Sabbath Afternoon - March 18, 2023

Reading for the Week

 Heb. 11:6, Isa. 62:11, Rom. 6:23, John 14:1-3, Revelation 21, Matt. 25:20-23, Rom. 8:16-18. 


Prayer Thought

Then, Christian friends, fathers and mothers, let your light grow dim—no, never! Let your heart grow faint, or your hands weary—no, never! And by and by the portals of the celestial city will be opened to you; and you may present yourselves and your children before the throne, saying, “Here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given me.” And what a reward for faithfulness that will be, to see your children crowned with immortal life in the beautiful city of God! {OFC 297.1} 


Memory Text

His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  {Matt. 25:21}


This week's SS Lesson will examine God's promises and their assurance of fulfillment in the world. This includes the fundamental principles and courses of events that will be fulfilled prior to any other predictions that were misunderstood and have not been previously revealed to God's people.


Study Outline

The Rewards:

Sunday - March 19, 2023

His Reward for Faithfulness 

Heb. 11:6; Rev. 22:12; Isa. 40:10; 62:11; Matt. 5:11, 12; Heb. 12:1, 2; Rom. 11:6 


Monday - March 20, 2023

Everlasting Life

Rom. 6:23; John 3:16; 14:1-3 


Tuesday - March 21, 2023

Being with Jesus - The New Jerusalem

Heb. 11:10; Rev. 21:2, 4, 8; 22:4


Faithfulness:

Wednesday - March 22, 2023

Managing for the Master - The Settling of Accounts

Matt. 24:3; 25:14-19, 20-23 


Thursday - March 23, 2023

Eyes on the Prize - Till He Comes

Rom. 8:16-18; Phil. 3:13; 4:19; 1Tim. 6:6-12; 2Tim. 4:6-8


Friday - March 24, 2023

Further Study and Meditation

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Rewards:

Sunday - March 19, 2023

His Reward for Faithfulness 

Heb. 11:6; Rev. 22:12; Isa. 40:10; 62:11; Matt. 5:11, 12; Heb. 12:1, 2; Rom. 11:6 

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)


The Ruler will Stand on Mt. Zion

Isa. 40:10 -- "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him." 

The arm of the Lord that rules for Him must be figurative of those through whom He works (Isa. 51:9), of those who are to stand with Him on Mt. Sion (Rev. 14:1), -- the Church spotless and without guile.  "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days." Hos. 3:4, 5. 

The messengers of the hour are to declare, too, that the Lord's reward (life forevermore) is with Him, but that His work is still before Him, yet to be finished.  {2TG9: 6.2-3}

For deeper study on the subject please see the following link:


The Theocratic Government on Earth

As "God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself" (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300; Jer. 3:17), and as the descendants of Jacob, again becoming a kingdom,  appoint to themselves one head (Hos. 1:11),  "David their king" (Hos. 3:5), "and seek the Lord their God," it is evident that the church in the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel's Message, Will Be A Theocracy.  {TN8: 43.2}

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Gen. 49:10.  {TN8: 43.3}


God's Kingdom of Righteousness

"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.  And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Isa. 32:1, 2.  {TN8: 43.3-4}

Please click or copy-paste this link to the browser for further discussion on the subject. Meat In Due Season - 6. The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory (google.com) 


Consider the Following

Who will receive their reward from Jesus when He returns?

(1) The righteous (Psalm 58:11)

(2) Those who sow righteousness (Proverbs 11:18)

(3) Those who are persecuted for their faith (Matthew 5:12)

(4) Those who love their enemies (Luke 6:35)

(5) Those who have confidence (Hebrews 10:35)

(6) Those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)

(7) The prophets, the saints, those who fear His name (Revelation 11:18)

— The reward will be proportional to the work of each person (1 Corinthians 3:8). Does that mean we’re saved by our works? Absolutely not!

— Salvation is a gift that everyone can receive no matter their work (Titus 3:5). Each saved person will receive their “crown,” a fair reward (2 Timothy 4:8).


Monday - March 20, 2023

Everlasting Life

Rom. 6:23; John 3:16; 14:1-3 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)


We're in His Hands to do His Will

We are only the instruments in His hands to do His will, not our own. We look at those who are doing despite to the Spirit of grace, and tremble for them. We feel sorry, and are disappointed, that they prove untrue to God and the truth; but we feel a deeper sorrow as we think of Jesus, who has purchased them with His own blood. We would give all our possessions to save one, but we find we cannot do this. We would give life itself to save one soul unto life eternal, but even this sacrifice would not do the work. {CTr 17.4} 

The one great sacrifice has been made in the life, the mission, and the death of Jesus Christ. Oh, that minds would contemplate the greatness of that sacrifice! Then might they be better able to comprehend the greatness of salvation.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 625, 626. {CTr 17.5} 


Win the Race for Eternal Life - The Great Commission Charter of Christ's Kingdom

The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of Christ's kingdom. The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy. They were not to wait for the people to come to them; they were to go to the people with their message.  {AA 28.1}  

It was this singlehearted purpose to win the race for eternal life that Paul longed to see revealed in the lives of the Corinthian believers. He knew that in order to reach Christ's ideal for them, they had before them a life struggle from which there would be no release. He entreated them to strive lawfully, day by day seeking for piety and moral excellence. He pleaded with them to lay aside every weight and to press forward to the goal of perfection in Christ.  {AA 315.1}  


Well of Living Water - The Everlasting Life

"Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of a hin: From time to time shalt thou drink." Ezek. 4:11.  Water, when taken in gives life; without it, existence would be impossible.  Christ, speaking to the woman at the well, said: "But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14.  Christ referred to "water" as a symbol of everlasting life.  The meaning of the symbol of drinking the water with the barley cakes is that souls were to be saved by each new truth (the Spirit of life).   {SR1: 122.3}


Consider the Following

— What do we actually deserve? What is our “wage”? Just death. What does God give us as a “gift”? Eternal life (Romans 6:23).

— This is an underserved reward, a fate completely different to the one we deserve. Everyone can receive this reward if they accept it by faith (John 3:16).


Tuesday - March 21, 2023

Being with Jesus - The New Jerusalem

Heb. 11:10; Rev. 21:2, 4, 8; 22:4

And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.  {Rev. 22:4}


Subjects of God's Kingdom - Follow the Lamb Whithersoever He Goeth

Who are the subjects of the kingdom of God?--all those who do His will. They have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The members of Christ's kingdom are the sons of God, partners in His great firm. The elect of God are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a holy nation, to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are living stones, a royal priesthood. They are in copartnership with Jesus Christ. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. . . .  {TM 422.1} 


Being with Jesus is to Follow Him 

To avoid being seen in the company of Jesus, Nicodemus came to Him, not by day, but secretly by night, whereas the young ruler came to Jesus not only openly by day, but also while a multitude were with Jesus.  The rich young ruler's basic hindrance, therefore, was his wealth, and Nicodemus' basic hindrance was his pride.  Plainly, then, the one's ailment called for one kind of treatment, and the other's ailment called for another kind of treatment.  {1TG49: 4.2}

Jesus never asked anyone to take His religion, but He asked them to "follow" Him, to be one of His disciples.  The rich young ruler could not follow the Lord because his heart was centered upon his own riches.  And Nicodemus could not follow the Lord because he was too proud to be seen in the company of unpopular and hated Jesus followed by humble fishermen.  To remove the hindrances, the one had to get rid of his riches, and the other had to get rid of his pride.  To eradicate pride, one must be born again, must become a new man.  But to eradicate the love of money one must give his money to those who really need it.  {1TG49: 4.3}


Genuine Faith Confides in Christ

"Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof." Genuine faith confides in Christ, and renders implicit submission, consenting to follow him wheresoever he goeth. When this is fulfilled, as a result of well-directed efforts many souls will be brought as precious sheaves to the Master. {SSW, July 1, 1889 par. 11}  


Consider the Following

— We have the same hope that those who believed before us had: We expect God to give us a city (Hebrews 11:10, 16; Revelation 21:24). What will we find there?

(1) God’s loving hand will wipe away our tears. Pain and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4).

(2) The garden of Eden, where we will reach and eat from the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:22; Revelation 22:2).

(3) Jesus. We will see Him face to face (Revelation 22:4).


Faithfulness:

Wednesday - March 22, 2023

Managing for the Master - The Settling of Accounts

Matt. 24:3; 25:14-19, 20-23 

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” (Matthew 25:15)


The Spiritual Gifts and Talents were Entrusted to Us for a Purpose

The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. "To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.  {COL 327.1}  


That God's People will be Corrected and Guided to Labor in Word and Doctrine

God has entrusted talents to His servants, and He expects them to see [understand] that mistakes can be . . . made. [But] make no mistake in neglecting to correct the error of giving ministers less than they should receive. When you see persons in necessity who have been placed in positions of trust, let God move upon your heart to set things right. The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.-- 1MR 263 (1899). 


The Talents Must not be Kept but to be Employed in Disseminating the Last Message

The talents of God's people are to be employed in giving the last message of mercy to the world. The Lord calls upon those connected with our sanitariums, publishing houses, and other institutions to teach the youth to do evangelistic work. Our time and money must not be so largely employed in establishing sanitariums, food factories, food stores, and restaurants, that other lines of work shall be neglected. Young men and young women who should be engaged in the ministry, in Bible work, and in the canvassing work, should not be bound down to mechanical employment.  {FE 488.5}  


Consider the Following

— The parable of the talents deals with the way we’ve manage what God has given us, in the context of the End Time (Matthew 25:14-30).

— God only gives us as much as we can manage.

— Everyone is responsible for the gifts and resources they’ve been given, no matter how many. The reward is worth it (Matthew 25:23).


Thursday - March 23, 2023

Eyes on the Prize - Till He Comes

Rom. 8:16-18; Phil. 3:13; 4:19; 1Tim. 6:6-12; 2Tim. 4:6-8

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)


Assurance of Victory Over Every Foe

With full assurance of faith we may expect that He will unite His omnipotence with the efforts of human instrumentalities, for the glory of His name. Clad with the armor of His righteousness, we may gain the victory over every foe.  {CC 203.5}  

He would not give up the conflict until he had the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He was ever to carry about with him in the body the marks of Christ's glory, in his eyes, which had been blinded by the heavenly light, and he desired also to bear with him constantly the assurance of Christ's sustaining grace. Paul came into close connection with Heaven, and Jesus communed with him, and established him in his faith bestowing upon him His wisdom and grace.  {CC 340.3}  


Assurance of His Protecting Care

Beams of light seemed to radiate from His countenance as He looked lovingly upon them. He upbraided them not for their faults and failures; words of the deepest tenderness were the last that fell upon their ears from the lips of their Lord. With hands outstretched in blessing, and as if in assurance of His protecting care, He slowly ascended from among them, drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory hid Him from their sight; and the words came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels received Him, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." At the same time there floated down to them the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir.  {DA 830.3}  


Consider the Following

— Apparently, Paul didn’t live a prosperous life (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). And we’ve not been promised an easy life (2 Timothy 3:12).

— However, what does the Bible say about living a prosperous and happy life (1 Timothy 6:6-12)?

(1) It’s not about having many possessions

(2) It’s about having what you need when you need it

(3) It’s about clinging to God’s promises

(4) It’s about being thankful to God and trusting Him

— When Jesus returns, we will receive our fair reward for having managed what is His (2 Timothy 4:6-8).


Friday - March 24, 2023

Further Study and Meditation

It is growth in knowledge of the character of Christ that sanctifies the soul. To discern and appreciate the wonderful work of the atonement transforms him who contemplates the plan of salvation. By beholding Christ he becomes changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. The beholding of Jesus becomes an ennobling, refining process. . . . The perfection of Christ’s character is the Christian’s inspiration. .

Christ should never be out of the mind. The angels said concerning Him, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus, precious Saviour! assurance, helpfulness, security, and peace are all in Him. He is the dispeller of all our doubts, the earnest of all our hopes. How precious is the thought that we may indeed become partakers of the divine nature, whereby we may overcome as Christ overcame! Jesus is the fullness of our expectation. He is the melody of our songs, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. He is living water to the thirsty soul. He is our refuge in the storm. He is our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption. {OFC 126.2} 


Questions to Ponder


From the Pen of Inspiration

“Do all church members realize that all they have is given them to be used and improved to God's glory? God keeps a faithful account with every human being in our world. And when the day of reckoning comes, the faithful steward takes no credit to himself […]

The approval of the Lord is received almost with surprise, it is so unexpected. But Christ says to him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’” E. G. W. (Counsels on Stewardship, cp. 23, p. 111-112)


SSL-Q1-L12-Rewards-of-Faithfulness-Mar.-18-24-2023 (fliphtml5.com)