Trust

1 Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence (b) of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;[1]

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7.

We have rich promises in the Word of God, if we only believe and trust in Him. We are in danger of trusting to our own poor human efforts, and not putting our trust in God. Everyone who has any part to act in this great preparation of the work of God for these last days should come close to God. When God sends out His workers to do a special errand for Him, He has pledged Himself to be one with them, if they will be one with God. But if they draw apart from God, and try to do this work in their own strength, they will find difficulties and discouragements at every step. Here we have the promise that in working for the Lord He is by our right hand to help us and work with us. {TDG 209.1}

It would be the greatest folly in the world for any of us to take any of the credit to ourselves for any success we may have. The more humbly we walk with God, the more will He manifest Himself to us to help us. The Lord never designed to send out His servants to do a work for Him with all the opposition of Satan and evil angels against them unless He gives them divine help. The reason that we do not have greater success in the work is because we depend on our own efforts rather than upon the help God will give us. It is our privilege to feel our weakness, our unworthiness, and then claim the help that God has provided for us. We can take the Word in our distress, and while we feel the burden of souls upon us, and say, "Here, Lord, Thou hast promised, and I believe Thy word." {TDG 209.2}

We must learn to go to our heavenly Father just as a child goes to its earthly parents. He says, "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt. 7:9-11). . . . {TDG 209.3}

While every one of God’s workmen should cultivate his powers to the best of his ability, yet he should not trust in these powers. Make of yourselves everything that it is possible for you to make and then trust the rest to God.--Manuscript 8, July 19, 1886, "Overcoming Self." {TDG 209.4}[2]

---

(b) sentence: or, answer

^[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

^[2]White, E. G. 1979; 2002. This Day With God . Review and Herald Publishing Association

Becoming and Staying a Part of Something

Romans 11:16-24

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Romans 11:16-24 give a draws a very vivid picture of our connection to Jesus through the images of grafting a "wild" branch to a "holy" root.

Verse 17 says that the "natural" branches were broken off and these made room for the "wild" branches. Note in verse 20 that it says the branches were broken off because of unbelief. The "wild" branches were put in by faith. Then the warning..."Be not highminded". Verse 21 explains "...if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." Being connected to, an extension of, the Root implies that there will be a working of Jesus' power and efforts in the life. If the power and efforts are not expressed in the life, the lifeless branch "natural" or "wild" will be broken off.

Special care must be taken when a branch is grafted. It will not survive with out maintenance. The beginning is a difficult process that requires effort for the branch to securely bond with what it is grafted to. It depends on the root it is grafted to for survival. If successful the branch becomes an extension of the root.

"Some feel their need of the atonement, and with the recognition of this need, and the desire for a change of heart, a struggle begins. To renounce their own will, perhaps their chosen objects of affection or pursuit, requires an effort, at which many hesitate and falter and turn back. Yet this battle must be fought by every heart that is truly converted. We must war against temptations without and within. We must gain the victory over self, crucify the affections and lusts; and then begins the union of the soul with Christ. As the dry and apparently lifeless branch is grafted into the living tree, so may we become living branches of the True Vine. And the fruit which was borne by Christ will be borne by all His followers. After this union is formed, it can be preserved only by continual, earnest, painstaking effort. Christ exercises His power to preserve and guard this sacred tie, and the dependent, helpless sinner must act his part with untiring energy, or Satan by his cruel, cunning power will separate him from Christ. {5T 47.1}

Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he in Christ. {5T 47.2}

A union of believers with Christ will as a natural result lead to a union with one another, which bond of union is the most enduring upon earth. We are one in Christ, as Christ is one with the Father. Christians are branches, and only branches, in the living Vine. One branch is not to borrow its sustenance from another. Our life must come from the parent [BEGIN P.48] vine. It is only by personal union with Christ, by communion with Him daily, hourly, that we can bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. {5T 47.3}" - Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5. 1855; 2002 . Pacific Press Publishing Association

We are the "wild" branches. We CAN be connected to the "holy" root and CAN learn to grow as a real part of the "holy" root, producing His fruit by choosing to dedicate our lives to Him to use in His work.

The Christian Life - LOVE - Lesson 1 (28-Mar)

Disclaimer: These notes are additional insights we found to be helpful while studying from the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide. Our intent is NOT to replace the study guide, but to complement it.

The memory text for this week's lesson is:

"For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, CEV)

Quote: "Now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three," --faith, which takes hold of Omnipotence and refuses to be baffled; hope, which turns the future triumphs of the good and the true into present encouragement and joy; and love, which consecrates all to God and for God.

Ellen G. White, Sons and Daughters of God, p. 193.5

I John 4 is suggested as scripture to "Read for This Week's Study".

Quote:

To Enjoy Perfect Love

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

This is an important statement; for there are many who desire to love and serve God, and yet when afflictions come upon them, they do not discern the love of God in it, but the hand of the enemy. They mourn and murmur and complain; but this is not seeking to injure us, but that in the midst of trials, and griefs, and pains, He is seeking to make us perfect, and to test the quality of our faith. When we cease to worry about the future, and begin to belive that God loves us, and means to do us good, we shall trust Him as a child trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, and our will will be swallowed up in the will of God. 

Through an abiding Christ you will become Christlike in character. The Lord desires you to stand by His side, as a kind, patient, humble son of God. The Lord designs that the labors in His service shall represent His Love. ...

Our relations with one another should be pleasant. When we do right, the testimony of our own spirit and the testimony of the Spirit of God bear witness that the human mind is under the control of the divine mind. ... His Word furnishes evidence from which we may draw the conclusion that we are indeed His sons and daughters. ... True love for God carries with it true, reverential trust. And he who loves God will love his brother also.

Ellen G. White, Sons and Daugthers of God, p. 193.1 to 193.4

The Christian Life (2Q-09)

Today is the start of a new quarter and will run from 28-March-09 to 26-June-09.

The Sabbath School study guide for this quarter is titled The Christian life.

Here are some content links:

- http://www.absg.adventist.org/Teachers.html (Teacher's Edition of the study guide)

- http://www.absg.adventist.org/Standard.htm (Standard Edition of the study guide)

- http://www.absg.adventist.org/EasyReading.htm (Easy Reading Edition of the study guide)

- http://www.ssnet.org/ (main Sabbath School Network site)

- http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/index.html (Sabbath School study guides for all age groups, and other misc. resources)

Need for Reform

"A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend." Christian Service 42

The above quote was referenced in Chapter 1 "REFORM MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CHURCH" of Preparation for the Final Crisis. 

Revival, being revived, being brought back from death...

It gives us the awareness that we are in need. It opens our eyes to where we are and what we are doing.

Reformation, actions/changes in our lives...

It shapes us to live better lives. To do things that matter. 

I like the comparison and combination of Revival and Reformation. The need to have revival for the reformation to truly be meaningful goes along with the thought that having a personal relationship with God is esential in following what he has shown us to do. Not having that personal relationship could be compared to being robots, blindly following without any purpose. Revival and a personal relationship with God gives purpose to the things we do in our lives.

Preparation for the Final Crisis by Fernando Chaij

One of the books we are reading through right now is Preparation for the Final Crisis by Fernando Chaij.

The book is based on scripture, with insights from the writings of Ellen G. White.

We've found the book to be an encouragment with the author's approach of having our relationship right with God, living according to what God has shown us, and keeping our lives in order.

Welcome

Hello,

This blog has been created to share various things we find while studying.

Please post any comments, questions, or thoughts you have while reading through here.

If you find these postings to be interesting please share the link to this blog with others.

- Lukas