Author Topic: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Birdcage  (Read 493 times)

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Richard Myers

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Lesson 3 July 9-15






The Birdcage





Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon





Sabbath Afternoon


Read for This Week’s Study: Exodus 14, Exod. 15:22-27, Exod. 17:1-7, Proverbs 3, Luke 4:1-13, 1 Pet. 1:6-9.

Memory Text: “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” 1 Peter 1:6

"In the full light of day, and in hearing of the music of other voices, the caged bird will not sing the song that his master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the master covers the cage, and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned, and he breaks forth in perfect melody. Then the bird is brought forth, and ever after he can sing that song in the light. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us, and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction we can sing it ever afterward.” — Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 472.

Amen!! Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered."  Hebrews 5:8. So it was with Christ, so it is with us. We glory in our tribulation knowing it works for our good and God's glory as we abide in Jesus.


Notice that the one who carries the bird into the darkness is the master himself.

It is easy to understand that Satan causes pain, but would God Himself actively take a part in guiding us into crucibles where we experience confusion or hurt?

The Week at a Glance: What examples can you think of in the Bible in which God Himself leads people into experiences that He knows will include suffering? What do you think were the new songs He wanted them to sing?

Jesus wants us to experience what He did when walking upon this Earth as our Brother. The most weighty trust and the highest honor God can bestow upon us is that we are partakers in the sufferings of His Son. Then we too may be a reflection of His character, of His goodness.


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 16.


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 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2022, 08:30:51 AM »
Sunday          July 10
To the Promised Land via a Dead End


“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.” Exod. 14:10.

Have you ever been set up, led into a trap or to a dead end? Sometimes it can be nice, like walking unexpectedly into a room of waiting friends who all shout “Surprise! Happy birthday!” At other times it can be quite a shock, even a very unpleasant one. It may have been bullies when you were at school, or a work colleague who unexpectedly tried to make you look bad.

From the day the Israelites left Egypt until they reached the Promised Land, “the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night” (Exod. 13:21, NIV). Every part of their journey was led by God Himself. But look at where He led them first: to a place where the sea was before them, mountains were on either side, and Pharaoh’s army was within eyesight right behind!

Read Exodus 14.

 14:1   And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
 14:2   Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 
 14:3   For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They [are] entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 
 14:4   And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I [am] the LORD. And they did so. 
 14:5   And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 
 14:6   And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 
 14:7   And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 
 14:8   And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 
 14:9   But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses [and] chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 
 14:10   And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 
 14:11   And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 
 14:12   [Is] not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 
 14:13   And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 
 14:14   The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 
 14:15   And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 
 14:16   But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea. 
 14:17   And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 
 14:18   And the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 
 14:19   And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 
 14:20   And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 
 14:21   And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided. 
 14:22   And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry [ground]: and the waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 
 14:23   And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, [even] all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 
 14:24   And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 
 14:25   And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 
 14:26   And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 
 14:27   And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 
 14:28   And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 
 14:29   But the children of Israel walked upon dry [land] in the midst of the sea; and the waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 
 14:30   Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 
 14:31   And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. 
 


Why did God bring the Israelites to a place where He knew they would be terrified?

If all things work together for our good, then God wanted to bless Israel. They did not know God, nor of His power and love. God was also working to reveal His love and power to the other nations and to the universe as He deals with Israel and us today.


Following “the pillar” doesn’t assure us of being happy all the time. It also can be a hard experience, because training in righteousness takes us to places that test our hearts, which are so naturally deceitful (Jer. 17:9). During these difficulties, the key to knowing when we are truly following God is not necessarily the absence of trials or pain but, rather, an openness to God’s instruction and a continual submission of our minds and hearts to His leading.

What lesson did the Israelites learn from this experience? Exod. 14:31.

Why is trusting God sometimes so hard, even though we may know many of the wonderful promises He has for us? Recount some difficult situation you believe the Lord led you into in order to teach you to “believe” in and to “fear” Him.

Lifting weights is hard, but what is the result? So it is with faith in God. As we suffer in this world, we come to understand that God is developing our character to more perfectly reflect His character. We are to be His witnesses of His power and 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 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2022, 08:31:44 AM »
Monday        July 11
Bitter Waters

“And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.” Exod. 17:1.


Perhaps we might not get from God everything we want, but couldn’t we expect to get all that we need? Not what we think we need but what we truly need?

There was one thing the Israelites certainly needed, and that was water. Just after God in the cloud led the Israelites through the Red Sea, they followed Him through the hot, waterless desert for three days. Particularly in the desert, where finding water is so critical, their desperation is understandable. When would they get the water they needed?

No, their desperation is not understandable. Why would God who performed the miracles so they could be set free, then destroyed the Pharaoh and company by parting the waters, not provide for His children?  Like all of humanity, they were injured by 4,000 years of sin. We do not half understand how dull of mind we are apart from God.


So, where does God lead them? The pillar goes to Marah, where, at last, there is water. They must have been excited. But when they tasted the water, they immediately spat it out because it was bitter. “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” Exod. 15:24.

Then, a few days later, God does it again. This time, however, the pillar actually stops where there is no water at all (Exod. 17:1).

Read Exodus 15:22-27 and Exodus 17:1-7.

 15:22   So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 
 15:23   And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they [were] bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 
 15:24   And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 
 15:25   And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, [which] when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 
 15:26   And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee. 
 15:27   And they came to Elim, where [were] twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. 

 17:1   And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink. 
 17:2   Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 
 17:3   And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 
 17:4   And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 
 17:5   And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 
 17:6   Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 
 17:7   And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? 


What did God reveal to Israel about Himself at Marah and at Rephidim? What lessons should they have learned?

In Rephidim, what question did the children of Israel ask? Exod. 17:7. Have you ever asked the same question? If so, why? How did you feel, and what lessons did you learn after you had it answered? How many times do we need to get it answered before we stop asking it altogether?

The requirement for salvation, eternal life, is to love the Lord our God with the whole heart, withholding nothing. How can we love God this much if we do not know Him? And, if we truly know Him, then we trust Him how much? With all we have and all we are. But, God does not test us to understand how much we love and trust Him, He tests us that we might know how much we love and trust Him. We are indeed dull of mind, but that is not an excuse for sin. God has provided a remedy in His Son at a very high price.....risking losing Him for eternity. Such 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 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2022, 08:32:33 AM »
Tuesday          July 12
The Great Controversy in the Desert

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” Luke 4:1, 2.


Read Luke 4:1-13.

 4:1   And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 
 4:2   Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 
 4:3   And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 
 4:4   And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 
 4:5   And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 
 4:6   And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 
 4:7   If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 
 4:8   And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 
 4:9   And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 
 4:10   For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 
 4:11   And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
 4:12   And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 
 4:13   And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 


What lessons can you learn from this account about how to overcome temptation and not give in to sin?

There is only One solution to sin, Jesus Christ. We must be fully surrendered to God. We have  no power to resist the smallest temptation unless we have given the whole heart to Jesus, holding nothing back. Then we are partakers of the divine nature, the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart. He empowers us to resist any sin that God allows to tempt us. Yes, we can speak God's Word to Satan, but it is only because we love the Lord our God more than sin that we do not sin.

Temptations can be so difficult because they appeal to things we really desire, and they always seem to come at our weakest moments.
Luke 4 is the beginning of the story of Jesus’ temptation by Satan, and it brings some difficult issues to our attention. At first glance, it appears that the Holy Spirit is leading Jesus into temptation. However, God never tempts us (James 1:13). Rather, as we have been seeing, God does lead us to crucibles of testing. What is striking in Luke 4 is that the Holy Spirit can lead us to times of testing that involve our being exposed to Satan’s fierce temptations. At such times, when we feel these temptations so strongly, we may misunderstand and think we have not been following God correctly. But this is not necessarily true. “Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 126, 129.

Sometimes, when in the crucible, we get burned rather than purified. It is therefore very comforting to know that when we crumple under temptation, we can hope again because Jesus stood firm. The good news is that because Jesus is our Sin Bearer, because He paid the penalty for our failure to endure that temptation (whatever it was), because He went through a crucible worse than any of us will ever face, we are not cast off or forsaken by God. There is hope, even for the “chief” of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

Amen!! What is that hope? God has given to man a period of probation in which we can learn how to overcome sin. We can! It is by our love for God that we do not sin. When we love the Lord our God with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength, then we will not sin. That which is born of God does not sin, he cannot sin for His seed remains in us. Sounds heretical to many who profess to serve God. Is it?  "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:9.

That Word which the lesson speaks of needs to be understood and followed in order to resist the smallest temptation. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus, especially the closing scenes, for there we see the grace by which we are saved.


What temptations are you facing now? Spend some time in prayer, asking the Lord to teach you how to apply the lessons from Jesus’ example in your own life. Remember, you don’t have to succumb to temptation, ever! Remember, too, that if you do succumb, you have a Savior.

Amen! As long as we have not grieved the Holy Spirit, we still are within the bounds of our probation and have an intercessor who will hold up His hands saying "I suffered and died for this person, let us give him/her another chance. Will the Father allow the sinner another chance? How much does He love you? He allowed His innocent Son to come to this dark spot in the universe a helpless  baby living in fallen flesh to fight the battle of life as we must fight it....at the risk of losing Him!! Herein is love, wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth!!


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 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2022, 08:33:11 AM »
Wednesday         July 13
An Enduring Legacy

Read 1 Peter 1:6, 7.

 1:6   Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
 1:7   That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 


What is Peter saying?

God through Peter is telling us how precious we are to Him. Believe it, for He said it. Has He proved it to you? Share with your class how you know He still loves you even  after what you have done to Him.


Peter is writing to people who were battling through difficulties and often felt very alone. He was writing “to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Pet. 1:1, NIV). This is the area we know today as western Turkey. A few verses later, Peter says that he knows that they are experiencing “grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Pet. 1:6, NIV).

What does Peter mean by saying that they are “exiles” and “scattered”? How might that add to their trials?

Being a Christian during those times was a new thing; believers were small in number and in various places where they were a decided minority who were often misunderstood at best, persecuted at worst. Peter assures them, however, that these trials are not random or chaotic (1 Pet. 1:6, 7). Genuine faith is the goal of those who persevere through “all kinds of trials.”

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9.

 1:6   Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
 1:7   That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 
 1:8   Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 
 1:9   Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls. 


What ultimate assurance does Peter seek to give these people amid their trials? What does this hope mean for us, too?

Whatever their trials, whatever they suffer, how can it be compared to the eternity that awaits them when Christ returns? Peter’s words to them are God’s words to us, regardless of whatever we are facing. However difficult or painful our trials, we must never lose sight of the ultimate end, eternal life in a new heaven and new earth, without pain, suffering, or death. With such a promise before us, a promise guaranteed us through the death of Jesus, how important that we not lose faith, but instead, amid our trials, ask the Lord to purge us of everything and anything that stands in the way of our faith.

Amen!!  What is a few years of suffering compared to an eternity with Jesus? If that is what it takes to get us to look at Him by which we shall love the Lord our God with all of the heart!  It is not the promise of heaven, nor the fear of hell that motivates Christians to follow Jesus. It is the grace of God that transforms sinners into saints that walk in the light they have been given. Satan says we cannot keep His law, but God says we can!! Who do you believe?



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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  • Posts: 44591
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2022, 11:27:44 AM »
Thursday          July 14
Trial by Fire

There was a young man whom we’ll call Alex. He had come out of a very troubled youth: drugs, violence, even some time in jail. But then, through the kindness of a local church member (whom Alex had stolen from), Alex learned about God and gave his heart to Jesus. Though he still had his problems and struggles, and though elements of his past still lingered, Alex was a new person in Jesus. He loved God and sought to express that love by obeying His commandments (1 John 5:1, 2). At one point, Alex felt impressed that he should be a minister. Everything pointed to it. He was answering God’s call, no doubt about it.

At college things went well at first. Then one thing after another went awry, and his life began coming apart. His source of money started to dry up; a close friend turned against him, making accusations about him that were false but that damaged his reputation. Next, he kept on getting sick; no one knew what it was, but it impacted his studies to the point where he was afraid that he was going to have to drop out of school completely. On top of it all, he was fighting fierce temptations with drugs, which were readily available in the local community. At one point he even fell in that area. Alex couldn’t understand why all this was happening, especially because he was sure that the Lord had led him to this school to begin with. Was Alex wrong about that? If so, was his whole experience with God a huge mistake? Even the most basic elements of his faith were coming under doubt.

Imagine that, amid this crisis, Alex comes to you and asks for advice. What would you say? What experiences of your own have you had that could help someone like him? What Bible verses would you use? How helpful might the following verses be in such a situation? Proverbs 3, Jer. 29:13, Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 12:9, Heb. 13:5.

Almost all who follow the Lord have had crises during which they’ve been tempted to doubt the Lord’s leading. The important thing in such situations is to cling to the promises, recount God’s leading in the past, and pray for faith and endurance. The Lord will never give up on us. The question for us is: How do we not succumb to the temptation to give up on Him?

If we love the Lord our God with the whole heart, then all will be well. If we forget about God, then we have defense against temptations to sin. It is when we separate from Him that we sin. From Desire of Ages, the chapter "The Passover Visit" we read:

  If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one day's neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost.
     In our association with one another, we should take heed lest we forget Jesus, and pass along unmindful that He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things so that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy beings cannot remain where the Saviour's presence is not desired, and His absence is not marked. This is why discouragement so often exists among the professed followers of Christ


Again, if we do not cling to Jesus continually, we separate from Him.


Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the light of His presence. It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.  DA 83.



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

  • Servant
  • Posts: 44591
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2022, 01:05:10 PM »
Friday          July 15

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Exodus,” pp. 281-290; “From the Red Sea to Sinai,” pp. 291-302, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Temptation,” pp. 114-123, in The Desire of Ages.

“But of old the Lord led his people to Rephidim, and he may choose to lead us there also, to test our loyalty. He does not always bring us to pleasant places. If he did, in our self-sufficiency we should forget that he is our helper. He longs to manifest himself to us, and to reveal the abundant supplies at our disposal, and he permits trial and disappointment to come to us that we may realize our helplessness, and learn to call upon him for aid. He can cause cooling streams to flow from the flinty rock. We shall never know, until we are face to face with God, when we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known, how many burdens he has borne for us, and how many burdens he would have been glad to bear, if, with childlike faith, we had brought them to him.” — Ellen G. White, “Rephidim,” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 7, 1903.

Discussion Questions:

    We often talk of temptation as an individual thing, which, of course, it is. At the same time, are there any corporate temptations, things that we as a church or a local church family might have to guard against as a group? If so, what?

We are told that Israel is an example for those whom the ends of the world is come, that is us. Why? Because the nation was so deceived they put to death their Messiah. How could that be?  A church congregation generally cannot rise any higher than their pastor. In a Laodicean Church there are many pastors who remain in a Laodician condition. So it was in Israel of Old. The sin and ruin of a nation was due to their religious leaders. Thus, we ought to be very careful as to who elect as elders and who we choose as a pastor. If we live in a conference, local, union, or division that is in rebellion, we ought to even more careful as to whom we choose as church leaders.


    Ask those who are willing to talk about any of the “unpleasant places” that they have been brought to. Why were these unpleasant? If they had to revisit those experiences today, would they view them any differently?
    We all understand the principle behind God’s allowing us to be purified and refined by trials. How, though, do we understand the situation in which trials appear to have no value — for instance, someone is killed instantly in a car wreck? As a class, seek to work through possible answers.

The answer is rather easy when we seek Bible truth. We know that those who are truly converted and keep God's law then are protected by God. Where in Scripture can we find this? One verse which we often do not hear in this context is that "all things work of our good."  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose." Romans 8:28. How much do we have to love God to claim this promise? We who love the Lord our God with all of the heart, not 99%. Often it is believed that God will excuse a little sin and thus protect the unrepentant sinner. No, not from suffering that God did not allow. But, on the other hand, we can be thankful that God does not forsake the unrepentant sinner. Each has a period of time to learn of Him who gave all that we might know and love Him supremely. Thus, this period of probation keeps Satan and ourselves from killing us. If someone is killed in a car wreck, what is the question to be answered before all others as to why? Was the person truly converted when he died? If so, then what is the problem? All things including this death works for his good and God's glory. If you think about it, what are some reasons why God would allow the death? One reason is to save the person's soul. Another could be that the death will cause someone who he loved to turn to Jesus when seeing how fragile is life.

Using Scripture continue to share truth of why God allows bad things to happen to converted Christians.


    As a class, take time together to pray for each other, that each might be strengthened to endure trials and stay faithful.
    Does your class know of anyone who, having faced trials, lost the way? If so, as a class what could you do in a very tangible way to help lead that person back?
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3--3rd Quarter 2022--The Bird Cage
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Friday          July 15

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Exodus,” pp. 281-290; “From the Red Sea to Sinai,” pp. 291-302, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Temptation,” pp. 114-123, in The Desire of Ages.

“But of old the Lord led his people to Rephidim, and he may choose to lead us there also, to test our loyalty. He does not always bring us to pleasant places. If he did, in our self-sufficiency we should forget that he is our helper. He longs to manifest himself to us, and to reveal the abundant supplies at our disposal, and he permits trial and disappointment to come to us that we may realize our helplessness, and learn to call upon him for aid. He can cause cooling streams to flow from the flinty rock. We shall never know, until we are face to face with God, when we shall see as we are seen, and know as we are known, how many burdens he has borne for us, and how many burdens he would have been glad to bear, if, with childlike faith, we had brought them to him.” — Ellen G. White, “Rephidim,” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 7, 1903.

Discussion Questions:

    We often talk of temptation as an individual thing, which, of course, it is. At the same time, are there any corporate temptations, things that we as a church or a local church family might have to guard against as a group? If so, what?

We are told that Israel is an example for those whom the ends of the world is come, that is us. Why? Because the nation was so deceived they put to death their Messiah. How could that be?  A church congregation generally cannot rise any higher than their pastor. In a Laodicean Church there are many pastors who remain in a Laodician condition. So it was in Israel of Old. The sin and ruin of a nation was due to their religious leaders. Thus, we ought to be very careful as to who elect as elders and who we choose as a pastor. If we live in a conference, local, union, or division that is in rebellion, we ought to even more careful as to whom we choose as church leaders.


    Ask those who are willing to talk about any of the “unpleasant places” that they have been brought to. Why were these unpleasant? If they had to revisit those experiences today, would they view them any differently?
    We all understand the principle behind God’s allowing us to be purified and refined by trials. How, though, do we understand the situation in which trials appear to have no value — for instance, someone is killed instantly in a car wreck? As a class, seek to work through possible answers.

The answer is rather easy when we seek Bible truth. We know that those who are truly converted and keep God's law then are protected by God. Where in Scripture can we find this? One verse which we often do not hear in this context is that "all things work of our good."  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose." Romans 8:28. How much do we have to love God to claim this promise? We who love the Lord our God with all of the heart, not 99%. Often it is believed that God will excuse a little sin and thus protect the unrepentant sinner. No, not from suffering that God did not allow. But, on the other hand, we can be thankful that God does not forsake the unrepentant sinner. Each has a period of time to learn of Him who gave all that we might know and love Him supremely. Thus, this period of probation keeps Satan and ourselves from killing us. If someone is killed in a car wreck, what is the question to be answered before all others as to why? Was the person truly converted when he died? If so, then what is the problem? All things including this death works for his good and God's glory. If you think about it, what are some reasons why God would allow the death? One reason is to save the person's soul. Another could be that the death will cause someone who he loved to turn to Jesus when seeing how fragile is life.

Using Scripture continue to share truth of why God allows bad things to happen to converted Christians.


    As a class, take time together to pray for each other, that each might be strengthened to endure trials and stay faithful.
    Does your class know of anyone who, having faced trials, lost the way? If so, as a class what could you do in a very tangible way to help lead that person back?
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.