SDA Sabbath School Lesson 6--1st Quarter 2016--Victory in the Wilderness

[Wally]

 Lesson 6 *January 30-February 5

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.

Sunday January 31

Immanuel to the Rescue

Read Matthew 1:20-23. 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 (2009-09-25), Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision (Kindle Locations 1462-1463: InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition).

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?

Monday February 1

Jesus' Baptism

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 (Matthew 3:7), the axe laid to the root of the trees (Matthew 3:10), thoroughly purging the threshing floor (Matthew 3:12), and burning chaff in unquenchable fire (Matthew 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).

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?

[Wally]

Tuesday February 2

Stones Into Bread

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. 114.

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 3:1-10 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 3:1-2 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?

Wednesday February 3

Another Temptation

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. 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.

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.

[Wally]

Thursday February 4

Devil Worship

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 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?

Friday February 5

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, 1909-1950 (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 (Vantage Books Edition: Random House, Inc., 1967), 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?

[Richard Myers]

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 is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

"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.

As we study the lesson this week, let us realize what great blessings have been entrusted to us as a people. It would be hard to say one is "rich and increased with goods" when he is poor, miserable, wretched, naked, and blind. But, the truth is that there has been opened to all who are church members, a vast wealth of knowledge about God and the plan of salvation. As we contemplate the temptations of Christ in the wilderness, be prepared to share the truth you have discovered with your Sabbath School class.

[Richard Myers]

Sunday January 31

Immanuel to the Rescue

Read Matthew 1:20-23.

1:20   But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 
 1:21   And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 
 1:22   Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 
 1:23   Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

What is the significance of the name given to Jesus: "Emmanuel?"

Why did Jesus come to this earth to be "with us?"

Because He loves 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).

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).

Amen, Jesus said "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father." We have been deceived about the character of God. It is through a knowledge of Him that we may be reconciled with Him. It is by beholding Him that we are changed into the same image (character). See 2 Cor. 3:18. This is why God needed to be with us. He also needed to redeem us. He took our sins upon Himself that He might pay the price for our redemption. He suffered and died that we might live. He also, came to resolve the difficulty in the universe. It was not for this world alone Christ left heaven to come to this dark spot in the universe. No, it was for the whole universe, to establish security for all of His creatures. After this horrible experience with sin is over, "affliction" shall never arise again. "He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9.

I like this brief promise of what Jesus will accomplish for humanity that ceases to resist His love:"Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man's necessity. He 'took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses,' that He might minister to every need of humanity. Matthew 8:17. The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character." The Ministry of Healing, pg 17.

Do not let anyone steal your blessing. This three-fold blessing is for you, not just for the 144,000.

How can and should each of these reasons for Christ's coming enhance your life and walk with the Lord?

Only if we will surrender our will to the will of God. How can we do this? By beholding Jesus we shall be transformed into His image (converted).  When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. 

[Richard Myers]

Monday February 1

Jesus' Baptism

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.

3:7   But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

These were the leaders in the church. Could you imagine someone saying that to leaders in our church today? Could it be said of some today?

 3:8   Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 

What would be these "fruits" which would be meet for repentance?
 3:9   And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
 3:10   And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
 3:11   I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: 
 3:12   Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Why would John the Baptist connect themes of judgment-the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7), the axe laid to the root of the trees (Matthew 3:10), thoroughly purging the threshing floor (Matthew 3:12), and burning chaff in unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12) in his introduction to the Messiah?

Why do some preach fire and brimstone? Are there some who think they are saved when in fact they will suffer punishment on judgment day? If so, is it fair to let them believe things are well when they are not. Some do not think there will any punishment for sin. Why is this? Have some leaders in the church taught this heresy?

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).

Why did they not understand basic theology? Why did not John the Baptist understand the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world had to die? Why did Peter after three and half years with the greatest Teacher who ever lived try to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem to die? Why did He not know the Lamb had to die for his sins? Such blindness. Do you think the teachers in Israel were teaching and living a lie? Why were so many blind to their own spiritual condition? Was it necessary for John to call the leaders "vipers"?  Did Jesus do the same at the end of His ministry?

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?

Yes, there were some who were "faithful", but most were unfaithful and unconverted. It was God own people who put to death the Son of God. Many were converted after His death, even of the priests. And, yes the faithful such as John had misconceptions. They were taught thusly. How could God's own people be so deceived? Satan triumphed as he saw what he had accomplished. Israel did not have spiritual discernment. They continued on in apostasy until they murdered God's innocent Son.

How can the faithful today not fall into the same condition? Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. First, we ought to understand we will stand before God individually. We are responsible for where we end up. Are we seeking after human wisdom, are we looking to man for our understanding, or are we going to the Bible for ourselves? God sends teachers, but we are to be faithful as were the Bereans and compare what is being taught in the church with what is in Scripture. Today, in professing Christians churches, most of what is being taught is mingled with error. That includes sadly what is being taught in God's church. Why are we still here after over 150 of wandering in the wilderness? Why are our children leaving the church? Why are there as many divorces in the church as in the world? It is past time to wake up.

The "faithful" will do just fine because the faithful are looking unto Jesus and His Word. It is the unfaithful where there is a problem in being deceived. There are so many deceptions that if possible even the very elect would be deceived, but they will not since they are trusting in Jesus. But, for the rest, their only hope is in Christ and His Word. Turn from seeking truth from man and go to God. There are teachers sent from God, but they will be pointing you to Jesus and the Bible.

What I have written here is truth. But, someone will come behind me and speak words that will sound good also. Don't trust in man, put your trust in God and His Word. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ, and by beholding Him, we are changed into His image from glory unto glory by His Spirit.

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday February 2

Stones Into Bread

Read Matthew 4:1-3.

 4:1   Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 
 4:2   And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 
 4:3   And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 

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. 114.

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. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

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 3:1-10 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 3:1-2 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 thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Matt. 4:3. 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 thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deut. 8:3).

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?

This is true. We may repent of our sins, but if by our influence we lead others into sin, they may not be able to repent. So, what do we do? Where is the problem? Is the solution to the same for both problems? It is not safe for us or others when we are outside of Christ. Then why make excuses for sin? What good does that do? Excuses are lies and not only does it hurt the one making excuses, but it surely misleads others into believing such lies. One of the great deceptions to come into the church is that one is saved when he sins a known sin. That sounds like a very large excuse for sin. Yet, it is being taught from the pulpit and is being printed on the presses in Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses. This is how Israel came to such a condition spiritually that they could put to death their own Messiah. Our only hope is in turning our lives over to Christ. We cannot do that until we trust Him. We must learn of our God before we will make a full surrender of all we are and all we have. It would be good to spend some time reading about the life of Christ. Jesus put it this way in John:
6:53 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 
 6:54   Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 
 6:55   For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
 6:56   He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 
 6:57   As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 
 6:58   This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
And did not Jesus say "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday February 3

Another Temptation

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. 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 thou be 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? Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."  (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.

As we have stated before, the everlasting covenant had two parts. The first could not be fulfilled without the cooperation of man. The everlasting covenant states that God will write His law upon the heart of the "repentant" sinner. Thus, there must be repentance before the covenant is fulfilled. This is not "meat", but the "milk" of which Paul spoke.

Again Jesus responds with "'It is written,'" again quoting Deuteronomy, and again linking His experience to the Exodus: "Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah." (Deut. 6:16). 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). 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.

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?

What is "presumption"?

     There are those who profess holiness, who declare that they are wholly the Lord's, who claim a right to the promises of God, while refusing to render obedience to His commandments. These transgressors of the law claim everything that is promised to the children of God; but this is presumption on their part, for John tells us that true love for God will be revealed in obedience to all His commandments. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth, to make a profession of faith in Christ, to believe that Jesus is no impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments," John wrote, "is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him." "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him." 1 John 2:4, 5; 3:24. 
     John did not teach that salvation was to be earned by obedience; but that obedience was the fruit of faith and love. "Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins," he said, "and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:5, 6. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of God's law.  Acts of the Apostles, pg 563. 

Shocking! If you believe this, you are part of a very rare species.

Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.

Yes, bring your answer to class and be courageous. God is your strength, and you are His witnesses.

[Richard Myers]

Thursday February 4

Devil Worship

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.

 4:8   Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 
 4:9   And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 
 4:10   Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

 34:1   And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that [is] over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 
 34:2   And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, 
 34:3   And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 
 34:4   And the LORD said unto him, This [is] the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see [it] with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. 

 21:10   And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

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 will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." (Matt. 4:9). In the same way that Satan fooled Adam and Eve into wanting to become like God (when they already were 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?

When we are tempted, what will determine if we are going to sin? Paul said 'the letter killeth". What did he mean?  Lots of questions. 

Yes, there is power in the Word. But, often the word is used by some, such as Satan who are not abiding in Christ. Does this make a difference when we use the Word? This in no way minimizes the power of the Word. It only points out the power to resist sin is not in the written Word, but in Christ. If we have Christ, we have power. If we are not in Christ and He in us, we can quote the Bible all day long, just as Satan did with Jesus, and it will not give us power to resist sin. We must allow the Word to come into our hearts and change us. The Word is a revelation of Christ. As we speak the Word, let it change us. If we resist it, then we are in danger of doing Satan's work in using the Word of God to deceive.

[Wally]

Sunday January 31

Immanuel to the Rescue

Read Matthew 1:20-23. What is the significance of the name given to Jesus: "Emmanuel?"



 "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 (2009-09-25), Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision (Kindle Locations 1462-1463: InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition).

Here again we have a quotation from a non-Adventist source which distorts the truth, only "slightly" (one word missing), maybe, but significantly.  Grace, forgiveness, justification, glorification; yes, but SANCTIFICATION is missing from this statement.  The first 3 are meaningless, and the last impossible, without sanctification, which completes the process and makes glorification possible.

[Richard Myers]

Yes, Wally. Not only is it error, but it has no business in our lesson. If you will take a look at my post on Sunday's lesson, I deleted it. It is outright error. Not only is sanctification left out, but look at what was said about the covenant. "all this was the purpose of the single covenant from the beginning, now fulfilled in Jesus Christ." Sanctification was left out as a purpose and sanctification is not fulfilled in Christ. It must be fulfilled in the sinner before he has salvation. It cannot be fulfilled in Christ and neither can justification be fulfilled in Christ. If that were true then all would be justified and sanctified. I commented on this in Wednesday's lesson because not only did the Sunday keeper state this error, so did the author of our lesson.

Thanks for pointing this out, Wally. I guess I was being a little too nice in just deleting it without comment.

Wednesday February 3


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.

As we have stated before, the everlasting covenant had two parts. The first could not be fulfilled without the cooperation of man. The everlasting covenant states that God will write His law upon the heart of the "repentant" sinner. Thus, there must be repentance before the covenant is fulfilled. This is not "meat", but the "milk" of which Paul spoke.

[colporteur]

I'm glad you saw that. I wrote in Sunday's lesson a couple of days ago that they have forgotten something.

 "Jesus came to the world to seek and save the lost." True. "and to take away their sins."   True..... now for the recipe. How would He take away their sins?   "He was made like us to restore us to God." (paraphrase)   Ok, restore us how ? What are the ingredients so to speak ? " Dealing with sin, saving humans from it."  ok, still waiting. From it in every sense or only in one sense ?  " Giving them grace."  Ok, grace for what ?  " forgiveness, justification, glorification, - "   Ahhh, he ran around and missed second plate on his way to third and then home plate. The whole evangelical world and the papacy believes this. That "this was now fulfilled in Jesus Christ" sounds like it was all finished at the cross.  He left no one guessing as to " justification", "forgiveness", "glorification" so why the omission of "sanctification?"
How much ink and space would it have taken to say something like "and Jesus came not only to show us how to walk but to grant us power through a surrendered heart and Spirit filled life to stop sinning."   Words are carefully chosen and when a key component is left out of an equation and editors do not correct it one can only assume that this is what is believed.

Of course some are going to say that "sanctification" is implied in Sunday's lesson. Is it ? Why is "justification" and the other components are flat stated in the paragraph and one is left to suppose that they meant  sanctification was included ?

 "N.T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world's leading Bible scholars. He is now serving as the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland."

This goes along with the last sermon we heard recently in our church. It was said that while Peter was denying Christ the promise of mansions being prepared in heaven for Peter (John 14 1-3)  was being fulfilled. There was essentially nothing said about Peter repenting. The implication was that Peter was saved irrespective of anything else. At best this was neglectful and at worst it was blatant error.

[Richard Myers]

"One of the world's leading Bible scholars"?  The author of our lesson must be impressed to have quoted him as an expert.  I wonder why he is not keeping the Sabbath? Does he know sinners will not be punished for eternity? Does he know what the mark of the beast is? If so, why is he not one of us?   These "experts" are the ones who have been given responsibilities for translating these new "modern" Bibles. And, we read them?

[colporteur]

This Anglican Bishop has a good deal to say about the Sabbath, almost  all of which is error.

[colporteur]

The last 5 words of Wright's quote as posted on Sunday's Lesson are the exact same words he uses in his attempts to wash out the Sabbath. " now fulfilled in Jesus Christ."  There can be no mistaking what he means by these words. So, the question is, if Tasker and the editor's etc. do not believe as Wright why are they quoting him ?

[Richard Myers]

I don't know, cp. But, I do know about the author's quote I cited. They were his words about the covenant being fulfilled in Christ. I don't know why he said it, but it reveals he is either ignorant about the covenant or does not agree with the truth about the first half being conditional. Some would disagree, and many are ignorant. It is significant error. That is why I pointed it out.

[Richard Myers]

Friday February 5

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, 1909-1950 (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 (Vantage Books Edition: Random House, Inc., 1967), 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.

Yes, the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy make it abundantly clear what the conflict known as the the great controversy is all about. It would be negligent to not present this in a very clear manner in our Sabbath School classes this Sabbath. If not now, then when? Even atheists know something is going to happen as the world falls lower and lower in moral worth. Nature itself reveals there is evil afoot. Sadly, many use this to blame God, if there is one, for the evil in the world. They cannot reconcile God being omnipotent, all knowing, with the truth that He is a God of love. These attributes they cannot see as being present at the same time. Satan has attempted to pervert the truth and the character of our God. He has been successful at deceiving a vast majority of humanity.

In reading the discussion questions below, and reviewing our lessons this week, we have not adequately explained the temptations of Christ in the context of the great controversy. Let me ask our readers here what they will share with their class on Sabbath in regards to this?  We have a couple of days to consider this. I will share on Friday my thoughts.

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?

I don't see a line, or a boundary between faith and presumption. It is a matter of doing what we know we ought to do. Presumption is believing God will excuse my sin when I don't do what I know is right. Faith is doing what I know is right, no matter what the cost.

We should not present our petitions to God to prove whether He will fulfill His word, but because He will fulfill it; not to prove that He loves us, but because He loves us. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6.  {DA 125.4} 
     But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.  DA 126.

    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?

Israel was tempted to sin and they did not know they were sinning. Why?  If the priests defined sin in such a manner that the people did not understand what sin was, would that not enable subtle temptations? As a people, Israel did not know God looks at the heart, not just outward actions. In other words, sin begins in the heart and mind. If a thought that is sinful is not rejected, then it is sin. Jesus told His people "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:28.

What if I manifest pride, but do not know it? Is that sin? Blindness has come upon Israel and we don't know it, even though Jesus has told us it is the case, and a modern day prophet confirmed it.

Let's look at the temptations of Christ and see if we can learn something about the kinds of temptations that may be helpful.

The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand. They were urged upon Him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours. With the terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him, Christ withstood the test upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon that love of display which leads to presumption. These were the temptations that overcame Adam and Eve, and that so readily overcome us.  Desire of Ages, pg 116. 

    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?

Our response matters most to Jesus. What does contemplating this great struggle mean to you? Is there a change in heart?

[JimB]

Why do some preach fire and brimstone? Are there some who think they are saved when in fact they will suffer punishment on judgment day? If so, is it fair to let them believe things are well when they are not. Some do not think there will any punishment for sin. Why is this? Have some leaders in the church taught this heresy?

When I saw this question I thought of this...

 The childhood, youth, and manhood of John had been characterized by firmness and moral power. When his voice was heard in the wilderness saying, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Matthew 3:3), Satan feared for the safety of his kingdom. The sinfulness of sin was revealed in such a manner that men trembled. Satan's power over many who had been under his control was broken. He had been unwearied in his efforts to draw away the Baptist from a life of unreserved surrender to God; but he had failed. And he had failed to overcome Jesus. In the temptation in the wilderness, Satan had been defeated, and his rage was great. Now he determined to bring sorrow upon Christ by striking John. The One whom he could not entice to sin he would cause to suffer.  {DA 224.1}

Many today would object to such preaching yet satan feared it when he heard John preaching such things.

[JimB]

In Thursday's lesson at the bottom the lesson asks this...

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?

I don't completely understand what the author meant by asking how can we use scripture?  The Bible is not some book of magical incantations that if repeated word for word will drive the devil away. Yes, Jesus quoted from the Word with powerful results but the devil "used' the Word also. Why did the devil flee from Christ when He "used" the Word?  Let me suggest it was because Christ was perfectly submitted to His Father. According to James the devil will flee under specific circumstances.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I have no doubts that the following group that Christ is talking about in this passage also "used" scripture, yet things will not turn out so good for them.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[JimB]

What is "presumption"?

Richard I know you already answered this from the Acts of the Apostles but I wanted to point this out also from the Desire of Ages in the chapter "The Victory".

But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.  {DA 126.1}