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Wally

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Lesson 12 March 13-19






Desire of Nations






Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon


So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2021, 06:02:26 AM »
Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Isaiah 59; Isa. 59:15-21; Isa. 60:1, 2; Isaiah 61; Isa. 61:2.

Memory Text: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isaiah 60:3


“We must learn in the school of Christ. Nothing but His righteousness can entitle us to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. We have long desired and tried to obtain these blessings but have not received them because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worthy of them. We have not looked away from ourselves, believing that Jesus is a living Saviour. We must not think that our own grace and merits will save us; the grace of Christ is our only hope of salvation. Through His prophet the Lord promises, ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7). We must believe the naked promise, and not accept feeling for faith. When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour, we shall receive all the help that we can desire.” — Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, p. 36.

Amen!!  Two wonderful truths.  God will pardon if we will trust Him with all we have and all we are. In order to do this, we must know Him. Thus, it would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ. And, we have nothing good to offer God to be saved. It is by grace that we are saved, nothing of ourselves. When we trust Jesus, then He will not only forgive our sins, but cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Grace is more than a word, it is the power that transforms the character, that empowers repentant sinners to keep the commandments of God.


This week we can see more of this great truth as revealed in the writings of the prophet Isaiah.

Amen! The gospel message of grace is throughout the  Bible from Genesis to Revelation. But, Isaiah is such a large book and full of so very much, especially chapter 53 where the grace of God is clearly revealed as we see His innocent Son suffer on our account.


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 20.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2021, 06:07:21 AM »
Sunday          March 14

The Effects of Sin (Isaiah 59)


In Isaiah 58:3 the people asked God: “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” (NRSV).

In contrast, Isaiah 59:1 implies another question, something like: “Why do we call for the Lord’s hand to save us, but He does not? Why do we cry to Him, but He does not hear?” Isaiah answers that God is able to save and hear (Isa. 59:1). His failure to do either, however, is another matter entirely.

Read Isaiah 59:2. What message is being given here that answers the question in Isaiah 59:1?

 59:1   Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
 59:2   But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear. 


God chooses to “ignore” His people, not because that is His desire but because “your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God” (Isa. 59:2, NRSV). Here is one of the clearest statements in the Bible regarding the effect of sin on the divine-human relationship. Isaiah spends the rest of chapter 59 elaborating on this point, which is seen all through human history: Sin can destroy our relationship with the Lord and thus lead to our eternal ruin—not because sin drives God away from us but that it drives us away from God.

Known sin reveals a separation between the sinner and God. If Christ was in the heart, then there would be power to resist the temptation. When we take our eyes off of God, we end up in the water just as did Peter. Where is Jesus then? Reaching out for us when we call for help. He knocks at the door of the heart wanting back in.


Read Genesis 3:8.

   And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 


How does this example reveal the principle expressed in the above paragraph?

Sin does not drive us away from God if we were truly converted. When we see what we did to Jesus, it draws us back to Him. When Moses struck the Rock, he was already separated from God. When the still small voice said "what have you done to Me, Moses?" Moses quickly fell on his face in deep deep repentance. So will all who love Him supremely if they will not push away from God. Many make excuses for sin and think they have eternal life when sinning. Such a deception.

    "They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." Psalm  106:32, 33.  Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin might do among the people, He could not remit its punishment....
 
God had forgiven the people greater transgressions, but He could not deal with sin in the leaders as in those who were led. He had honored Moses above every other man upon the earth.... The fact that Moses had enjoyed so great light and knowledge made his sin more grievous. Past faithfulness will not atone for one wrong act. The greater the light and privileges granted to man, the greater is his responsibility, the more aggravated his failure, and the heavier his punishment. 

Moses was not guilty of a great crime, as men would view the matter.... But if God dealt so severely with this sin in His most faithful and honored servant, He will not excuse it in others.... All who profess godliness are under the most sacred obligation to guard the spirit, and to exercise self-control under the greatest provocation. The burdens placed upon Moses were very great; few men will ever be so severely tried as he was; yet this was not allowed to excuse his sin. God has made ample provision for His people; and if they rely upon His strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer." Conflict and Courage; pg 110.


Sin is primarily a rejection of God, a turning away from Him. The sin act actually feeds upon itself in that not only is the act a turning away from God but the result of the act causes the sinner to turn away even more from the Lord. Sin separates us from God, not because God wouldn’t reach out to the sinner (indeed, the whole Bible is almost nothing but the account of God’s reaching out to save sinners) but because sin causes us to reject His divine overtures to us. That is why it is so important that we tolerate no sin in our lives.

In what ways have you experienced the reality that sin causes a separation from God? What, in your own experience, is the only solution to the problem?

It is true that a sinner who continues in sin despite God's revelation of grace is pushing away from God, his heart is hardening at each resistance to that still small voice. But, others like Saul the Persecutor was drawing closer to God because he was wanting to do what was right and was having a very hard time resisting the pricks of the Holy Spirit. How do we know his heart was moving to Jesus and not away?  Conversion is the end of a long process of wooing by the Holy Spirit. When Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he had come to the point of full surrender, it was the end of resisting God's call. Jesus said to Saul "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:5.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2021, 06:55:40 AM »
Monday          March 15

Who Is Forgiven? (Isa. 59:15-21)


59:15   Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment. 
 59:16   And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. 
 59:17   For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 
 59:18   According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. 
 59:19   So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. 
 59:20   And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 
 59:21   As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.   


Have you noticed that truth is fallen, justice cannot enter and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey? It is only by God's grace that justice can be had. And, this does not apply to just one race, but to all who love Jesus supremely. Praise God that we have an Intercessor today who if we sin will be our advocate for my time, who will also be our Savior whose love will not fail, who will finish the work in us that He has begun.


Isaiah 59 presents a startling picture of the problem of sin. Fortunately, the Bible also presents the hope of Redemption.

To begin, the first question is, How many of us have sinned? The Bible is unequivocal: All of us have. Redemption, therefore, cannot be based on lack of sin; it must be based on forgiveness (Jer. 31:34). Paul agrees. All have sinned (Rom. 3:9-20, 23); so, there can be no distinction on that basis (Rom. 3:22). Those who are justified can be judged as just, only because they receive by faith the gift of God’s righteousness through the sacrifice of Christ.

Amen! And, that righteousness is not just imputed for past sins, and unknown sins, but is also imparted to all who have truly repented of past sins. That is to say He empowers us to keep His commandments, to not murder, steal, lie, or break any other of His laws that we know of. If we truly love Him with the whole heart, then we are not allowed to be tempted beyond what we can bear, we will not sin as long as we remain fully surrendered to God. Too straight? Yes, for all who do not love God supremely, but not to straight for all who will learn of Him make a whole heart surrender of all they have and all they are.


Read Romans 3:21-24. What are these verses telling us about how we are saved? What hope should they give us in the judgment?

All who love Jesus supremely, all who are walking in the light given, all who have repented of all known sin, all who are keeping His commandments, will have hope in that God has forgiven all their sins and will blot them our in the judgment never more to be remembered. They will be with Jesus sitting on His throne. They have given glory to God by being His faithful witnesses to not only those living in this world, but to the unfallen worlds for eternity.


Most people think the question in the judgment is: Who has sinned? But that is not a question that needs to be asked, because everyone has sinned. Instead, the question is: Who is forgiven? God is just when He justifies “the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26, NRSV). The deciding factor in the judgment is, Who has received and continues to receive forgiveness by having faith in Jesus?

Amen! For both are true. Those who have sinned after being converted, those who have not repented, thus are not forgiven will be found to not have believed with the whole heart when probation closed for them. We can look at it both ways. Only those who have been forgiven will be found to have fully surrendered when probation closed. Those who have sinned after being forgiven, who were forgiven previously, but lost their connection with God, who have wandered away from Jesus will not have their sins blotted out and will not be in heaven. This is not a complicated difficult matter to understand unless one has been deceived by the multitude of false gospels which have entered into God's church. All may ascend the steep narrow road to heaven if they will come to Jesus just as they are and learn of Him who gave all that we might live. By beholding His great love, grace, we shall be changed into His image (character). 2 Cor. 3:18.


Now, it is true we are judged by works, but not in the sense that works save us. If so, then faith is made void (Rom. 4:14). Instead, our works reveal whether we truly have been saved (James 2:18).

Why can’t works save us, either now or in the judgment? See Rom. 3:20, 23.

Because we have sinned and  cannot keep the law of God unless we are transformed in nature by the grace of God. We cannot have good works unless we accept God's grace into our hearts. And even if we do surrender wholly to God and do keep His laws, we have committed sin in the past and the wages of one sin is death. We can never atone for our past sins. Therefore, out good works of today do not earn us salvation. Only God's grace can save us. It is righteousness that covers our past confessed and forsaken sins. And it His grace that empowers us to do good works. Without Christ we cannot resist the smallest temptation to sin.


It is too late for good works, or obedience to the law, to redeem anyone. The purpose of the law in a sinful world isn’t to save but to point out sin. Instead, “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6, NRSV), love that is poured into the heart by God’s Spirit (Rom. 5:5), demonstrates that a person has living faith in Jesus (see also James 2:26).

Works are an outward expression, the human manifestation of a saving faith. Hence, a true Christian experience is one in which faith is expressed in a daily commitment to the Lord that is revealed by obedience to the law. In the judgment, God uses works as evidence for His creatures, who cannot read thoughts of faith as He can. But for the converted person, only works following conversion, when the life is empowered by Christ and the Holy Spirit, are relevant in the judgment. The preconversion life of sin has already been washed away by the blood of the Lamb (see Romans 6).

Amen! What is being said here is that if we have not obedience, then we have not fulfilled the requirement for salvation. And what is the requirement for salvation? That we love the Lord our God with all the heart. When we see He loves us despite our evil nature, our sins, our rejection of Him in the past, we will love Him. And when we trust Him with all we have and all we are, then grace has changed us into loving Christians who love not only God, but our worst enemies. Then the Holy Spirit, the third person of the godhead will take possession of the heart as long as we remain fully surrendered. And then repentant sinners will be empowered to keep the law of God, they will resist the temptation to sin as long as they cling to Jesus. And, since we are filled with the Spirit, we will manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit even if we do not know it.

In the investigative judgment, the standard used to judge those who have previously been converted is the law of God. The question is, did the ones being judged fall away or did they end up fully surrendered to Christ?  The books are opened to see what their status was. Out of the books it will be revealed if their character was holy and undefiled or had they fallen away. Their deeds, words, thoughts, and even their motives are written in the books. God already knows their hearts, but the judgment is for the universe to see if God is judging fairly. It is His character that has been maligned by Satan. So, both human's and God's character are being revealed.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2021, 07:15:55 AM »
Tuesday         March 16

Universal Appeal (Isa. 60:1, 2)


 60:1   Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 
 60:2   For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 


What is Isaiah 60:1, 2 talking about? What principle do you see at work there that’s seen all through the Bible? What hope does it offer?

While these truths apply to every age, it most pointedly applies to our day when it shall be the darkest ever and the glory of the Lord shall be the brightest ever. This promise of God's glory being poured out upon His people is in its infancy. There must be revival and reformation in His church before the Holy Spirit will be poured out. God wanted to do this in 1888, but the church leadership rejected the gospel message and here we still are.

It is up to you and me to not only die to self daily, but  to impart to others what Jesus has taught us, the power of grace to transform the character today, not just tomorrow. If we are not changed today, then there will be none to give the last message of warning to a world soon to perish. Unless we are walking in the light of God's love and grace, we cannot expect others to accept the gospel message. If we contradict what we say, then we appear as hypocrites to the world. God spoke through Ezekiel to make sure we understand despite the false gospels which have blinded us to our condition as a people. Ezekiel tells us  (the modern house of Israel) that we have profaned His name in front of the world. He is jealous for His reputation which by sin we have tarnished. He is going to pour clean water upon us so that there will a people who when the world sees, they will know there is a God in heaven. Why so? Because when we are converted, there is a marked difference between those who have given the whole heart to God and those who have not.


"36:21   But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 
 36:22   Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 
 36:23   And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
 36:24   For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 
 36:25   Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 
 36:26   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 
 36:27   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].


It is a commonly accepted teaching in God's church that we have salvation (justification) when we sin a known sin. But, this is a lie. Paul makes it very clear in the Book of Romans, as does the rest of Scripture. And Satan being very clever has removed from some of the modern day bibles the second half of Romans 8:1 which reveals who it is that is condemned and those who are not.

 8:1   [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 8:2   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
 8:3   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
 8:4   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 8:5   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
 8:6   For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 
 8:7   Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
 8:8   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
 8:9   But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 
 8:10   And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. 
 8:11   But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 
 8:12   Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 
 8:13   For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 
 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.


In Isaiah 60:1, 2, we are given a picture of God’s deliverance of His people, following the exile, expressed with the imagery of God’s creating light out of darkness and pointing forward to an ultimate fulfillment in salvation through Christ.

 60:3   And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 


In Isaiah 60:3, to whose light do nations and kings come?

In Hebrew this person is feminine singular (see also Isa. 60:1, 2). It must be “Zion,” personified as a woman, who is mentioned near the end of the previous chapter (Isa. 59:20). So, the people of the earth, who are covered in darkness, will come to Zion. They will be drawn by the light of God’s glory that has arisen over her (Isa. 60:2). “Zion is summoned to enter into the light that is hers and then to observe and react to the nations as they gather to the same light.” — J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary, p. 494. Notice that although Zion is Jerusalem, the emphasis is more on the people than on the physical location of the city.

Yes, it is to those who reflect the glory (character) of God that those who are seeking truth will come. It is speaking of our day just in front of us. And it will not be "nations" that come to us, for all nations of the Earth will be in rebellion and are creating the gross darkness covering the whole earth. Some think America is a bastion of Christianity, but in fact we can see that their is gross darkness in many churches today and it will be even more obvious when they begin to call for the nation to enforce her false doctrine. America has repudiated her Protestant and republican heritage. Look up for our redemption draweth nigh.


The rest of Isaiah 60 develops the theme introduced in verses 1-3: The people of the world are drawn to Jerusalem, which is blessed because of God’s glorious presence there.

How does this prophecy compare with God’s covenant promise to Abraham? Gen. 12:2, 3.

 12:2   And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
 12:3   And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 


Are they not saying the same thing?

I don't think so.  The whole world will not come to those who are reflecting God's glory. The world that has rejected the Truth as it is in Jesus will persecute those who reflect His glory (character).  And, verse 3 begins by saying God will curse those who curse Israel. So, we need to better define what it means in verse 3 when it says "be blessed."  Or what does it mean when it says "all families." Looking at today, we know not all families of the Earth will be blessed as they are persecuting the saints who are modern day Israel. And, the nation being spoken of in verse 2 was a great nation, but is no more. The nation of Israel is no longer God's people. Those who are children of Abraham today are those who love God and keep His commandments those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.


Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers. Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the Bridegroom’s home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The coming of the bridegroom was at midnight—the darkest hour. So the coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth’s history. The days of Noah and Lot pictured the condition of the world just before the coming of the Son of man. The Scriptures pointing forward to this time declare that Satan will work with all power and “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. To God’s people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth’s sake. But out of that night of darkness God’s light will shine.
 
He causes “the light to shine out of darkness.” 2 Corinthians 4:6. When “the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep,” “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.” Genesis 1:2, 3. So in the night of spiritual darkness, God’s word goes forth, “Let there be light.” To His people He says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1.

“Behold,” says the Scripture, “the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:2.

It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.

This is the work outlined by the prophet Isaiah in the words, “O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 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.” Isaiah 40:9, 10.
 
Those who wait for the Bridegroom’s coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God.” The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness. Christ, the outshining of the Father’s glory, came to the world as its light. He came to represent God to men, and of Him it is written that He was anointed “with the Holy Ghost and with power,” and “went about doing good.” Acts 10:38. In the synagogue at Nazareth He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18, 19. This was the work He commissioned His disciples to do. “Ye are the light of the world,” He said. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16. Christ's Object Lessons; pg 412


God had a universal purpose when He chose Abraham and his descendants: Through Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3, Gen. 18:18, Gen. 22:18). So, God's covenant with Abraham was ultimately intended to be a covenant with all humankind through Abraham. He and his descendants would be God's channel of revelation to the world.\

So was the everlasting covenant to be a covenant for the whole world, but the whole world would not enter into His covenant, nor did all Israel. A covenant is between two or more people. There are conditions to a covenant. Many have been called, but few choose to enter into God's covenant. It is true that the world is blessed by having His Spirit in the world, and to have those who are filled with His Spirit in the world. But, the curse remains on those who curse God's people.


Isaiah sought to bring his people back to their ancient, universal destiny. As the representatives of the true God, they were responsible not only for themselves but for the world. They should welcome foreigners who seek God (see also Isa. 56:3-8), for His temple “shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isa. 56:7, NRSV).

In this context, how do you understand the role of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or even, more specifically, your individual role in that church?

We should welcome those who come into our country illegally? We ought to do what we can to help those seeking God. If we can do something to help them immigrate legally, then we ought to do it for those truly seeking God. The temple was to be a source of blessing, but in fact the false teachers made it a market place to benefit their selfish hearts. How is it today in your country? Is your church a safe place to bring those seeking truth. It may be better to leave them where they are? Revival and reformation needs to have come before God is going to work mightily to bring people into His church, else many will come in, see hypocrisy and leave, never more to return. Do we see this in many of our churches today? We need to clean our own home so that we do not bring reproach upon Jesus and His work. Pray for the clean water spoken of in Ezekiel 36 to be poured out upon His church.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2021, 08:51:33 AM »
Wednesday         March 17

“The Year of the LORD’s Favor” (Isa. 61:2, NRSV)

61:1    The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 
 61:2    To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 
 61:3    To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.         

Who is speaking in Isaiah 61:1?
The Spirit of God is on this anointed person, which means that he is a messiah or the Messiah. He is to “to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;” (Isa. 61:1). Whom does that sound like? Compare Isaiah 42:1-7, where God’s Servant is described in very similar terms.

Isaiah 61:2 talks about the “acceptable year of the LORD.” The Messiah, who is anointed as the Davidic King and Deliverer, proclaims a special year of divine favor at the time when He proclaims liberty. Compare Leviticus 25:10, where God commands the Israelites to proclaim liberty in the holy fiftieth year: “It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family” (NRSV). This means that persons who had been forced to sell their ancestral land or to become servants in order to survive hard times (Lev. 25:25-55) would reclaim their land and freedom. Because the jubilee year began with the blowing of a trumpet on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 25:9), we have mentioned this passage before in connection with Isaiah 58.

While “the year of the LORD’s favor” (NRSV) in Isaiah 61:2 is a kind of jubilee year, it is not simply an observance of Leviticus 25. This year is announced by the Messiah, the King, when He reveals Himself through a ministry of liberation and restoration. This is similar to some ancient Mesopotamian kings who promoted social kindness by proclaiming release from debts during early years of their reigns. The Messiah’s ministry goes far beyond the scope of the Leviticus 25 law. Not only does He “proclaim liberty to the captives,” He also binds up the brokenhearted, comforts those who mourn, and brings about their restoration (Isa. 61:1-11). Furthermore, in addition to “the year of the LORD’s favor,” he proclaims “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2, NRSV).

When was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? Luke 4:16-21.
4:16    And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 
 4:17    And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 
 4:18    The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 
 4:19    To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 
 4:20    And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 
 4:21    And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 


How did Jesus’ ministry accomplish this? Also, ask yourself this important question: We, of course, are not Jesus. But we are to represent Him to the world. What are the things the Messiah does, as expressed in Isaiah 61:1-3, that we, in our limited capacities, should be doing, as well? And what are some of the practical ways in which we can do these things?

In order to do what Jesus asks of us, we must be partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Otherwise, it is works and not coming from the heart. Why? Because unless we are fully surrendered and filled with the Holy Spirit (born of the Spirit), our good works are as filthy rags and are coming from a selfish heart.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2021, 06:39:51 AM »
Thursday        March 18

“The Day of Vengeance of Our God”
(Isa. 61:2)


Amidst all the good news, why does the Messiah, as depicted in Isaiah 61, proclaim God’s vengeance? When is this prophecy fulfilled?

When in Nazareth, Jesus, the Messiah, read Isaiah 61 as far as “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Isa. 61:2; Luke 4:19, NRSV). Then He stopped and said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21, NRSV). So, He deliberately and specifically avoided reading the next words in the same verse: “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2, NRSV). While His ministry of good news, liberty, and comfort was beginning to set captives free from Satan’s tyranny, the day of vengeance was not yet to come. In Matthew 24 (compare Mark 13, Luke 21), He predicted to His disciples that divine judgments would come in the future.

Yes, but not to those in Nazareth. Why? We are given light on this in Desire of Ages.


When Jesus in the synagogue read from the prophecy, He stopped short of the final specification concerning the Messiah’s work. Having read the words, “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,” He omitted the phrase, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” Isaiah 61:2. This was just as much truth as was the first of the prophecy, and by His silence Jesus did not deny the truth. But this last expression was that upon which His hearers delighted to dwell, and which they were desirous of fulfilling. They denounced judgments against the heathen, not discerning that their own guilt was even greater than that of others. They themselves were in deepest need of the mercy they were so ready to deny to the heathen. That day in the synagogue, when Jesus stood among them, was their opportunity to accept the call of Heaven. He who “delighteth in mercy” ( Micah 7:18) would fain have saved them from the ruin which their sins were inviting. Not without one more call to repentance could He give them up.
  Pg 240.

It was His last call to repentance to those in the synagogue. It would do no good to tell them what they already wanted, they needed to see their own need to be converted, for they were indeed a Laodicean people who thought they were rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing.


Indeed, in Isaiah 61 the day of God’s vengeance is the “great and terrible day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31; Mal. 4:5), to be fulfilled when Christ will come again to liberate Planet Earth from injustice by defeating His enemies and setting the oppressed remnant of His people free (Revelation 19; compare Dan. 2:44, 45). So, although Christ announced the beginning of “the year of the LORD’s favor,” its culmination is at His second coming.

How do you reconcile the notion of a loving God with a God who also promises vengeance? Are the ideas incompatible? Or do you understand vengeance as a manifestation of that love? If so, how so? Explain your answer.

Though Jesus has told us to turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39), elsewhere He was very clear that justice and punishment will be meted out (Matt. 8:12). Though Paul tells us not to “render evil for evil” (1 Thess. 5:15), he also said that when the Lord is revealed from heaven, with flaming fire He will take “vengeance on them that know not God” (2 Thess. 1:8 ).

The difference, of course, is that the Lord in His infinite wisdom and mercy can alone bring both justice and vengeance in a completely fair manner. Human justice, human vengeance, comes with all the faults, frailties, and inconsistencies of humanity. God’s justice, of course, will come with none of those limitations.

Which of the following incidents would make you more likely to want to see vengeance returned upon someone who does evil? (1) A person who hurts someone you do not love or (2) a person who hurts someone you do love? How does this help us better understand the link between God’s love for us and the warnings of vengeance?

It is true there is a desire in our hearts for justice. Justice demands punishment, not remedial punishment, but just plain punishment. This is God's justice, not man's.  He will render perfect justice according to what is done in the flesh. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil." Ecc. 12:14.

God will raise from the dead the wicked, then they shall be punished for all the evil they did or for not doing the good they could have done. The worm shall not die until justice is satisfied. The wicked will not burn for eternity, only as long as justice demands. God is perfectly fair. And, while it is God's vengance, it is a strange act for our God who is a God great love.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12--1st Quarter 2021--Desire of Nations
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2021, 07:16:10 AM »
Friday        March 19

Further Study: See also Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 376-378; also The Desire of Ages, pp. 236-243.

“Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing to the world the light of truth. His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down; like Moses, they beheld the Invisible. As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 237.


Amen! But, their hearts were far from being cleansed from sin. When Jesus spoke of these things, it was not a reproof of their sins. When the Spirit pointed out they were captives to the law of sin and death, they wanted to kill the Messenger that was trying to save them. How did or do you feel when the Laodicean message came home to your heart? Did you resent that it applied to you? Or did you translate it in a different manner so that you were ok?  It is true not all in the church have unrepented sins. But, as a people, the message applies today. And, many would feel the same as those in Nazareth if they understood they understood Jesus was saying they needed to be set free from the captivity of Satan.

“The day of God’s vengeance cometh—the day of the fierceness of His wrath. Who will abide the day of His coming? Men have hardened their hearts against the Spirit of God, but the arrows of His wrath will pierce where the arrows of conviction could not. God will not far hence arise to deal with the sinner. Will the false shepherd shield the transgressor in that day? Can he be excused who went with the multitude in the path of disobedience? Will popularity or numbers make any guiltless? These are questions which the careless and indifferent should consider and settle for themselves.” — Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, p. 33.


Amen! And they are questions the false shepherds ought to consider. It they have not been honest in warning of what will come of those who refuse God's grace. While we are happy to tell others God is not going to burn in hell all who do not accept Jesus, for eternity, do we tell them that the wicked will burn for every sin? If not, why not? If we do not warn those who are rejecting salvation, could it not make a difference for some? Yes, it could. There are no unbelievers in fox holes when the bombs are falling. And, it leads some to study out the subjects in Scripture regarding salvation and eternal life. "And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude 1:22,23.

Fear will save none. But, like the soldier in the foxhole, it will get some to consider the truth about salvation and the impending judgment for all who reject God's love.


Discussion Question:

    A Seventh-day Adventist pastor thoughtfully stated that his number one problem in ministry is the exclusiveness of church members who do not want others to join them. How can “Christians” take the love, hope, and good news of Christ’s kingdom to all the world so that others can have an opportunity to be saved before the end comes (Matt. 24:14) when they do not even want to accept people who go out of their way to show up in their church?

They cannot give to others what they do not have. If one is not converted, fully surrendered and filled with the Holy Spirit, they remain self centered and selfish thinking only of themselves. The Laodicean who thinks he is rich and increased with goods does not know he is miserable, wretched, poor and blind and naked. They must be born again of the Spirit.


Summary: God purifies an unjust society by removing the rebels and by restoring the remnant who turn from the sins that have separated them from Him. Due to the blessings of God’s presence, people from other nations are drawn to God and His people so that they also can enjoy the time of God’s favor that is proclaimed and delivered by the Messiah.

God is in all nations. God has His people all around the world. God is drawing people from "other" nations to where? If it is to Europe and America, that would be a mistake. While they are rich, they are miserable, wretched, poor and blind and naked more and more every day. There are more people being converted in South America and Africa than in the wealthy nations. Those who are converted in Africa and South America need to minister to their people rather than leaving them to obtain the riches they seek in other nations.

And, the pastors in these wealthy nations need to do evangelism in the "other" nations. We are to take the gospel to the whole world, not to remain complacent in a Laodicean church who have heard the message, or at least have within their reach Bibles and the Spirit of Prophecy in their own tongue. And, we are not to be guilty of breaking the laws in our own country when they are not at odds with Scripture. Anarchy is growing rapidly around the world. It is not of God, and we are not to let it distract us from doing what God has called us to do. Let us take the gospel message, which is the last warning message, to a dying world.

One last thought. There was a family in Germany who were homeschooling their children. The German court told them that if they did not put their children in school, they would take their children away and put the parents in prison. The family came to America. The Obama administration sent them back to Germany. In California, the teachers unions has been trying very hard to put an end to home schools. Let us love our enemy and keep in mind that one day there will be justice. For today it has fallen in the street, equity cannot enter, and he who departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. When there is no justice, then only those who are abiding in Jesus will have peace, a peace that passeth all understanding. All else is vanity.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.