Amen!  What a wonderful promise.

GE"It was not until after Christ's ascension to His Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers, that the disciples fully appreciated the Saviour's character and mission."

"After they had received the baptism of the Spirit, they began to realize that they had been in the very presence of the Lord of glory."

"As the sayings of Christ were brought to their remembrance, their minds were opened to comprehend the prophecies, and to understand the miracles which He had wrought. The wonders of His life passed before them, and they were as men awakened from a dream."

"They realized that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14."

"Christ had actually come from God to a sinful world to save the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. The disciples now seemed, to themselves, of much less importance than before they realized this."

"They never wearied of rehearsing His words and works. His lessons, which they had but dimly understood, now came to them as a fresh revelation. The Scriptures became to them a new book."

If "WE" never become weary of rehearsing His Words and Works we also may have the same experience !!

=====================

1
Tell me the old, old story,
  Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
  Of Jesus and His love;
Tell me the story simply,
  As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary,
  And helpless and defiled.
 
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
    Of Jesus and His love.
2
Tell me the story slowly,
  That I may take it in—
That wonderful redemption,
  God’s remedy for sin;
Tell me the story often,
  For I forget so soon,
The “early dew” of morning
  Has passed away at noon.
3
Tell me the story softly,
  With earnest tones and grave;
Remember I’m the sinner
  Whom Jesus came to save;
Tell me the story always,
  If you would really be,
In any time of trouble,
  A comforter to me.
4
Tell me the same old story,
  When you have cause to fear
That this world’s empty glory
  Is costing me too dear;
And when the Lord’s bright glory
  Is dawning on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story:
  “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

Lyrics:Arabella Katherine Hankey (1834-1911)
Music:William Howard Doane (1832-1915)

Thank you

Friday       June 27

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Unseen Watcher,” pp. 535-538, in Prophets and Kings. “Every nation that has come upon the stage of action has been permitted to occupy its place on the earth, that the fact might be determined whether it would fulfill the purposes of the Watcher and the Holy One. Prophecy has traced the rise and progress of the world’s great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with the nations of less power, history has repeated itself. Each has had its period of test; each has failed, its glory faded, its power departed. While nations have rejected God's principles, and in this rejection have wrought their own ruin, yet a divine, overruling purpose has manifestly been at work throughout the ages.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 535.

In Jeremiah 18, Jeremiah observes a potter doing what a potter does: molding and shaping whatever he is working on. It is this imagery, that of a potter molding his clay, that God uses to explain the principle of conditionality in biblical prophecy. And just to make sure we understand, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah, saying: “ ‘The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it’ ” (Jer. 18:7-10, NKJV).

It is interesting that the leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Religious Liberty department teaches that Rome has changed and we ought to accept this change and cease teaching Rome is the enemy of God. How blind can one be? While John Paul II repented of the evil religious Rome has done in the past which would lead some to believe she has changed, we know better because the Bible tells us what the Beast is going to do. And, John Paul II told us that the nations of the world need to make Sunday the Lord's Day and force observance by all nations. Rome has not changed and will not change. She and her children who are joining forces are the enemy of God and will persecute the faithful who will keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

    Think about Jesus’ statement that the judgment will be easier for Nineveh than for the people of God who had strayed from the truth. (See Matt. 12:39-42.) What lesson can God’s church derive from this warning?

Yes, there is a warning here for God's church which remains in a Laodicean condition. Unless there is repentance, the Laodicean will suffer greatly when he comes up after a thousand years in the grave. Let us look at what Luke had to say about those who had great light and did not follow it.

 10:10   But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 
 10:11   Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 
 10:12   But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 
 10:13   Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 
 10:14   But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 
 10:15   And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 

It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for Seventh-day Adventists who have not walked in the light given to them. As we close this quarter's lessons, let us be honest about our condition as a people. Yes we need to pay attention to the warning our lesson speaks of.

The people of God might be far in advance of what they are now, if they would sincerely and perseveringly connect daily with Christ. They do not press forward, and attain unto the things that are before, because they permit themselves to be attracted and held back through the influence of common, sensual things. The devotion and experience of the professed people of God are not in harmony with the light and privileges that God has given them. They are to be children of the light, children of the day, and yet many who have had exalted privileges fail to manifest corresponding faith and works. Jesus says to them as he said to the city wherein he had done mighty works, and where they failed to appreciate the light and to conform their life to it, “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Many who claim to believe the truth, who have been blessed with great light, who have had great opportunities set before them, have yet come far short of reaching the high and holy standard that they would have reached if they had been doers of the words of Christ; and they have failed to set the example that they should have set before those who have had less experience than themselves in the Christian life, and before those who know not God, or Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. { RH August 1, 1893, par. 4 }
Among the professed children of God, how little patience has been manifested, how many bitter words have been spoken, how much denunciation has been uttered against those not of our faith. Many have looked upon those belonging to other churches as great sinners, when the Lord does not thus regard them. Those who look thus upon the members of other churches, have need to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. Those whom they condemn may have had but little light, few opportunities and privileges. If they had had the light that many of the members of our churches have had, they might have advanced at a far greater rate, and have better represented their faith to the world. Of those who boast of their light, and yet fail to walk in it, Christ says, “But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent [in their own estimation], and hast revealed them unto babes.” { RH August 1, 1893, par. 5 }
“And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.” { RH August 1, 1893, par. 6 }
The Lord has established among us institutions of great importance, and they are to be managed, not as worldly institutions are managed, but after God’s order. They are to be managed with an eye single to his glory, that by all means perishing souls may be saved. To the people of God the testimonies of the Spirit have come, and yet many have not taken heed to reproofs, warnings, and counsels. { RH August 1, 1893, par. 7 }
“Here now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: fear ye not me saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual degree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? but this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.... They judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be revenged on such a nation as this?” { RH August 1, 1893, par. 8 }
Shall the Lord be compelled to say, “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee”? “Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain.... Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?” { RH August 1, 1893, par. 9 }
Will not those to whom have been committed the treasures of truth, consider the superior advantages of light and privilege that have been purchased for us by the sacrifice of the Son of God on Calvary’s cross? We are to be judged by the light that has been given us, and we can find no excuse by which to extenuate our course. The Way, the Truth, and the Life has been set before us. Many seek to excuse themselves by saying, “You must not judge me by some weak trait of character, but consider my character as a whole.” We always feel deep pain at heart when the sinner seeks to apologize for his sin, to smooth it over, and fails to realize the danger of cherishing one un-Christlike attribute of character. We are to place our will on the side of the Lord’s will, and firmly determine that by his grace we will be free from sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, and it is not the magnitude of the action in iniquity that stamps it as sin. Adam and Eve were prohibited from eating of the tree of good and evil. The test was a slight one, but the act of disobedience to God was the transgression of his law. { RH August 1, 1893, par. 10 }
The little sins that men think are of so trivial a character that on their account they will not be brought into condemnation, are very offensive in the sight of God. Says one, “You are too severe, a man must be allowed these little defects of character.” Let us hear the words of Christ. He says, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” People venture to commit sins that are grievous in the sight of God, and think that they are not to be called to task for them, because they say they are due to nervousness, to a peculiar temperament; but this is simply soothing the conscience, and crying, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Sin is sin, and it is the delusion of Satan to look upon it in any other light than that it is grievous. { RH August 1, 1893, par. 11 }
We may flatter ourselves that we are free from many things of which others are guilty; but if we have some strong points of character, and but one weak point, there is yet a communion between sin and the soul. The heart is divided in its service, and says, “Some of self and some of thee.” The child of God must search out the sin which he has petted and indulged himself in, and permit God to cut it out of his heart. He must overcome that one sin; for it is not a trifling matter in the sight of God. { RH August 1, 1893, par. 12 }
One says, “I am not the least jealous, but then I do get provoked and say mean things, although I am always sorry after giving way to temper.” Another says, “I have this fault or that, but then I just despise such and such meanness as is manifested by a certain person of my acquaintance.” The Lord has not given us a list of graded sins, so that we may reckon some as of little consequence, and say that they will do but little harm, while others are of greater magnitude and will do much harm. A chain is no stronger than is its weakest link. We might pronounce such a chain good on the whole, but if one link is weak, the chain cannot be depended on. The work of overcoming is to be the study of every soul who enters the kingdom of God. That impatient word quivering on your lips must be left unspoken. That thought that your character is not rightly estimated must be put from you; for it weakens your influence, and works out the sure result, making you of light estimation in the minds of others. You should overcome the idea that you are a martyr, and lay claim to the promise of Christ, who says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” { RH August 1, 1893, par. 13 }

    Notice Ellen G. White’s statement that with each succeeding empire, “history has repeated itself.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 535. What do you see as common threads among all the empires listed in prophecy? In what ways did they follow the same prophetic path? How is our current world following them, as well?

It is not the world we ought to be concerned about, but our church, His church which remains in a Laodicean condition.

    Think through the idea that it’s not often the mind, the intellect, that keeps people from faith, but the heart. How might this knowledge impact how you witness to others?

Satan has indeed deceived the church today. It was and is his great effort to pervert the gospel message. He succeeded with Israel and today with modern day Israel. His great deception is if we sin we shall surely not die. Most of professing Christians believe they are saved in sin. Jesus the True Witness speaks to the last of the seven churches, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Revelation chapter three, verses 14-22.

 3:14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 
 3:15   I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 
 3:16   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 
 3:17   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
 3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 
 3:19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 
 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 
 3:21   To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 
 3:22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.   

There will soon be a shaking in the church. What will cause this shaking?

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.
 
The testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it will obey it and be purified.  1T 181.

We notice that the strong rebuke is followed by the encouraging truth that tells us what we must do in order to be transformed, to be born of the Spirit. We must buy of Him gold tried in the fire which is faith that works by His love. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word which is a revelation of His character. We must buy of Him white raiment which is His righteousness, and eye salve which is the Holy Spirit. All are free and He stands at the door of the heart pleading for entrance. Why would you not ask Him to come in? Time is running out. Today is the day of salvation. Don't resist His call.