New Study Topic

September 1st, 2007

Two part study in the theme of "SANCTIFICATION".

1) Romans 6:1 "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"

Question: Should we continue to fall short, due to our sinful, weak nature?

2) Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Question:  If No (to Question 1), how are we to overcome the sinful nature, in order to become pure and perfect, in fulfilling the qualification for God's people in the time of end?

*Let's find out what the Bible say about each of these questions. May your study be full of blessing and inspiration!

SAR 001 - Living by Faith

Bible records...
1. 86 instances of faith in God/Christ (with multiple references)
2. But the strength and purity of faith is really put to test in hardship. About 20 instances (with multiple references) of “trial of faith” - gives us clue in how to remain faithful, and what God can do for those who remain faithful through various trials of life.

WHAT IS “FAITH”?
Hebrews 11:1, 3 - Trusting in God and His promises even when we can not understand or “see”

"Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... By FAITH we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

Faith is not dependent on... (see Hebrew 11)
1. Not dependent on immediate consequences
Daniel 3:16, 17 “(if they are thrown into the fiery furnace) our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

2. Not dependent on Our understanding (Abraham to leaving his homeland not knowing where he was going), Ability (Abraham and Sarah), History and Past experiences (Noah with rain), Logic (Abraham sacrificing Isaac, who was the promised son), Background (Rahab - a prostitute) --- See Hebrews 11

3. Not dependent on Our knowledge and skills (Peter and fishermen friends - Luke 5:5) - “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Different aspects of FAITH
According to God’s will (1 Samuel 2:35)
Faith involves action, not just belief. (Acts 6:8)
Trusting in God’s promises (Matthew 6:32)

GOD'S PROMISES
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 14:1-2 “Let not your heart be troubled; you BELIEVE in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.” --- this is the only one yet to be fulfilled, but every other promises have come true!

Conditional promises: Deuteronomy 28:8-10
"The Lord will command the blessing of you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, IF YOU keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. THEN all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you."

If you will keep...(1 referene)
IF you keep my laws/statutes/commandments (7)
IF you walk before Me / IF you walk in My ways/statutes (4)
IF you heed my commandments / heed Me (3)
IF you will obey... (2)

Every promise of God is conditional, pending our faith and trust in Him, but God’s gift has already been given within the promise. If we receive the promise by FAITH and claim it, we will obtain the gift.

LIVING BY FAITH

1. Living by the word of God
Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Hebrews 4:2 “the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

2. Not by our own strength. But it comes with action (works).
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through FAITH, and that not of yourselves.; It is the grift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

James 2:14 “What does it profit... if someone says he has faith but does not have works?”

3. We’re each given a measure of faith, but the potential is infinite by the power of God.
Romans 12:3 “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”

Mattew 17:20 “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

4. Throwing away your pride, and not drawing back from “living by faith”
Hebrews 10:36-39
Habakkuk 2:4

5. Follow the examples set by the heroes of faith (see Hebrew 11)
Hebrews 6:12 “but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

6. Making choices, daily, to choose to serve God, and to trust in His promises.
Joshua 24:15 “Choose you this day, whom ye will serve.”

1 King 18:21 “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow Baal.”

7. Living by the power of Christ
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

8. Christ as our ultimate example
Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”

ELLEN G. WHITE COMMENTARY (Capitalization and bolding added)

Messages to Young People Chapter 26 (Pg 102-104)
“The follower of Christ must have FAITH abiding in the heart; for without this it is impossible to please God. Faith is the hand that takes hold of infinite help; it is the medium by which the renewed heart is made to beat in unison with the heart of Christ.”

“As long as we continue to keep our eyes fixed upon the Author and Finisher of our FAITH, we shall be safe. But our affection must be placed upon things above, not on things of the earth. By FAITH we must rise higher and still higher in the attainment of the graces of Christ.”

Messages to Young People Chapter 30 (Pg 111-)
“We are not to trust in our FAITH, but in the promises of God.... Darkness and discouragement will sometimes come upon the soul, and threaten to overwhelm us; but we should not cast away our confidence. We must keep the eye fixed on Jesus, feeling or no feeling. We should seek to faithfully perform every known duty, and then calmly rest in the promises of God.”

“A union with Christ by LIVING FAITH is enduring. Every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last and best in everything.”

Also other commentary can be found in Steps to Christ page 70, Mind, Character and Personality volume 2 chapter 58, among others.

HERE WE STAND

Dear Friends,

A satellite broadcasted revival seminar called "Here We Stand" will be coming to our town in just a month! It is going to be broadcasted live via satellite from Lansing, MI, presented by Pastor Doug Bachelor. At our Kalamazoo SDA church, the Youth Department will be hosting the series, that means, we, are it.

This is an exciting opportunity for us, because we get to not only make our presence known to the local congregation, but also to advertise ourselves to the churches around (because we're the only hosting church in the 50 mile radius except for Country Side, as far as I know), saying "Hey, the youths are alive in Kalamazoo!"

The seminar goes right along with the theme of our Search And Rescue sabbath school as well, that is, to affirm our faith through the study of the word of God, and to go out and rescue those that are unaware of the Good News. Through this revival series, we'll be learning about some of the most commonly challenged or argued fundamental beliefs of our Adventist faith, and affirm our position from the unmistakable evidence that the Bible presents.

We'll be having a team meeting regarding preparation toward hosting the series this upcoming sabbath, right after the potluck. Please bring your ideas and willingness to support the Lord's cause.

Also let us start praying seriously; first of all for the revival amongst ourselves, and for the people that will be coming...

SAR 000 - The Word Of God

Here is the upload from our very first study, on "Word of God".

1. God’s word is perfect and true. It can be trusted as our foundation of faith.

2 Sam 22:31

As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Prov 30:5

Every word of God is pure, He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Psalm 33:4-6

For the Word of the Lord is right, and all His Work is done in truth.....By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 

2. God’s word is enduring through time and history as well as through challenges.

1 Pet 1:23

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

1 Pet 1:25

But the word of the Lord endures forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

3. God’s word is alive and has the power to change lives.

Heb 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Thes 2:13

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it  is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

4. God’s word is a sure defense and weapon to be relied upon in our spiritual warfare.

Eph 6:17

“and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”

Rev 19:13

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the word of God. 

Rev 19:15

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.

5. God’s word are to become a vital part of our lives that is to be the source of strength and blessing, leading unto our salvation.

Deuteronomy 8:3

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. (also in Matt 4:4).

Luke 11:28

(Jesus speaking) “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

2 Tim 3:16,17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Study topic schedule

Due to the busy summer schedule, there has been another change made to the upcoming study schedule. I apologize...!

Here is the schedule for now.

August 11th, 2007
Romans 2:29 "What makes you and I sons and daughters of God?"
Read: Chapter 2

We will also be reviewing the study from today, the 4th, about "SIN" (What is it to sin?" and "How do we sin?").

August 18, 2007
Romans 5:6-11 "If we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, how did God provide the way for us to be saved?"
Read: Chapter 5

August 25, 2007
Romans 5:1-2 "How are we justified by faith, to receive the gift of salvation?"
Read: Chapter 4