfill the purpose to be accomplished by his life. To all who seek first to honor Him, God has promised wisdom; but there is no promise to those who are bent upon self-pleasing. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p Read Judges 14:1 4. How is it possible that God used Samson s weakness for women as an occasion to move against the Philistines? Judg. 14:4, NKJV. Samson moved against the Philistines in a number of ways, each in angry response to personal slights. First he killed 30 men and took their clothes back to his wedding feast to pay a debt (Judg. 14:19). Then he destroyed their crops when his wife was given to his best man (Judg. 14:20, 15:1 5). Then Samson killed many in revenge for the Philistines killing his wife and her father (Judg. 15:6 8). When the Philistines tried to avenge that action (Judg. 15:9, 10), he killed one thousand with a donkey s jawbone (Judg. 15:14, 15). Finally he pulled down their temple and killed three thousand for blinding him (Judg. 16:21, 28, 30). Talk about a flawed hero. There seems to be very little from Samson that we should seek to emulate, even though he is listed in Hebrews 11:32 with some pretty exalted figures. Obviously, there s more to this story than meets the eye. Think about what God could have done with Samson. What about ourselves? How much more could we do if were we living up to our potential? 47

48 Wednesday Ruth January 20 (page 34 of Standard Edition) Rather than talking about vast enemy armies that threaten God s people, the story of Ruth speaks about something smaller: a family almost dying out but, instead, being revived. While it includes two larger themes God s creation being destroyed and His people being under threat Ruth also tells of the great controversy on a personal level, where it is, in reality, always being waged. It is no surprise that the land of Judah suffered a famine during the time of the judges (Ruth 1:1, Deut. 28:48, 32:24; see also Judg. 17:6, 21:25). This was a sign that the people of the covenant had forsaken God. Sin and rebellion had reduced the land flowing with milk and honey to a barren dust bowl, but in the book of Ruth, God visited the land and put life back into it, giving them bread again (Ruth 1:6). When Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and their two young sons first went to Moab, they did so because they wanted a future. The land of the enemy gave temporary relief, but with her husband and two sons dead, Naomi finally decided to go back home. Read Ruth 1:8, 16, 17. What is the significance of Ruth wanting to go with Naomi? 48 Ruth was from an enemy nation that had on many occasions tried to destroy Israel, but she chose to identify with God s people and worship their God. In addition, she found favor in the eyes of her adopted homeland, not just by Boaz (Ruth 2:10) but also by the people who knew of her (Ruth 2:11). Boaz was confident that she also found favor in God s eyes (Ruth 2:12), and taking his admiration for her a step further, he agreed to marry her (Ruth 3:10, 11). However, there was a closer relative than Boaz who had first claim to the land of the dead man if he married Ruth. The nearer relative was not interested in another wife, however, because it complicated his financial plans (Ruth 4:6). At this point the assembly of witnesses blessed Ruth, likening her to the great women of Israel s history (Ruth 4:11, 12), which was fulfilled when she became a forebearer of the Messiah (Ruth 4:13, 17; Matt. 1:5, 6). Talk about a living-happily-ever-after story. Unfortunately, there aren t too many of those in the Bible. Of course, there are not too many outside of the Bible either. Here, too, though, we can see how, despite the ebb and flow of life, God s will shall prevail in the end; and that s good news for all who love and trust Him.

49 Thursday January 21 Samuel (page 35 of Standard Edition) What does the beginning of the book of Samuel have to do with the great controversy? There is no obvious threat to the created order, and there are no vast armies at the border. The attack of evil is more subtle but no less real. Read 1 Samuel 2: How do we see the reality of good versus evil revealed in these sad verses? But although he [Eli] had been appointed to govern the people, he did not rule his own household. Eli was an indulgent father. Loving peace and ease, he did not exercise his authority to correct the evil habits and passions of his children. Rather than contend with them or punish them, he would submit to their will and give them their own way. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p In contrast to them, we see a small boy dressed as a priest (1 Sam. 2:18, 19), who, like Jesus, grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men (1 Sam. 2:26, NKJV; Luke 2:52). This Samuel, of course, went on to become a powerful and faithful leader in Israel. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord (1 Sam. 3:20, ESV). This does not mean, however, that everything went well. The nation faced war with the Philistines, and the two sons of Eli were killed; the Philistines captured the ark of God, and 98-year-old Eli died when he heard the news (1 Sam. 4:14 18). Unfortunately, Samuel was to face the same problem that Eli did: sons who didn t follow in his footsteps of faithfulness and fidelity (1 Sam. 8:1 7). Samuel marked a transition point in the history of God s people. He was the last of the judges and a key figure in the developing great controversy. His stable influence guided the people at a critical time. It s a pity his sons did not follow in his steps, but God is not dependent on human dynasties. As a result of their apostasy, the elders demanded a king not the best move, as centuries of later history would reveal. No matter our home life, good or bad, we are responsible for whom we serve in the great controversy. Whatever mistakes you may have made, why must you always remember that today, now, is never too late to make it right with the Lord? Tomorrow might be too late, but not today. 49

50 Friday January 22 (page 36 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: The Bible is known for not glossing over human sin, human evil. If it did, how could it accurately portray the state of humanity? An especially sharp depiction of human evil is found in 1 Samuel 2:12 25, when the sons of Eli are presented in contrast to the young Samuel. First Samuel 2:12 reads, The sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord. Notice, first, the contrast: lineage played an important role in biblical life, and in this one line the sons of Eli are now, instead, the sons of Belial. Belial is a rich word, used in a number of forms and contexts, almost always negative. In fact, it is related to the Hebrew bl and bli, which mean no or not or without. Belial itself means worthless, useless, and in other places is used in the same way as it was in regard to Eli s sons; that is, other men were called sons of Belial (2 Chron. 13:7, 1 Kings 21:13). In Proverbs 6:12, it is equated with the wicked. (In other ancient Near Eastern literature, Belial is seen as another name for Satan himself.) In almost every use in the Bible, it appears as a negative. As human beings, created in the image of God, they were created for a purpose and to have meaning; and yet, according to the Bible, these men were all but worthless, sons of worthlessness. What a tragic waste of life. We are either for the Lord, doing something of meaning and purpose for Him, or we are, in the end, worthless. That makes sense, too, considering that our whole existence and purpose for life comes only from Him. Discussion Questions: The Bible makes it clear: there is no middle ground in the great controversy: we are either on one side or the other, Christ s or Satan s. Yet, life as we know it doesn t always unfold with such clear and stark contrasts, does it? Sometimes we aren t sure just what is the right decision or what is the wrong one; even with moral situations, as well. It s not always easy to determine what to do. What are some ways we can seek guidance to help us to make right choices when, at times, it s not so easy to know just what the right choice is? In what ways have people whom you have looked up to somehow disappointed you? At the same time, in what ways have you perhaps disappointed those who once looked up to you? What have you learned from these incidents about faith, trust, grace, and human frailty? 50

51 inside Story A Dream Comes True: Part 3 The story thus far: Samantha is a nurse in the Amazon jungle. She often faces emergencies where she must depend fully upon God. One evening, a man came to the clinic whose hand had been caught in a grinder; also came a boy who had been bitten by a pit viper. The only way to save their lives was by taking the fast boat to the nearest hospital, two hours away. At last the little group arrived at Manacapuru, the closest town. The boy was admitted to the local hospital, but the man was taken to the large city of Manaus, a journey of nearly two more hours, where he could receive specialized treatment. Samantha didn t see the man again but after a week was able to visit the boy in the hospital. He was doing so well! And I understood that our emergency attendance to him was crucial for his life. If we hadn t been there to help, he would have died. When I see the boy now, I think, Jesus is awesome! He put His hand on the situation and saved two lives. I don t know how to express how wonderful it is it was a real present from Jesus. The boy is fine now, he loves to play soccer, and we were able to help him. Life in the village isn t easy with very limited water and electricity (three hours a day), no phones or Internet, and very little contact with the outside world. Samantha often goes weeks without being able to connect with her family. But she doesn t mind the inconveniences. Just in the time I ve been here, I feel my life has changed my mind and everything. I realize now what s really important in life. I understand much more about Jesus, and I believe that He brought me here. I can help the people, I can offer them salvation. Jesus uses me to help others, and then He blesses me even more than I can give! Samantha is currently serving in the Amazon region for one year. Afterward, she plans to return home, unless God indicates otherwise. I don t know His plans yet, she says. I just want to hear the voice of Jesus you need to stay, you need to go. But I know that my life is changed and when I go back I m a different person. I have heard Jesus, and I just want to use my talents and nursing to bring salvation to others. For others considering mission service, Samantha shares some advice: When I first thought about mission service, I thought, maybe just one week or month, but here I ve learned that mission service changes your entire life and that Jesus has a plan for your life! I used to think that getting a well-paying job, a car, an apartment, all that was so important, but now I can see that it s really very little compared to what Jesus has for you. Listen to Jesus, and maybe He will change your entire life, too. Gina Wahlen, editor of the Mission quarterlies. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 51

52 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: 1 Samuel 2:1 The Student Will: Know: Understand how individuals were used by God to deliver His people from oppressive forces. Feel: Appreciate God s deliverance from seemingly insurmountable circumstances in daily life. Do: Rejoice in God s salvation by sharing his or her faith with others. Learning Outline: I. Know: God Delivers His People. A Under what circumstances can we best identify with Hannah s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1 10? B What do we learn from the story of Samson (Judges 14), who, in spite of his flaws, is still considered a hero in God s redemptive plan? C Samuel s children did not follow faithfully after their father. What does this teach us about personal choice? II. Feel: How Great It Is to Be on the Winning Side A Name some of the solutions that we often resort to in order to find deliverance from addiction, oppression of all kinds, and other debilitating personal circumstances. B In what ways are our responses, after experiencing personal victories, similar to Hannah s prayer? III. Do: People Should Be Able to Tell That We Are Part of the Winning Team. A In what ways may our rejoicing in God s salvation be manifested to people around us? B How may our consciousness of victory on God s side affect our sharing of faith? Summary: The book of Judges teaches us that God responds to human cries for help. To achieve this deliverance God uses feeble humans both men and women, who themselves are in need of salvation. Thus, the battle is literally the Lord s. 52

53 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: In many ways the story of Israel during the period of the judges mirrors our own individual experiences in which we disobey God with disastrous consequences (seen or unseen). But somehow God delivers us from our self-inflicted wounds. Just for Teachers: The lesson for this week includes stories that have elements of violence: people are killed. Students may wonder how such violence could have been sanctioned by God. This is where the theme of the great controversy comes in. Instances of violence and bloodshed should be understood within the larger context of the conflict raging between good and evil. Additionally, help each member of your class to see himself or herself as a player on either God s side or Satan s side in every aspect of life. Opening Activity: Have a member of the class read the first portion of Hannah s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1 10, and then ask how each member relates to the poem. What memories does the poem conjure up in their minds? What are some modern equivalencies? Consider This: What if God had said something like this: Since Israel has brought this suffering (oppression from foreigners) upon themselves, let them have it! In what ways do we do the same to people whom we perceive to be responsible for their predicaments? STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: The story of Israel during the time of the judges is remarkable for its clear cycle of (1) apostasy, (2) oppression, (3) cry for help, and (4) divine intervention. Judges were individuals chosen by God as instruments to deliver Israel from its predicament at the hands of foreign powers. Deliverance took the form of actual military conflict. The great controversy was manifested in literal military terms. It is this theme of the great controversy that provides a lens through which to view the brutal, violent encounters that make modern sensibilities uneasy in the act of imagining how a loving God could sanction the killing of individuals or of populations. 53

54 teachers comments Bible Commentary I. The Canaanites Oppress Israel: Judge Deborah (Review Judges 4 with your class.) Following the death of Ehud, Israel begins another cycle of apostasy. That is, national apostasy is followed by oppression at the hands of foreign powers. This is followed by a cry for deliverance. Finally, God raised a deliverer in the person of one of the judges. In this story, Jabin, king of Canaan at Hazor, terrorizes Israel for 20 years, armed as his troops were with iron weaponry and 900 chariots. This is the equivalent of the latest military technology, as the ancient world transitioned from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age. Ehud had been replaced at some point by Deborah, a prophetess and wife of Lapidoth. Deborah commissions Barak to go stage a fight against Sisera, the commander of Jabin s army, but Barak imposes a condition. He would go only if Deborah came with him to Mount Tabor. The duel ensues at Tabor with Sisera s army defeated. Sisera flees on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, counting on the good relations between the Kenites and Canaanites. What Sisera does not know is that Jael has shifted her allegiance to God s side. Evidence that Israel s God is the true God is there for all to see, she must have concluded. In Jael s tent, Sisera is covered with a blanket and given milk to drink. Jael drives a tent peg through his temple, using a hammer. Barak arrives at Jael s tent to find Sisera s body sprawled on the ground, in a pool of blood, the peg still embedded in his skull. Thus, Jabin is subdued. The very existence of God s covenant people had been threatened, and God permitted Israel to visit punishment on the wickedness of the Canaanites. Consider This: Why is it incorrect to refer to the killings that we see in the Old Testament as genocide, considering that genocide is, first and foremost, a crime? II. Midianites Terrorize Israel: Gideon the Deliverer (Review Judges 6 with your class.) According to Judges 5:31, Israel enjoys peace and quiet for 40 years, thanks to Jael. Judges 6, though, sees another slump into apostasy. This time God permits the Midianites to oppress Israel, an oppression that continues for seven years (Judg. 6:1). Israelites would flee to dens, caves, and mountain strongholds (Judg. 6:2), but Midianites would come with their cattle and destroy Israelite crops. 54

55 teachers comments One day God steps in to deliver His people. Of course, God has always been there. Thus, the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon (Judg. 6:11). Gideon is threshing wheat, hiding it from the Midianites. The Angel commissions Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites (Judg. 6:14). Gideon protests that his clan is the smallest in Manasseh, and that he is the weakest in his father s house (bêt āb). But God declares to Gideon, I will be with you (Judg. 6:16, NKJV). Herein lies the reason that we, too, are able to carry on: because God is with us. Consider This: How is it that God refers to Gideon as a mighty man of valor when Gideon s own assessment of himself is far different (Judg. 6:15)? III. Samson a Hero? (Review Judges 14 with your class.) If not for the circumstances surrounding his birth and a clear divine mission for his life (Judg. 13:4, 13, 14; Leviticus 11), it often may not be clear what side of the great controversy Samson is fighting for. And to call him a hero is the last thing we might expect; yet, Hebrews does just that by inducting him into its faith Hall of Fame (Heb. 11:32). Children in adulthood sometimes may not follow their parents instruction as Samson failed to follow the instruction given to him by his parents. However, when that parent is God, then failure to follow instruction comes with great peril, as Samson s life all too clearly shows. Discussion Question: How does Judges 14:1 4 speak to the fact that God can use us even at our weakest moments? IV. Arrival of Kingship (Review 1 Samuel 2:1, 12 25; 8:1 7 with your class.) Samuel must have been heartbroken when his children did not follow after his footsteps. He made them judges, but what a disaster. Joel and Abijah did not come close to approaching their father s fidelity. They were corrupt, interested in unjust gain; they took bribes and perverted justice (1 Sam. 8:3). This corruption infuriated the elders of Israel and led them to demand a human king in order to be like other nations (1 Sam. 8:5). But it is not as though they did not already have a King: God had been King all along (1 Sam. 8:7). Sadly, Israel s request for a human king was a rejection of God as their national sovereign. Consider This: What did it mean for God to be the actual head of state or king of ancient Israel? How does He reign as King over us today? What authority does He have as sovereign over our lives? In what ways does His kingship both entitle and obligate us? And to what privileges and responsibilities? 55

56 teachers comments STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: As believers, our personal experiences often mirror that of the nation of Israel during the time of the judges, complete with cycles of spiritual decline, self-inflicted misfortunes, cries to God for deliverance, and God s loving and forgiving intervention. Thankfully, this is not everyone s experience. Indeed as Peter says, God s divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3, NRSV). Thought/Application Questions: Discuss whether the cycle from apostasy to oppression and, finally, to divine intervention is inevitable in the life of the Christian. How does this cycle apply to individual churches or groups of churches today? How can we discern that God is seeking to use us as His agents to bring deliverance to the church or community? The great controversy divides humanity into two camps though individuals in one camp may do things that advance the interests of the opposing camp, either unwittingly or in some instances by divine providence. How can you discern which side of the controversy you are on? Does the side you belong to depend on an act here and an act there? Why, or why not? STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: Unlike most manifestations of the great controversy, which are spiritual in nature, we see actual military battles in the book of Judges. In this context, such hymns as Onward Christian Soldiers (The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 612) take on a new meaning. Help your students to understand what it means to be a soldier for Christ, enlisted in His army to advance His kingdom and combat the forces of oppression and darkness. 56 Activity: Plan a revival meeting for a church community. How should this week s study assist the programming for such a revival?

57 Lesson 5 *January The Controversy Continues (page 38 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: 1 Sam. 17:43 51, 2 Sam. 11:1 17, 1 Kings 18:21 39, 2 Kings 19:21 34, Esther 3:8 11, Nehemiah 1. Memory Text: And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, Let us rise up and build. Then they set their hands to this good work (Nehemiah 2:18, NKJV). When we compare the lives of David, Elijah, Hezekiah, Esther, and Nehemiah, similar themes surface: God is able to use insignificant people to turn back the tide of evil. Through some of these accounts we can see that, despite tremendous obstacles, we don t need to buckle under overwhelming evil. Instead, we can stand firm, but only in the power of God, who is faithful to His covenant promises, promises fulfilled for us in Jesus. When God s people endure in His might, they will see that the forces of evil are not powerful enough to ultimately prevail. The focus, and the challenge, is for us to rejoice in His deliverance. This does not always make sense in the context of the overwhelming challenges that we sometimes find ourselves in, challenges that are so much bigger than ourselves. Rejoicing in God s deliverance before deliverance comes is an act of faith and worship, rather than the logical consequence of what is happening around us. On the other hand, because of what Christ has done for us, trusting in God s faithfulness is, really, the only logical thing we can do. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January

58 Sunday January 24 David, Goliath, and Bathsheba (page 39 of Standard Edition) Life is complicated, and that s because, as humans, we are complicated. Imagine creatures made in the image of God, the Creator of the universe, who then corrupt themselves. No wonder that our potential both for good and for evil can reach remarkable levels. And it isn t just that some people attain great levels of goodness while others, unfortunately, drop to the extremes of depravity. Instead, both extremes can be manifested in the same person! The great news is that some who, at one time, were at the lowest have, by God s grace, done great things for Him and for humanity. Of course, the opposite can happen, as well: those at the heights can fall to the depths. Satan is real, the great controversy is real, and unless connected to the Lord, even the best of us can fall prey to our foe (1 Pet. 5:8). Read 1 Samuel 17: What words came out of David s mouth that are so crucial to understanding his victory? In contrast, read 2 Samuel 11:1 17. What stark contrast do we see here in the same man? What made the difference? The same David who defeated the giant Goliath is the David who was defeated by his own lust and arrogance. How many women did the man already have? And he sees one more, a married woman, and suddenly where is all the talk about the battle is the Lord s (1 Sam. 17:47) or that there is a God in Israel (1 Sam. 17:46)? If there were a time when David needed not only to know that the battle is the Lord s but also to fight that battle in God s armor, it wasn t in the war zone in the Valley of Elah but in the recess of his own heart, where in each of us the great controversy rages. Upon coming to his senses after this terrible fall with Bathsheba, David had a lifetime of grief and guilt. His sorrow led him to write Psalm 51, in which he pleads for a clean heart (1 Sam. 17:10) and the restoration of his fellowship with God (1 Sam. 17:11, 12). In the great cosmic struggle, mighty men are just as vulnerable as the person of the lowest rank; yet, God is willing to work with all who truly repent. Think about yourself, right now the triumphs, the disappointments, the victories, the failures. How can you apply lessons from either of these stories for whatever situation you face, right now? 58

59 Monday January 25 To Turn Their Hearts (page 40 of Standard Edition) Elijah the Tishbite has to be one of the most colorful characters in Scripture. We first meet him standing before a startled king and telling him there will be no rain for the next three years (1 Kings 17:1). It was not easy either to approach a king or to escape from him, but this hairy man with his leather belt (2 Kings 1:8) just slips through the guards, delivers God s message, then runs to the mountains, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) away. These were sorry times for the northern kingdom of Israel. Most had forsaken the Lord God (1 Kings 19:10) and were worshiping fertility gods instead. To say that it would not rain was a direct challenge to Baal, who was thought to bring rain to ensure fertile crops and herds that made farmers wealthy. The prevailing religious rites focused on fertility and income. For the next three years the fertility gods are impotent. Then Elijah confronts the king again and asks for a showdown between himself and all the prophets of Baal and the goddess Asherah (goddess of fertility) one man against 850 (1 Kings 18:17 20). When the day arrives and the crowds gather at the top of Mount Carmel, Elijah addresses the people: How long will you falter [limp] between two opinions? (1 Kings 18:21, NKJV). Bulls are chosen and prepared for sacrifice, and the people wait to see which god is powerful enough to answer by fire from heaven. The bull was the most powerful object of the ancient fertility religions. Surely the gods of fertility would show their strength. Read 1 Kings 18: Despite the obvious reality of the great controversy here, what did Elijah really want to see happen in Israel, and why is that so relevant to us today? First Kings 18:37 says it all. The miracle, impressive enough as it was, wasn t the real issue: the issue was Israel s faithfulness to the covenant. Notice, too, who had turned their hearts. It was the Lord Himself, even before the miracle itself unfolded. But God doesn t force hearts to return to Him. He sends His Holy Spirit, and the people, responding to that Spirit, have to first make the choice to turn back to Him; only then, in His strength, can they act upon that choice. It s no different today. It s the power of God alone that sustains the beat of every heart, but He doesn t force even one of those beating hearts to follow Him. 59

60 Tuesday Words of Defiance January 26 (page 41 of Standard Edition) Hezekiah was king of Judah when the new superpower, Assyria, conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and scattered its inhabitants across Mesopotamia (2 Kings 18:9 12). That which He could no longer do through them in the land of their fathers He would seek to accomplish by scattering them among the heathen. His plan for the salvation of all who should choose to avail themselves of pardon through the Saviour of the human race must yet be fulfilled; and in the afflictions brought upon Israel, He was preparing the way for His glory to be revealed to the nations of earth. Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p A few years later, the Assyrian king Sennacherib turned his attention to Judah and captured all its fortified cities and exacted heavy tribute (2 Kings 18:13 15). Although Hezekiah emptied the temple and palace treasuries, the Assyrian king was not satisfied and sent officials to negotiate the surrender of Jerusalem. The Assyrians then taunted the people, warning that since the gods of the nations around them didn t save them from Assyria, what made the Jews think that their God would do any better? (See 2 Kings 18:28 30, ) Hezekiah then did the only thing possible for him he prayed (2 Kings 19:15 19). God had already used Isaiah to encourage Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:6), and now God sends the prophet to him again. Read 2 Kings 19:21 34, especially verses 21, 22. What is God s message to His people amid this terrible crisis? The outcome of all this was seen when the huge Assyrian army camped around the walls of Jerusalem. The frightened inhabitants of the besieged city arose one morning, not to see the final actions of a conquering army about to rip open the defenses of a besieged city but to see soldiers lying scattered on the ground in a deathly stillness as far as the eye could see (2 Kings 19:35). The disgraced Assyrian king went home, only to meet his end at the hands of two of his own sons (2 Kings 19:6, 37). How can we learn, even amid the most discouraging and seemingly impossible situations, to trust in the Lord? Why must we always keep the big picture in mind, especially when things don t always end, at least now, in such a positive manner? 60

61 Wednesday Death Decree January 27 (page 42 of Standard Edition) It s so hard for us today (as no doubt it has been for people from various cultures throughout the centuries) to understand the customs and tradition of the ancient Persian Empire, where the story of Esther unfolds. One thing is certain, though: the Lord had used that empire in the process of fulfilling the covenant promises to the nation of Israel, promises that went back to Abraham (see Gen. 12:1 3, Isa. 45:1, 2 Chron. 36:23). The young Jewish girl Esther found herself as queen. Though her ascent was through a route rather different from, for example, Joseph s in Egypt or Daniel s in Babylon, she was (as Joseph and Daniel were) just where the Lord wanted her to be, and she was used by God in a powerful way, one that illustrates how the great controversy theme can play out in history. Read Esther 3:8 11. Keeping in mind what God s plans were for the Jewish people, especially in regard to the coming of the Messiah, what consequences would the success of this decree have? Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the true God. Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 600, 601. And from these same people, too, would come the Savior of the world. How fascinating it is that the issue started over worship (see Esther 3:5, 8) and the refusal of a distinct group of people to follow the laws and customs of the ones in power. Though, of course, the context will be different at the end of time, the reality behind it the great controversy between Christ and Satan is still the same, and those who seek to be faithful to God will face something as the Jews here did. We have been warned that, in the closing scenes of earth s history, the decree will go out, declaring that as many as [will] not worship the image of the beast [are to] be killed (Rev. 13:15). The one thing we learn from history is that we don t learn from history. Why is it that we so often tend to be distrustful of those who are different from us? Why should the powerful truths of Creation and Redemption, truths that reveal the worth of every human being, show us just how wrong this attitude is? How can we purge our hearts of this terribly faulty tendency? 61

62 Thursday January 28 Nehemiah (page 43 of Standard Edition) The story of Nehemiah also comes at a time when the nation of Israel no longer existed as a political entity but as a remnant scattered across foreign lands. God, though, as always, would be faithful to His covenant promises, even when the people failed to live up to their end of the covenant. Read Nehemiah 1. What is the background of his prayer? In what ways is it reminiscent of Daniel s prayer in Daniel 9:4 19? In both cases, what is the issue, and how does this play out in the whole great controversy drama? Through the grace of the king, Nehemiah is given permission to return and rebuild in Jerusalem. On his return, Nehemiah spends the first few days looking around. He tries to survey the city by night, but the piles of rubble are so extensive that he does not get far (Neh. 2:14); so, he goes outside the walls to survey them from there (Neh. 2:15). Read Nehemiah 2: How do you think Nehemiah convinced the leaders to start working on something they had thought impossible? What could Nehemiah teach our church today? Although Nehemiah did not at first tell the leaders why he had come, there were some people who were not happy and did all they could to prevent any work from being done to improve Jerusalem (Neh. 2:10, 19, 20). When work started on repairing the walls (Nehemiah 3), these foreign officials were furious and very indignant (Neh. 4:1), and they mocked the efforts (Neh. 4:2, 3, NKJV). When they saw that God s people were serious about their work (Neh. 4:6), they became angry and planned an attack (Neh. 4:7, 8). It would have been so easy to back down; yet, despite all sorts of machinations against their work, they persisted. Trusting in God, Nehemiah saw to the rebuilding of the wall and left the threats of his enemies in the hand of God (Neh. 6:14, 15). We all face obstacles. How do we know when to back down and when to keep going? 62

63 Friday January 29 (page 44 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: No question, the Word of God, as we have studied this week, time and again shows God s faithfulness to His people. Of course, in many cases, at the time things were happening, that faithfulness wasn t always obvious or apparent. In the accounts we looked at, we were able to see the beginning to the end; some of the characters involved, such as Uriah the Hittite, didn t. Today, we are ourselves immersed in the great controversy just as surely as were the people we have studied. And not only them, but there were many others just as real as the ones who made it into the text but who didn t always live to see things work out so well. That s why it s so important for us, as Christians, to remember, especially when times are rough (as they so often can be), Paul s wonderful words: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:16 18, NKJV). Here Paul is seeking to point us to something beyond the daily toils, foibles, and weaknesses of humanity and toward the only hope that makes life here anything more than a cruel farce. Discussion Questions: What are some of the other Bible promises that point to our ultimate hope? Gather as many as you can and, either alone or in class, read them aloud and dwell on what they say. What kind of picture do they present to us? What made David s fall so tragic was that he had been so singularly blessed of God. And yet, despite all that he had been given he still sinned the way he did. Instead of focusing just on the negative, think about the one positive aspect of his whole sordid story: God s grace, even for someone who had fallen from such heights. What does that tell us about just how full and complete the redemption that we have in Jesus really is? How can we have assurance that no matter what we have done, or how far our fall, if we, like David, repent, that forgiveness is ours? 63

64 inside Story Finding True Gold: Part 1 Amair was born in Manaus the capital city of Brazil s Amazon region. Shortly after he was born, his parents divorced and his mother took him to Manacapuru, a town on the banks of the Amazon. Because the family business was in agriculture, Amair s mother eventually moved upriver to a small village where she bought much land. Meanwhile, Amair continued growing and was eventually drafted for military service. After serving his 15-month tour, Amair was ready for another kind of adventure looking for gold! During the 1980s gold fever hit Brazil, and diggers flocked to where gold had been found. Amair s brother lived in one of these golden areas, so he invited Amair to come stay with him. Unbeknownst to Amair, his brother had become a Seventh-day Adventist. As they worked together, the brother began to share his faith with Amair. Just one week after he arrived, however, the government closed all the places for gold hunters, and Amair lost his job. Although very disappointed, Amair stayed with his brother for a time and continued to learn. My brother told me about Jesus, and this gave me happiness. I lost the gold I had been looking for, but I found the truest gold! Amair s brother gave him a series of Bible studies, and before long Amair was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But then his conscience began to bother him. What about the rest of his family? Who would share this heavenly treasure with them? He first went to his sister who was living in Manaus. To his surprise and delight, she, too, had become an Adventist. He stayed there for a year, during which time his sister further strengthened his faith. It was also around this time that Amair met a young woman named Francinette, who wasn t an Adventist. Not knowing where it might lead, Amair became friends with Francinette, determined that I will get her for God and for me! The two remained friends for a long time, and Amair was able to study the Bible with Francinette. At first she hugged the truth, and then she started to hug me also! Amair explains with a smile. Eventually, Francinette was baptized, and later on the two were married. The couple moved to a village along the upper stretches of the Amazon, then later, at the invitation of Amair s mother, moved to the little village where she lived. The village needed a school teacher, and during that time the government of the Amazon region stated that anyone who completed four years of primary education could qualify to be a teacher in the community. Amair was chosen to be the village s community teacher. Amair was a natural teacher, but he wanted to share more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic with the community. He wanted to share God s gold that he had found! To be continued in next week s Inside Story. 64 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

65 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Nehemiah 2:18 The Student Will: Know: Understand that God actively fights on behalf of His faithful ones. Feel: Have the confidence that, in time, God will deliver him or her from every obstacle of the evil one. Do: Pray and fulfill his or her present duty, trusting in God s gracious guidance. Learning Outline: I. Know: God Is Directly Involved When His People Face Insurmountable Obstacles. A How is the great controversy theme demonstrated in the experiences of David and Goliath? Elijah and the prophets of Baal? Hezekiah and Sennacherib? Esther and Haman? B What lessons can we learn from Nehemiah s resolve to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the face of opposition (Neh. 2:8, 18)? II. Feel: Reassured of God s Sovereignty Over the Forces of Evil A How would you have felt if you were Elijah on Mount Carmel? Or Hezekiah facing marauding Assyrians? Or Esther and Mordecai facing the wrath of Haman? B How is David s repentance, as reflected in his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, reassuring amid our own failures? III. Do: When Faced With Obstacles, God s People Do Not Back Down From Duty. A What lessons on prayer can we learn from the prayers of Elijah, Hezekiah, and Nehemiah? B How did Nehemiah motivate the people so as to elicit the response: Let us start building the walls of Jerusalem? (Neh. 2:18, NRSV). What are some of the duties and responsibilities that we often abandon due to obstacles? Summary: At one time or another, we all meet opposition while in God s service, but it is our privilege to overcome in His strength. 65

66 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate 66 Spotlight on Scripture: Nehemiah 2:18 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: When facing opposition and obstacles, God s people should rely on His promises that He will fight for them. No matter their failings, repenting sinners can find forgiveness. Just for Teachers: Invite members of the class to reflect on experiences in which they faced daunting opposition or obstacles in their spiritual journeys. Ask them to relate their experiences to the biblical stories for this week. Opening Activity: Encourage three or four members in the class to share their personal testimonies on what they consider to be their most difficult moments in their walk of faith. Next, ask class members to share which of the following stories they identify with most, and why: David and Goliath, Elijah and Baal s prophets (ask them to think of what the modernday equivalent to Baal s prophets might be), Hezekiah and Sennacherib, or Esther and Haman. Consider This: Many of the heroes in the above-mentioned stories displayed behavior later in their lives that contradicted the faithfulness that we see here in their earlier narratives. For example, David went on to commit adultery with Bathsheba and tried to cover it up by instigating the death of her husband, Uriah. After the exhilarating showdown at Mount Carmel that demonstrated there was indeed a God in Israel, Elijah subsequently ran from Jezebel (1 Kings 19). Hezekiah, in a vain display, showed off his wealth instead of God s goodness to visiting emissaries from Babylon (2 Kings 20:12 18). Clearly, any victories we may have had on our faith journey are all because of our God, who takes on our battles as His own. How do these stories help us to know to whom to give glory to for any victories we might gain over temptation or successes while conducting evangelistic meetings or in achieving our dreams in life? STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: The narratives for this week s study are ones of success and failure. But more so, they are narratives of God s faithfulness. Even though these stories are familiar to many students, there is power in having Scripture actually read aloud (even a familiar

67 teachers comments passage). Ask students to describe how the great controversy theme is depicted in each passage. Bible Commentary I. The Battle Is the Lord s: Deliverance in Moments of Crisis (Review 1 Samuel 17:43 51, 1 Kings 18:21 39, 2 Kings 19:21 34, and Esther 3:8 11 with your class.) David bravely faced the Philistine giant Goliath and overcame in God s strength. At issue was God s name, His sovereignty, and His election of Israel as His very own covenant people. Similarly, at the contest at Mount Carmel, Elijah found himself contending with Baal s prophets. At issue here was God s lordship. Who was the Lord? When the Assyrians surrounded Jerusalem (after just pillaging many of the surrounding cities), the issue was whose God was sovereign: the Assyrian god (as they claimed) or the Holy One of Israel (as Isaiah declared). The great controversy theme is unmistakable in each instance. When Esther had to ward off the threat from Haman, at stake was God s covenant with Israel, whether the community of Israel would be exterminated or would be miraculously preserved in order to be God s witnesses in the world. One theme that runs through these stories is that God fought on behalf of His people, taking on each battle as His own. Our own spiritual battles are no less God s than when He helped David vanquish Goliath or Elijah prevail over the prophets of Baal. Consider This: In each of these stories, identify what made the story end as it did. For example: disposition of the human instrument, prayer, and faith in God. II. When God s People Advance the Enemy s Cause (Review 2 Samuel 11:1 17 with your class.) Possibly every soccer player s worst nightmare would be if he or she were to accidentally kick a ball right into his/her own goal. Analogously, David, who was clearly on the Lord s side, appears to be fighting from the enemy s side in his affair with Bathsheba. As Christians, we may, like David, sometimes do things (by our action or inaction) that advance the interests of the enemy rather than of God. Thankfully, to whom we belong whether Christ or Satan is not a function of an act here and an act there. Belonging to Christ is based on our faith in Christ, faith working through love (Gal. 5:6, NKJV). Every sinner who repents will find 67

68 teachers comments 68 forgiveness and acceptance as a part of the family of God. Consider This: While cautioning literature evangelists against deception and emphasizing the need for integrity in business dealings, Ellen G. White wrote: One act does not determine the character, but it breaks down the barrier, and the next temptation is more readily entertained. Counsels for the Church, p. 84. How does this statement help us to understand why David, and many of us, have had chances to still take a stand on God s side, in spite of glaring weaknesses? III. Faithful Discharge of Duty in the Midst of Opposition (Review Nehemiah 1 and 4:1 8 with your class.) We may never get the full picture of the opposition that Nehemiah faced. However, we know that the people who attempted to stand in his way were influential. We also know that the accusation they leveled against Nehemiah, which could easily reach the Persian capital, was a serious charge. It had to do with treason. Nehemiah s action could be interpreted as planning an insurrection and attempting to assert Judah s independence from the Persians. Perhaps there was a sense of national pride that motivated Nehemiah. Those who have lived in foreign lands know how it feels to hear bad news from home, whether of political disasters or, as in Nehemiah s case, of misfortune, such as reports of run-down structures or of complications regarding newly erected structures. Faithful to his divine commission in the face of opposition, Nehemiah took advantage of his proximity to the king to ask for financial assistance to construct the walls of Jerusalem. Consider This: No doubt the construction work was a daunting task one not for the faint of heart. Nehemiah entered the work with determination and commitment. His dedication was a motivation for others to join in. He was not to be deterred from the task by any force. So it should be with us in the construction work of the kingdom of God within us. Nothing is to take precedence over our preparation for God s kingdom. According to Nehemiah 4:5, on what basis does Nehemiah implore God to intervene on the desolation of Jerusalem? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: It is comforting to know that, in spite of our failings, God still considers us who believe in Jesus Christ to be His people. In the grand scheme of the great controversy, believers are fighting on, and from, the winning side. We belong here, not on account of our action but on account of our faith in Jesus Christ. Granted, that faith works

69 teachers comments through love, as we have seen. Again the obstacles that we face should be understood against the backdrop of the great controversy. God will give us the strength to press on in the construction work of our spiritual lives no matter what opposition we may face. Thought/Application Questions: Understanding that it is the Holy Spirit who turns our hearts back to God whenever we wander away, what must we permit in order for the Spirit to do His work? How is worship a factor in the conflict involving Elijah and the prophets of Baal and in the other stories from this week? How do these stories inform our understanding of worship today? Activity: In what ways might it be argued that our encounters with the forces of evil are no less dramatic than David s encounter with Goliath? Discuss. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: The narratives in this week s lesson lend themselves to dramatic presentation. Ask for volunteers to prepare short skits for each of the stories studied this week. Activity: Ask some of the other class members to download paintings of David and Goliath from the Internet, for those who have the technology such as ipads, other tablets, and iphones, and project the images on a screen. Also do an Internet search on Elijah at Mount Carmel, as well as a search on Esther and Haman. What impressions do you get from these visual representations? Alternate Activity:Where this electronic equipment is not available, ask members to prepare short skits depicting characters in one of these stories. 69

70 Seek to Restore This is True Ministry* An Adventist contractor in Paraguay renovating an old building into a new center of influence, a young nurse ministering to the people of the Amazon, a pastor in Uruguay planting churches through the power of the radio all seeking to restore the image of God in human beings. Won t you join them this quarter by supporting the Thirteenth Sabbath mission projects in the South American Division? Read these stories and more in this quarter s Inside Stories or in the Mission quarterly on our website. Please plan to give liberally on March 26 or anytime at: giving.adventistmission.org. * Medical Ministry, p. 240.

71 Journey Through the Bible will help you not miss any directions God has for you. The series is a study of the history, significance, and meaning of each book of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. These three volumes, Journey Through the Bible From Genesis to Job, Journey Through the Bible From Psalms to Malachi, and Journey Through the Bible From Matthew to Revelation, will help you to grasp the central message of each book and encourage you to persevere through the portions that may seem obscure or difficult. Read it and be blessed in your journey toward the kingdom. $14.99 each Pacific Press Publishing Association Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada

72 Lesson 6 *January 30 February 5 (page 46 of Standard Edition) Victory in the Wilderness Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Matt. 1:20 23, John 9:39, Matt. 3: 7 12, 4:1 10, Deut. 34:1 4, Rev. 21:10. Memory Text: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10, NKJV). When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his work of depraving human nature would be interrupted.... Yet as the plan of salvation was more fully unfolded, Satan rejoiced with his angels that, having caused man s fall, he could bring down the Son of God from His exalted position. He declared that his plans had thus far been successful upon the earth, and that when Christ should take upon Himself human nature, He also might be overcome, and thus the redemption of the fallen race might be prevented. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 66. This week, as we look at the temptations in the wilderness, we can see, as perhaps never before so clearly revealed in the Bible, the great controversy between Christ and Satan as it is openly battled out between them. Satan had claimed the world as his, and Christ came to win it back. And central to His winning it back was the plan of salvation. Having failed to kill Jesus after His birth, Satan tried another way to sabotage the redemption of the race. This we see unfold in the wilderness temptations. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 6. 72

73 Sunday January 31 Immanuel to the Rescue (page 47 of Standard Edition) Read Matthew 1: What is the significance of the name given to Jesus: Emmanuel? Why did Jesus come to this earth to be with us? First, He came to restore the dominion that Adam lost (Rom. 5:12, 15). We catch a glimpse of the royal aspect of Jesus (having dominion) when He inspired the crowds (5,000 wanted to crown Him king) and when the children sang their hosannas (a form of praise directed at one who would save the people from their enemies). We also see His powers over creation, such as with His ability to restore broken humans into whole beings again (for example, the man born blind and the woman who bled for 12 years), and in His power over nature, such as when He stilled the storm and told the wind and the waves to be still. Second, He came to bring judgment and to destroy the works of the devil (John 9:39, 1 John 3:8). How often do we wonder why evil prospers? Jesus addresses injustice and reassures us that the end is in sight. Jesus was recognized by demons as having power over them. They would often scream out His true identity, sometimes before Jesus was ready to reveal it. He gave peace to demon-possessed people and restored them to sanity when others would flee in fear. Third, Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to take away their sins (John 1:29). He was made like us so that He could be a faithful High Priest and so restore us to God (Heb. 2:17). Dealing with sin, saving humans from it, giving them grace, forgiveness, justification, glorification all this was the purpose of the single covenant from the beginning, now fulfilled in Jesus Christ. N. T. Wright, Justification: God s Plan and Paul s Vision (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2009), Kindle locations Finally, Jesus came to show us what God is like, to reveal to us and to the onlooking universe what His true character really is (John 14:9). How can and should each of these reasons for Christ s coming enhance your life and walk with the Lord? 73

74 Monday Jesus Baptism February 1 (page 48 of Standard Edition) The appearance of John the Baptist must have sent ripples of excitement throughout the region. Here was someone who looked like the prophet Elijah (Matt. 3:4, 2 Kings 1:8). He was the first prophetic voice the people had heard in 400 years. God had never been silent for so long before. Now He was speaking to the people once again. Obviously something significant was about to happen. Read Matthew 3:7 12. Why would John the Baptist connect themes of judgment the wrath to come (Matt. 3:7), the axe laid to the root of the trees (Matt. 3:10), thoroughly purging the threshing floor (Matt. 3:12), and burning chaff in unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12) in his introduction to the Messiah? The people thought they were living in the last days. They saw John come from the wilderness and encourage them to pass through the waters of the Jordan through baptism. This was a bit like a new Exodus, and getting wet (rather than walking across a dried-up riverbed) was necessary for cleansing and readiness for the new Promised Land, with the Messiah Himself leading them from victory over the Romans to the ushering in of God s eternal kingdom spoken of by the prophets. At least that is what many people had thought. But neither John nor Jesus was leading a political movement; it was a salvation event. The explanation by Luke of what John was doing is a quotation from Isaiah, describing the way God would prepare a road for the exiles to return to the Promised Land (Luke 3:3 6). Jeremiah explains the reason for making that special road: to make it manageable for society s most vulnerable the blind, the lame, the pregnant, mothers with toddlers and for all others who desired to return to the Promised Land to be able to do so (Jer. 31:7 9). No wonder the people flocked to John; their hope was kindled that they, too, could be ready for the great day of God, soon to be upon them. It came, however, in a way that most of them didn t expect not because they hadn t been told but because they didn t understand the meaning of the Scriptures (Luke 24:25 27). 74 Faithful people had deep misconceptions about the nature of the Lord s first coming. How might faithful people in the last days avoid having deep misconceptions about the nature of His second one?

75 Tuesday Stones Into Bread February 2 (page 49 of Standard Edition) Read Matthew 4:1 3. What is happening, and why? How do we see the great controversy being played out here? When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and he thought this the best time to approach Him. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p There are dramatic parallels between the account of Jesus temptations and the experience of the Israelites in their Exodus wanderings. After coming through water, Jesus went into the desert, where He ate nothing and was tested for 40 days. Similarly, the Israelites passed through water (the Red Sea), entered the desert where they had no bread, and stayed there for 40 years. Notice how it is described in Deuteronomy 8:2, 3 (NKJV). And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, [and] allowed you to hunger. The gospel account says that after 40 days Jesus was hungry (Matt. 4:2). Then someone appears with helpful advice, a bit like Job s comforters. This was not the first time Satan is depicted as coming to help someone in crisis. Zechariah 3 records the story of the high priest at the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. As he stood before God in vision, someone appeared at his right hand. The one who stood at the right hand was always the most trusted friend, to protect and guard against any would-be attacker. But the trusted right-hand man in Zechariah 3 was none other than the accuser, pretending to be a trusted friend. The same thing happened to Jesus in the wilderness. The one who came to help revealed himself when he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread (Matt. 4:3, NKJV). An angel from God would have no doubt about Jesus divinity. Again notice how Jesus reply (Matt. 4:4) is a quotation linked to the Exodus. [God] fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3, NKJV). However important not to fall prey to temptation, how much more important is it to make sure that you, even unwittingly, aren t leading someone else into it? 75

76 Wednesday Another Temptation February 3 (page 50 of Standard Edition) The first temptation parallels the Exodus but had its roots in the Fall. By placing a priority on faithfulness to God, instead of giving in to appetite, Jesus recovered the ground that Adam lost at the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, to completely bridge the gap from where the human race had descended since the time of Adam, Jesus had to be subjected to two more temptations. According to Matthew, the second temptation involved Satan taking Jesus to the highest part of the temple, presumably the southeast corner that overlooked a steep ravine. Again came the taunting statement, If you are the Son of God, which showed that the tempter was no friend of Jesus. What is Satan really getting at here? Would it have proved anything if Jesus did jump? Matt. 4:5 7. Jesus was not interested in cheap theatrics. His trust in God was genuine, not something contrived to impress others. Jesus complete trust in His Father was manifested in His leaving heaven and becoming a human being, suffering the indignation, the misrepresentation, the public humiliation, and the injustice of His death (see Phil. 2:5 8). This was His destiny, and He was fully prepared for it. His mission was to reclaim the world that Adam and his descendants lost. In Jesus, all the covenant promises were to be fulfilled, and the world would have an opportunity for salvation. Again Jesus responds with It is written, again quoting Deuteronomy, and again linking His experience to the Exodus: You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah (Deut. 6:16, NKJV). Massah was the place where the Israelites bitterly complained about lack of water, and Moses struck the rock to provide it. In evaluating this experience, Moses stated that the people had tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not? (Exod. 17:7, NKJV). Jesus, of course, knew better and didn t fall for the trick, even though this time the devil threw the phrase It is written (Matt. 4:4, 6) back at Him. 76 It s not always easy to see the boundary between trusting in God for the miraculous and being presumptuous in regard to what we expect from the Lord when we pray. How have you learned to know one from the other? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.

77 Thursday February 4 Devil Worship (page 51 of Standard Edition) In Matthew s version, while the first temptation focused on appetite and the second on manipulating God, the third was a direct challenge to Christ Himself, to His kingship and to His ultimate mission on earth. Read Matthew 4:8 10, Deuteronomy 34:1 4, and Revelation 21:10. What is the significance of the exceeding high mountain that Satan took Jesus to? Judging by the way the Bible uses the theme of going up to the top of a very high mountain to view nations, we can see that Jesus trip was no sightseeing tour. There is prophetic vision attached to this scenario. From a mountaintop, Moses sees the Promised Land as it would later be, and John later sees the future New Jerusalem. Similarly, Jesus sees more than just the countries of the ancient Roman world. Notice that Satan shows off everything in its best light. He shows the riches and the glamour, not the crime, suffering, and injustice. Satan then says: All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me (Matt. 4:9, NKJV). In the same way that Satan fooled Adam and Eve into wanting to become like God (when they already were created in His image), Satan pretended that he was God, and that the ownership of the nations of the world was exclusively his and that, for a little homage, he could easily give it all to Jesus (see Luke 4:6; compare Ps. 2:7, 8). This test focused on loyalty. Who should the human race give ultimate loyalty to? In Eden, when Adam and Eve gave in to the serpent, they were really giving Satan their first loyalty, and that infection spread quickly through each successive generation. Without direct divine intervention, the great controversy would have been decided in favor of Satan. The human race, and maybe even life on earth, could not have continued. The stakes were that high. Notice that Jesus, like Joseph with Potiphar s wife, did not permit evil to stay near Him. Jesus commanded Satan to go away. Joseph could not do that, so he removed himself from the scene of potential evil (Gen. 39:11, 12). What a simple lesson for us, as well. In all three of these temptations, Jesus used Scripture as His defense. What does that mean to us in practical terms? That is, how can we, when faced with temptation, use Scripture in order to have the same kind of victories? 77

78 Friday February 5 (page 52 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Though one can find writers through the centuries touching on the theme of the great controversy, and though some evangelicals today are looking at the idea more closely no one has a deeply developed great controversy worldview as does the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A literal, physical, moral, and spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan is, indeed, a crucial hallmark of Adventist thought. And no wonder. All through the Bible there is what one evangelical writer has called the cosmic warfare theme, and sometimes such as in this week s lesson on the temptations in the wilderness that theme appears in a very stark and open manner. The idea of a battle between good and evil can be seen even outside a distinctly religious context. Poet T. S. Eliot wrote: The world turns and the world changes / But one thing does not change. / In all of my years, one thing does not change,... / The perpetual struggle of Good and Evil. The Complete Poems and Plays, (New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1952), p. 98. German atheist Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote: Let us conclude. The two opposing values good and bad, good and evil have been engaged in a fearful struggle on earth for thousands of years. On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo (New York: Random House, 1967; Vintage Books, 1989), p. 52. Scripture, aided by the Spirit of Prophecy, reveals as nothing else does, the true nature of this conflict and the eternal issues at stake in it. Discussion Questions: In class, go over your answers to Wednesday s question about the line, the boundary, between trusting in God s promises for the miraculous and that of being presumptuous. How do we know the difference? Temptation comes in many forms and shapes and sizes and colors and modes, all carefully designed to reach each of us where we are. And, of course, some things that tempt one person don t tempt another. Besides the obvious sins, what are the more subtle ways in which we can be tempted? Read over the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness and the humiliation that He was subjected to. As you do, think about the fact that this same Jesus was, indeed, God with us. He was the one through whom all things were made (John 1:3). How can we grasp the incredible concept here, that of God God! enduring this fearful struggle in our behalf? Considering this truth, what else matters? 78

79 inside Story Finding True Gold: Part 2 The story thus far: Amair s parents divorced, and he and his mother moved to a village on the Amazon. Later he served in the military. Afterward, Amair went to his brother s home, looking for gold, but instead found heavenly gold. Wanting to share this treasure, he visited his sister, later married, and eventually moved back to his home village and became the community teacher. A Seventh-day Adventist friend heard that Amair and Francinette had moved to this village, and wanting to help them start a church there, joined them. They began meeting together each Sabbath under some trees by the river. Soon, other villagers began noticing them and wanted to join in their worship. Amair started giving Bible studies, and the group continued to grow. It didn t take long for word to reach Amair s mother about what was going on. She was so ashamed to learn that her son was a Seventh-day Adventist that she unblessed him as her son and cursed him. Amair and Francinette began praying for his mother, but things only seemed to get worse. As soon as they started studying the Bible with someone, the next day Amair s mother would go to the person and tell them that what Amair was teaching was a lie. But we believed that at the right moment, God would do something, says Amair. The people were openhearted, and they accepted the message. More and more villagers shared with others the truth they had found through Amair s Bible studies, and the group meeting under the tree by the river grew so large that they decided to build a Seventh-day Adventist church. A pastor from their local conference office came to baptize the new believers and to officially organize the church. Today, the church that began with just one family now has 113 members. When Amair s mother saw how quickly the Adventist church was growing, she contacted her priest and asked that he establish a church in the village. However, her personal life was unraveling, and soon she was divorced again. Disheartened, Amair s mother decided to move away. Amazingly, however, the Bible teachings she heard had influenced her. She had come to understand the truth of the seventh-day Sabbath but was ashamed to keep it. But once she moved, she began to secretly keep the Sabbath ( for God the Father, she said), and kept going to church on Sunday ( for Jesus ). God continued working on her heart, and after a series of Bible studies she came to accept the entire Adventist message and was baptized. She then returned to her village to encourage her brothers to accept the treasure that she and Amair have found. One of the Thirteenth Sabbath offering projects is to build a floating church that will be used to reach more people of these remote Amazon villages. For more stories and information, visit Gina Wahlen, editor of the Mission quarterlies. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 79

80 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Luke 19:10 The Student Will: Know: Understand why Jesus came to this world: to restore the dominion usurped by Satan, destroy the works of evil, save sinners, and reveal God to the universe. Feel: Rejoice in the salvation that Christ has made available for all. Do: Accept Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. Learning Outline: I. Know: At the Wilderness of Temptation, the Protagonist and the Antagonist Meet Face-to-Face. A Discuss the reasons Jesus came to this world. B How does the ministry of John the Baptist demonstrate the theme of judgment? Discuss. C How can we distinguish between genuine faith and presumption? D How did the Scriptures help Jesus in temptation? And how may they help us in ours? II. Feel: Rejoice in the Salvation That Jesus-Immanuel Brings. A How does the story of salvation make you feel? How can we experience the joy that is seen at the arrival of the birth of Jesus (especially as recorded in Luke)? B What does salvation mean to you? III. Do: What Is Left for the Christian? A What temptations do you need to overcome in God s strength? B How can you minister to a brother or sister who is facing temptation to sin? Summary: Jesus came to this earth to restore that which Adam had lost in the Garden of Eden, to bring judgment against the devil and his followers, to save sinners from their sin, and to reveal the true character of God to humans and to the entire universe. 80

81 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: Luke 19:10 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Each of us, no matter our past experience as Christians, is lost if left to ourselves. We are no match for the powerful temptations that assail us on a daily basis. We need Christ not only to sympathize with our suffering but also to help us overcome. Just for Teachers: The great controversy theme is fought in the life of each believer. Each one must recognize his or her inadequacy to withstand temptation. Help each class member to come to the realization that he or she must rely on Christ s strength to overcome. Opening Activity: Begin by asking members of the class to share what their experiences have been when dealing with temptation. Discuss how Christians should handle those who fall into temptation. On the other hand, what happens when believers withstand temptation? What is the secret to overcoming temptation? Consider This: Even though individual believers may overcome occasional temptation, here and there, or may fail and fall into temptation, the plan of salvation is comprehensive. It is not based on one act of sin, or the lack thereof, but rather on our reliance on, and trust in, Christ s righteousness. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: This week s study focuses on Jesus as Immanuel (God with us) and how He overcame the temptations of the devil on our behalf. Our victory is not measured in occasional acts of avoiding temptation though that should form a part of our experience but rather on our reliance on Christ s righteousness and His victory, counted as ours by faith. Even though one might not feel that he or she is experiencing this victory, it is by faith that works through love (Gal. 5:6) that we overcome. After all, Christ came to seek and save us. He could not do that if we were not in dire need. Bible Commentary I. Hosanna to the Son of David (Review Matthew 1:21 23 with your class.) The exclamation Hosanna comes from the Hebrew word meaning 81

82 teachers comments Save, please! This is the same root word for Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew. When, according to Matthew 21:9, the crowd shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were, perhaps unwittingly, acknowledging Jesus as a royal Messiah. He was coming to restore the dominion that had been lost in the Garden of Eden, and so this was an appropriate acknowledgment of His royalty. He had come to take away the dominion from Satan, who had masqueraded as the prince of this world. Now the true Prince had come Jesus, the Savior. He would save His people from their sin (Matt. 1:21). That meant a direct confrontation with the instigator of all sin. Christ had launched a cosmic offensive against the author of sin and death the devil, himself. Consider This: It is reassuring that the mission of Christ is clearly articulated in Scripture. Christ came to save sinners. In Christ, God sought and seeks to be with fallen human beings in order to save them. How might this thought inform your approach to evangelism or witnessing? II. For Judgment He Came to This World (Review Matthew 3:7 12 with your class.) John the Baptist uses the language of harvest to speak about judgment. Judgment has to do with determining who receives life or death. It also has to do with settlement of conflict and contested issues. John the Baptist was preparing the way for Christ, who would settle the great controversy once and for all. He would prove the devil to be the liar and deceiver that he had always been, while showing that God had condescended to be with humans by offering salvation at so great a cost to Himself. That cost was His only Son. Only such a great sacrifice would ensure that anyone who believes in Him would be saved. By contrast, anyone who does not believe in Him would be left without excuse, choosing death rather than life. Judgment thus has to do with the vindication of God s character, a character of self-sacrificing love. Herein is the final disposition of the great controversy. Consider This: What conclusion can we draw from the fact that many Pharisees and Sadducees came to John to be baptized in the Jordan? Why is it important that this factor is not lost to readers of the New Testament? For example, the impression is often created that the Pharisees were all antagonistic toward Jesus. III. Protagonist and Antagonist Meet Face-to-Face (Review Matthew 4:1 10 with your class.) 82 In the wilderness, Jesus was confronted directly by the devil, the latter

83 teachers comments hoping that somehow Jesus would fail in His mission. The stakes were high. Bible translations give the impression that the purpose in Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit was so that He might be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1, compare Luke 4:1). However, this is not the only reading possible. The Greek verb peirazo is used in its form meaning to be tempted, peirasthenai, which indeed may express purpose, but it can also express result. In other words, if we take the result option, Jesus did not go into the wilderness in order to be tempted by the devil, but, rather, His being there resulted in the devil s tempting Him (whatever the purpose may have been). Mark s account may be read: He was in the wilderness for forty days while being tempted by Satan, or He was in the wilderness for forty days and tempted by Satan (Mark 1:13), both of which do not require purpose. This interpretation comports well with that of Ellen G. White. She states, When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and he thought this the best time to approach Him. The Desire of Ages, p Discussion Questions: What were the implications of each of the temptations the Savior faced? How do we see our own conflicts mirrored in these temptations? How would you respond to someone who says, Well, Jesus overcame temptations only because He was God? Discuss this notion in light of Hebrews 2:14, 17, 18 and Hebrews 4:15. STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: God has not left us, as believers, to our own devices amid the temptations that surround us. It is only as we are in relationship with God, who has done everything to be with us, that we can overcome temptation. Application/Inductive Questions: How does the prayer Do not lead us into temptation (Matt. 6:13, NKJV) become pertinent in light of this week s study? 83 83

84 teachers comments How does the devil s taking advantage of Jesus exposure in the wilderness where He was hungry and alone speak to how the devil seizes every opportunity to tempt us to sin? How does the wider context of Luke 19:10 provide hope for those who are tempted or for those who see themselves as sinners? Activity: Ask each class member to share how this study will help him or her interact with fellow believers this week. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: Many Christians often want to see clear evidence of overcoming temptation before they have the assurance of salvation. What can you tell someone who asks why he or she keeps on falling into temptation? Activity: Ask each class member, or any number of volunteers, to share stanzas, or entire hymns or poems, that help him or her appreciate Christ s power for victory on his or her behalf. 84

85 Lesson 7 *February 6 12 Jesus Teachings and the Great Controversy (page 56 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Matt. 11:29; Rom. 4:1 6; Matt. 13:3 8, 18 23; Matt. 7:21 27; James 2:17; Matt. 7:1 5. Memory Text: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NIV). W hen we think of the great controversy theme, we tend to think of it in grand, overarching terms. That is, it s a big-picture view. It can be called a meta-narrative, a story that covers and explains a large portion of reality, as opposed to a local narrative or story that explains something much more limited in scope. For instance, Paul Revere s famous ride is a local narrative, in contrast to the much grander and larger one of the American Revolution itself. And yet, however grand and all-encompassing the great controversy theme is, and however immense the issues, it is played out daily, here on earth, in our own lives, in how we relate to God, to temptation, and to others. Just as people s daily existence is impacted, sometimes to a great degree by the grander and bigger events of politics and economics, each of us faces the same from the great controversy as well. In this week s lesson, we will look at some of Jesus teachings on very down-to-earth and practical matters as we all struggle to know and do God s will amid the great controversy. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February

86 Sunday February 7 Many Kinds of Rest (page 57 of Standard Edition) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:29, NKJV). How does taking His yoke bring rest to our souls? This offer points to a personal dimension amid the much larger one of Jesus mission to free people from the enemy. His words are actually adapted from Jeremiah, who promises people rest for their souls if they return to the religion of their fathers, instead of the paganism of the surrounding nations (Jer. 6:16). The concept of rest is very rich in Scripture. It starts with God Himself. He rested when He finished His work of Creation (Gen. 2:2). His rest ushered in a Sabbath rest that was celebrated weekly. Rest was also celebrated through the year during the annual feasts (for example, Lev. 16:31), every seven years in the Sabbath of the land (Exod. 23:11), and every 50 years in the jubilee, when slaves were freed and debts forgiven (Lev. 25:10). Rest could be appreciated when God was present with His people (Exod. 33:14), where there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence (1 Kings 5:4, NKJV), nor an enemy (Deut. 25:19). Rest was enjoyed in the land that God gave His people (Josh. 1:13), especially when the people returned from captivity and exile (Jer. 30:10). Rest was also shared in hospitality with strangers (Gen. 18:4) and in enjoying stable family life (Ruth 1:9, Prov. 29:17). However, rest is absent for God s people in captivity (Exod. 5:4, 5; Lam. 1:3). Rest escapes the wicked, who like the troubled sea, cannot rest (Isa. 57:20). The only rest that such people can look forward to is death and the grave (Job 3:11, 13, 16, 17, 18). Revelation 14:11 also has a powerful warning about rest for those on the wrong side of the great controversy in the last days. The rest Jesus offers is a very generous package. It includes the gift of the Sabbath, allowing us time out with the Creator. Christ s offer of rest recognizes our lost condition and restores us in every way. And when we slip up (as we do), we still have the assurance of a place of rest at our Savior s side. 86 What are ways, besides the Sabbath, that we can learn to enjoy the rest that God offers us? How do we find rest for our souls in Jesus? See also Rom. 4:1 6.

87 Monday February 8 Planting and Harvesting (page 58 of Standard Edition) The great controversy theme is implicit in Jesus parable of the sower. The listing of four types of responses to the gospel message indicates that there are more than just good and bad people in the world. Life is more complex than that, and so we need to be careful how we approach those who don t seem to respond to the gospel as we think they should. Read Matthew 13:3 8 and then Matthew 13: In what ways can we so clearly see the reality of the great controversy revealed in this story? The battle for souls is real, and the enemy uses whatever means he can to turn people away from salvation. For instance, in the context of the seed falling by the wayside, Ellen G. White wrote: Satan and his angels are in the assemblies where the gospel is preached. While angels of heaven endeavor to impress hearts with the word of God, the enemy is on the alert to make the word of no effect. With an earnestness equaled only by his malice, he tries to thwart the work of the Spirit of God. While Christ is drawing the soul by His love, Satan tries to turn away the attention of the one who is moved to seek the Saviour. Christ s Object Lessons, p. 44. One could ask, Why couldn t the farmer be more careful and not waste seed by throwing it on the path? Why couldn t he be more diligent in digging out the rocks? Why didn t he pull more weeds? When sowing gospel seed, human effort is always limited. We must sow everywhere. We are not the judge of what is good and bad soil. The appearance of weeds simply indicates that we are just unable to prevent evil from springing up in the least expected places. It is the Lord of the harvest working in the background who ensures that all who can be saved will be saved. We do our job and must learn to trust Him to do His. What are ways we see the reality of this parable? Why do we sometimes see people, just newly baptized, walk out the door? Or others who simply show no interest at all? Or those who become firmly grounded in the faith? 87

88 Tuesday Building on Rock February 9 (page 59 of Standard Edition) The issue of where we stand in the cosmic struggle that unfolds around us is made very personal in the parable of the man building a house on the rock. Read Matthew 7: What is so frightening about this parable? What comes to mind when you imagine this story? Where is the rock and where is the sand? For some people, sand is found only at the beach, but this story is probably not about a seaside residence. The more likely place is among the gentle rolling hills upon which most villages were located, at the side of a valley somewhere. Jesus describes two houses; one built just on the surface while the other has foundations going down to bedrock (Luke 6:48). There is no way to tell the difference between the two completed houses until it rains up in the hills, and a flash flood roars down the valley. For one of the home builders that is not a problem, for the house is firmly anchored; but for the other there is a problem. Without a secure foundation, the house just built on the surface is easy prey to the swirling floodwaters. Jesus shared this parable because He knew how much we fool ourselves. There is a serious struggle going on, and unaided, we have no possibility of surviving it. Jesus has prevailed against evil, and that is why He is called the Rock. This personal battle against evil can be won, but only if we build our lives firmly upon Him, and we can build upon Him only through obedience to Him. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matt. 7:24). It s that simple. However much faith is a crucial component faith without works, the Bible says, is dead (see James 2:17, 20, 26), and in this parable we see just how dead it really is. Read Matthew 7:22, 23. Casting out demons in Jesus name or making prophecies in His name all reveal some kind of faith held by these people. And yet, what was their fate? Ask yourself, upon what foundation is your house built, and how do you know the answer? 88

89 Wednesday Do Not Judge February 10 (page 60 of Standard Edition) Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount in the early days of His ministry. It was revolutionary. For starters, He told ordinary people that they were valued and blessed in the eyes of God (Matt. 5:3 12) and that they were salt (Matt. 5:13) and light (Matt. 5:14 16) two highly prized commodities. He spoke of the importance of God s law (Matt. 5:17 19) yet warned of trying to impress others with their own good behavior (Matt. 5:20). Jesus further pointed out that morality is determined by what a person thinks, not just by his or her actions (Matt. 5:21 28), although actions must be guarded, as well (Matt. 5:29, 30). As one reads through the entire sermon, it can be seen that He covered the whole gamut of human existence and relationships (see Matt. 5 7:27). Read Matthew 7:1 5. In what ways is the reality of the great controversy revealed in these texts? That is, how is the interplay between good and evil manifested here? Judge not, that ye be not judged. Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. This is our work. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p When Jesus told His audience not to judge, He made two important points. The first is that the reason we judge others is because we do the very same thing we are condemning (Matt. 7:1, 2). We take the attention off ourselves and ensure that everyone around us is looking at the person we condemn rather than at us. The other point Jesus makes is that often the problem we see in our brother or sister is only a fraction of the size of our own problem a problem that we may not even be aware of. It is so easy for us to see a piece of sawdust in their eye, but we are unable to see the great wooden beam in our own. What s the difference between judging a person and judging the rightness or wrongness of their actions, and why is that a very important distinction to make? 89

90 Thursday February 11 I Am With You Alway (page 61 of Standard Edition) Matthew ends his Gospel account with some of the most reassuring words Jesus spoke: I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). What should that mean to us, in practical terms, in our own lives, in our own struggles, failures, and disappointments, and even when we feel that God has let us down? It is interesting that Matthew commences his Gospel with similar words. After listing all the forebearers, and the account of an angel visiting first Mary then Joseph, Matthew explains that the baby to be born would be Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). God made the promise, I will be with you, a number of times in Scripture. He promised to be with Isaac (Gen. 26:24), with Jacob (Gen. 28:15), with Jeremiah (Jer. 1:8, 19), and with the children of Israel (Isa. 41:10, 43:5). The context of many of these references is during times of hardship and duress, when God s words would be most relevant. A parallel verse uses similar words: I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5, NKJV). Just a few verses later it adds, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8, NKJV). This promise, too, is repeated a number of times. It actually comes from the occasion when Moses hands leadership over to Joshua (Deut. 31:6, 8), and God repeats the phrase to Joshua after the death of Moses, I will not leave you nor forsake you (Josh. 1:5, NKJV). When David passes on the kingdom to Solomon, he likewise tells Solomon that God will not leave nor forsake Solomon (1 Chron. 28:20). Jesus, who never changes, who is always with us, gave strong assurance to our forefathers of the faith. They faced hardship and trial or were about to embark on the greatest challenge of their life; yet, they were assured of God s continued presence. To the church of Christ at the end of time, these assurances are significant. Jesus promise of being with us to the very end is in the context of making disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. So, that is where the focus is on the joy of rescuing people from ending up on the losing side in the great controversy. 90

91 Friday February 12 (page 62 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Author Leon Wieseltier wrote about what he said was one of the saddest stories in the world. He told of an Englishman, named S.B., who had been blind from birth. However, the good news was that, at 52 years old, S.B. had a corneal transplant that gave him sight. For the first time in his life, S.B. was able to see! It must have been incredibly exciting for him to finally see the world that had unfolded all around him his whole life but was, literally, out of sight. However, Wieseltier then quotes the source in which he first read the story. S.B., said the author, found the world drab, and was upset by flaking paint and blemishes.... He noted more and more the imperfections in things, and would examine small irregularities and marks in paintwork or wood, which he found upsetting, evidently expecting a more perfect world. He liked bright colours, but became depressed when the light faded. His depression became marked and general. He gradually gave up active living, and three years later he died. Wow! Though hard to understand on one level, on another it s not. Our world is a damaged place. The great controversy has been raging here for about six thousand years. A 6,000-year war is going to leave a lot of wreckage in its wake. And despite all our attempts to make this world better, the trajectory doesn t seem to be heading in the right direction. In fact, it s going to get only worse. That s why we need the promise of Redemption, which comes to us only from Christ s victory in the great controversy, a victory secured at the cross and offered freely to us all. Discussion Questions: What lessons can you take away for yourself from the story of S.B.? As we saw in Tuesday s study, those who said, Lord, Lord, have we not done this and that in your name were, as we said, believers in Jesus. At the same time, notice the emphasis of their response. Who were they focusing on? What were they focusing on? How does the answer here reveal why they were so self-deceived? If you have a friend or family member doing something obviously wrong, how do you deal with this problem in a way that, first, isn t judgmental and, second, doesn t appear judgmental? 91

92 inside Story The Great Controversy in the Drug Dealer s Home Luis belonged to a rock band in the Brazilian city of Jequié. He and his friends often indulged in harmful drugs in their search for pleasure. One day, while in the home of a drug dealer, Luis found a copy of The Great Controversy. After leafing hurriedly through the book, he asked permission to borrow it. Luis found the subject intriguing. While he and his friends smoked marijuana, they took turns reading the book aloud to each other. Some of the guys liked what they read, others did not. Florisvaldo, a spiritualist, especially enjoyed the book. One day, three of the friends climbed a hill then sat down to smoke and read the Bible together with The Great Controversy. Suddenly, Florisvaldo began to shout, I don t want the Bible! Recognizing that Florisvaldo was possessed by an evil spirit, the other friend ran away in fright. But Luis kept on reading. He paused only long enough to ask his friend to think on the name of Jesus. Soon the evil spirit left him. Realizing that his friend needed help, Luis persuaded Florisvaldo to go with him to a Seventh-day Adventist church. While there, both young men enjoyed a sermon preached by a lay member. Later they attended an Adventist youth camp, where they studied the Bible with other young people and gave themselves completely to Jesus. Unable to keep his new joy to himself, Luis sent a copy of The Great Controversy to his cousin Thomas, a journalism student studying in the coastal city of Salvador. Being an avid reader, Thomas sped through the book with mounting interest. About halfway through, he felt condemned because of his sinful life. But he couldn t put down the book until he found out how the story ended. His conviction only intensified as he read the final chapters. When vacation time came, Thomas went to Jequié to visit his cousin. Luis told Thomas much about his new faith and took him to church. Gladly Thomas accepted Jesus and His promise of forgiveness. But he now faced another conflict his girlfriend was against his interest in religion. One night, while staying in the home of an aunt, Thomas dreamed he saw Jesus veiled in brilliant light. The next morning, Thomas gave his life completely to Christ. His habits changed. He broke up with his girlfriend and began preparing for baptism. Luis rejoiced to see his cousin and several members of his rock band baptized. Ten people were baptized as a result of the working of the Holy Spirit through a copy of The Great Controversy found in the home of a drug dealer. Today, Florisvaldo, the former spiritualist, serves God as a literature evangelist, and Thomas became a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Nevil Gorski, former director of education, South American Division. 92 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

93 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Matthew 11:28 The Student Will: Know: Examine how Jesus teachings reveal the great controversy theme in personal, day-to-day experiences. Feel: Experience the assurance of salvation that Jesus offers to everyone who believes in Him. Do: Practice the principles of Christ s teachings through a life of faith. Learning Outline: I. Know: Building on the Rock A One important key to understanding rest in Christ s teaching is by studying Paul s discussion on how Abraham was justified by faith (Rom. 4:1 8). Why is this so? B C What does it mean to build on the rock? What does it mean to not judge others? II. Feel: Finding Rest (Assurance of Salvation) in Jesus A How can we characterize the experience of one who finds rest in Christ? B How does the experience of rest in Christ inform, for example, the methods we choose to employ in the delicate work of pointing out the sins of others? III. Do: Faith Without Works Is Dead. A The group rejected by Jesus in Matthew 7:21 23 had prophesied and cast out demons in Jesus name. What must you (and I) do in order not to receive this startling declaration: I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers (Matt. 7:23, NRSV)? B What does the parable about the sower tell us about individual choices when it comes to what kind of soil one is? Summary: The great controversy is fought out on the battleground of the day-today choices that we make. However, we do not have to face our struggles and disappointments alone; we can find rest in Jesus. 93

94 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate 94 Spotlight on Scripture: Matthew 11:28 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Finding rest in Christ has to do with having faith in His goodness alone rather than looking to our own spiritual achievements. Just for Teachers: Christ invites us to find rest in Him; that is, to rely on His goodness and righteousness alone by which we are justified by faith. That is also what it means to build our spiritual houses on the solid rock. Opening Activity: Ask the class to share what it would mean for them to be told by Christ that He never knew them. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: The emphasis in this study is to lead the students to understand the day-to-day struggles in the great controversy. In what ways are Jesus teachings focused on individual choices that determine whether one is the good soil, or whether one builds his or her spiritual house on a solid rock? Bible Commentary I. Finding Rest in Christ (Review Matthew 11:28 with your class.) Christ s invitation, in Matthew 11:28 30, is recorded only by Matthew. While emphasis is often placed on the theme of rest, it is even more important to emphasize the Me in the invitation: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened (Matt. 11:28, NIV). Here is the reason for doing so: in the preceding scripture (Matt. 11:27) Jesus has just declared, All things have been handed over to me by my Father (ESV) and that no one can truly know God except through the Son. Sounds very much like the theme so common in John (see John 14:9, 10). Therefore, we come to Him because He has everything we will ever need. Every legitimate human quest is fulfilled in Him. To find Him is to find rest for the rest of life; that is, the whole being (Matt. 11:29). The Greek noun anapausis, rest (and its verbal form, in Matthew 11:28, I will give you rest ), is used in the Old Testament in connection with the Sabbath day, as a day of anapausis, solemn rest (Exod.

95 teachers comments 16:23, 23:12, 31:15). We can expect that Jesus listeners, most of whom were Jews, did not miss this connection with the Sabbath. Matthew 11:28 30 sets the stage for Jesus assertion in the next chapter that the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1 8). The connection we are making between the rest that Jesus gives according to our passage and the Sabbath rest is not strained reading after all. Therefore, Matthew is teaching us that faith in Jesus is the true meaning of the Sabbath rest. Consider This: How is the idea of rest related to the notion of justification by faith? Discuss this in light of Romans 4:1 8. II. On Becoming the Good or the Bad Soil (Review Matthew 13:18 23 with your class.) In the parable of the sower, the seed that fell on the path represents those who fail to understand the gospel. In this state, the devil can easily confuse them, and before they know it, they have abandoned the faith. This knowledge places a responsibility on both the readers of the Bible and on those who teach it to assist students to understand the Word of God. The second group of believers is represented by the seed that fell on the rocky soil, where the root cannot grow. These are believers who are not rooted in the truth of God s words, partly because they have not spent time in the study of the Word for themselves. For them it is not a lack of understanding but a failure to be grounded in the Word. It takes just a little trial or tribulation or anything that makes the Word inconvenient, and they quit the faith. The third group is represented by the seed that fell on the thorns. These may have understood the Word. They may also have accepted the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. However, for this group, there is external pressure that is shaking their faith in God. These have to do with the pursuit of wealth (they want to live comfortably in retirement) or the pursuit of earthly knowledge in the sciences and the humanities or the desire for political power and influence. The pressure may also come from struggles with family relationships, such as children or a spouse, or it may be struggles at the workplace. These absorb all their energies until there is little left to seek a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The fourth group is represented by the seed that fell on good soil. These not only understand their calling to discipleship, they also spend time cultivating their true identity in Christ and are rooted in His Word. This fourth group also places the pursuit of wealth in its right place. By relying on the Lord (by finding rest in Christ as we saw above) they learn to adjust to the pressures of life, be it from family or friends. They understand the true purpose for their lives. They bear much fruit, the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, 95

96 teachers comments peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22, 23, NRSV). Consider This: What or who determines what kind of soil a person is? III. Doing the Will of God (Review Matthew 7:21 27 with your class.) When we emphasize righteousness by faith alone, as opposed to righteousness that one seeks by attempting to keep the law, we are not saying that what Christians do, and how they live, has nothing to do with their eternal salvation. Paul had to contend with this potential misconception when he posited: Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law (Rom. 3:31, NRSV). Faith without works is dead, declared James (James 2:20). Genuine faith works by love, and when a person s faith works by love, then he or she is the wise builder who builds his or her spiritual house on the solid rock of Christ Himself. Consider This: Why is it important to understand Jesus teaching on good works in close connection with the Pauline teaching on righteousness by faith? IV. Being Nonjudgmental Toward Others (Review Matthew 7:1 5 with your class.) In Matthew 7:1 5, Jesus warns against judging others. Here is an invitation to conduct a relentless self-examination of our actions and motives. Rarely do we look at ourselves squarely, critically, and honestly. We let ourselves pass as the standard for everyone. The problem with this is that there is so much we do not know or understand about other people. It is all too easy for us to see the mistakes in them. As a consequence of our tendency to sit in judgment of others, many people have been misrepresented. Aspersion has been cast on their characters unfairly. Unfortunately, in some cases, these individuals have left the church. Considering the spiritual damage that judging others can cost, Christ s teaching is urgent. On the other hand, there are those of us who tend to be too hard and unforgiving on ourselves. Consider This: What does it mean to not judge others? STEP 3 Apply 96 Just for Teachers: This study should lead every member of the class to rest in Christ. This means accepting His righteousness as his or her own by faith. This is what it means to build on the rock, to find rest, and to do the will of God. The will of God is that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:29, NKJV).

97 teachers comments Thought/Application Questions: Think of individuals who have been judged harshly and unfairly by others who corrected what they considered to be errant behavior. What happened as a result? How does one have the confidence that he or she has accepted the righteousness of Christ personally? What is the place of good works in the life of a Christian? Activity: Recall a story in which a person was judged unfairly by colleagues. Has anyone you know left the church because of false accusations and slander or unkind treatment, even if the accusations were true? What happened, and what might we learn from this about judging others and how we are to handle such cases? STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: Have members of the class draw pictures of Eden and the quiet, tranquil environment that it was. Let them re-create an impression of what it might look like to rest in Edenic quietude in which rest symbolizes confident trust in God. Think of rest as a surrender of control, an acknowledgment that on our own we cannot make it. Activity: For the coming week, ask the class members to draw up a list of all former members of the church. Find their contact information. Then undertake to speak with each of them in order to determine what might have caused them to leave the church. Look for an opportunity to invite them back. 97

98 Lesson 8 *February Comrades in Arms (page 64 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Luke 5:6 8, 11; Mark 3:14; Matt. 8:23 27; Mark 4:35 41; 9:33 37; Matt. 20: Memory Text: And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32, NKJV). From the earliest days of His ministry, Jesus didn t work alone. He chose humans to take part in preaching, teaching, and ministering. And though the four Gospels focus primarily on His life, death, and resurrection, they often do so in the context of His disciples, those closest to Him. Thus, as the great controversy raged around Him, we can see it rage around the disciples, as well. Until the bitter end, when Jesus cried, It is finished, Satan found it impossible to make Jesus stumble and fall. Christ s followers, however, were much easier prey. Their character flaws gave him inroads into them that were readily exploited. Pride, doubt, stubbornness, self-importance, pettiness whatever the flaws, these opened the way for Satan. Half of their problem was that they, having their own views of what they thought would and should happen, didn t listen to what Jesus said would happen. They had a lot of hard lessons to learn. So, no doubt, do we. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February

99 Sunday The Call of Peter February 14 (page 65 of Standard Edition) When one considers the incredible issue at stake in the great controversy, it s amazing that Jesus would use human beings to aid Him in ministry, especially those as flawed as the ones He chose. Of course, if we consider the state of fallen humanity, no one He chose would have been without moral defects anyway. Walking along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, followed by a crowd of people, Jesus noticed two fishing boats whose owners were cleaning up after an unproductive night. These fishermen were already aware of Jesus. He had taught in their synagogue, where He astonished everyone with His words (Luke 4:31, 32). Jesus had even cast out a demon from a man in their synagogue, and everyone was amazed (Luke 4:33 36). They had seen Jesus at Peter s house healing Peter s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38, 39), and later that evening, healing many others (Luke 4:40, 41). It is no wonder that a crowd was following Jesus along the beach. Jesus stepped into Peter s boat, asked Peter to push it out a little from the shore so that all could see Him, and then spoke to the people (Luke 5:3). When finished, He told Peter to throw his freshly cleaned net into the deep water. Peter surely thought that wouldn t achieve anything, but out of respect for Jesus he did as He said. Read Luke 5:6 8. What does Peter s reaction teach us about him? How does it help us to understand why, despite Peter s obvious faults, Jesus chose him? Peter s reaction is remarkable. Maybe it is parallel to Jacob wrestling with the angel the same realization of Divine Presence, and an overwhelming sense of unworthiness (Gen. 32:24 30). One thing is clear. Peter became aware of his sinfulness because he knew that the Lord was there. His open confession of his sinfulness stands in stark contrast, for instance, to the reaction of some of the religious leaders, who referred to Jesus Himself as a sinner (see John 9:24) instead of acknowledging, even when in His presence, their own sinfulness. Luke 5:11 says that they forsook all and followed Him, which meant that, when their nets were so full they were about to break, the men left it all to follow Jesus. What message is there for us here? 99

100 Monday With Him February 15 (page 66 of Standard Edition) When Jesus called the first disciples on the shores of Galilee, they had already witnessed His power over evil. They had seen Him challenge demons (Luke 4:34 36), heal the sick (Luke 4:38 41), rule over nature (Luke 5:4 6), reveal sin, and then reassure Peter there was no need to fear (Luke 5:10). Some time later, after praying all night (Luke 6:12), Jesus assembled His followers (disciples), and from that larger group chose 12, calling them apostles. (Luke 6:13; the Greek word apostolos means to send out. ) Before Jesus sent them out, He spent some time with them giving them instructions (Luke 9:1 5) that were similar to the details He gave to a larger group of 70 some time later (Luke 10:1 16). Read Mark 3:14. What did Jesus want the apostles to do before sending them out on their own? What message is here for all of us? How many times are modern disciples more eager to race off and work for Jesus rather than spend time with Him? The simple reality is that when we go out to fulfill the gospel commission, racing off with our own to-do list, we bypass the Savior of the world and try to replace Him with ourselves. It is too easy to have a Messiah complex, thinking it is up to us to save the world, forgetting that Jesus alone is Savior. One would not be too hard-pressed to say that so much of Christian history has been soiled by those who, professing the name of Jesus, had not spent time with Him, had not known Him, and had not been changed by Him. The last thing our world or the church needs are those running around in the name of Christ who have not been with Him. One of Satan s greatest ploys in the great controversy has been his ability to co-opt those who claim the name of Christ and to use them to defile that name. Hence, before sending them off, Jesus wanted these men to be with Him in order, no doubt, to learn from Him. What does it mean to us, today, without the physical, fleshly presence of Jesus, to be with Him? What are the practical real-time ways in which we today can have that time with Him? 100

101 Tuesday February 16 Jesus Dominion Over Nature (page 67 of Standard Edition) Read Matthew 8:23 27, Mark 4:35 41, and Luke 8: How do we see the reality of the great controversy revealed in these texts? Though we don t fully understand the degree to which Satan impacts the natural world, Scripture does reveal that his influence is there, such as seen in the story of Job (see Job 1:18, 19). Ellen G. White also tells us that, Satan is even now seeking by disasters upon sea and land to seal the fate of as many as possible. In Heavenly Places, p. 348, another indication of his power in this area. Surely, amid the seeming ceaseless natural disasters that strike the world, we are seeing the reality of the great controversy play out here on earth. In this particular story, after a long day of teaching, when evening approached, Jesus suggested that He and the apostles go to the less inhabited opposite shore. Partway into their journey a fierce windstorm struck them suddenly, and waves crashed into the boat (Mark 4:37). Jesus was so exhausted He lay sleeping in the stern, seemingly oblivious. With the disciples so occupied in battling the storm, maybe it was some time before they realized that Jesus was asleep. Jesus doesn t say anything when they first cry out to Him. He does not give any sermon to explain the predicament that they are in or suggest ways that the disciples can act to be victorious in the situation. He just stands up, raises His hand, and tells the wind and waves to settle down and be quiet, as if they are merely rowdy children. At this the disciples are just overwhelmed with awe. They feared exceedingly, and said to one another, Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him! (Mark 4:41, NKJV). Though the lessons are many here, with this story we can see the extent of Jesus power and, thus, our need to trust Him, no matter what. Though we can see the reality of the Lord s power, even over nature, the one place where He will not force that power is on our own will. What should this tell us about how careful we need to be with the sacred gift of free choice, and how should the reality of the great controversy make us even more careful in how we use that gift? 101

102 Wednesday February 17 Who Is the Greatest? (page 68 of Standard Edition) Read Mark 9: What lesson did Jesus teach the disciples here, and what is the message here for anyone who claims to follow Jesus? See also Matthew 18:3 5. This debate among the disciples was no doubt related to their views of the future. They thought that Jesus was going to deliver Israel from the Romans, restore the kingdom of David, and reign as its new king in all the glory that the nation experienced under King Solomon. When that would happen, they no doubt assumed that, as part of Christ s inner circle, they d have prominent and important roles to play in the newly restored kingdom. But even that wasn t enough: they wanted to know who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom. If that doesn t sound like the promptings of Lucifer, what does? (See Isa. 14:14.) Read Matthew 20: How did Jesus answer this request? What was His main point? 102 Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this pathetic incident is its context. They were on their way to Jerusalem, where Jesus was about to be crucified. He had just explained to them that He was going to be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, and crucified, and then rise again the third day (Matt. 20:18, 19). As soon as He finished saying all this, the question of who was greatest came up again. They did not even hear what Jesus had said. It was obvious that they were not listening. Interested in their own small-minded ambitions, they missed the large issues at stake, focusing on false concepts of an earthly kingdom that would never come and missing out on what Jesus was telling them about the eternal one that He was offering them through His own upcoming death. It s easy to think about how shortsighted and petty the disciples were. Look at yourself and ask: What shortsightedness and pettiness do I need purged from my own soul?

103 Thursday February 18 Divine Encounter With the Word (page 69 of Standard Edition) It was the third day after Jesus death. His followers were still numb with shock. They thought He would crush the Romans, but the Romans had, it seemed, crushed Him instead. Many disciples met together with the apostles after the Crucifixion. A group of women from their midst visited the tomb early Sunday morning. Luke names three of them, but there were others who had come with Jesus from Galilee (Luke 23:55; 24:1, 10). They returned from the empty tomb to tell the eleven and... all the rest of two men in shining clothes they had seen there (Luke 24:9, NKJV). Luke records that on that Sunday afternoon two of Jesus followers walked the two-to three-hour journey from Jerusalem back to their home in Emmaus (Luke 24:13). It is likely that they were so engrossed in their discussion of what had happened over the weekend that they did not notice a stranger walking nearby. Maybe they would never have noticed Him if He had not entered their conversation by asking why they were so sad (Luke 24:17). This question really fired up the one called Cleopas. He wondered how the Stranger could be so ignorant of all the things that had happened. What things? the Stranger asked (Luke 24:19). Read Luke 24: What did these people say that revealed their lack of understanding, and how did Jesus explain to them the truth? Notice that Jesus whole emphasis was on the Scriptures. Just as He resorted to Scripture in His battle with Satan in the wilderness, He goes to the Scriptures here in order to push back the darkness that these two were in. Only after He grounded them in the biblical teachings about Himself and His mission did Jesus then give them some powerful experiences to help buttress those biblical teachings: first, He revealed Himself to them, showing that He indeed had been raised from the dead; second, He vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31, NKJV). Between the no doubt perfectly clear Bible study on the atoning death of Jesus, followed by these powerful experiences, these two had plenty of reasons for faith. Here, again, as all through the Gospels, we see Jesus keeping the Bible front and center. How, then, can we guard ourselves against any type of thinking that would cause us to question the authority of Scripture? 103

104 Friday February 19 (page 70 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: When here in the flesh, Jesus cast out demons (Luke 6:18), gave hope to the hopeless (Luke 6:20 23), showed people how to live out God s agape love (Luke 6:27 49), healed the centurion s servant (Luke 7:2 10), raised a widow s dead son (Luke 7:12 16), stilled a storm (Luke 8:22 25), freed the demoniac at Gadara of his demons (Luke 8:26 39), healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years (Luke 8:43 48), raised Jairus s dead daughter (Luke 8:41, 42, 49 56), and even raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for four days (John 11:39 44). All that He did, and so much more, and yet people still struggled to believe in Him. Even Christ s own disciples were slow to learn and to understand. Notwithstanding their love for Him and their reverence of His character, their faith in His being the Son of God wavered. Their frequent reference to the traditions of the fathers, and their continual misunderstanding of His discourses, show how difficult it was for them to free themselves from superstition. Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, p Faith is a gift from God, but it is a gift that people can resist. And that s because, as we have been warned, Satan is real, the great controversy is real, and the enemy works hard to cause us to doubt and disbelieve. Salvation is found through faith in what Christ has done for us; Satan knows that and thus will do everything he can to turn us away from that faith. Fortunately and we must always remember this Jesus is infinitely more powerful than the devil, and if we cling to Jesus, Satan cannot defeat us. Discussion Questions: What answer would you give to someone who asked, If Jesus has so much power over nature, why do so many people, even Christians, fall victim to natural disasters? How does the reality of the great controversy fit into the answer? What are some of the reasons we have for faith in Jesus and what the Bible says about Him? Why is it important to keep these reasons always before us? Also, despite the many good reasons we have, why do so many people struggle with faith? What are the things that cause us to doubt, and what is the best way to deal with them? As we saw this week, Jesus chose some flawed people to work with Him. What hope does that give you in regard to how Jesus can use you, despite your own weaknesses? 104

105 Story inside This Is Your Last Opportunity : Part 1 For 45 years I worked for Satan as a priestess. My name is Dorandina, and I was a medium for spirits of the devil. People paid me well to tell them the future or to guide them in making a decision, or even to make an enemy sick. I would go into a trance and call upon a spirit to enter and speak through me. Then I would give the spirit s answer to the person s question. I was a high priestess, called Mother of Saints. Many mediums have only one spirit, but I had different spirits come into me sometimes even a legion of 1,000 evil angels! Often I performed my rituals in special places on the beach, along the river, or in a cemetery, but always at night. One night, I went to a cemetery to perform a ritual for a patron. After the ritual I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly. That night in a dream I saw a man with long, flowing brown hair, dressed in dazzling white. He had a book in one hand and a ring with many keys in the other hand. He told me, These are the keys of the abyss [hell]. I have come in the name of your God. Follow Him. He has a plan for you. This dream was so different from anything I had dreamed before. It troubled me. But I began to think perhaps the dream had come because I was so tired. In time I forgot the dream. Four years later, after a big satanic celebration, I again dreamed about the man dressed in white. Again he told me, I have come in the name of your God. I have come to give you another chance. I saw in his hand the Ten Commandments written on the tablets of stone. I awoke and tried to understand what the dream meant. But I did not understand, and in time I again forgot the dream. Nearly two years later, I became very sick. I went to the Adventist hospital for surgery. I told my doctor about my dreams, and I asked him what he thought the dreams meant. The doctor talked to me about God and offered me some magazines and little booklets about God and prayer. But I threw them into the trash without reading them. I returned to my work for Satan and forgot about God and the angel in my dreams. January 1 is a special day to worship the spirits. On that day several years ago I went to the cemetery to conduct the ceremonies that people had paid me to perform one person wanted an enemy to become sick; another person wanted me to make a woman fall in love with a man. I had a list of rituals to perform on this big night, but I did not feel well. I had a fever. When I finally finished the ceremonies, I went to the hospital. While in the hospital I lost consciousness and slipped into a coma for three days. To be continued in next week s Inside Story. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 105

106 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Luke 24:32 The Student Will: 106 Know: Compare the different ways in which people, including the disciples, responded to the revelation of Jesus true identity. Feel: Appreciate that, despite human weakness, Jesus still calls him or her to proclaim His message of salvation. Do: Choose Jesus over the things of this world. Learning Outline: I. Know: The True Identity of Jesus Revealed A What did the disciples learn about the identity of Jesus (Matt. 8:23 27, Mark 4:35 41)? B The concept of servant-leadership has become a popular management and leadership theory in the world today. How did Jesus articulate this principle (Mark 9:33 37, Matt. 20:20 28)? II. Feel: A Receptive Heart: One s Own Choice A Besides acknowledging one s own sinfulness, what else does the Bible tell us characterizes those who would be followers of Jesus (Luke 24:32)? B What does it mean to leave everything in order to follow Jesus as the disciples did (Luke 5:11)? III. Do: The Great Controversy and God s Law of Love A In what ways can your heart burn within you at the revelation of Jesus through Scripture? B List the things that you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus. Share some with the class. Summary: Jesus does not ask us to follow Him without clearly revealing Himself to us. It is left for each of us to exercise our freedom of choice whether to receive or to reject the revelation. As individuals make their choices, they are acting their part in the great controversy.

107 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: Luke 24:32 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Bible gives ample evidence of who Jesus is. Whether or not one has a heart that is receptive to that revelation is the thing that makes all the difference. Just for Teachers: This week s study challenges class members to see themselves among the crowds that followed Jesus, observing the responses of different individuals to the startling revelation of Christ s majesty. Each member of the class must ask what his or her response will be to the revelation of Jesus in Scripture today. Opening Activity: Ask willing class members to share a story from their own lives in which several individuals responded to the same stimulus differently. Where in the Scriptures are there similar stories of misidentification in spite of the necessary information for correct identification? In the case of Jesus, many saw the Son of God where others saw a sinner. Whom do you see? The power of correct identification cannot be overstated. Consider This: The difference in perception of the identity of Jesus is not predetermined. Even though we are influenced by personal expectations and other factors that blind our view, there is still plenty of evidence that we need not fail in grasping the light that shines on our pathway. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: The Gospel stories are replete with demonstrations of Jesus power His power over demons, nature, sickness, and death. What a far superior demonstration of His Messianic calling than exercising His military might over the Romans! Bible Commentary I. Calling Flawed People to a Work of Cosmic Importance (Review Mark 3:14 with your class.) Mark 3:14 speaks of Jesus appointing the Twelve and naming them apostles. The Greek word for appointed (NRSV), or ordained (KJV), is poieo, which means literally to do or to make. In other words, Jesus made them who they were. In the present context, we can also say that

108 teachers comments Jesus constituted the apostles into a special group of twelve. The text also expresses the purpose, as well as the result, for which they were appointed; namely, (1) that they should be with Jesus and (2) that He might send them to preach. Jesus called the twelve apostles from a larger pool of disciples. We might expect that these were the best people one could find. After all, it is Jesus who chose them. However, from a human perspective, the Twelve were a disappointment in many respects. Perhaps the choice of the Twelve should give us pause the next time we are tempted to grumble over the person elected or appointed to serve in a position of responsibility in the church. What makes a person the best choice is, first and foremost, whether the Lord can use the person or not. What Jesus needed then, and needs today, were individuals with teachable and receptive hearts and minds. This is what we see in Peter. After Peter spent a long night at sea without catching any fish, Jesus told him to cast his net into the deep (Luke 5:4 8). What followed was a large catch of fish. To this miraculous manifestation of Christ s power, Peter responded, Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8, NRSV). He acknowledged his sinfulness and was willing to receive a clean heart from Jesus. This humility is what, ultimately, qualifies us to be servants of Christ. Consider This: Discuss the significance of appointing the apostles to be with Jesus and then sending them out to preach. II. Who Is This Man? True Identity of Jesus Revealed (Review Matthew 8:23 27 with your class.) Matthew 8:23 27 (see also Mark 4:35 41, Luke 24:19 35) is the story of Jesus stilling the storm. In Matthew 8:27, the disciples were amazed, as they exclaimed: Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? (NKJV). In the same way, the Gospels are concerned with this cardinal question: Who is Jesus? Clearly the writers of the Gospels considered that the stories they had selected were convincing as a demonstration of Jesus Messiahship. Indeed, they are powerful stories, which is why the disciples lack of faith seems so hard for us to comprehend. But before we wax eloquently in castigating the disciples for their lack of faith or the Pharisees for allowing their own preconceived notions (most of them unwarranted) of the Messiah to influence their view of Jesus, we must come to terms with how our own biases and preconceived notions of reality prevent us from seeing things in their true light. 108

109 teachers comments Consider This: Many Jews rejected Jesus as the Son of God, in spite of the overwhelming evidence, due to wrong expectations of what the Messiah should be or do. What does this tell us about the power of preconceived ideas, or presuppositions, and biases? III. The Servant Leaders (Review Mark 9:33 37 with your class.) In Mark 9:33 37, Jesus taught, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35, NKJV; see also Matt. 20:20 28). This principle of servant-leadership has gained currency among management and leadership theorists. For readers of the Gospel story, this principle is nothing new. Jesus taught precisely this principle to the distraught apostles, who jostled for positions of preeminence in the hoped-for earthly kingdom of the Messiah. Even the disciples who had been with Jesus, individuals who had been carefully chosen and trained, would fail to understand the true mission of Jesus, much less the nature of His kingdom or what makes for greatness. How else to explain these misperceptions other than to place them in the context of the great controversy! Consider This: What does the fact that the disciples misunderstood Jesus mission after being with Him for about three years tell us about being overly confident with our own perception of who Jesus is or of truth in general? Whatever truth we know, we need humility to realize that we are still greatly limited in what we understand. STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: The crucial thing for this week s study is whether we correctly perceive who Jesus is and how that perception influences our acceptance of Christ and His work of salvation for us. Thought/Application Questions: Compare Peter s reaction after Jesus instructed him to cast his net into the deep, drawing forth a large catch of fish, with the reaction of those who refer to Jesus as a sinner, in John 9:24. What is the difference? 109

110 teachers comments When Peter and his companions left everything to follow Jesus, what did everything include? What evidence did they have of who Jesus was by this time? How are we to apply the principle of being with Jesus to our lives today before going out to proclaim the message? What have you done with the evidence you have about who Jesus truly is? Activity: Ask volunteers in the class to share stories where individuals have wrongly perceived other people or ideas, only to discover later that they were wrong. Lest we fall into the trap of making the acceptance of Christ merely a matter of intellectual assent, consider what happened to the hearts of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. How does this inform our response to the proclamation of the Word of God? We must not minimize the influence of the devil in preventing us from correctly perceiving truth. All the more reason we must humbly ask God not only to reveal Himself to us but to give us receptive and repenting hearts. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: A correct perception of who Jesus is leads us to marvel at His humility. He was first in serving, sacrificing, and dying for sinners. Have class members discuss how they would practice servantleadership in their daily lives. 110 Activity: A correct understanding of who Jesus is comes from the study of His Word, properly interpreted and applied to the life. Ask class members to share how they interpret Scripture. What are some of the hermeneutical principles used?

111 Lesson 9 *February The Great Controversy and the Early Church (page 72 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Acts 1:6 8, 2:5 12, Gen. 11: 1 9, Acts 4:1 30, 7:54, 10: Memory Text: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13, NIV). The greatest barrier Jesus faced with His followers was their preconceived opinions. The disciples took little notice of what Jesus said if it did not fit in with their own ideas of who He should be. Right up to the time of His ascension, the disciples still quizzed Jesus about freeing Israel from the Romans. It was only after 10 days of prayer and close fellowship in the presence of God that dominant preconceptions were finally beginning to be replaced with the truth, and the disciples were ready to hear what God told them. This paved the way for the incredible events at that first Pentecost after the death of Jesus. Of course, the church still faced many challenges, especially from local religious leaders, some of whom were just as determined to stop the church as they were to stop Jesus. Thus, in this week s lesson, we will see the great controversy played out in different ways. We will see it manifested openly, as those in power are inspired by Satan to repress the truth. But we will also see it played out in a subtler but more crucial area: the human heart. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February

112 Sunday February 21 The Beginning of a New Beginning (page 73 of Standard Edition) After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with the disciples to confirm the resurrection and to help them better understand the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3, 1 Cor. 15:4 7). However, even as they assembled, just before Jesus departed into the heavens, the thing uppermost in their minds was whether or not this was the time for Jesus to finally conquer the Romans (Acts 1:6). Their own ideas of what should happen were so strong that they simply did not listen to what Jesus had been saying to them. Even after three and a half years of close instruction (the equivalent of a university degree) from the best Teacher the world has ever known, the disciples still had many wrong notions to unlearn. Read Acts 1:6 8. In the face of such ignorance, how did Jesus answer? Jesus focused on the real issue rather than wasting time trying to correct their every misunderstanding. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit was far more important than political discussion. After watching Jesus ascending into the clouds and disappearing, the disciples noticed two men standing by them. The two men told them that Jesus would return. Just as He was accepted into heaven as a conquering King, so He will come again as the King and Conqueror they dreamed of when they asked Him about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. But that day will surpass even their greatest dreams for He will come as King of all creation, not just king of a piece of land in the Middle East. The eleven disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, their heads swimming with memories and their hearts glowing with the truths revealed by Jesus (at least the ones they understood). But they needed something more. Jesus told them to wait for a few days until the Holy Spirit baptized them (Acts 1:4, 5), for though the enemy had been defeated, he wasn t done yet, and they would need power from on high in order to do what Jesus had called them to do. 112 Read Acts 1:14. What was the major difference in how the disciples related to each other now, as compared to before, such as seen in Matthew 20:20 24, and what message is there for us in this change of attitude? In what ways can you put aside self in order to prepare for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

113 Pentecost Monday February 22 (page 74 of Standard Edition) For ten days the followers of Jesus prayed, evaluated their experiences with Jesus in the light of Scripture, showed humility and acceptance to each other, and finally allowed the Holy Spirit to impress the truth upon them. Just as the Spirit hovered over the face of the waters at the beginning of the Creation process, so, too, the Spirit of God hovered over each of the disciples, appearing as divided tongues of fire on each of them (Acts 2:2, 3). It was a new beginning, a new creation. Read Acts 2:5 12. What is the significance of what happened as revealed in these texts? Compare it with Genesis 11:1 9. Sometime after the Flood, the inhabitants of the earth decided to build a tower that reached heaven (Gen. 11:1 9). To prevent them from this arrogant and foolish endeavor (as well as the new evils they had been devising, Gen. 11:5, 6), God confused their common language and scattered them over the face of all the earth (Gen. 11:7 9, NKJV). At Pentecost, God did the opposite. Here He could see a group of people, not building a new tower of Babel, but who were ready to proclaim the good news that evil would one day be forever banished. People from every nation under heaven were in Jerusalem that day (Acts 2:5, NKJV; compare the scattering at the tower of Babel), and they gathered together in amazement as they each heard their own language being spoken by the disciples (Acts 2:6 11). Peter uses this as an opportunity to address them. He speaks of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit preparing a people to meet God (Acts 2:17 21). He points out the Messiah s true mission and rebukes them for crucifying Him (Acts 2:23). They are cut to the heart (Acts 2:37, NKJV), and 3,000 are baptized and join the disciples (Acts 2:41). Some who had, under the inspiration of Satan, consented to the death of Jesus were now, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, converted to Jesus. What does this tell us of the power of God not only to forgive the worst of sins but also to change the hardest of hearts? 113

114 Tuesday February 23 Facing the Sadducees (page 75 of Standard Edition) Read Acts 4:1 30. How is the great controversy theme being manifested here? In what ways is this just one example of how it has played out all through history? How do we see Satan working here, and how do we see the Lord working, as well? 114 The priests and rulers saw that Christ was extolled above them. As the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection, heard the apostles declaring that Christ had risen from the dead, they were enraged, realizing that if the apostles were allowed to preach a risen Saviour, and to work miracles in His name, the doctrine that there would be no resurrection would be rejected by all, and the sect of the Sadducees would soon become extinct. Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 78. What got these leaders especially upset was the healing that the Lord did through Peter (see Acts 3:1 10). But, when confronted by these leaders, the disciples didn t waver. The priests were not expecting this from uneducated and untrained men (Acts 4:13, NKJV). Sending the disciples out of the room, they conferred among themselves, thinking that if they commanded these men not to teach in the name of Jesus, they would meekly comply (Acts 4:18). How wrong they were. Instead, the disciples went back and joined the others, and together they praised God (Acts 4:24). They prayed for more boldness and that God would stretch out His hand for more healing (Acts 4:29, 30). They did not need to wait long. Because of the disciples growing popularity, people brought their sick out onto the streets to allow Peter s passing shadow to fall on them (Acts 5:15). Multitudes came from nearby towns, and their sick were all healed (Acts 5:16). All through here we can see the great controversy unfolding: unscrupulous leaders seeking to suppress truth; faithful people reading the Scriptures and praying for divine power, sickness healed, and souls won. Though things, at least on the surface, don t always work out as well as they did here, we must never forget how, ultimately, the great controversy will play out, and the final victory that is ours because what Jesus has accomplished for all humanity is certain.

115 Wednesday February 24 The Stoning of Stephen (page 76 of Standard Edition) The disciples weren t the only ones to be confronted by the religious establishment during the earliest days of the church. Stephen, who was filled with faith and power, [and] did great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8, NKJV), was brought before them. His witness was so compelling, in fact, that his opponents manufactured false and incriminating stories against him, for which he was dragged before the council (Acts 6:9 14). In Acts 7:2 53, Stephen gives a powerful message to those who accused him. Read Acts 7:54, which says they were cut to the heart ; that is, they were convicted by his words. In Acts 2:37 41, after hearing Peter make a similar accusation, others also were convicted. What was the difference in response to conviction, and what does that tell us about how crucial a surrendered heart before God is? The apostles had so far gotten away with challenging the leaders, but when Stephen tried to do the same, he was killed by an angry mob. Stephen s death marked the beginning of a concerted effort by Satan to wipe out the new movement. Up until this point, the followers of Jesus had been harassed and threatened, but Stephen was the first one to be killed. But what did they expect? If Satan could inspire some leaders to execute Jesus, His followers certainly should not have expected any less for themselves. Of course, all through the great controversy the Lord would, time and time again, bring victory out of what often seemed like defeat. It was no different here. After the death of Stephen, Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin council in consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion. For a time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God. But soon this relentless persecutor was to be employed in building up the church that he was now tearing down. A Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, to preach and suffer for His name, and to spread far and wide the tidings of salvation through His blood. Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p Sometimes we see the good that arises from what s obviously evil. That s great. What do we do, though, when we don t see any good arise from evil but, in fact, only more evil? 115

116 Thursday February 25 Changing Attitudes (page 77 of Standard Edition) The disciples not only struggled with preconceived ideas that kept them from understanding what Jesus taught them, but they also shared national prejudices. One example of this is the story of the Samaritan woman from whom Jesus asked a drink of water. The disciples were surprised that He even spoke to the woman (John 4:27, NKJV). National prejudices also came to the fore in the account of Cornelius, a Roman centurion based in Caesarea. Cornelius was a devout man and one who feared God (Acts 10:2, NKJV) and highly respected by the local people (Acts 10:22). An angel instructed him to send for Peter in Joppa (Acts 10:22, see also Acts 10:3 8). Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter goes up to the rooftop to pray (Acts 10:9). With shelter from the sun and the cool sea breezes, he relaxes and begins to feel hungry, and while waiting for his hosts to prepare lunch he sees a strange vision. Heaven opens and something like a huge sheet tied at the four corners is let down. Inside the cloth is an assortment of creatures that he regards as either polluted or unclean and from which he is told to kill and eat (Acts 10:11 14). What was Peter s reaction when he was told to eat unclean food, and what did the vision mean? Acts 10: In this vision God teaches Peter an important lesson. Some people today think that this is the time when God changes the human diet to allow people to eat whatever they like. That is not what Peter receives from the vision. First he wonders what it means; it is not at first obvious (Acts 10:17). When Cornelius s men arrive and explain their mission, Peter feels compelled to return with them (Acts 10:22, 23). When Peter meets Cornelius, he is able to tell Cornelius the meaning of the vision. Christ is the Savior of all the world. Gentiles, too, are precious souls for whom Christ died (Acts 10:34 48). Peter was learning a lesson that we all, still, need to learn. In Christ all barriers have been torn down and the distinction between Jew and Gentile, between all people, no longer exists, but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (Acts 10:35). 116 It s nice to believe that we are all one in Christ; that s what the Bible teaches. Unfortunately, even in the church that s not always how we feel in our hearts, is it? First, how can we recognize the prejudices that we hold, and, second, in the power of God, how can we be purged of those prejudices?

117 Friday February 26 (page 78 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote about Jesus returning to the earth, but not as predicted in the Bible. Instead, in this made-up story, Jesus returned at the height of the Inquisition, when religious leaders used their power for evil. The Grand Inquisitor had Jesus, who came as a humble peasant, arrested and thrown in a dungeon. That night he visited Jesus in jail and castigated Him for giving humans freedom. Instead of taking men s freedom from them, he declares, Thou didst make it greater than ever! Didst Thou forget that man prefers peace, and even death, to freedom of choice in the knowledge of good and evil? Nothing is more seductive for man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering. Despite his audacity and cynicism, the cleric has a point. Look at what humans have done with their freedom. Pain, evil, sin, suffering, death all have arisen from freedom, or from the abuse of it. But God created us as loving beings, and the only way we could love is if we were created free. So much of how the great controversy plays out in this world is impacted by what people have done and still do with the sacred but very costly gift (the Cross reveals the cost) of freedom. As we saw this week, some, when confronted with the gospel, repented and gave their hearts to Jesus; others, when confronted with it, murdered the messenger. Freedom is a precious gift, but we need to be so careful about what we do with it. Discussion Questions: No question, the New Testament emphasizes the oneness that we have in Christ. This is a very powerful idea, one that was revolutionary in its time. Unfortunately, even now in the twenty-first century, one of the greatest evils that still exists is ethnic, racial, and national prejudice. Only God knows the full extent of what this evil has wrought. And though we expect this in the world, what about the church, even our own church? How is it manifested? Why is this kind of attitude so contradictory to the most basic and fundamental teaching of the gospel? At times we all feel convicted by the Holy Spirit. How do you respond when that conviction comes? It s in the heart that the great controversy truly rages. How do the choices you make when convicted by the Spirit reveal whose side you might be on? 117

118 inside Story This Is Your Last Opportunity : Part 2 The story thus far: Dorandina was a Satanist high priestess. She performed rituals at night and was paid well to channel spirits and to cast spells. Twice she received dreams of a man dressed in white, telling Dorandina that God had a plan for her, but she always dismissed the dream. After becoming very ill, Dorandina ended up at the hospital and fell into a coma. When I awoke, I was sure that I had again dreamed about the man dressed in white. He was beautiful: a light shone from his face. He said to me, This is the last opportunity you will be given. God has a plan for your life. The angel reached out and took my hand. He beckoned me to follow him. I followed him up some steps. I asked the man, What do I need to do? The man told me to go to the Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church. That is God s church, he said, and the people there follow Him. His voice was soft and full of love. I kissed the man s hand, and then he disappeared. During the two weeks that I stayed in the hospital, I thought a lot about what I had seen in the dream. I decided that as soon as I was strong enough I would find the Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church. I did not know anything about the church or this denomination, except that it met on Saturday. I told my husband about my dreams and the man s command to visit this church. He warned me to stay away from the church, but as soon as I was able, I slipped out of the house very early on Saturday morning and went to the church, but the gate was locked. I waited for two hours by the gate in front of the church. At 8:00 a.m. a man opened the church gate. He invited me in to join the Sabbath School teachers class that was starting soon. Inside the church he introduced me to a woman who made me feel welcome. After the teachers class ended, she took me to the auditorium for Sabbath School and introduced me to the Bible worker. She greeted me warmly and offered to come to my home and help me learn more about God. I was delighted to have her come to my home, the home I had purchased with the devil s money. To be continued in next week s Inside Story. 118 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

119 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Acts 4:13 The Student Will: Know: Examine the ways in which preconceived ideas profoundly affect how he or she responds to God. Feel: Appreciate the importance of letting the Holy Spirit guide his or her perception of God and of reality, in general. Do: Determine to closely examine his or her heart and mind in order to determine whether or not preconceived ideas hinder obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Learning Outline: I. Know: The Dangers of Preconceived Ideas A The disciples no doubt exhibited changes in their attitude following Pentecost. Discuss how their attitude changed in regard to non-jews, as seen in Acts 10. B What factors determine whether we overcome our prejudices? II. Feel: Acknowledging Our Own Prejudices A What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the work of the early Christian church as seen in Acts? B How do we overcome racial and ethnic bigotry? C Why was boldness important for the early apostles? What is our greatest need today? III. Do: Human Exercise of Freedom of Conscience and Choice Matters. A What should you do when you have to share the gospel in places where there is strong opposition to the gospel? B What preconceived ideas or forms of prejudices are you going to give up today? Summary: We cannot overcome our own prejudices or withstand the forces of evil except by the power of the Holy Spirit. 119

120 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: Acts 4:13 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: When we spend time with Jesus, the Holy Spirit impresses our hearts and minds with the truths of the gospel. Then and only then are we able to overcome the forces of evil bent on preventing us from witnessing for Christ. Just for Teachers: We all need to examine ourselves in order to see what preconceived ideas color how we look at God, His will for us, and how we view others. The role of the Holy Spirit in helping us to overcome those prejudices cannot be overemphasized. Opening Activity: Invite members of the class to list examples of different kinds of prejudices: racial, ethnic, national, and religious. Have them share experiences in which they were the victims or perpetrators of prejudices of any kind. Next, ask the members to share their experiences in which they harbored preconceived ideas about others. How do such preconceptions affect the way in which individuals look at the world around them? End by having the class share ways in which these evils can be overcome. Perhaps lead class members in silent, private prayer. Consider This: In what ways are we similar to the disciples who still could not understand the nature of Christ s kingdom after the Resurrection? What dangers lurk at our own doors in regard to harboring preconceived ideas about Christ s kingdom? And how do we overcome them? STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: A study of the early church reveals that the perceptions of the apostles concerning Jesus as the risen Messiah, the boldness with which they proclaimed the gospel, and their recognition that God accepts all people, whether Jews or non-jews, all came into being as a result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Even the teachings of Christ, which in our case come from the study of the Bible, cannot be properly understood unless the Holy Spirit convicts us. Bible Commentary I. Still Expecting an Earthly Kingdom (Review Acts 1:6 8 with your class.) 120

121 teachers comments The question posed by the apostles in Acts 1:6, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (NKJV) must have disappointed Jesus, though His answer does not show it. Jesus is just about to ascend into heaven. He is urging the disciples to wait for the only power that they need in order to be His witnesses. Yet, all the disciples can ask about is whether He is about to set up an earthly kingdom! As they meet with Jesus for the last time and as Jesus urges them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Holy Spirit has come, dreams about the supposed earthly kingdom are foremost in the minds of the apostles. This misconception stands as a warning to us today. Consider This: We underestimate the power of preconceived ideas at our own peril. What resources were at their disposal to assist the apostles in overcoming their preconceived ideas? II. The Arrival of the Comforter (Review Acts 2:5 12 with your class.) Acts 2 describes the infilling of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised (Acts 1:4, 8; John 16:7, 13). Ellen G. White writes, The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work. The Acts of the Apostles, p. 39. Consider This: What is the danger of presuming to do the work of the gospel without reliance on the Holy Spirit? Discuss how the following statement from Ellen G. White applies today: The arguments of the apostles alone, though clear and convincing, would not have removed the prejudice that had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Spirit sent the arguments home to hearts with divine power. The Acts of the Apostles, p

122 teachers comments III. Proclaiming the Resurrection With Power to All Nations (With your class, review Acts 4:1 30; compare with Acts 7:54.) The priests and rulers of Israel would stand in the way of the preaching of the gospel (Acts 4:1 3, 26, 27). They threatened and coerced in the hope that the apostles would be intimidated to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Among the opponents of the gospel were the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection. The apostles rightly saw in the opposition of the leaders an underlying struggle against Christ obviously instigated by Satan and his evil forces (Acts 4:26, 27). These forces, largely unbeknownst to their human agents, attempted to arrest the rapid spread of the gospel (Acts 4:17). Jesus had declared that the gospel would be proclaimed in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Not even the prejudices of the apostles, who regarded non-jews as unclean, would stop the proclamation of the gospel. The Spirit broke down the walls of partition (see Acts 8, the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, and Acts 10, the story of Cornelius). On this front, the great controversy raged. But the boldness with which the disciples proclaimed the gospel was directly a function of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29, 31). Such boldness was witnessed in Stephen, who remained steadfast to the point of death (Acts 7:60). Consider This: The Holy Spirit gave the apostles boldness to accomplish the mission of the early church. What does this fact teach us about the needs that the Spirit will supply among Christ s followers today in varying circumstances, times, and places? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: When God s people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they are emboldened to proclaim the gospel in spite of opposition and other impediments. Prejudices are broken down, and the gospel message has convicting power on the hearers. Thought/Application Questions: What would you consider to be the most important need(s) of believers today in proclaiming the gospel effectively? Take time, just now, to pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your heart and supply those needs. 122

123 teachers comments What prejudices and preconceived ideas are influencing the way we, as Seventh-day Adventists, go about our mission of proclaiming the third angel s message to the whole world? Considering the variety of cultures and languages represented at Pentecost, what is the role of diversity in the church today? What is your church doing to diversify its outlook? Activity: List and discuss some of the ways in which you could strive to overcome and give up prejudices in the way you relate to other people. STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: Prejudice remains one of the major impediments to the work of proclaiming the gospel. How important is it that even those we evangelize understand that we respect them as people? What must we do to demonstrate that we have repudiated all forms of prejudice? Activity: If you were to prepare a short skit on the trial of Jesus disciples at the hands of the rulers, as recorded in the opening chapters of Acts, describe what characters, settings, and exchanges between speakers you would include. Optional Activity: If time permits, prepare such a skit and act it out in class. 123

124 Lesson 10 *February 27 March 4 Paul and the Rebellion (page 80 of Standard Edition) 124 Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Rom. 5:12 21, 1 Cor. 3:12 17, 1 Cor. 12:14 26, Eph. 6:11 17, 1 Cor. 15: Memory Text: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54, NIV). Paul s writings abound with the great controversy theme. There s no question that Paul believed not only in the reality of Satan but also in the reality of his work of deceit and death. In numerous places, Paul warned of Satan s schemes (Eph. 6:11, NIV), of his powerful deceptions (2 Cor. 11:14), and even of his supernatural powers (2 Thess. 2:9). But as anyone who has read Paul knows, the apostle s emphasis has always been on Christ and His ultimate victory for us. However much Satan succeeded in overcoming God s covenant people through the centuries, the devil utterly failed against Jesus, and in Jesus all the covenant promises have been fulfilled, thus ensuring salvation for all who claim it in faith and obedience, Jew and Gentile. Christ s faithfulness also ensures the ultimate demise of Satan (Heb. 2:14) and the end of the great controversy. This week we will look at some of the images and metaphors that Paul used in explaining the reality of the battle and how we are to live, working together for the good of the whole as a church and a community of believers engaged in this cosmic struggle. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 5.

125 Sunday Adam and Jesus February 28 (page 81 of Standard Edition) While Paul is best known for his clear exposition of the gospel, his explanation of the great controversy is also crucial. In the midst of his teaching the good news, he summarizes his main points: we have been justified by faith through Jesus (Rom. 5:1); we have direct access to God, and we rejoice in hope (Rom. 5:2); and tribulations no longer worry us (Rom. 5:3 5). He also gives us the promise that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8) and that we are now saved by Christ s life and death on our behalf. We also are spared from God s last judgment against sin (Rom. 5:9, 10), and we rejoice that we have been reconciled to Him (Rom. 5:11). Read Romans 5: How is the great controversy revealed in these verses? After talking about all that Christ has done for us, Paul explains how Jesus did it. Unless the damage caused by Adam at the tree in the Garden was fixed, there would be no hope of an eternal future, and Satan would be triumphant in the great controversy. Adam brought death to all because of what he did (Rom. 5:12). Even the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai could not stop death and the sin problem. The law only clarified what sin is. It was not the answer to sin. The problem of sin and death could only be solved through the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus paid the debt through the gracious gift of His own life (Rom. 5:15, 16, NLT). Now humankind could be restored. Just as death had reigned because of Adam s sin, now abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness could reign because of Jesus faithfulness (Rom. 5:17). It is not fair that we lost paradise because of Adam. We had no part in his wrong choice; yet, we suffer the consequences of it. However, neither is it fair that we regain paradise. We had nothing to do with what Jesus did two thousand years ago. Paul summarizes his argument in Romans 5: The first Adam brought condemnation and death; the second brought reconciliation and life. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8, NKJV). Put your own name in there and claim that promise for yourself. What hope does that give you? 125

126 Monday February 29 The Church Building (page 82 of Standard Edition) The church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p Nowhere is this classic Ellen G. White statement better illustrated than in Paul s first letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul likens the church to a crop that different people work on: one person plants the seed, another waters it, but God Himself is responsible for its growth and maturity (1 Cor. 3:4 9). Paul continues his point, now by describing the church as a building. Someone sets the foundation and then various others build upon it (1 Cor. 3:10). Because the foundation is none other than Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), then those who follow must be careful about what sort of material they use. The coming judgment will distinguish between inferior and suitable building materials (1 Cor. 3:12 15). Read 1 Corinthians 3: Compare that to Matthew 7: What are the two things that reveal whose side in the great controversy we really are on? Now look at what follows: Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy him. For God s temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Cor. 3:16, 17, ESV). We need to notice two things. The first is that the context is speaking about the church and how it is built up. It is not talking primarily about health. God does not destroy people who abuse their bodies with bad lifestyle choices; they destroy themselves. (Later, Paul does talk about our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit in connection with our moral choices in 1 Corinthians 6:15 20.) The second thing is that each time the word you is mentioned in these two verses, it is plural in the Greek. An individual is not being addressed, but a group. So, if anyone does anything to destroy the church, he or she is in serious trouble. God warns that He will destroy the person who tries to destroy the church. How can we be certain that, in all that we say and do, we are building up, not tearing down, the church? 126

127 Tuesday March 1 The Church as a Body (page 83 of Standard Edition) The role and functions of the church are clearly spelled out in 1 Corinthians 12. Here we find the church likened to a body, and with the role of each of its members clearly defined and working together as a harmonious whole (1 Cor. 12:12). Read 1 Corinthians 12: What is the essential message of this passage? Paul speaks in a seemingly ridiculous manner, wondering what would happen if a foot or an ear said they were not part of the body. Paul goes further by wondering what would happen if the whole body were an eye or an ear (1 Cor. 12:17). Imagine a big ear flapping its way across the room to say Hello to us! As ridiculous as that may sound, it does in fact happen when people try to control the church as if they were the sole owner. Previously, Paul outlines various activities in the church, describing each as a gift of the Holy Spirit. There are those who speak with wisdom and others who are very knowledgeable about Scripture (1 Cor. 12:8). There are those whose faith is an inspiration to all, and there are those with a healing touch (1 Cor. 12:9). There are miracle workers, people with prophetic insight, those who can clearly distinguish between good and evil, and those who can break through language barriers (1 Cor. 12:10). Note that the individuals concerned are not the ones to decide their own ability. Instead, the Holy Spirit has handpicked each of them from different backgrounds to build up and bring unity to the body, the church (1 Cor. 12:11 13). To underscore this important fact, Paul repeats himself: God is the one who decides where each member fits (1 Cor. 12:18). Most important, despite the many members, there is only one body; each member is vitally linked to all the others, even those who do not consider themselves worth much (1 Cor. 12:20 24). This interdependence has built-in protections to ensure the safety and well-being of each. The interdependence comes into play when hurts and rejoicing are shared (1 Cor. 12:26). Some bodies struggle with autoimmune diseases: when one part of the body attacks another part. These diseases can be debilitating, even fatal. Considering today s texts, how does the enemy work to undermine the body, and how can we stem this attack? 127

128 Wednesday The Armor of God March 2 (page 84 of Standard Edition) The reality of the great controversy, and that we are in a literal battle with a real enemy (Eph. 6:11), is revealed by Paul s use of war imagery in Ephesians 6. Read Ephesians 6: What do these verses tell us about how real, and personal, the battle is? It is not what the various pieces of armor are all about but rather what they represent that counts. Notice that Paul stresses that we need to take all of the armor, not just selected pieces of it. In so doing we will remain standing (Eph. 6:13), a metaphor used in the Bible to describe innocence in judgment (compare with Ps. 1:5). In other words, we will be victorious. What holds all the armor in place is the belt, used as a metaphor for the truth (Eph. 6:14). Thus, the truth is what holds all our spiritual defenses in place. Jesus often talked about truth (John 1:14, 17; 4:24; 8:32; 14:6). The breastplate of righteousness follows (Eph. 6:14); righteousness is another key word in Jesus discourses (for example, Matt. 5:6, 10; 6:33). In the Old Testament, righteousness was understood as upholding justice and ensuring that everyone had a fair deal. The military sandals (Eph. 6:15) represent the gospel of peace, an expression borrowed from Isaiah 52:7, which speaks about people walking vast distances to let people in captivity know that Jerusalem has been rebuilt and that God has restored the freedom of His people. It is another way of saying that part of fighting against evil is to let people know that God has won the battle already and that they can now live at peace with themselves, with others, and with God. The shield of faith (Eph. 6:16) prevents fire arrows from hitting their intended target and causing wholesale destruction. The helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17) parallels the crown Jesus shares with us (Rev. 1:6, 2:10), and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is our only weapon of self-defense, to be used as Jesus did when tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). What does the fullness and completeness of the armor tell us about our total dependence upon God in the great controversy? How can we make sure that we are leaving no part of ourselves unprotected? 128

129 Thursday March 3 The Last Enemy (page 85 of Standard Edition) Evidently some in the church at Corinth were confused about the resurrection. Paul carefully explains its importance as a key element of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1 4). It seems there is some concern about the believers who have died (1 Cor. 15:6), and some are suggesting that those who have died would miss out on Jesus return (1 Cor. 15:12). This is similar to the situation in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 4:13 17). Read 1 Corinthians 15: What is the implication of denying the resurrection of the dead? Paul concludes his argument by saying that if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Cor. 15:19, NKJV). To the contrary, Christ has indeed risen and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20, NKJV). Then Paul compares Christ with Adam: As in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22, NKJV), and he specifies when that general resurrection will be: at His coming (1 Cor. 15: 23, NKJV). Later in the chapter he continues with the comparison of the two Adams (1 Cor. 15:45 49). The first man was made from the dust, but the heavenly Man is from heaven, and so one day He will change us. What this means is explained in a description of what happens at the Second Coming the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:52, 53, NKJV). Although Adam was at first made to live forever, the human race soon deteriorated to the point of living only for a relatively short time. If we are to inherit eternal life, we will be made to last forever, and that s what we will be given. Read 1 Corinthians 15: Though we are immersed in the great controversy now, and though death and evil and unholy forces seem to dominate the world, what do these verses tell us about how the great controversy ends? How can we learn to look beyond what we see and grasp what these promises mean for each one of us, personally? 129

130 Friday March 4 (page 86 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Not only man but the earth also had by sin come under the control of the wicked one, and was to be restored by the plan of redemption. At his creation, Adam was placed in dominion over the earth. But by yielding to temptation, he was brought under the power of Satan, and the dominion which he held passed to his conqueror. Thus Satan became the god of this world. He had usurped that dominion over the earth which had been originally given to Adam. But Christ, by His sacrifice paying the penalty of sin, would not only redeem man, but recover the dominion which he had forfeited. All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, November 4, It s so easy, though, as we look around at the world, to forget the crucial truth that Satan is defeated and that his time is short (Rev. 12:12, NIV). Evil, death, and suffering pervade this world, though we are promised that, because of what Christ has done, all these will be eradicated. Also, if it isn t clear to us by now, it ought to be: these will not be eradicated by anything we as humans do, except if we completely destroyed the earth and all life on it, which we d probably do if given enough time, and God didn t hold us back. Only the supernatural intervention of God will bring the promised changes for us. We certainly can t take care of the problems ourselves. Discussion Questions: Enfeebled and defective, needing constantly to be warned and counseled, the church is nevertheless the object of Christ s supreme regard. He is making experiments of grace on human hearts, and is effecting such transformations of character that angels are amazed, and express their joy in songs of praise. They rejoice to think that sinful, erring human beings can be so transformed. Ellen G. White, The Signal of Advance, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 20, What are some of the ways that we are transformed by what Jesus does for and in us? How do we see the great controversy expressed within the church, either at the local level or in the church as a whole? What are the issues being used to divide us, to weaken us, to keep us from doing what we have been called to do? How can we bring healing and unity when people just don t agree on what we might believe are crucial points? 130

131 inside Story This Is Your Last Opportunity : Part 3 The story thus far: Dorandina, a Satanist high priestess, received dreams of a man dressed in white, but she always dismissed the dream. After becoming very ill, Dorandina ended up at the hospital and fell into a coma. During the third time she saw the dream, the man told Dorandina to go to the Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church. She began studying the Bible and decided to become a Christian. I wanted to study about God. The more I studied, the more I realized that my alliance with the devil was wrong and would result in my eternal condemnation. Many people came to me to ask me to perform ceremonies for them. I told them that I could not do this because I had become a Christian. But I can pay double, some offered. But still I refused. My husband became angry. How are we going to pay our bills if you don t work? he demanded. My grown children stopped speaking to me, stopped caring for me. Now that I had no money for them, they had no time for me. My husband threatened to leave me if I did not return to my work as a spirit medium, but still I studied the Bible. The devil did not let me go without a fight. I destroyed the statues and all the devil s charms, and I told the women who worked under me that I had become a Christian and would no longer practice devil worship with them. These women went to the cemetery where I had practiced with them. They killed a chicken and offered its blood to the devil in exchange for my death. But God protected me, and I didn t become ill. After studying the Bible, I was baptized into the Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church. I m old now, and my doctor says I don t have a long time to live, but I want to say that if Jesus can transform my life, He can transform anyone s life. I am so grateful to God, for He gave me the message of salvation. I know if I die soon, I will be saved forever, because God loved me enough to send His angel to call me out of devil worship and into His faith. Dorandina Sousa Melo, from Belém, Brazil. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 131

132 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: 1 Corinthians 15:54 The Student Will: Know: Review the great controversy theme in Pauline writings in relation to the church, salvation, and the victory of Christ and His followers, including victory over death. Feel: Experience hope, knowing that death and other human woes will end when Christ comes. Do: Abide in Christ amid the spiritual warfare that we all face. Learning Outline: I. Know: Christians Struggle Not Only as Individuals Against Satan but Also as a Church. A How do the parallels between Christ and Adam in Pauline writings develop the great controversy theme? B Why is death the last enemy to be defeated? Discuss. II. Feel: In the Church s Struggle Against Evil, the Ultimate Victory Is Over Death. A How do the metaphors used to describe the church enable us to relate to one another as members of the church? B How does the hope of the resurrection help church members face the daily struggles against evil? III. Do: Putting On the Whole Armor of God A What should you do this week that will demonstrate that you are putting on the whole armor of God? B In what way does the hope of the resurrection inform how you minister to a family that is grieving the loss of a loved one? Summary: It is important for us to proclaim the hope we have in the resurrection to a world that has seen its fair share of suffering, pain, and death. We shall overcome death because, by His resurrection, Christ has destroyed the devil and the power of death for each of us. 132

133 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: While death remains a constant reminder of our human frailty, Christ has conquered the grave for us. The hope of the resurrection is a profound source of comfort to us, both as individual Christians and as a church, as we struggle against evil in this world. Just for Teachers: This study calls for members of the class to rejoice in the hope of the resurrection and to appreciate the importance of pulling together as a church. Even though each of us is accountable to God individually, the church, as God s family of believers, has an important role in nurturing other believers in order to be better able to withstand the assaults of the devil. Opening Activity: Invite members of the class to discuss how the idea of the resurrection speaks to them personally. Ask volunteers to share experiences concerning how they dealt with the death of a loved one, including the period of sickness that often precedes it. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: Paul asserts the reality of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Christ s victory is rightly emphasized. Satan is a defeated enemy, and the last bit of the consequences of his deception death has been conquered by Christ s resurrection. Bible Commentary I. Christ Succeeded Where Adam Failed (Review Romans 5:12 21 with your class.) Adam, by his and Eve s transgression, brought sin into the world. With it came disobedience, death, judgment, and condemnation. Christ, on the other hand, has brought the free gift of grace, and with it justification, righteousness, obedience, and eternal life to all who receive Him by faith. The comparison between the effects of Adam s sin and that of Christ s righteousness cannot be clearer: Therefore just as one man s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man s act of righteousness leads to

134 teachers comments justification and life for all (Rom. 5:18, NRSV). When we have faith in Jesus, God counts the righteousness of Jesus as ours. This is called righteousness by faith, and for Seventh-day Adventists this is what the third angel s message is all about. In 1905, Ellen G. White wrote, Christ and His righteousness let this be our platform, the very life of our faith. Evangelism, p In an article published in 1890, she wrote, Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel s message, and I have answered, It is the third angel s message in verity. Evangelism, p Consider This: Many people in our postmodern world scoff at the existence of Satan. How does Paul s teaching insist on the reality of Satan and how Christ has overcome him? In what ways was Adam a type of Christ (Rom. 5:12 14)? II. The Power of the Resurrection (Review 1 Corinthians 15:12 19 with your class.) Without the resurrection of Christ, the preaching of the gospel is in vain. Without it, there is no reason for being for the church or for the entire Christian faith (1 Cor. 15:14). Little wonder, then, that Satan tries by all means possible to convince individuals that there is no resurrection. By the time of Christ adherents of the Jewish sect of Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, even though this concept was present in the Old Testament (Dan. 12:2, 13; 1 Sam. 2:6, etc.). Paul s incisive statement bears repeating here: If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:19, NRSV). However, for Paul, Christ has indeed risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). Of all the tragedies brought to our world following humanity s disobedience, death is the ultimate consequence of sin and is the final enemy to be defeated (1 Cor. 15:26). Consider This: Satan fully understands the loss to his cause if people were to believe in the resurrection, and with it, in the risen Savior. How is the great controversy being fought over the issue of the resurrection? III. The Church as a Body Faces Its Enemy (Review 1 Corinthians 12:14 26 with your class.) First Corinthians 12:12 31 uses the human body as a metaphor for the church. Just as the body is one, with different parts and organs, so the 134

135 teachers comments church is one body with individual members that form the different parts and organs of the corps of believers. The symbol of the church as a body underscores, in part, unity; and also how diversity can serve the larger purpose of unity. Paul bases his understanding of unity in the Trinity (see his reference to the Spirit, the Lord, and God in 1 Corinthians 12:4 6). At issue for Paul is how differences in ethnicity (1 Cor. 12:13) and differences in abilities and in spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28) can serve the single purpose of building God s kingdom. As we would expect, Satan cannot be happy if Christians are united in the sense that Paul envisions. Satan is determined to sow seeds of discord, division, tension, prejudices, and even hatred among us. The result is that members of Christ s body, the church, quibble over differences in form (who or what we are as people) and function (what we do, who does what, and how we do things). Discussion Questions: While unity is essential to the mission of the church, different people may understand unity in different ways. What constitutes unity? How can the Seventh-day Adventist Church demonstrate its unity? IV. Direct Combat With the Evil One (Review Ephesians 6:11 17 with your class.) In Ephesians 6:10 17, we see one of the clearest understandings in Scripture of the great controversy as a spiritual warfare. Here, the devil (Greek, diabolos; compare Rev. 12:9) is named as the archenemy (Eph. 6:11), who uses deceptive schemes (Greek, methodeia, which recalls the serpent s shrewdness in Genesis 3:1). The nature of the engagement with the devil is also described as a struggle or a fight (Greek pale, Eph. 6:12). The forces of evil are described as daunting, putting the reader in mind of the dragon of Revelation 12. The struggle in this passage of Scripture is against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12, NRSV). Clearly, God s people, on their own, cannot begin to be a match for such determined forces of evil. And this is where the full armor of God comes in: the belt of truth on the waist, the breastplate of righteousness, feet that hasten to bring the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:14 17). Consider This: How does the spiritual armor, promised in Ephesians 6:14 17, afford us protection from the powers of evil and spiritual darkness? 135

136 teachers comments STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: This week s study focuses on the themes of unity and the importance of various functions within the body of believers. How does the body metaphor teach us not to regard some responsibilities as more important than others? Thought Questions: How does Christ s victory over Satan become ours? Why is it important that each of us belongs to a church, a local congregation, or an organization or denomination such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Why does it matter which church one belongs to? What evidence is there that Paul considered the church important in the life of a Christian? Discuss. What should individuals do if they feel that the local church in which they hold membership is not living up to its mission? Activity: What makes unity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church an imperative? How should the symbolism of the church as a body influence how we treat and relate to one another in the Seventh-day Adventist Church? What role should diversity play in unity? STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: The centrality of the Resurrection and our desire to share that hope with the world should form the basis on which we resist the attacks and unveil the deceptions of the enemy. Activity: Dwell on themes about the Resurrection, about justification by faith, about spiritual warfare, about unity and diversity, church membership, church organization, and various forms of ministry in the church. What can you do this week to promote or to realize these themes in your own life? 136

137 Lesson 11 *March 5 11 Peter on the Great Controversy (page 88 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: 1 Pet. 2:9, 10; Deut. 14:2; 1 Pet. 4:1 7; 2 Pet. 1:16 21; 2 Pet. 3:3 14; Dan. 2:34, 35. Memory Text: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV). Peter s writings abound with the great controversy theme. Maybe that s because he knew for himself, better than most, how easy it is to fall for Satan s deceptions. Thus, he was keenly aware of how real the struggle is. After all, it was Peter who wrote: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8, NKJV). Peter sees the struggle unfolding in various ways. He sees a struggle going on in the church, which includes those who once fellowshiped with the believers but who are now cynical and dismissive of God and of any thought of Christ s return. He speaks strongly, and powerfully, against the scoffers, because if faith in the promise of Christ s return were to be lost, what hope remains? Again, maybe Peter affirms faith so positively because of his own failures. He knows what it is like to scoff and deny and try to fit in with the crowd so that others would not condemn him for being a follower of Jesus. Hence his emphasis on how crucial it is for believers to live a life reflective and worthy of their high calling and election in the Lord. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March

138 Sunday Darkness to Light March 6 (page 89 of Standard Edition) Read 1 Peter 2:9, 10. How is the great controversy seen in these two verses? These verses come from Exodus 19:6, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (NKJV); and Deuteronomy 7:6 (repeated in Deut. 14:2), a holy people, chosen... to be a people for Himself, and a special treasure (NKJV). These assurances were, of course, given during the Exodus, when God s people were being released from slavery and on the way to the Promised Land. Peter sees a parallel between the people of God during the Exodus and the church in his day. Thus, Peter s words are not a description of the end product but, rather, of a work in progress. Yes, we have been chosen and elected by Him, and we are to publicly praise God for bringing us out of the darkness that Satan has engulfed the world in. But that doesn t make us perfect or mean that we have somehow arrived (see Phil. 3:12). On the contrary, awareness of our own sinfulness and shortcomings is a crucial aspect of what it means to follow Jesus and to sense our need for His righteousness in our own lives. It is thus that every sinner may come to Christ. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. Titus 3:5. When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say, In my hand no price I bring; / Simply to Thy cross I cling. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p One sure way we know that we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9, NKJV) is our awareness of just how dependent we are upon Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30, NIV). What goes through your head when you feel overwhelmed and discouraged by your deeds and even your own character? How do you deal with those thoughts when they come? How can you turn these times to your own spiritual advantage? 138

139 Monday Peer Pressure March 7 (page 90 of Standard Edition) Read 1 Peter 4:1 7. Why are our lifestyle choices important, and how do they affect our readiness for Christ s return? Peter comments that believers have already spent enough of their lives doing what others around them pressured them to do (1 Pet. 4:3). But now things have changed, and believers may be thought strange for not joining the crowd, possibly resulting in malicious gossip being spread about them (1 Pet. 4:4, NKJV). Thus, Satan will even use former friends to try to discourage us in our walk with God. Peter encourages believers not to be intimidated by these assaults. The Gentiles will need to give an account of themselves to God, who alone is judge, so there is no need to worry about what they think (1 Pet. 4:5). His point is crucial. How many people do you know who have buckled under the pressure of other people s expectations, rather than standing up for what they believe? This is especially tough on young people, who struggle with what is known as peer pressure. Instead of us being concerned about being accepted by others and conforming to their opinions and their demands and their expectations of us, Peter admonishes believers to be kind and loving to those we come in contact with (1 Pet. 4:8, 9). This is not just an added extra, some additional duty we must fit into our Christian to-do list. Rather, it is the most important thing we do and the most important way of interacting with people around us. Maybe that is why Peter suggests that we need to get serious in our prayers (1 Pet. 4:7), because God knows that sometimes we can be more serious about pleasing the Gentiles than relating lovingly and kindly to those close to us. We need to pray not only for them but also that we would allow God to make us more sensitive to their concerns. As a royal generation and a holy priesthood, we are called to influence them for the good, as opposed to allowing them to influence us for the bad. The tragic history of Israel was just that: the pagans, instead of being influenced for good by Israel, influenced Israel for evil. What kind of peer pressures do you face? How can you resist? In what ways are the words overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21) so appropriate in such situations? 139

140 Tuesday March 8 The More Sure Word of Prophecy (page 91 of Standard Edition) Read 2 Peter 1: What is Peter saying about prophecy that is so important? 140 Peter had seen many things in his time, and he lists some in this passage: Jesus transfigured on the mount (2 Pet. 1:18) and the confirmation of the prophecies concerning Jesus (2 Pet. 1:19). Each of these had impacted Peter deeply; yet, he spends more time on the last point the prophecies. This may have something to do with his own failures as a disciple. How many times had Peter not listened to what Jesus was saying because he thought he already knew what was being said? How many times did Jesus foretell His coming treatment at the hands of the chief priests in Jerusalem; yet, when things happened exactly as Jesus had said, on a number of separate occasions, Peter was caught unprepared? Probably the most painful of all these failures was when Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him. Peter was so sure that could never happen, but when it did, it must have been the lowest point in his life. Maybe this is why Peter sets out to clarify how to be a faithful follower of Jesus. He reminds the followers of exceedingly great and precious promises through which they may be partakers of the divine nature as opposed to those who are imprisoned by the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Pet. 1:4, NKJV). To ensure that the believers have indeed escaped the corruption, he lists a number of interconnected qualities that define the Christian lifestyle: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet. 1:5 8). Each builds on the other, and together they form a complete unit like ingredients in a cake. Paul calls these same qualities fruit rather than fruits (Gal. 5:22, 23), because they form a unit that cannot be separated. Peter goes further by saying that the believers would not stumble if they made these values part of their lives and asks them to diligently make their calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). Remember that Peter is addressing his epistle to Christian members established in the faith. He is by no means suggesting that conforming to a special set of requirements will ensure a ticket into heaven. He is simply contrasting the prevailing attitudes and behaviors of the time and challenging Christians to spend their energies on positive things rather than negative ones.

141 Wednesday Scoffers March 9 (page 92 of Standard Edition) Read 2 Peter 3:3 7. What is Peter saying here about the past that can help us deal with issues in the present, as well as in the future? The battle between light and darkness, between the followers of Jesus and the promoters of evil, seems about to reach its climax. The devil, as a hungry roaring lion looking for its next meal (1 Pet. 5:8), is aided by a chorus of mockers (scoffers). With their rational and scientific arguments (2 Pet. 3:3, 4), these scoffers try to neutralize the faith of believers. Peter suggests that what motivates them is their desire to maintain their lustful lifestyle (2 Pet. 3:3; see also Jude 18). They reason that Jesus is not coming because everything just keeps going as it always has. There is one very disturbing feature about this mockery. Jesus said, I will come again (John 14:1 3), but these scoffers are saying, in effect, Jesus will not come again (2 Pet. 3:4). This is an echo from Eden, where God said, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Gen. 2:17, NKJV). However, Satan, through the serpent, said, You will not surely die (Gen. 3:4, NKJV). Here is a direct contradiction of the word of God, now repeated by not just one voice, as in the Garden, but by a chorus of voices, everywhere. One redeeming feature of this lie is that Peter predicted it. Every time we hear someone scoffing at the idea of Jesus coming again, they themselves become another fulfillment of prophecy. Although history has witnessed the previous destruction of the earth by a catastrophic Flood, the scoffers don t want to know about that. They do not want to admit that God has anything to do with their personal life choices. They also want to avoid the fact that the same God who stored up water to flood the earth has similarly stored up fire to sweep over the earth to destroy it on the great Judgment Day (2 Pet. 3:5 7). Their mistaken hope is that nature will just keep on going as it always has. How do we, as the years go by, hold on to the promise of the Second Coming? Why is it crucial that we do? 141

142 Thursday March 10 Hastening the Day (page 93 of Standard Edition) Although the wait for the Second Coming seems never-ending to us, the time is not a concern to God. With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Pet. 3:8, NKJV). Throughout the Scriptures the end is always close, whether the day of the Lord in the Old Testament or the return of Christ in the New. Read 2 Peter 3:8 14. What is the long-term hope we are given here? See also Dan. 2:34, 35, The classic time prophecies clearly tell us that there is a limit to how long evil is allowed to continue and how long God will wait. In the prophecies, God outlines His strategy to end sin and suffering and to restore the earth to its original perfection. How we view the end of all things, as we know it, will affect how we live now (2 Pet. 3:12). If we rebel at the idea of God disturbing our little world, then we will tend to be cynical and join the scoffers. If, on the other hand, we see this as a merciful God finally stepping in to clean up the abominable corruption and human-rights abuses so rampant around us, then we can with confidence look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13, NKJV). Again Peter voices his concern about our attitudes and personal conduct. He encourages us to be diligent and to be without spot and blameless (2 Pet. 3:14, NKJV). If it was not for the next verse, we may think that Peter is promoting a works religion, but he corrects this possible misunderstanding with the phrase, the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, confirming the words of Paul to the same believers (2 Pet. 3:15). Being blameless is our aim. That is how Job was described; blameless because he feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1, NKJV). That is how Christ will present us to the Father (1 Cor. 1:8, Col. 1:22, 1 Thess. 3:13, 5:23). Being without spot? That is what the sacrificial lamb had to be (for example, Exod. 12:5, Lev. 1:3), what Jesus was (Heb. 9:14, 1 Pet. 1:19), and how He presents the church to the Father (Eph. 5:27). In our quest to overcome sin, to grow in faith, and to shun evil and live holy and blameless lives, why must we always rely on the righteousness of Jesus that is credited to us by faith? What happens when we take our eyes off that promise?

143 Friday March 11 (page 94 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Peter warned that scoffers would say: everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation (2 Pet. 3:4, NIV). This was nothing new; the same sentiments were expressed before the Flood. As time passed on, with no apparent change in nature, men whose hearts had at times trembled with fear, began to be reassured. They reasoned, as many reason now, that nature is above the God of nature, and that her laws are so firmly established that God Himself could not change them. Reasoning that if the message of Noah were correct, nature would be turned out of her course, they made that message, in the minds of the world, a delusion a grand deception. They manifested their contempt for the warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning was given.... They asserted that if there were any truth in what Noah had said, the men of renown the wise, the prudent, the great men would understand the matter. Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 97. Today, the great men tell us something similar: the laws of nature are fixed and set, and all things continue on as before. In a sense, that s what the theory of evolution teaches: life occurred through natural processes that can be explained, at least in principle, through the operation of natural laws that one day science will fully explain to us, and all without any need of deity. The great men were wrong then, and they are wrong now, as well. No wonder Paul wrote: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Cor. 3:19). It was in the time of the Flood, it was in Peter s time, and it is in ours, as well. Discussion Questions: Despite all the reasons Peter had to believe in Jesus, he still emphasized the sure word of prophecy. Why is prophecy so important to us? How did prophecy help prove that Jesus was the Messiah at His first coming? What hope does it give us for the Second Coming? After all, without prophecy, how could we even know about the promise and hope of the Second Coming? We tend to think of peer pressure only in the context of teenagers and young adults. But that s not correct, is it? We all want to be liked and accepted by our peers. After all, we have a much better opportunity to be a good witness if they like us, as opposed to if they don t, right? In our desire to be pleasing to others, how can we guard against compromising our beliefs? Why are such compromises easier to make than we might be inclined to think? 143

144 inside Story From Broken Promises to New Life: Part 1 When Francisco was a child, his father took him to bars and to other places a child should never go. Once when Francisco didn t want to go with his father, the man held a gun to his head. When Francisco was 14, his father died. But the abuse the boy had suffered left deep scars. He began drinking and taking drugs to help him forget the pain. His mother and sisters began attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but Francisco was too drunk to notice. By the time he was 18 he was living with his girlfriend, Neide, and her mother. He worked on oil rigs when he was sober. When Francisco learned that Neide was pregnant, he was happy. But his new role had little influence on his life. Sometimes he beat Neide, as he had seen his father beat his mother. One day he beat her hard enough to cause her to lose the baby. When he realized what he had done, he rushed to the hospital to see her. On the way he prayed that God would help him get off drugs and alcohol. He promised Neide that he would change and treat her better. Neide believed him. But nothing changed. The next time he beat her she told him to leave, that she never wanted to see him again. Francisco came to see her every day and promised that things would change. Eventually, she took him back. Things did change. Francisco sank more deeply into drugs. One day he almost died from an overdose. He awoke in the hospital. Neide told him to never come home. Francisco knew she meant it, and he sank deeper into depression. One of his sisters brought him a religious book to read. One night when he couldn t sleep, he picked up the book and started reading. Once more he prayed that God would release him from the bondage of drugs. When he opened his eyes, Francisco saw a tall man dressed in brilliant white standing near his bed. The man touched Francisco s forehead. It seemed that the touch penetrated to the depths of his mind. Francisco lay still for several moments, then he realized the being was gone. He sat up in bed, still able to feel the pressure on his forehead. For the first time in his life he felt peace and hope. Moments later his mother walked into his room. He told her that God had touched him and had taken away the desire for drugs and alcohol. I m a new man, he told her. I m a child of God. I want to go to church. But his mother had seen him break his promises too many times. You make promises, but you don t change, she told him. Francisco knew that she was right. He thought about how deeply he had hurt her, but he was sure that this time was different. He convinced her to return the next day and take him to church with her. To be continued in next week s Inside Story. 144 Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site:

145 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: 1 Peter 4:1, 2 The Student Will: Know: Examine Peter s teaching that the life of faith is fraught with opposition. Feel: Nurture faith in God s promises to overcome skepticism, persecution, and temptation to sin. Do: Resolve to live according to God s will. Learning Outline: I. Know: Living by God s Will in a Hostile World A What is essential to the believer s self-identity that allows him or her to be guided by God s will? B In what ways is the world hostile to a life lived according to God s purpose? C What spiritual resources are available to the Christian in order to live a life that is guided by God s will? II. Feel: Adopting the Mind of Christ Amid Suffering A How may believers overcome the pressure to conform to the sinful ways of the world around them? B In what ways may the prospect of judgment encourage the believer to value his or her calling by God (out of darkness into His light)? III. Do: The Great Controversy and God s Law of Love A How has your faith in Christ s coming influenced the way you live from day to day? How will this week s lesson influence the way you live? Can you say that you are living according to God s will? How does the decision to live according to God s will bring about suffering? B What are the worldly pressures that you are facing, and how will you deal with them from here on out? Summary: Christ has suffered for us that in Him we may live for God rather than for the world. 145

146 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate 146 Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1, 2 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Living according to God s Word requires us to renounce the world and its pleasures. Such a task is not so easily accomplished in a pleasure-seeking world, especially considering our own sinful nature and the influences around us. However, by understanding our identity in Christ, we can rely on His promises to live in accordance with His will. Just for Teachers: The lesson this week focuses on the reality that we face as Christians and as Seventh-day Adventists; namely, facing slander for the things that we believe and resisting the pressures from unbelievers who would influence us to join them in evil practices. Encourage class members to persevere in their commitment to remain faithful to Christ amid persecution and to cultivate the patience and fortitude necessary to withstand the pressures exerted by worldly influences. Opening Activity: Invite three or four individuals from the class to discuss their own experiences of facing opposition to their faith and how they dealt with it. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: Proper understanding of our identity as Christians is at the foundation of living according to God s will. This week we study 1 and 2 Peter in relation to the great controversy theme. Peter uplifts Christ as the Great Sufferer who has not only set an example but whose atoning sacrifice enables us to lead godly lives in a hostile world. Satan s unrelenting efforts to thwart our progress become the opportunity God uses to make our calling and election sure: in essence, demonstrating to the onlooking universe that we are a special people, a royal priesthood. Bible Commentary I. A People With a Purpose: God s Special People (Review 1 Peter 2:9 with your class.) Ancient Israel was chosen as God s special people (Exod. 19:5, 6). First

147 teachers comments Peter applies this high calling to the believers scattered in Asia Minor (1 Pet. 1:1, 2:9) and to the Christian church at large. The theme of Israel as God s special people is reiterated in Deuteronomy within the context of the covenant between God and Israel (Deut. 7:6; 14:2, 21; 26:18, 19; Hebrew, segullāh, treasured possession, NRSV). Recall that the book of Deuteronomy is framed on the basis of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties. In these treaties, a strong nation entered into a treaty with a weak nation. The strong nation offered protection to the weak nation against foreign aggression. In turn, the weak nation rendered loyalty and service to the strong nation. The weak nation paid taxes, tributes, and other forms of services to the strong nation. So close were some of the treaty relationships that the king of the strong nation referred to the king of the weak nation as son, while the vassal referred to the suzerain as father. This concept of belonging to underlies the relationship between believers and God. Israel became God s special people when He took them from Egypt. Being God s people is Israel s identity, and this identity was to inform their actions (to keep God s commandments). As Christians, we are to keep God s commandments; that is, live according to His will, not so we can become God s people but because we are God s people. This is our identity, and this is what our action is based upon. Consider This: Religion/faith is not just a set of beliefs but also selfidentity. If we identify ourselves as God s holy and peculiar people, this identity will inform what we do. What difference would it make if Christians were to think more of who they were before yielding to pressure from family, friends, or the surrounding culture? Similarly, how much of a difference would it make if teenagers asked who they were before joining their peers in drug use, and so forth? How different would our Christian lives be if, before we acted, we asked ourselves, Who are we? II. Living According to God s Will: The Calling (Review 1 Peter 4:1 9 with your class.) Unbelievers freely give in to their passions drunkenness, reveling, carousing, lawless idolatry (1 Pet. 4:3). Christians cannot, with good conscience, do these things. Rather, they are called to holy living ( You shall be holy, for I am holy [1 Pet. 1:16, NRSV ]) and to support their faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love (2 Pet. 1:5 8, NRSV; compare 1 Pet. 4:8, 9). As Christians, we live by the 147

148 teachers comments will of God rather than by human desires (1 Pet. 4:2), for Christ has suffered on our behalf (1 Pet. 4:1), denying His own flesh in order that we might have freedom from the tyranny of the flesh and sin. Consider This: Why is it erroneous and dangerous to believe that peer pressure is limited only to young people? What are some of the pressures that adults of various ages face from their peers? What are the biblical principles for facing and handling such pressures at any age during our Christian walk? III. Living According to God s Will: The Promise (Review 2 Peter 1:4 10 with your class.) Living according to God s will is not salvation by works. It is based upon the promises of God and on what Christ has done for us. This is the salvation that the prophets prophesied about (1 Pet. 1:10, 11). Living according to God s will is based upon the good news of the salvation we have in Christ (1 Pet. 1:12). And God has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Pet. 1:3, NRSV), so that we may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust (2 Pet. 1:4, NRSV). IV. Scoffers Galore (Review 2 Peter 3:3 14 with your class.) Peter speaks about the certainty of the Second Coming and final judgment (2 Pet. 3:7, 10) and of the fact that, toward the time of the end, some will scoff at these ideas. He argues that we can be certain about the Second Coming on the basis of past events, beginning with Creation and the Noahic Flood (2 Pet. 3:6). He also argues, in 2 Peter 3:11, 14, that awareness of Christ s coming should lead to a life of dedication. Consider This: What is the relationship between faith in Christ s second coming and morality (right and wrong behavior)? STEP 3 Apply 148 Just for Teachers: Assist class members in applying this week s study to their lives individually. There is a clear distinction between a believer s lifestyle and that of a nonbeliever, as we have seen in our study of 2 Peter 1:5 8; compare 1 Peter 4:8, 9 and 1 Peter 4:3 for the contrasting lifestyles. This week s study challenges the tendency to obliterate the distinctions between the Christian lifestyle and that of nonbelievers. It does so without falling into the trap of attempting to earn salvation by legalistic observance of law.

149 teachers comments Thought Questions: What areas of my life do I need to change, relying on divine grace and the free gift of righteousness in Christ, in order for my life to be in accordance with God s will? In what ways are peer pressures an impediment to living according to God s will? What challenges do Christians face in their belief in the second coming of Christ? What is the relationship between our view on Christ s second coming and our action in our daily living? What role does prophecy play in our understanding of the Second Coming? Activity: Peer pressure is not only a teenage phenomenon. While teens are often under pressure to conform to the norms defined by their peers, adults also struggle with pressure to conform to the standards set by their surrounding cultures or by the social classes to which they belong. For Seventh-day Adventists, there is likely to be pressure from fellow Christians who go to church on Sunday. How would you respond to someone who asks you why Seventh-day Adventists keep the Sabbath when the vast majority of Christians keep Sunday? STEP 4 Create Just for Teachers: What we believe directly influences how we behave; and how we behave is often influenced by the kinds of people with whom we surround ourselves. Invite members of your class to dwell on the relationship between what one believes and how one lives. Activity: List concrete examples that illustrate the relationship between belief and behavior. We should also add that who we are in this case, God s special people should determine how we behave. In what concrete ways might you minister to fellow believers who are going through various kinds of suffering: for example, suffering as a result of peer pressure, exposure to environments in which people fall prey to the desires of the flesh, encounters with skeptics who do not believe in either the Second Coming or the prophetic teachings, and so forth? 149

150 Lesson 12 *March The Church Militant (page 96 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Rev. 2:1 7, Hos. 2:13, Rev. 2:8 17, Rev. 2:18 3:6, Isa. 60:14, Rev. 3: Memory Text: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20, NKJV). John was the last of the 12 apostles to die. As well as writing the Gospel and the epistles that bear his name, he also wrote Revelation, which contributes much to our understanding of the great controversy. For now, though, we shall concentrate only on his description of the seven churches. We shall study them from the perspective of the original recipients, in order to enable us to glean as much from his words as possible. One thing that stands out is that Jesus personalizes His approach to each church. They all have different needs, and He meets them all. One challenge is that these churches are shown to be struggling with their identity, just as we are today. Are their members clearly lining up with Jesus and His calling to them toward witnessing to a dying world, or are they straddling both sides, trying to look like Christians but then privately being more comfortable with the powers of darkness? Though we see ourselves as the last of these churches, it will be clear that however different the circumstances, in many ways we face some of the same challenges that the churches faced through the ages. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March

151 Sunday March 13 The Church at Ephesus (page 97 of Standard Edition) In Revelation 2:1, Jesus is pictured holding the seven stars and walking among the lampstands as He addresses the church at Ephesus. These symbols point to significant realities. The lampstands are the churches, and the seven stars are angels tasked with caring for the churches (Rev. 1:20). In other words, there is a close connection between the churches and the throne of God in heaven. The churches have a crucial part to play in the great controversy. Read Revelation 2:1 7. In what ways can we see the great controversy played out in these texts? The message to Ephesus begins with a description of its character. Jesus is fully aware of its strengths and weaknesses. He commends them for their activities, their patient perseverance, and their intolerance toward false teachers in their midst (Rev. 2:2, 3, 6), a clear warning that false doctrine should not be tolerated in the church. It seems that the church at Ephesus, originally enlisted by God in the struggle against darkness, has suffered a counterattack by Satan. It came in the form of false apostles, followers of Nicolas perhaps one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5) but who had evidently formed a breakaway movement. Whatever their heresy, Jesus hated it (Rev. 2:6). The trouble with the Ephesian church was that it had left its first love (Rev. 2:4). This is very similar to the language of the Old Testament prophets who likened the apostasy of Israel to a person chasing after illicit lovers (for example, Hos. 2:13). The situation may look hopeless, but Jesus specializes in redeeming hopeless situations. First of all, He encourages His people to remember from where they have fallen and to get back to what they were doing in the first place (Rev. 2:5). This is not a call to turn the clock back to the good old days ; rather, it is a case of using past experience to guide them into the future. That you have left your first love (Rev. 2:4, NKJV). Why is that so easy to do? What happens to us, either individually or as a church, that could make our love for God grow cold? How do we keep a passion for God and His truth burning within us year after year? 151

152 Monday March 14 Smyrna and Pergamum (page 98 of Standard Edition) To the church in Smyrna, Jesus is introduced as the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life (Rev. 2:8, NKJV; see Rev. 1:18). To the church at Pergamum, Jesus is the one with the sharp two-edged sword held in His teeth (Rev. 1:16, 2:12). What is the significance of the way Jesus is described for each of these two churches? 152 Read Revelation 2:8 17. The church members at Smyrna are also known for their hard work; yet, they don t have much to show for it, maybe as a result of a synagogue of Satan in their midst (Rev. 2:9). Similarly, the members at Pergamum seem to be clinging to their faith, even though the throne of Satan is among them (Rev. 2:13). Thus, the reality of the great controversy is seen here, as well. The church at Smyrna is warned of tough times ahead, including prison and maybe even death (Rev. 2:10). In Pergamum someone already had been killed for his faith (Rev. 2:13). It is important to note that the hard times have a time limit; that is, evil is not allowed to continue beyond a certain point (Rev. 2:10). Of concern is that God has a few things against the church in Pergamum (Rev. 2:14 16). Apparently they are tolerating people in their midst who hold [to] the doctrine of Balaam and to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:14, 15, NKJV). Nicolas and Balaam seem to be parallel terms; Nicolas is a compound Greek word (nikaō and laos) and means the one who conquers the people. Balaam can be derived from two Hebrew words am ( people ) and baal (from bela, to destroy or to swallow ), meaning destruction of people. Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 2002), p Jesus warns the whole church that if their heresy continues, He will come in person and fight against them with the sword in His mouth (Rev. 2:16). Yet, even amid these warnings, Jesus gives both churches great encouragement (Rev. 2:11, 17). Read Revelation 2:14, 15. What do these verses tell us about the idea that doctrine does not matter? Why does it matter, and in important ways too?

153 Tuesday March 15 Thyatira and Sardis (page 99 of Standard Edition) Read Revelation 2:18 3:6. What are some of the issues going on in these churches, and in what ways are we, as a church and as individuals, struggling with the same things? How is the great controversy revealed in these struggles? The introduction of Jesus to the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18) reveals an increasingly trying and perplexing time for the people of God. The metaphors of fiery eyes and feet of polished brass or bronze not only appear in Revelation 1:14, 15 but are also found originally in Daniel 10, where Daniel sees One whose eyes are like torches of fire and His feet like burnished bronze (Dan. 10:6, NKJV). Later at the end of time, Christ will arise and rescue His people. When the situation is darkest for God's people, God Himself will directly step in to deliver those whose names are found written in the book of life (Dan. 12:1). Jesus is introduced similarly to the church in Sardis as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars (Rev. 3:1, 5:6). Here again is a Savior who is both actively involved behind the scenes and enlisting the powers of heaven to ensure the safety of His church. The description of these two churches is of deep concern. In Thyatira, although things are improving (Rev. 2:19), they have been like Israel at the time of Queen Jezebel. Similarly, in Sardis, the people are spiritually dead (Rev. 3:1). Despite all these issues, Jesus encourages the churches. He acknowledges many in Thyatira who have not known the depths of Satan and encourages them to hold fast... till I come (Rev. 2:24, 25, NKJV). There are also a few in Sardis who have not defiled their garments (Rev. 3:4, NKJV). It is to these faithful ones that Jesus promises special blessing. He promises to give Thyatira the morning star (Rev. 2:28), which He later identifies as Himself (Rev. 22:16), and to Sardis He promises an assured place in heaven and that He will confess their names before My Father and before His angels (Rev. 3:5, NKJV). Hold fast and repent. What do you have to hold fast to, and what do you need to repent of? How are these two ideas powerfully related to each other? 153

154 Wednesday March 16 The Church at Philadelphia (page 100 of Standard Edition) Read Revelation 3:7. What are the ways that Jesus is introduced to this church? What do these descriptions tell us about Him? The church is commended for keeping Christ s word and for not denying His name, even though their strength appears to be quite weak (Rev. 3:8). Jesus makes an intriguing promise that members of the synagogue of Satan will soon come and pay homage to the Philadelphians (Rev. 3:9). This is taken from Isaiah 60:14, describing the oppressors of God s people prostrating themselves in submission, in direct contrast to all the harsh treatment that they had previously given to God s people. From this we may understand that the synagogue of Satan had been making life difficult for the early Christians. As we have seen, some of the previous churches struggled with those who were teaching error and causing problems one of the ways that Satan works against the churches. Philadelphia, it seems, is the one who finally rids the church of this source of evil. Read Revelation 3:10. How do you understand the perseverance of the Philadelphian church? How did Jesus promise to limit their trial? What does that mean for us today? It seems apparent that the Philadelphian church had passed through times as equally tough as the previous churches, but their attitude seems to have been different. This is the first church that Jesus doesn t specifically point out a failing that they need to work on. Their faith and their cooperation with God has been noticed and appreciated by the Savior, again despite their little strength (Rev. 3:8, NKJV). The promises to the overcomer from this church include being made a pillar in God s temple so that they no longer need to float in and out (Rev. 3:12). With the new names they are given, they are fully identified as belonging to God, maybe because they had already been identifying with God in all aspects of their lives previously. If you were suddenly in heaven, right now, how well would you fit in? 154

155 Thursday March 17 The Church at Laodicea (page 101 of Standard Edition) Laodicea also gets some descriptions of Jesus: the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and the Beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14, NKJV). These descriptions are key aspects of the divinity of Christ. The Amen is a reference to Isaiah 65:16, where the word Amen is translated the God of truth and is linked to the covenant. Jesus is the great covenant-keeping God, the God who keeps His promises of salvation and restoration. Jesus is also the Faithful Witness who testifies to His people about what God is really like (Rev. 1:5, 22:16, John 1:18, 14:8 10). He is also the Creator (Col. 1:16, 17). Read Revelation 3: What is Jesus telling this church to do? What do these words mean to us today? After these first texts tell who Jesus really is, it is necessary to clarify who this church really is. In other words, we can really only know ourselves if we know God first. The people at this church have been fooling themselves to the point that what they think about themselves is the opposite of what they really are (Rev. 3:17). Jesus then pleads with them to take the necessary steps in order to have the clarity of vision needed to see things as they really are and, also, to be changed as they need to be changed (Rev. 3:18). The alternative is divine judgment in two phases. First, it may be necessary for a little old-fashioned parental discipline (Rev. 3:19); next, there is the possibility of God spewing them from His mouth, like a mouthful of putrid water (Rev. 3:16). To this church that is so close to being cast out from the presence of God, the greatest promises are given. Jesus wants to linger over a meal with them (Rev. 3:20) something reserved only for close friends. Then He promises them the opportunity to sit with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21). It is interesting to trace through the seven churches the developing phenomenon of God s people growing cold and moving away from Him. How does this happen? It seems that although the battle has been won, some people are still persistently hanging on to evil and to the powers of darkness. There s no question that as we look through the history of these churches, we can see the great controversy being made manifest and being expressed there. And thus, it will continue until the second coming of Jesus. 155

156 Friday March 18 (page 102 of Standard Edition) Further Thought: Thursday s study touched on the divinity of Christ. Why is that so important? Ellen G. White wrote: Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law, and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race. God s Amazing Grace, p. 42. It s simple logic: the law is as sacred as God; so, only a Being as sacred as God could make atonement for transgression of the law. Angels, though sinless, are not as sacred as their Creator, for how could anything created be as sacred as who created it? No wonder, then, that again and again Scripture teaches that Christ is God Himself. The sacrifice of Christ, in a sense, centers around the sacredness of God s law. It was because of the law, or, more precisely, because of the transgression of the law, that Jesus if we were to be saved would have to die for us. Indeed, the severity of sin can be seen best in the infinite sacrifice needed to atone for it; that severity itself speaks to the very sacredness of the law itself. If the law is so holy that only the sacrifice of God Himself could answer its claims, then we have all the proof we need of just how exalted the law is. Discussion Questions: In class, discuss your answer to Wednesday s question. What are the implications of your answers? As I have of late looked around to find the humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, my mind has been much exercised. Many who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Christ, are becoming conformed to this world, and seek more earnestly the applause of those around them, than the approbation of God. They are cold and formal, like the nominal church that they but a short time since separated from. The words addressed to the Laodicean Church, describe their present condition perfectly. Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, June 10, Though these words were written more than one hundred fifty years ago, why do they apply so well to us, even today? What does this tell us about the myth of the early times of the church somehow being the good old days? 156

157 inside Story From Broken Promises to New Life: Part 2 Francisco knew that many of the people at his mother s church knew of his past life. He was embarrassed to be seen. That Sabbath, the pastor spoke about the prodigal son. Following the sermon Francisco responded to the call to give his life to God. He knew that the only way to gain victory over Satan was to let Jesus fight his battles for him. Francisco couldn t sleep, and his body craved the drugs, but he refused to give in. When the craving threatened to overpower him, he locked himself in his mother s house and sang praises to God and read his Bible until the craving passed. Francisco drew great strength from fellowship with his new Christian friends, and he attended every church service he could. His former drinking friends teased him when they saw him walking to church carrying a Bible. Francisco began walking several blocks out of the way to avoid them. Then he told God, For years I carried a liquor bottle without shame. Why am I ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible? After that he walked by his friends, carrying his Bible. When they teased him, he said, I realize my need for God; someday you will realize it too. Francisco studied the Bible with a church member, and as its truths became more precious to him, he wanted to share his new love for God with Neide. He sent a message to tell her that he had become a Christian and asked if she would like to study the Bible too. Neide refused to believe him. But when she saw him later, she realized he had changed, so she agreed to study the Bible. Francisco still loved Neide and asked her to marry him. She agreed, and soon after their baptism they were married. Francisco worked hard, purchased a small piece of land, and built a little one-room house. He began searching for people in his neighborhood with whom he could study the Bible. Many of his neighbors had seen the change in Francisco s life and wanted to know more. Two months later his first convert was baptized. The district pastor recognized Francisco s dedication and invited him to work full-time as a lay Bible worker. Since his first baptism several years ago, Francisco s zeal for Christ and his powerful testimony have led 1,000 people to Christ and helped establish six new Adventist churches. Sometimes he studies the Bible with up to 60 persons a day in small-group settings. He once asked his friends to pray for the owner of a dance hall, and a week later Francisco invited the owner to take Bible studies. The owner agreed, and eventually he was baptized. Now the dance club is a church. The neighborhood in which Francisco and Neide live is filled with drugs and danger. But Francisco feels that God has called him to reach these people in a way most people cannot. And from the looks of it, he is. Francisco Helder Benicio, a lay Bible worker living in Fortaleza, Brazil. Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Web site: 157

158 teachers comments The Lesson in Brief Key Text: Revelation 3:20 The Student Will: Know: Recognize that while the messages to the seven churches apply to the respective churches, and to the different periods of church history, they also apply to Christians in today s world. Feel: Sense Christ s sympathetic assessment of our spiritual condition, both as individual believers and as church communities. Do: Accept Christ s offer to be overcomers together with Him. Learning Outline: I. Know: Christ s Report Card: You Are Not Alone in the Struggle Against Evil. A How is Jesus described in each of the messages? And what do the messages tell us about how Christ meets our various needs? B What are the indicators that the churches are struggling with an identity crisis? II. Feel: Christ Offers to Be With Us in Our Battles With Satan. A What should motivate us to accept Christ s candid assessment of our spiritual condition? B What are the only means by which we can overcome the synagogues of Satan, as well as his other diabolical schemes? III. Do: Accepting Constructive Criticism Given in Love A If Jesus were to speak to you today (and He does) in the same way that He spoke to the seven churches, what might He say about your spiritual condition? B How should we respond when a trusted friend offers feedback that depicts us in unfavorable light? Summary: The messages to the seven churches show that Christ is intimately connected with His church throughout history and has offered to dwell with us. Only then do we have hope of overcoming. 158

159 teachers comments Learning Cycle STEP 1 Motivate Spotlight on Scripture: Revelation 3:20 Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Christ intends that church communities and the individuals in them should grow spiritually in relation to Him. Christ, the Physician, diagnoses each church s true spiritual condition and prescribes what it is that each must do in its specific condition. Whatever spiritual reforms are necessary for each of us, we must all invite Christ, through faith, into our hearts so that He may live out His righteous life within us. Just for Teachers: As you lead your class in the study of the messages to the seven churches, recognize that each of the messages also applies to individuals, as well as to local churches. Local churches or even entire denominations may experience unique sets of challenges and go through various phases of growth, just as individual members do. In whatever circumstance, Christ is right there in our midst, to guide, to correct, and to save. Opening Activity: No human mind, no matter how brilliant and astute, can properly offer an accurate assessment of another person s character (an assessment that we often call, or think of, as judging ). However, Christ is well placed to assess our true spiritual condition. Invite class members to share thoughts, experiences, and ways in which they have reacted to constructive criticism, correction, and peer evaluation. Consider This: David, after he was convicted of his sin with Bathsheba, declared, Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me (Ps. 51:2, 10, NRSV). Discuss this petition in light of the messages to the seven churches, calling for personal reformation. STEP 2 Explore Just for Teachers: Christ s messages to the seven churches are messages to us, as well. Our task is to recognize how those messages apply to us as individuals and as church communities. Bible Commentary I. I Know Your Works: Christ s Report Card for Ephesus (Review Revelation 2:1 7 with your class.)

160 teachers comments The church at Ephesus is said to have practiced patient endurance amid difficulty; it cannot tolerate evildoers. The church has to contend with people claiming to be apostles. It is forced to test them against Scripture, and many are found to be false. The church has rightly rejected the false teachings of a group known as the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:6). All these attributes and acts are commendable. However, Jesus has a gentle rebuke for the church: you have left your first love (Rev. 2:4, NKJV). Consider This: What does it mean to abandon one s first love? II. Christ the Chief Sufferer Understands When His Children Suffer (Review Revelation 2:8 17 with your class.) To the church at Smyrna, Christ is introduced as the One who died and rose again (Rev. 2:8). This thought of Christ in His passion is what the church needed as it was about to be plunged into persecution. Some of the members would be thrown into prison and suffer affliction. The church is urged to be faithful until death (Rev. 2:10) if it expects to escape the second death (Rev. 2:11). And to Pergamum, Christ is the One who has a twoedged sword. This symbolizes the Word of God. The Word of God is the defense against heresy, which originates from Satan s throne (Rev. 2:13). But undergoing persecution does not in and of itself immunize the church against false teachings. There are among their own kind those who place stumbling blocks on the path of other believers. How sad that a church would go through persecution only for Christ to turn against it. This reminds us of Matthew 7:21 23, where many will claim to have performed wonderful things in the name of Christ only for Christ to declare that He never knew them. Consider This: How is it possible for a person who served the Lord to be lost in the end? III. More False Teachings Threaten the Survival of the Nascent Church (Review Revelation 2:18 3:6 with your class.) To Thyatira, Christ is introduced as the Son of God, One whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev. 2:18) and the One who searches minds and hearts (Rev. 2:23). Therefore, Christ knows Thyatira s love, faith, service, and patient endurance (Rev. 2:19, NRSV). The problem in Thyatira is that the church is too cozy with Jezebel, the false prophet and fornicator (Rev. 2:20), which seems to refer to a group of false teachers. As a result, some of the members have been 160

161 teachers comments swept away by this doctrine of the deep things of Satan (Rev. 2:24, NRSV). As for Sardis, the church is as good as dead (Rev. 3:1). The church has all but forgotten what it had received and heard, much less obeyed it (Rev. 3:3). Fortunately, there are a few in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes (Rev. 3:4, NRSV). Clearly, how else may the struggles faced by these churches from false teachings and lethargy to spiritual dearth and bewilderment by the deep things of Satan be explained other than the effects of the great controversy? Consider This: Christ says that He knows their works (Rev. 2:19, 3:1). What works are being referred to here? What did the believers need to do in order for their works to be perfect in the sight of my God (Rev. 3:2, NRSV)? IV. An Open Door and Standing at the Door (Review Revelation 3:7 22 with your class.) The Philadelphian church is commended for keeping God s Word (Rev. 3:8), in spite of its limited ability. It is assured of God s love (Rev. 3:9) and promised that, if it conquers, it will bear the name of Christ (Rev. 3:12). Bearing someone s name suggests intimate connection with that person, much like a child bears the name of his or her parents. It is not lost on readers that this is the only church that does not receive a negative assessment from Christ. To the Laodiceans, on the other hand, Christ, the Faithful Witness, offers a stinging rebuke for its self-contentment. The church is oblivious to its utter depravity and blinded by its own self-importance. However, the message is given in love, as a parent to his wayward child (Rev. 3:19). Christ hopes that the Laodiceans will repent. Each promise that has reverberated throughout the messages to the seven churches continues to hold true for the Laodiceans as well: whoever conquers will sit with Christ on His throne, as He overcame and is seated with the Father on His throne (Rev. 3:20, 21). The language of conquest in these messages bespeaks the raging controversy between Christ and Satan. Consider This: Is the message to the church of Laodicea the only one of the seven messages that is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists? Why, or why not? STEP 3 Apply Just for Teachers: The messages to the seven churches comprise an invitation to spiritual self-assessment. They call for believers to examine 161

162 teachers comments themselves in the light of God s Word. At their heart, the messages call for spiritual revival and reformation. Thought Questions: What does the infiltration of the Ephesian church by false teachers tell us about the great controversy? What does it reveal to us about our own susceptibility to deception? According to Revelation 2:14, 15, why does doctrine matter? What does the call to open the door and let Christ in mean to you? Activity: How would you react if a friend were to offer you a candid spiritual assessment of yourself, one that you know is true? What would you do? Remember what David did when confronted with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:1 13, Ps. 51:1 14). STEP 4 Create 162 Just for Teachers: Opening yourself to Christ is the overarching theme of the messages to the seven churches. Encourage class members to invite Christ to abide in them by faith. Activity: Invite the congregation to suggest a hymn that brings out the theme of opening one s heart to Christ. In the interest of time, it might be best for the teacher to select one in advance, informed by this week s study. Invite the class to hum or sing in low tones, and invite a volunteer to pray at the conclusion.

163 Lesson 13 *March Redemption (page 104 of Standard Edition) Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week s Study: Rev. 20:1 3, Jer. 4:23 26, 1 Cor. 4:5, Rev. 20:7 15, Phil. 2:9 11, 2 Pet. 3:10. Memory Text: And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4, NKJV). People often ask, why did evil arise in the first place? Central to the answer is freedom. True freedom, true moral freedom, involves risk, because if persons (or beings) are truly free, then they must have the option to do wrong. Fair enough, but the next question arises: Why then didn t God just blot them out when they did wrong and spare the rest of us the horrible results of rebellion? The answer gets to the heart of the great controversy. As we will see this week, the Lord runs a kind of open government, and though much about Him and His ways are mysterious, He will resolve the great controversy in a way that will forever end all questions about His selfdenial, goodness, justice, love, and law. Indeed, we will be given a thousand years to get answers, at least answers regarding the fate of the lost (we ll have an eternity for the rest). After the Second Coming, the redeemed will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. And, even more incredible, they will have an active role in judgment. Let s look at the final steps in the longplaying drama of the great controversy. * Study this week s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March