12. The Biblical Worldview (Acts 8:6-25)
Sabbath afternoon
Prayer Thought
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved," says the apostle, "What Manner of Persons Ought Ye To Be?"
The Scriptures exhort that those in the Truth be "in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Pet. 3:11-14), and more so now while He is SETTING UP HIS KINGDOM. {Isa. 9:6, 7; Dan. 2:44; 7:25} {TN9: 40.1}
Memory Text
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. {1 Thessalonians 5:23}
This week's SS Lesson will discuss the pertinent principles which the scriptures reveal for the finishing of God's cause on earth before He comes in the clouds of heaven. This includes individual roles and responsibilities for the advancement of the threefold aspects of life as Christ had in His earthly life examples.
Outline of the Study
Sunday: The Role Model - The Model of Jesus
Lk. 2:52; Matt. 4:23
Monday: Taking Care of the Body - The Body as a Temple
1Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Gen. 1:26-27; 1Cor. 15:53; 3John 1:2
Tuesday: Taking Care of the Mind - The Mind of Christ
1Cor. 2:16; Ps. 24:3, 4; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:2; Jer. 31:31-33; Heb 8:8-10; 10”16; Matt. 5:17-48; Phil. 3:12-15
Wednesday: Taking Care of the Spirit - The Guidance of the Spirit
John 16:7-11; 17:17; Acts 8:4-24; 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20
Thursday: Continuous Care - Ready for His Appearing
2Pet. 3:14; 1John 3:1-3; Ps. 95:7, 8; Heb. 3:7, 8, 15; 4:7; Ps. 95:7, 8
Friday: Further Study and Meditation
Sunday: The Role Model - The Model of Jesus
Lk. 2:52; Matt. 4:23
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. {Luke 2:52}
Show Sympathy and His Desire to Minister with Men
Jesus did not begin His ministry by some great work before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. At a household gathering in a little Galilean village His power was put forth to add to the joy of a wedding feast. Thus He showed His sympathy with men, and His desire to minister to their happiness. . . . {CSA 10.2}
There was to be a marriage at Cana, a little town not far from Nazareth; the parties were relatives of Joseph and Mary; and Jesus, knowing of this family gathering, went to Cana, and with His disciples was invited to the feast. . . . {CSA 10.3}
Genuine Medical Missionary Work, the Gospel Practiced
During His ministry, Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching.--The Ministry of Healing, p. 19.
Before the true reformer, the medical missionary work will open many doors.--Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 62.
Genuine medical missionary work is the gospel practiced. --Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 168.
Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel. In the ministry of the word and in the medical missionary work the gospel is to be preached and practiced. --The Ministry of Healing, p. 144. {ChS 132.4}
The Times Demand an Intelligent, Educated Ministry
The times demand an intelligent, educated ministry, not novices. False doctrines are being multiplied. The world is becoming educated to a high standard of literary attainment; and sin, unbelief, and infidelity are becoming more bold and defiant, as intellectual knowledge and acuteness are acquired. This state of things calls for the use of every power of the intellect; for it is keen minds, under the control of Satan, that the minister will have to meet. He should be well balanced by religious principles, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Too much haphazard work has been done, and minds have not been exercised to their fullest capacity. Our ministers will have to defend the truth against base apostates, as well as to measure Scripture evidence with those who advocate specious errors. Truth must be placed in contrast with bold assertions. Our ministers must be men who are wholly consecrated to God, men of no mean culture; but their minds must be all aglow with religious fervor, gathering divine rays of light from heaven and flashing them amid the darkness that covers the earth and the gross darkness that surrounds the people.--5T 528. {PaM 43.1}
Consider the following
Before beginning His ministry, Jesus grew in four aspects (Luke 2:52):
— Mentally (“in wisdom”)
— Physically (“in stature”)
— Spiritually (“in favor with God”)
— Socially (“in favor with all the people”)
We are also called to grew in all the aspects of our being [what Paul called “spirit, soul, and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
The work of Redemption involves restoring God’s image in humans. Our growth must be oriented towards that, getting ready for the Second Coming when the work will be finally completed.
Uniting with the Angels: Restored Image of God
The inhabitants of the heavenly universe are appointed to go forth to come into close touch with human instrumentalities who act as God's helping hand. In the performance of this mission of love, angels mingle with the fallen race, ministering to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Divine and human agencies unite in the work of restoring the image of God in man. All who partake of the divine nature are appointed of God to unite with the angels in carrying forward with untiring zeal the plan of redemption. {PH148 6.3}
Monday: Taking Care of the Body - The Body as a Temple
1Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Gen. 1:26-27; 1Cor. 15:53; 3John 1:2
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
The Human Body Must Be Sanctified and Ennobled
Whether they acknowledge it or not, God lays upon all human beings the duty of taking care of the soul temple. The body is to be kept clean and pure. The soul is to be sanctified and ennobled. Then, God says, I will come unto him and take up My abode with him. We are responsible for our own salvation, and God holds us accountable for the influence we exert on those connected with us. We should stand in such a position, physically and spiritually, that we can recommend the religion of Christ. We are to dedicate our bodies to God. {MM 295.3}
Personal Duty to Keep the Body for the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
When men and women are truly converted, they will conscientiously regard the laws of life that God has established in their being, thus seeking to avoid physical, mental, and moral feebleness. Obedience to these laws must be made a matter of personal duty. We ourselves must suffer the ills of violated law. We must answer to God for our habits and practices. Therefore the question for us is not, "What will the world say?" but, "How shall I, claiming to be a Christian, treat the habitation God has given me? Shall I work for my highest temporal and spiritual good by keeping my body as a temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or shall I sacrifice myself to the world's ideas and practices?" {CCh 215.7}
Consider the following
The Bible includes advice on caring for our bodies. Paul introduced the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). John wanted us to live a healthy life (3 John 2).
Restoring God’s image includes taking care of our bodies.
The Life of God in the Soul Is Man’s Only Hope
The religion of the Bible is not detrimental to the health of either body or mind. The influence of the Spirit of God is the very best medicine for disease. Heaven is all health; and the more deeply heavenly influences are realized, the more sure will be the recovery of the believing invalid. The true principles of Christianity open before all a source of inestimable happiness. Religion is a continual wellspring, from which the Christian can drink at will and never exhaust the fountain. {CCh 216.1}
Tuesday: Taking Care of the Mind - The Mind of Christ
1Cor. 2:16; Ps. 24:3, 4; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:2; Jer. 31:31-33; Heb 8:8-10; 10”16; Matt. 5:17-48; Phil. 3:12-15
“But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
Training the Mind in Thoughtfulness and Care-Taking
By maintaining a connection with God, we shall be enabled to diffuse to others, through our association with them, the light, the peace, the serenity, that rule in our hearts. The strength acquired in prayer to God, united with persevering effort in training the mind in thoughtfulness and care-taking, prepares one for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances.
Religion must begin with emptying and purifying the heart, and must be nurtured by daily prayer. {AG 290.7}
First Things First: Mind Thinks of Eternal Realities
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? Matthew 6:31.
The Lord would not have any one of us be presumptuous, care not for health, and make no provision whatever for sustenance; but when He sees the world taking all the thoughts and absorbing all the affections, He sees that eternal realities are lost sight of. He would correct this evil, which is the work of Satan. The mind, which should be trained to high, elevated contemplation of eternal realities, becomes common, bearing the image of the earthly. Jesus comes to present the advantages and beautiful imagery of the heavenly, that the attractions of heaven shall become familiar to the thoughts, and memory's hall be hung with pictures of celestial and eternal loveliness. {OHC 286.1-2}
Consider the following
Our mind must be transformed to reflect God’s image. Our goal must be to think like Christ does. How can we get there?
— First, only the Holy Spirit can do that. He transforms our minds and our feelings (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27).
— Second, we need to cooperate. We must feed our minds with the right things (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8).
Then our characters will shine with purity and love, and our lives will be ruled by humbleness and truth (Psalm 24:3-5; Colossians 3:1-2).
When the Spirit of Christ Controls: Man Seeks to Reach the Highest Standard
When the husband has the nobility of character, purity of heart, and elevation of mind that every true Christian must possess, it will be made manifest in the marriage relation. If he has the mind of Christ he will not be a destroyer of the body, but will be full of tender love, seeking to reach the highest standard in Christ. He will seek to keep his wife in health and courage. . . . {CTr 145.5}
The Lord Jesus has not been correctly represented in His relation to the church by many husbands in their relation to their wives, for they do not keep the way of the Lord. . . . It was not the design of God that the husband should have control, as head of the house, when he himself does not submit to Christ.—Manuscript 17, 1891 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, pp. 214, 215). {CTr 145.6}
Wednesday: Taking Care of the Spirit - The Guidance of the Spirit
John 16:7-11; 17:17; Acts 8:4-24; 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
The Necessity of Watchful Care and Guidance
Children need watchful care and guidance as never before; for Satan is striving to gain control of their minds and hearts, and to drive out the Spirit of God. The fearful state of the youth of this age constitutes one of the strongest signs that we are living in the last days, but the ruin of many may be traced directly to the wrong management of the parents. The spirit of murmuring against reproof has been taking root and is bearing its fruit of insubordination. While the parents are not pleased with the characters their children are developing, they fail to see the errors that make them what they are. {4T 199.2}
To Direct Not Dictate: Do Not Lord it Over God's Heritage
But in the name of Christ I would entreat you to stop this work. Give men a chance to exercise their individual judgment. Men who follow the leading of others and are willing that another should think for them, are unfit to be entrusted with responsibility. Our leading men are remiss in this matter. God has not given to special ones all the brain power there is in the world. Men in responsible positions should credit others with some sense, with some ability of judgment and foresight, and look upon them as capable of doing the work committed to their hands. {9MR 174.2}
Our leading brethren have made a great mistake in marking out all the directions that the worker should follow, and this has resulted in deficiency, in a lack of care-taking spirit in the workers.--Letter 12, 1885, p. 1. {9MR 174.3}
Consider the following
Our relationship with God is defined by our spiritual nature. We must let the Holy Spirit work in us. What does He do in us?
— He pours out God’s love in us (Romans 5:5)
— He leads us to Jesus (John 15:26)
— He convicts us of sin (John 16:8)
— He gives us power to preach the Gospel (Acts 1:8)
— He guides us into all truth (John 16:13)
If He guides us into all truth, we cannot use Him according to our own desires like Simon the Sorcerer did in Acts 8:18-19. He will always be coordinated with the truth revealed in the Bible. If not, we’re not actually listening to the Holy Spirit.
The Presence of the Spirit to the End of Time is to Abide with the True Church
It is true that in the time of the end, when God's work in the earth is closing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor. Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God's church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church. {AA 54.2}
For Further study on the above subject, please copy-paste and/or click the link below:
Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 1 When the Spirit Comes: Importance of SOP (google.com)
Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 2a When the Rain Falls: The Latter Rain-1 (google.com)
Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 2b When the Rain Comes: The Latter Rain-2 (google.com)
Thursday: Continuous Care - Ready for His Appearing
2Pet. 3:14; 1John 3:1-3; Ps. 95:7, 8; Heb. 3:7, 8, 15; 4:7; Ps. 95:7, 8
“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)
Continuous Searching for Greater Light
"Whatever may be man's intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light."--"Gospel Workers," p. 300.
"When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice."--Id., p. 301. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isa. 8:20.) "If the light presented meets this test, we are not to refuse to accept it because it does not agree with our ideas....No matter by whom light is sent, we should open our hearts to receive it with the meekness of Christ."--Id., p. 302.
"When a message is presented to God's people, they should not rise up in opposition to it: they should go to the Bible, comparing it with the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true."--Mrs. E.G. White,--"Review and Herald," Feb. 18, 1890.
"We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it. We are all under obligation to God to know what He sends us."--"Gospel Workers," p. 301.
Understanding God's Word Through the Illumination of the Spirit
"The people of God will be called upon to stand before kings, princes, rulers, and great men of the earth, and they must know that they do know what is truth."--Mrs. E.G. White,--"Review and Herald," Feb. 18, 1890. {3SC2: 9.1.3}
"My people are destroyed [cut off] for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee." (Hos. 4:6.) "There is only one way in which this knowledge can be obtained. We can attain to an understanding of God's word only through the illumination of that Spirit by which the word was given."--"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 5, p. 703.
"We are living at a time when Satan is at work on the right hand and on the left, before and behind us; and yet as a people we are asleep. God wills that a voice shall be heard arousing his people to action."--"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 5, p. 709.
"When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth....He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16.13-15.)
Individual Advancement - A Great Work is to be Done
"We must not trust to others to search the Scriptures for us. Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side; and if God would send a message and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advancement, it would never reach the people."--"Gospel Workers," p. 303.
"The rebuke of the Lord will rest upon those who would bar the way, that clearer light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of more light, that they may unite with the messengers whom He sends to accomplish the work that He designs shall be done. The Lord has raised up messengers, and endued them with His Spirit, and has said, 'Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.' Let no one run the risk of interposing between the people and the message of Heaven. This message will go to the people; and if there were no voice among men to give it, the very stones would cry out."--"Gospel Workers," p. 304. {3SC2: 9.2.1}
Consider the following
There are many references to watching and preparing for the Second Coming in the New Testament. This is a process of continuous purification towards perfection (Matthew 24:13, 42; 1 Corinthians 1:7-8; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 6:11-12; James 1:4; Revelation 2:6).
Unless one is continually growing in grace, and pressing on ahead in faith, the tendency would be to fall away, to become hardened, skeptical, cynical, even disbelieving.
Don’t let a day pass by without praying, studying the Bible, and being in communion with Jesus.
Friday: Further Study and Meditation
"The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place. When this reformation begins, the spirit of prayer will actuate every believer, and will banish from the church the spirit of discord and strife. Those who have not been living in Christian fellowship will draw close to one another. One member working in right lines will lead other members to unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit. There will be no confusion, because all will be in harmony with the mind of the Spirit. The barriers separating believer from believer will be broken down, and God's servants will speak the same things. The Lord will cooperate with His servants. All will pray understandingly the prayer that Christ taught His servants: 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.' Matt. 6:10." -- Testimonies Vol. 8, p. 251.
Questions to Ponder
What are the four aspects that need to be developed as Christ had before His earthly public ministry?
How can we be successful in our missionary activities today, amidst the health, physical and spiritual condition of the people, especially among SDAs?
What should be our role in the church now, that we have seen unconverted among us, and how can we be effective corporately if others are corrupting the church {TM 46-47}?
What are the challenges we're facing that hinder the progress of the work in the church? Do we need more crusades and add new members in the churches today? Note: (When in fact, many of us have not exemplified the whole principles of health reform.)
How can someone acquire the mind of Christ? What is it like? Can we attain perfection in Christ in this life?
How important is prayer in our lives as we face circumstances and situations in life and how the Holy Spirit works in us?
Based on the above statement, {Testimonies Vol. 8, p. 251}, when will the unity of believers be attained and where will it be?
Note: The answers may be found in the link below:
a. Meat In Due Season - 6. The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory (google.com)
b. Meat In Due Season - God's Kingdom in the Heart (google.com)
c. Meat In Due Season - The Final Display of God's Power and Glory (google.com)
d. Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 7 Purification of the Church (google.com)
From the Pen of Inspiration
“It is positively necessary for those who believe the truth, to be making continual advancement, growing up into the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. There is no time for backsliding and indifference. Each one must have a living experience in the things of God. Have root in yourselves. Become grounded in the faith, so that having done all you may stand, with unwavering confidence in God.” E. G. W. (Sons and Daughters of God, November 21)