Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP220029S
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00:01 Hello Friends, my name is James Rafferty
00:02 and welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:04 We are so glad you joined us. 00:06 The Lesson for this Quarter is entitled: 00:08 In the Crucible with Christ. 00:10 We are on Week 3 which is entitled: The Bird Cage. 00:12 If you would like to get a Sabbath School Lesson, 00:15 you can go to: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:19 you can get your own lesson 00:20 and also look at the other Programs you may have missed. 00:23 So, we're going to be studying the bird cage. 00:25 What does that mean? 00:26 Don't go away, we'll be right back. 00:28 Music... 00:58 James: Hello Friends and welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:02 My name is James Rafferty 01:04 and we are in Lesson Number 3: The Bird Cage 01:07 of the Quarter for this week which is entitled: 01:10 In the Crucible with Christ. 01:13 To my left is Pastor Ryan Day. 01:15 Ryan: It's always good to be here 01:16 and my Lesson is entitled: Bitter Waters. 01:19 Panel: Hmmm... James: Bitter Waters... 01:21 and Pastor John Lomacang, what's your Lesson entitled? 01:23 Lomacang: The Great Controversy in the Desert... 01:26 wow... it's going to be very interesting. 01:28 James: Very interesting... 01:29 Pastor John Dinzey, glad you're with us 01:31 what's your Lesson entitled? 01:33 Dinzey: Thank you, it's Wednesday: 01:34 An Enduring Legacy. 01:35 James: An Enduring Legacy... all right... 01:37 and Jill Morikone, you have the final lesson for the week, 01:40 Thursday's Lesson, what's it entitled? 01:42 Jill: I do... it's: Trial by Fire. 01:43 We're going to look at seven keys to walk through trials. 01:45 Panel: Nice. 01:47 James: Okay, looking forward to that. 01:48 James: All right, well we are starting out here 01:51 in the birdcage and before we do that, 01:53 we want to have just a word of prayer... 01:55 just to ask the Holy Spirit to be here with us, 01:57 Ryan, would you like to have our prayer? 01:58 Ryan: Absolutely, let's pray. 01:59 "Our Father in heaven, 02:01 once again we are gathered here on this Panel for You Lord. 02:05 We recognize that Your Word is lifesaving 02:09 and that's why we are here to get to know You more 02:10 and Your will for our life. 02:12 So, as all of our Viewers are watching now 02:14 and we are gathered here studying together, 02:16 Lord, pour out Your Spirit upon us, Lord. 02:18 Draw us closer to You 02:19 and... and... and to a better understanding 02:21 of Your will for our life 02:22 and may we be drawn closer to each other in the process 02:26 as we study, we ask in Jesus' holy name, 02:28 amen. " 02:29 Panel: Amen. 02:31 James: Well, our Lesson Study has 02:32 a number of Scripture readings for this week, 02:34 Exodus 14, 15, also a part of 17... 02:38 Proverbs 3... Luke chapter 4... 02:42 and 1st Peter chapter 1 02:45 and we're going to be looking at the memory text 02:46 which is 1st Peter chapter 1 and verse 6. 02:50 Let's just take a look there and read this text. 02:51 "In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, 02:57 if need be, you have been grieved by various trials... " 03:01 and now... wanted to emphasize that little phrase there, 03:04 "If need be... " 03:05 Panel: Laughter. 03:07 James: I... I remember a man telling me 03:08 when I... earlier on in my Christian experience 03:10 that we need to pray sometimes the prayer: 03:12 "Lord, save me and make it easy. " 03:16 Panel: Laughter. 03:17 James: "But if you can't make it easy, 03:18 save me anyway. " 03:20 Right, and it reminded me of this Bible verse. 03:23 It's a Biblical principle. 03:24 In other words, we are greatly rejoicing 03:27 in the salvation that God has given us in Jesus Christ. 03:29 Right, but we might be going through some trials 03:32 if they're needed 03:33 and sometimes trials are needed 03:36 and of course, we talked about it in our last Session together 03:39 about learning to trust God... 03:41 learning to trust God 03:42 and this week's Lesson... 03:44 it opens up with this illustration 03:47 and it's taken from a book called: The Ministry of Healing 03:51 on Page 472 03:52 and this illustration is the illustration of a caged bird. 03:58 It says, "In the full light of day, 04:00 and in the hearing of the music of other voices, 04:03 the caged bird will not sing the song 04:06 that his master seeks to teach him. 04:08 He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, 04:11 but never a separate and entire melody. 04:14 But the master covers the cage... " 04:17 that brings darkness, right? Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 04:19 James: "And places it where the bird will listen to the one song 04:22 he has to sing. " 04:23 So, removes it from the presence of other distractions. 04:26 "In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song 04:30 until it is learned, 04:32 and he breaks forth in perfect melody. 04:35 Then the bird is brought forth, 04:36 and ever after he can sing that song in the light. 04:40 Thus God deals with His children. 04:43 He has a song to teach us, 04:44 and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction 04:48 we can sing it ever afterward. " 04:50 Panel: Hmmm... James: Praise God. 04:52 So this is an analogy... 04:54 basically an analogy of the lesson for Sabbath and Sunday. 04:58 It's just the way that God works in our lives... 05:01 the times He's working to bring us into an experience 05:04 and, of course, song is used over and over in the Bible 05:07 to denote an experience that we have with the Lord. 05:11 We go through an experience... we sing a song. 05:13 You know, God's people went through the experience... 05:15 we'll talk about this I'm sure of Moses... 05:17 you know, taking them out of Egypt... 05:18 taking them through the Red Sea and they had a song... 05:20 a song of Moses and the Lamb 05:22 which is actually a song that God's redeemed will sing 05:25 in the Book of Revelation. 05:26 "So, what examples can you think of in the Bible" 05:30 the lesson asks "in which God Himself leads His people 05:34 into experiences that He knows will include suffering. 05:37 What do you think were the new songs He wanted them to sing?" 05:42 Now, in Revelation chapter 15, 05:45 we have the song of Moses and the Lamb 05:47 and of course, we know that that's the song of deliverance 05:50 but I want you to notice what else is here 05:52 in Revelation chapter 15 in relation to the... 05:54 relationship to the song because 05:56 I think it's one of the most difficult lessons 05:58 we have to learn... 06:00 if not the most difficult lesson we have to learn 06:02 in all of our Christian experience, 06:04 Revelation chapter 15 06:05 and let's just start with verse 2, 06:07 John says, "I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: 06:13 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, 06:16 and over his image, and over his mark, 06:18 and over the number of his name, 06:20 stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 06:22 And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, 06:25 and the song of the Lamb, 06:27 saying, 'Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; 06:33 just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 06:35 Who shall not fear thee, O lord, and glorify Thy name? 06:40 for Thou only art holy: 06:42 for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; 06:45 for Thy judgments are made manifest. '" 06:47 Now, one of the most powerful things about this song I believe 06:51 is that this song is the reverse or the opposite 06:55 or I should say the affirmation of 06:58 a message that is given to God's people in Revelation chapter 14, 07:01 we call it the Three Angels' Messages 07:02 and the first angel calls the whole world to fear God... 07:05 give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come 07:07 and to worship Him who made heaven and earth 07:08 and the seas and the fountains of waters 07:09 and there's a lot of agitation that takes place 07:13 when this message is given to the world. 07:14 There's a lot of agitation that takes place, 07:17 in fact, it actually separates the entire world 07:20 into two basic camps in the end of time 07:23 for the harvest that takes place 07:25 at the second coming of Jesus Christ 07:26 and there's one group of people that have learned 07:29 through experience to sing the song 07:31 and the way they learned to sing the song was 07:33 by experiencing or accepting the everlasting gospel 07:36 because this song comes in the wake of the everlasting gospel. 07:39 Panel: Right. 07:40 James: So, just go slip back just a few pages in Revelation 07:43 to Revelation chapter 7. 07:45 Revelation chapter 7 07:46 and then we'll just try to tie this up as far as 07:49 the point that's being made here I think 07:51 in the book of Revelation and throughout the Scriptures, 07:53 we're going to look at in Exodus 07:55 and that is: Revelation chapter 7 verse 9. 07:58 John is right at the end of sealing God's people, 08:01 He sees a great multitude, which no man could number, 08:05 of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, 08:07 and they stand before the throne, and before the Lamb, 08:10 and they are clothed with white robes, 08:12 and palms in their hands; 08:13 and they cried with a loud voice, 08:15 saying, 'Salvation to our Sabbath keeping... 08:20 our tithe paying and our... '" 08:23 no, "Salvation to our God. " 08:25 and this is the lesson that's so difficult for us 08:28 because often in our experience, 08:30 we have a natural tendency to depend upon works. 08:33 You see that all through the Bible. 08:35 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 08:36 James: We have this natural tendency 08:38 to depend upon ourselves. 08:40 That's the... the natural tendency of the human nature. 08:42 In fact, when you study about... 08:45 in the Bible, in the Old and New Testament 08:47 about Phariseeism or about righteousness by works, 08:50 you begin to learn that it's... 08:52 that the religion of the human heart 08:55 is the religion of our human nature 08:57 and God knows that our fallen human natures 09:01 are tending to our creature merit... He knows that 09:05 and so, He does everything He can 09:07 to bring us to places in our experience 09:09 where we realize there's no way out of this 09:12 in human dependence. 09:13 The only way we're going to get out of this 09:15 is through God and we can give glory to Him and honor Him. 09:17 Well, that's what we find in Sunday's Lesson. 09:20 Sunday is called: To the Promised Land via a Dead End. 09:24 Panel: Laughter. 09:25 James: Well, the Promised Land is beyond the dead end, 09:27 how are we going to get there if You led us to a dead end? 09:30 Well, God wants to lead us to the dead end of self-reliance. 09:33 God wants to lead us to the dead end of self-sufficiency. 09:36 He wants to lead us to the dead end 09:37 of trusting in ourselves. 09:39 Our natural tendency is to trust in ourselves 09:41 and our resources and what we can do 09:43 and some of us are better at that than others. 09:45 I mean, some of us have more resources, 09:47 some of us have more talents, 09:48 some of us have more capabilities 09:50 and so we... we may be more inclined to trust in ourselves 09:53 because we're wiser and because we're more able than others are 09:56 but either way, this is where God is leading us... 10:00 to the dead end of ourself... 10:02 the dead end of self-reliance. 10:04 Now, that can come through difficulty at times. 10:08 The... the nation God was pulling out of Egypt 10:11 needed to come to this place where they were fully surrounded 10:15 there was no way out 10:17 so that they could put their reliance upon God. 10:18 And that's what we see when we look in Revelation 10:20 or excuse me, Exodus chapter 14, 10:22 verse 10 says, "When Pharaoh drew near, 10:24 the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, 10:26 and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; 10:28 and they were very afraid: 10:30 the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. " 10:31 Why? 10:32 Because they were surrounded by mountains on one side... 10:35 surrounded by mountains on the other side, 10:36 they had a desert behind them where they had come through 10:38 where the Egyptians were coming 10:39 and they had the Red Sea before them... 10:41 they had no way out. 10:42 They had no way out of the situation. 10:44 Have you ever been in a situation 10:46 in life where you feel like there's no way out? 10:47 Panel: Hmmm... 10:49 James: You can't turn to the left... 10:50 you can't turn to the right... 10:52 there's no way forward, you can't go backwards... 10:53 it... it feels like you're going to get run over any moment, 10:56 there's just nothing you can do in your life 10:58 is just... it seems like it's just at an end, 11:00 it's at a dead end. 11:01 Well, that's when God wants to step in to deliver you. 11:04 That's when God wants to step in 11:06 to become your personal Savior. 11:07 That's when God wants to show you something better 11:10 than what you have ever experienced in your life 11:12 and that's what these stories in the Bible are really all about. 11:15 They're really all about directing us 11:17 to our dead ends where God shows what He can do 11:20 in delivering us from those dead ends. 11:23 And so, in Acts chapter 14, 11:24 we're not going to read the whole chapter... 11:26 why did God bring the Israelites to a place where He knew 11:29 they would be terrified. 11:31 Well, let's look at verse 4 of Exodus chapter 14. 11:34 Exodus chapter 14 and verse 4, 11:38 here's what it says, 11:40 "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, 11:41 that he shall follow after them; 11:42 and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, 11:45 and upon all his host... " 11:47 so, God brings us to a dead end in our lives 11:50 so that He can be honored. 11:52 Going on... "that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. " 11:57 God brings us to dead ends in our lives 11:59 so that He can be honored 12:01 and so that we can know that He is the Lord. 12:04 In fact, look at verse 34 of the same chapter, 12:07 Exodus chapter 14 verse 31, excuse me, 12:11 there's no 34 in this chapter. 12:13 Exodus chapter 14 and verse 31, 12:15 "And Israel saw... " 12:18 as Pharaoh's army was completely submerged 12:21 in the Red Sea 12:22 after they had gone through dry shod 12:25 and it says, "Israel saw that great work 12:28 which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: 12:30 and the people feared the Lord... " 12:32 in a good sense... 12:34 "and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. " 12:38 So, God wants to be honored. 12:40 God wants us to fear Him. 12:43 God wants us to believe in Him. 12:45 God wants us to believe that when we come to our dead ends... 12:47 when we come to the end of ourselves... 12:49 He can step in and He can deliver us. 12:51 That's the whole point of what we're reading here 12:54 in relationship to trials. 12:55 You might be going through some trials for a little bit, 12:58 but God is going to bring something good 13:00 out of those trials. 13:02 The Lesson Study says that following the pillar 13:05 doesn't assure us of being happy all the time. 13:08 It also can be a hard experience 13:11 because training in righteousness takes us to places 13:13 that tests our hearts 13:15 which are so naturally deceitful... Jeremiah 17:9. 13:19 During these difficulties, 13:21 the key to knowing when we are truly following God 13:24 is not necessarily the absence of trials or pain 13:27 but rather an openness to God's instruction 13:31 and a continual submission of our minds and hearts 13:34 to His leading. 13:35 God wants us to trust Him 13:37 and that trust comes 13:39 as we look into these stories of the Bible, 13:40 we make them our own, 13:42 we realize that God is a God who can deliver us 13:45 when we come to our dead ends. 13:46 Panel: Amen... amen. 13:48 Ryan: Thank you so much Brother, appreciate that. 13:50 My name is Ryan Day and I have Monday's Lesson 13:52 entitled: Bitter Waters 13:54 and it's quite interesting because... 13:57 you just read that Scripture, 13:58 I'm going to read it one more time 14:00 in case someone is just now tuning in, 14:02 James just read Exodus chapter 14 verse 31 which says, 14:06 "Thus Israel saw that great work which the Lord had done 14:09 in Egypt: so the people feared the Lord, 14:11 and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. " 14:13 Now again, they've just seen all these incredible things 14:16 that God has done for them 14:17 from Egypt all the way up to now, 14:19 the crossing of the Red Sea 14:21 and it's fresh in their mind 14:22 and now they're just like, "Ah, man! this God is so amazing 14:25 and He's chose Moses to lead us out... " 14:27 and they're just... they're... they're in awe about all this 14:29 but it's quite interesting because 14:31 now you get into chapters 15, 16 and 17 14:33 and you read a record of a people who 14:35 get a little bit deeper into the desert... 14:37 God leads them into the desert 14:39 and then they seem to quickly forget about all those things 14:41 that God had done for them 14:43 because now they begin to murmur and complain 14:45 and whine and gripe and... 14:46 "Ah, God has brought us out here, 14:47 Moses, you brought us out here to die 14:49 and to thirst to death... " 14:50 and... and so, let's get into that, 14:52 let's get into that story, Exodus chapter 15 14:53 and we're going to read verses 22 to 27 14:56 and then, you can also prepare to go to Exodus chapter 17 14:59 and we're going to read verses 1 through 7 after that. 15:02 So, back to Exodus 15 and we're going to read verses 22 to 27. 15:06 It says, "So... so Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, 15:09 then they went out into the wilderness of Shur; 15:13 and they went three days into the wilderness, 15:15 and found no water. 15:16 Now, when they came to Marah, 15:18 they could not drink the waters of Marah, 15:20 for they were bitter: 15:22 therefore the name of it was called Marah. 15:25 And the people complained against Moses, saying, 15:27 'What shall we drink?' 15:29 So he cried out to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, 15:32 and he cast it into the waters, 15:34 and the waters were made sweet: 15:36 then he made a statute and an ordinance for them, 15:39 and there he tested them, and said, 15:41 'If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God, 15:44 and do what is right in his sight, 15:46 and give ear to his commandments, 15:48 and keep all his statutes, 15:50 I will put none of these diseases on you, 15:52 which I have brought upon the Egyptians: 15:53 for I am the Lord who heals you. " 15:55 Then verse 27, "Then they came to Elim, 15:58 where there were twelve wells of water, 16:01 and seventy palm trees: 16:02 so they camped there by the waters. " 16:03 So, they show up... you know what? 16:05 They taste these waters, they're thirsty... 16:07 they're out there in the middle of the desert and they say, 16:08 "Oh, yuk, these waters are nasty and bitter, 16:11 what are you doing to us, Moses, 16:12 you brought us out here to taste better waters 16:14 and... and to thirst to death... " 16:15 and so, Moses turns to God, he says, "Hey, what do I do?" 16:17 God said, "There's a tree over there... see it... 16:19 go cast in that water... " 16:20 and He performs a miracle... the water has become sweet, 16:23 now the children are happy again. 16:24 As long as God's providing... 16:26 as long as everything is smooth and nice 16:27 and they've got sweet waters to drink, 16:29 everything seems to be nice, 16:30 but now you move on to chapter 16, 16:32 we're not going to read anything from that chapter 16:34 but chapter 16 holds the record 16:35 of the bread falling from heaven. 16:37 They're again out there complaining, 16:38 "Oh, we had good food and all that back in Egypt, 16:41 but now God's brought us out here to... to starve to death 16:43 and so, God hears the complaining's and murmurings 16:45 of the people and He says, "Look, you know what? 16:47 I'm going to test these people 16:48 to see whether or not they're going to keep My commandments 16:50 and My laws... " 16:51 and He gives the instruction to Moses 16:53 that He's going to... you know rain them bread from heaven 16:55 for six days... a double portion on the sixth day 16:57 but none on the Sabbath in honor of the Sabbath. 17:00 But now we get over and they've now left that area, 17:02 now we get over to Exodus chapter 17... 17:04 they're progressing through this desert 17:06 and notice what happens beginning in verse 1, 17:09 so, we're going to read Exodus chapter 17 17:11 beginning in verse 1. 17:13 It says, "Then all the congregation 17:14 of the children of Israel set out on their journey 17:17 from the Wilderness of Sin, 17:18 according to the commandment of the Lord, 17:20 and camped in Rephidim; 17:21 and there... " notice, 17:22 "but there was no water for the people to drink. 17:25 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, 17:27 'Give us water, that we may drink. ' 17:29 So Moses said to them, 'Why do you contend with me? 17:32 Why do you tempt the Lord?' 17:34 And the people thirsted there for water, 17:36 and the people complained against Moses, and said, 17:39 'Why is it you have brought us out of the... out of Egypt, 17:42 to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?' 17:45 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, 17:47 'What shall I do with this people? 17:49 They are almost ready to stone me!'" 17:51 It's interesting how they've forgotten so quick, like, 17:53 "God's taking care of us up to this point 17:55 but somehow we don't believe that anymore. " 17:57 They've forgotten, and so notice verse 5, 17:59 it says, "And the Lord said to Moses, 18:01 'Go on before the people, 18:02 and take with you some of the elders of Israel. 18:04 And take in your hand your rod 18:06 with which you struck the river, and go. 18:08 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; 18:12 and you shall strike the rock, 18:14 and water will come out from it, 18:16 that the people may drink. ' 18:18 And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 18:20 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, 18:24 because of the contention of the children of Israel, 18:28 and because they tempted the Lord, saying, 18:30 'Is the Lord among us or not?'" 18:33 My goodness! ah ha ha... 18:36 I read that record and I'm just like, 18:37 again kind of previous to the last lesson we had 18:40 where I brought up the point that 18:41 you know, often times we'd like to look at this people and say, 18:43 "Man! these people... 18:45 all of this magnificent things that God was doing for them, 18:47 but yet they were so easy to forget. 18:50 I wouldn't forget if I had been there... 18:52 if I had seen what they saw, 18:53 I wouldn't be so disobedient 18:55 or I wouldn't have tempted the Lord 18:56 or disgraced God's name or His character 18:58 because I didn't trust Him. " 19:00 You know, but yet... yet we do that... 19:01 we often still do that in our life. 19:03 How often do we repeat the ignorance and faithfulness 19:06 of Israel even in our own lives? 19:08 You know, so many times, you know God has provided for us 19:11 protected us and led us in our lives 19:13 but sometimes we forget 19:15 and complain as if God has forsaken us 19:17 but in reality, He... He has not 19:19 and so, it's interesting because this study actually led me 19:23 to go back because I was reminded quickly 19:26 of Lesson Number 1 that we'd done just a couple of weeks ago 19:29 where we spent the entire Lesson on Psalm 23. 19:32 Let's go back and visit Psalm 23 verses 1 and 2 19:34 and... and I'm going to show you something 19:36 in connection to the point that this Lesson is trying to make 19:39 which is ultimately: Trusting in God to provide for you now. 19:43 Not worrying about what's going to happen 19:45 because He's always there if you trust in Him. 19:47 So, Psalm 23 verses 1 and 2, 19:49 notice again what it says, those famous words, we know it, 19:52 "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not... " what? 19:56 Panel: Want. Ryan: "I shall not want... " 19:58 now what does that mean, you shall not want? 20:00 Notice the next verse it says, 20:02 "He makes me lie down is green pastures; 20:05 He leads me beside the still waters. " 20:08 Okay, you know, it's interesting 20:09 because from our western cultural mindset, 20:13 we often think of that as belly-deep Alfalfa 20:15 and beautiful clear springs of waters... 20:18 it's like, "Oh, Jesus just comes and He plops us down right there 20:22 in belly-deep Alfalfa and just... 20:23 we don't really have to move an inch... 20:25 we just reach out and grab it 20:26 and that's the God that we serve, 20:27 we just never want for all of our life. " 20:29 And that's true to a certain extent 20:31 in the sense that we never shall want... as it says 20:33 because God provides for us. 20:34 The question is: how? Panel: Hmmm... 20:36 Ryan: The children of Israel were seeing 20:38 all these magnificent things happening 20:39 and they're thinking, "Oh, this God's magnificent, 20:41 He's going to take us 20:42 and He's just going to provide, provide, provide 20:44 and give us all that we could possibly have in abundance. " 20:46 But yet, is that al... always how the Shepherd works? 20:49 There was a guy by the name of Ray Vanderlin 20:52 who... he often does Holy Land Tours 20:55 and I watched a video and read a segment about 20:57 this particular text in Psalm 23 verses 1 and 2, 21:00 which really opened my mind from a Middle-Eastern perspective. 21:03 You see, south in the southern region of Jerusalem, 21:08 it's a very much desertous 21:09 and it is known as the Negev desert 21:11 or the Negev... the Negev... well, it's a desert land 21:15 but it's also known as... get this... 21:17 green pastures. 21:19 Panel: Hmmm... 21:20 Ryan: It's a desert known as green pastures 21:22 and, of course, there's a lot of farmland here 21:24 and this is where the shepherds keep their flocks 21:27 and they keep them out there all day long. 21:29 You can actually look this up, 21:30 in fact, I encourage you to look this up, 21:32 it's a powerful lesson to be learned here. 21:33 This is real... 21:34 I've never been to Israel but I've read and studied, 21:36 I've seen the video footage, I've seen the pictures, 21:37 if you've ever been to Israel, 21:39 if you've ever been in this region, 21:40 they get... the Negev desert 21:41 it... it's a desertous region. 21:43 When you look at it... if you're standing on the hills, 21:44 it's just rocky, desolate, dry land 21:47 but yet, you can look out and see shepherds 21:50 leading their flocks across these hillsides 21:52 and it's interesting 21:54 because you can actually see the grazing lines 21:55 etched into the hillside 21:57 that many of the Rabbinic... 21:58 the Rabbinic scholars actually said that these... 22:00 these lines go back as far as Abraham's time. 22:02 I mean, this is... this is the land of the shepherd. 22:04 When you look at it, it's like, "Wait a second, 22:06 what are these... if this is the land of the shepherd 22:08 and this is known as green pastures, 22:09 what in the world are they eating? 22:11 What are these? Rock-eating sheep, right, 22:13 that's the idea you're going to get from a distance... 22:15 like, they're... what are they doing? Eating rocks? 22:16 But it's green pastures, right? 22:19 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 22:20 Ryan: They get a little bit of rain each year in this area. 22:22 In fact, eight to ten months out of the year, 22:24 they get no rain at all 22:25 but a little bit of moisture collects 22:26 from the little rain that they get... 22:28 also, from the moisture coming off from the Mediterranean 22:30 that the moisture collects in the rocks 22:33 and drips down into these little cracks and crevices, 22:35 and little tufts of rain here and there... 22:38 puth... puth... puth... puth along the way, 22:40 these little tufts of rain pop up 22:43 and so, this is green pastures 22:45 from a Middle-Eastern perspective. 22:48 And so, the shepherd leads the flocks 22:50 and what happens is that 22:52 the sheep get a little mouthful here... 22:53 a few more feet... a little mouthful here... 22:55 a few more feet... a little mouthful here, 22:57 green pastures, okay, 22:59 this is a point that we make from this, 23:00 green pastures is not what you need for the rest of your life. 23:03 Panel: That's right. 23:04 Ryan: And that's the concept we often get 23:06 is oh, plop down in... in belly-deep Alfalfa 23:08 as if God is saying to us, 23:09 "If you follow me, I'll plunk you down 23:11 and you'll never have to move an inch for the rest of your life, 23:13 just reach out and grab it. " 23:14 How many of our experiences have been like that in our life? 23:17 Whereas just... we never have... 23:18 we never have to move... we just... God gives it all. 23:20 God wants us to... to trust in Him 23:23 and so, here it is. 23:25 One rabbi said this, 23:27 "Worry is dealing with tomorrow's problems 23:30 on today's pasture. " 23:31 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 23:32 and so, the major point in this is this, 23:34 in the desert, you learn that the shepherd will get you 23:38 what you need for right now. 23:40 Panel: That's right. 23:42 Ryan: Ten minutes from now, you trust the shepherd. 23:43 Twenty minutes from now... an hour from now... 23:45 a day from now... you always trust in the shepherd. 23:47 That's what Israel needed to learn, 23:49 that's what God was trying to teach them. 23:51 He wants to lead us in green pastures. 23:53 He wants to lead us beside the still waters 23:55 but He will provide for us what we need now... 23:58 we only just need to trust in the Shepherd. 24:00 James: Amen, thank you Ryan, 24:02 it reminds me of that idea of... 24:03 of, you know, staying to the old paths, 24:06 you know, that's old-tested-tried rites. 24:08 Well, good lesson so far, 24:10 don't go away, we'll be right back. 24:12 Music... 24:16 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:20 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:24 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:29 A clean design makes it easy 24:31 to find the Program you are looking for. 24:33 There are also links to the adult Bible Study Guide 24:37 so you can follow along. 24:38 Sharing is easy... 24:40 just click share and choose your favorite Social Media. 24:43 Share a Link Save a Life for Eternity. 24:46 James: Welcome back Friends to our Sabbath School Panel. 24:49 "In the Crucible of Christ. " 24:51 We are covering the Lesson for the week number three 24:54 which is: The Birdcage 24:55 and we are on Tuesday's Lesson: 24:57 The Great Controversy in the Desert 24:59 with Pastor John Lomacang. 25:01 Lomacang: Thank you, James, thank you, Ryan. 25:03 This is an interesting angle to the Lesson Study 25:07 because if you think about it, it's really a story about us. 25:10 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm. 25:12 Lomacang: Because everything that happened to the Israelites 25:13 if you look at 1st Corinthians chapter 10, 25:15 all these things happened as an example to us 25:18 upon whom the Bible says, 25:20 "The ends of the ages of the end of the world is coming. " 25:22 But let's look at the great controversy 25:24 in the context of temptation. 25:25 Often times the work of the Holy Spirit is... 25:28 is not fully understood. 25:30 Now, I've even said, 25:32 "The Holy Spirit works in three ways. " 25:33 He works on us... 25:36 when we respond, He works in us... 25:39 when we grow, He works through us. 25:42 Those are the three things that I've often said. 25:45 But there's... there's a caveat to that because 25:48 as we go to Luke chapter 4, 25:49 we see another side... and also Matthew chapter 4, 25:53 we find in both places, 25:54 another work of the Holy Spirit is talked about. 25:59 Luke chapter 4 26:01 and this is on the heels of the baptism of Jesus. 26:04 "Then Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, 26:08 returned from the Jordan 26:10 and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 26:14 being tempted for forty days by the devil. 26:19 And in those days He ate nothing, 26:22 and afterward, when they had ended, 26:25 He was hungry. " 26:26 Now, you go to Matthew chapter 4, 26:28 look at this now. 26:30 Matthew chapter 4 I'm going to read verse 1. 26:34 Right... Panel: Hmmm... 26:37 Lomacang: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit 26:42 into the wilderness 26:43 to be tempted by the devil. " 26:47 You know, it was not until I read that over and over and over 26:50 and studied it again that I understood 26:52 the quandary in the Lord's Prayer. 26:54 "Lead us not into temptation. " 26:55 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... 26:57 Lomacang: A lot of times we say, 26:58 "Well, God would never lead us into temptation. " 27:00 Well, the question is, why would the disciples pray that prayer 27:03 and why would Matthew and Luke say 27:05 that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 27:09 to be tempted? 27:10 When you look at the journey of the Israelites, 27:12 He led them... 27:13 there were no prerequisites to come out of Egypt 27:16 but there were prerequisites to go to Canaan. 27:18 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 27:20 Lomacang: Not everyone that came out... went in 27:21 and you find in 1st Corinthians chapter 10... 27:24 it talks about the various ways 27:26 that the children of Israel tempted the Lord. 27:29 I'm not going to go through that 27:30 but I want to bring out something 27:32 that really has helped me understand 27:34 this fourth obscure category of how the Holy Spirit works. 27:42 I'm going to read a quotation in the Desire of Ages. 27:45 I don't have to read a lot of quotations 27:46 but I want to share that today because it really focuses 27:51 on this fourth category 27:53 and I know the Spirit moves in many other ways 27:55 that we know not of 27:57 but I added calling the fourth category 27:59 shall I say... the strange leading of the Spirit of God. 28:02 Desire of Ages page 126 and 129. 28:06 "Often when placed in a trying situation, 28:09 we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us 28:15 but it was the Spirit leading... 28:17 it was the Spirit's leading 28:19 that brought Jesus into the wilderness 28:22 to be tempted by Satan. 28:23 When God brings us into trial, 28:26 He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. 28:30 Jesus did not presume on God's promises 28:34 by going unbidden into temptation 28:37 neither did He give up to despondency 28:40 when temptation came upon Him 28:42 nor should we. " 28:44 Panel: Hmmm... Hmmm... 28:46 Lomacang: Now, you ask the questions, 28:47 "Well, why would the Lord even allow us to be tempted?" 28:50 Well, there is no prerequisite for coming out of Egypt 28:54 but there is fitness for getting into Canaan 28:58 and I... I share another quote with you 28:59 and then I go... go to some Scriptures 29:01 to really back this up with the Bible. 29:03 This is Ministry of Healing as I think James had a quote, 29:07 pages 470 and 471. 29:09 Wow, this is really insightful. 29:12 Speaking about the Christian, 29:14 "They pray for Christ's likeness of character 29:17 for a fitness for the Lord's work 29:19 and they are placed in circumstances 29:22 that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. " 29:26 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... yeah. 29:27 "Faults are revealed of which they did not even suspect 29:29 the existence. 29:31 Like Israel of old they questioned, 29:33 'If God is leading us, 29:35 why do all these things come upon us?'" 29:38 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm. 29:39 Lomacang: Now let's go to page 471. 29:41 You ready for it? 29:43 "It is because God is leading... 29:46 it is because God is leading them 29:49 that these things come upon them. " 29:51 Lead us not into temptation. 29:54 I understand it broader now. 29:56 "Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods 30:00 of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. 30:03 He who reads the hearts of men knows their character 30:07 better than they themselves know them. " 30:10 And this is... this is deep. 30:12 "He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities 30:17 which rightly directed 30:19 might be used in the advancement of His work. " 30:22 So, what does He do? 30:23 "In His providence, 30:25 He brings these persons into different positions 30:29 and varied circumstances 30:31 that they may discover in their character 30:35 the defects 30:36 which had been concealed from their own knowledge. " 30:39 Panel: Wow! Hmmm... 30:41 Lomacang: "He gives them opportunity 30:42 to correct these defects 30:44 and to fit themselves for His service. 30:47 Often He permits the fires of affliction 30:50 to assail them that they may be purified. " 30:53 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm. 30:54 Lomacang: Isn't that amazing? Panel: Yes. 30:56 So, God is saying, 30:57 "You know, I see something in you that I could use 30:58 but not that way. " 31:00 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... hmmm. 31:01 Lomacang: What example do we have in Scripture? 31:03 Peter the Apostle. 31:04 Panel: Hmmm. 31:05 Lomacang: And this is the part that amazes me. 31:07 God... you know, we plan programming 31:09 many months in advance, Jill. 31:11 Jill: Hmmm... hmmm. 31:12 Lomacang: Do you think that the Lord Jesus knew that 31:14 Peter was going to be the Speaker on the day of Pentecost? 31:16 Panel: Oh yeah. 31:17 Lomacang: I say... undoubtedly. 31:19 But He says, "You're not preaching for me 31:21 in that character. " 31:22 Panel: Laughter. 31:23 Lomacang: "You're not... you're not ready to preach... 31:25 not with that kind of attitude... 31:27 so, you know what? 31:28 I need to get you to... cleaned up. " 31:30 Panel: Hmmm. 31:31 Lomacang: And so, "the devil is going to sift you as wheat, 31:35 I'm not going to stop him, 31:37 I'm just going to pray that your faith won't fail 31:40 and when you are converted then you'll be of use. 31:42 Strengthen the brethren. " 31:44 And so, before the sermon on the day of Pentecost, 31:47 the Lord allowed the devil to sift Peter 31:51 to show him his defects in his character 31:55 and then He gave him opportunity to correct these defects 32:00 to fit him for His service 32:02 and why did He do that? 32:04 He permitted the fires of affliction to assail Peter 32:07 that he may be purified. 32:09 Now, you might say, 32:11 "Lord, why am I going through what I'm going through?" 32:12 Ellen White says, "It is His providence 32:15 that is being exercised to bring us into these places where 32:19 we discover defects that we didn't even know were there 32:23 and that were concealed from our own knowledge 32:27 but God saw it. " 32:29 So, here my Brothers and Sisters, 32:31 the great controversy... 32:33 we are in the desert of our journey right now. 32:36 We are in the desert of our days. 32:38 and we... we are in the place where God is going to allow us 32:42 to be tested, 1st Peter 1 verses 6 and 7, 32:44 listen to this, 32:46 "In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, 32:51 if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 32:56 that the genuineness of your faith, 32:59 being much more precious than gold that perishes, 33:02 though it is tested by fire, 33:06 may be found to praise, honor, and glory 33:09 at the revelation of Jesus Christ... " 33:12 and I want to bring up one more, 33:14 let's go to the book of Hebrews, 33:15 pause... 33:17 okay, let's go to Hebrews, 33:20 Hebrews chapter 12 verse 11, look at this, 33:23 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 33:25 Lomacang: "Now no chastening 33:27 seems to be joyful for the present, 33:30 but painful... " who's chastening us? 33:35 Despise not the chastening of the Father. 33:37 Who is chastening us? 33:39 It seems painful, 33:40 "nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit 33:45 of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. " 33:49 Panel: Hmmm... yeah. 33:50 Lomacang: The great controversy from Egypt to Canaan is 33:52 you're coming out but are you ready to go in? 33:54 Panel: Hmmm. 33:56 Lomacang: You remember the story of the wedding supper. 33:57 "How did you come in here without the wedding garment?" 33:59 And what did he say? 34:00 Absolutely nothing. 34:02 And so, we have to keep in mind that coming out... 34:04 no prerequisites... 34:05 even some of the Egyptians came out 34:07 but they didn't go in 34:10 because we don't go in until we are fitted... 34:12 until we are purified 34:14 and the purification in God's providence, He says, 34:16 "You know what? That last trial you had 34:19 didn't really do it. 34:21 I need to put you back in the furnace. 34:24 I need you to be tried a little more severely. 34:28 When you come out on the other side, 34:30 you're going to be glad 34:31 that I put you in the toaster oven of purification 34:36 because you're going to be so fit 34:38 that I'll be able to say like I did of David, 34:40 "If you would walk in my commandments, 34:43 as David did. " 34:44 And we say, "What David?" 34:45 God purified him on the heels of his weakness 34:49 something hidden from his own knowledge 34:52 and God will do the same for us. 34:53 He will purify us for fitness now 34:56 and for entrance into the kingdom in the future. 35:00 Praise the Lord for the trials. 35:02 I'm getting ready to go in. 35:03 Panel: Amen... amen... 35:05 Dinzey: Amen, amen. 35:06 Well, we move to Wednesday's portion 35:09 and the title is: An Enduring Legacy. 35:11 My name is John Dinzey 35:13 and we start now. 35:14 You know the lesson brings out 1st Peter chapter 6, 35:18 1st Peter chapter 1 verses 6 and 7, 35:20 I'm going to go back to verse 1, 35:23 1st Peter and take it from there 35:25 because this gives us a good context. 35:27 In 1st Peter chapter 1 beginning in verse 1, 35:29 it says, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, 35:32 to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, 35:37 Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia... 35:40 this area that we just mentioned 35:42 happens to be what we would call: Asia Minor... 35:45 the Western Turkey area 35:46 but Peter is writing to them and he is exhorting them 35:51 and notice that he uses the word "Dispersion" 35:53 that's in the New King James Version. 35:55 In the King James Version, 35:58 it says, "Through those scattered throughout... " 36:01 which is the word "diaspora" 36:03 which is a word which is very interesting because 36:07 Peter considered them a special diaspora 36:13 because the Jews used the word "Diaspora" in a sense 36:15 that the Jews are scattered all around. 36:17 But Peter used this to refer to Jews and to Christians 36:21 as a special group 36:23 because of the things they were facing. 36:25 Now, in 1st Peter chapter 1, let's go to verse 2, 36:28 and it says, "Elect according to the foreknowledge 36:31 of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, 36:35 for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: 36:39 Grace to you and peace be multiplied. " 36:41 God has selected us to be obedient to follow Him 36:46 and He wants to prepare us for the kingdom of heaven. 36:50 Let's go to verse 3, "Blessed be the God 36:52 and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 36:55 who according to His abundant mercy 36:57 has begotten us again 37:00 to a living hope 37:01 to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. " 37:04 We don't have a dead hope... 37:05 we have a living hope through Jesus Christ 37:08 who has been resurrected from the dead. 37:11 He is our Savior... 37:13 He is carefully weighing out these trials and tribulations 37:18 before He says "Yes... approved. " 37:21 So, if you are walking with the Lord 37:24 and you are following Him with all of your heart, 37:26 if a trial comes to you, 37:28 understand that it has the seal of approval 37:32 of the Lord Jesus Christ to help purify you. 37:35 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 37:36 Dinzey: And so, this is why when you go to James... 37:39 not this James... the James chapter 1 in the Bible, 37:41 it says, "Count it all a joy 37:42 when you enter into various trials. " 37:45 Why? Because they have the seal of approval of Jesus Christ 37:48 that this will be for the purifying of your character 37:53 to make you into the likeness of Jesus Christ. 37:55 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 4, 37:57 notice this beautiful way of being described by Peter, 38:02 it says, "To an inheritance incorruptible... " 38:05 Panel: Hmmm... Dinzey: Marvelous... 38:07 and undefiled, and that does not fade way, 38:10 reserved in heaven for you. " 38:13 This means, you know, 38:15 I don't know if you've ever come to a restaurant 38:17 that you go there and this: Reserved. 38:21 That means if you... if it has not been reserved for you, 38:25 you cannot sit there. 38:26 but for... the Lord has reserved in heaven for us 38:31 an inheritance incorruptible. 38:33 Everything in this world either fades away... 38:37 turns into rust... 38:39 and becomes corrupt 38:41 but the inheritance that we have from the Lord, 38:46 is incorruptible, undefiled, and will not fade away 38:50 and it's reserved for you. 38:52 So, verse 5, "who are kept by the power of God. " 38:55 This is kept by the power of God, 38:57 there's nothing in this world that can destroy it. 39:01 "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation 39:05 ready to be revealed in the last time. " 39:06 We are living in the times when this is ready to be revealed. 39:09 Now, let's go with this background 39:11 into 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 6 and notice 39:15 "In this you greatly rejoice. " 39:17 So, this is... you have the background 39:20 that you have an inheritance incorruptible 39:22 reserved in heaven for you... in this you greatly rejoice. 39:26 So, we have to keep that before us 39:28 that we rejoice in the blessing of the Lord, 39:31 we are saved by faith through Grace... we rejoice in this. 39:36 But now it says, "Though now... " 39:38 notice the "for a little while" 39:40 and praise the Lord, it says, "for a little while" 39:43 it says, "if need be... " 39:45 as has been pointed out before, "if need be... " 39:48 it may not be necessary for you to go through trials... 39:50 and, you know, Pastor Lomacang mentioned 39:52 something very important and that is, 39:54 that, you know, sometimes we go through a trial 39:57 and if we fail on that trial, 40:00 the Lord may allow this in a different way 40:03 to come to you so that you would trust Him 40:06 and, you know, you failed the first time, 40:09 you repent and you say, "Lord, forgive me... forgive me, 40:11 help me... " 40:12 and then He'll bring you through that again 40:14 depending on His grace, you will come through beautifully 40:19 depending on the Lord Jesus Christ. 40:21 So, this "depend on Him. " 40:24 Now, notice, "You may be grieved by various trials. " 40:27 If need be, you may be grieved by various trials, 40:30 but how should we face these trials? 40:33 Do we look at the trial? 40:34 Do we look at the difficulties and... 40:35 or should we look at other people, 40:37 "Huh, they're not going through that... " 40:39 Look at... sometimes we have this... this... 40:41 I don't know if you want to call it a temptation, 40:43 but people go looking around, 40:45 "Why is... why are they having such a good time?" 40:47 "Why are the wicked seem to be prospering?" 40:50 And this can bring discouragement upon people 40:53 but our focus should be on the Lord Jesus Christ 40:57 on the inheritance reserved in heaven for us. 41:00 You notice how it says, "Reserved for you?" 41:03 That is because you cannot earn it... 41:07 there's nothing you do that will give you the merit 41:10 to receive it. 41:12 Jesus Christ has already purchased this for us... 41:14 it's already been reserved. 41:16 So, count it all a joy when you enter into various trials. 41:20 We are ready now for verse 7... 41:22 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 7, 41:24 "that the genuineness of your faith... " 41:27 and notice the next verse, 41:29 "being more... much more... 41:32 much more precious than gold that perishes. " 41:35 In this world, gold still has value. 41:38 It's one of the most precious metals 41:40 and people are trading for gold 41:42 and people are holding on to gold 41:44 because in the future, it may increase in value 41:47 but this gold in this world perishes. 41:50 "But the genuineness of the faith, 41:54 that God wants to reveal in you does not perish 41:58 though it be tested by fire. " 42:00 You know, fire purifies gold 42:03 and the... the trials are likened unto fire 42:09 that help purify us. 42:10 There may be dross... there may be impurities in us 42:13 and God wants to reveal this to us 42:16 so that we depend not on ourselves 42:18 but upon the Lord for victory 42:20 and now it says, "may be found to praise, honor, and glory 42:25 at the revelation of Jesus Christ. " 42:27 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 42:29 Dinzey: And this is the end goal, 42:31 this is that which would be an enduring legacy. 42:36 I want to go now to Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, 42:39 because when we're going through trials, 42:41 we need to keep this in mind. 42:43 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 42:46 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 42:49 let us lay aside every weight, 42:52 and the sin which so easily ensnares us... " 42:55 and the King James Version says this, 42:57 "sin which so easily besets us, 42:59 and let us run with endurance 43:02 the race that is set before us. " 43:04 How should we run this race? 43:07 That's the question, how should we run this race?" 43:09 Verse 2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, 43:12 the author and finisher of our faith, 43:15 who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 43:19 despising the shame, 43:21 and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. " 43:25 Understanding that Jesus is the author 43:28 and the finisher of our faith, 43:30 we can rejoice that this is in the hands of One who knows 43:36 how to be victorious. 43:38 We can depend on Him... 43:39 we can have confidence in Him 43:41 and that's why we move to Philippians chapter 1 verse 6, 43:44 "Being confident of this very thing, 43:48 that He who has begun a good work in you 43:52 will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. " 43:55 So, much more precious than fine gold. 43:58 You know, in this world, it may not all be sunshine, 44:01 we may have some storms come our way. 44:04 We may have some difficulties come our way. 44:07 You know, Pastor C.A. Murray says, 44:08 "If you're not going through difficulties, 44:11 it will come but trust in the Lord. " 44:14 I'd like to read this from the book: Mount of Blessing, page 10 44:18 it says, "The trials of life are God's workmen, 44:22 to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. 44:27 There is hewing... 44:28 their hewing, squaring and chiseling, 44:31 their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; 44:35 it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. 44:39 But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place 44:44 in the heavenly temple. 44:45 Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, 44:51 thorough work. 44:53 Only His precious stones are polished 44:56 after the similitude of a palace. " 44:58 So, if you're going through some difficulties, 45:00 trust in the Lord... 45:02 don't sink down into discouragement. 45:05 Continue to trust in the Lord 45:06 that He who as begun a good work in you 45:09 will complete it 45:10 and it will be done to perfection... 45:12 the perfection of Jesus Christ. 45:15 Panel: Amen... Jill: Thank you so much. 45:17 This is a great Lesson: The Birdcage... 45:19 thank you all so much. 45:20 I have Thursday's Lesson, I'm Jill Morikone 45:23 and Thursday's Lesson is: Trial by Fire. 45:25 Now, we're not going to start with fire, 45:28 we going to start with water. 45:29 Probably 15 years ago, 45:31 Greg and I went on an anniversary get-away 45:33 to Missouri and we took a canoe trip 45:36 as in..., we were the ones paddling down the Current River. 45:40 Now, the Current River is spring-fed 45:42 and we went with the current and it was delightful. 45:46 I remember sitting in the back... front... 45:48 Greg was in the back steering and just paddling a bit 45:51 and seeing it go by thinking it was wonderful 45:54 and Greg would say, "Jilly, 45:56 do you think we ought to turn around?" 45:57 "Oh no, I'm not tired at all, 45:59 we're having a great time going down the river. 46:02 "Jilly, you think we need to turn around now?" 46:05 "Oh no, I'm doing really good, I'm not tired. " 46:07 Well, you know what happened when we turned around? 46:10 I discovered... it is very hard to go against the current. 46:15 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 46:17 Jill: You know the moment we accept Jesus... 46:19 the moment you take a stand for truth... 46:21 a stand against sin... 46:24 when you make a choice to step out by faith, 46:28 you turn against the current 46:31 and the trial by fire... it can begin. 46:34 The Lesson had a story of a young man by the name of Alex. 46:38 He came with the background of drugs and violence 46:41 he had come actually from a short stint in jail. 46:44 He gave his heart to Jesus 46:46 and he felt called to be a minister of the gospel. 46:49 He went to college and he began to go against the current. 46:53 He began to encounter difficulties. 46:56 His funding for school dried up 46:59 and a close friend turned against him 47:01 and began to gossip falsely about him. 47:04 He became sick 47:05 and the doctors could not even identify the cause. 47:08 He had fierce temptations against drugs 47:12 and he fell for a short while... slipped back into drugs 47:16 and he became discouraged. 47:17 He said, "Is my whole Christian life a mistake?" 47:21 Panel: Hmmm... 47:22 Jill: Have you ever felt like Alex? 47:24 Have you ever said, "Yes God, 47:25 I'm going to make a stand for your truth and the Sabbath" 47:28 and then you lost your job? 47:30 Have you ever said, "I'm going to stand for truth 47:33 in this situation?" 47:35 And then, people turned against you? 47:37 Have you ever said, "I'm going to choose to follow Jesus?" 47:40 And then, all of a sudden, 47:42 those old temptations... 47:43 that old life of sin came back? 47:45 And you slipped and stumbled back into it. 47:49 Have you ever felt like Elijah on Mount Carmel 47:52 where you stand for God and stand for truth? 47:56 And then you run from a woman 47:58 as you're terrified for your life. 47:59 So, let's look at seven keys to walk through trials. 48:05 How do we walk through trials? 48:06 And every one of these keys... 48:08 of course, you could come up with many keys 48:09 but the ones I focused on all have to do with trust. 48:13 Every one of the keys focuses on trust. 48:16 key number one: Choose to trust His presence. 48:21 Hebrews 13:5, 48:23 He says what? "I will never leave you... 48:24 I will never forsake you. " 48:27 I'm reminded of Isaiah chapter 43, 48:30 we referenced this on a previous lesson. 48:32 Isaiah 43 verse 1, 48:34 "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, 48:38 and He who formed you, O Israel... " 48:40 God made you... God created you... 48:42 God formed you... 48:43 "Fear not... " don't be afraid, 48:45 "I have redeemed you; 48:47 I have called you by name; You are Mine. " 48:50 When you pass through the waters, 48:52 notice it doesn't say "If" 48:53 notice it doesn't say, "Okay, when you're a Christian, 48:56 everything's going to go well. " 48:57 No, you will go through trial, 48:59 you will be in the crucible, 49:01 you will be led into the wilderness into temptation. 49:04 You will experience trials. 49:06 When you pass through the waters, what happens? 49:09 "I will be with you. " 49:11 Trust His presence. 49:13 Key Number 1: Choose to trust His presence. 49:15 Key Number 2: Choose to trust even when you cannot see. 49:20 I need see... if you all can help me with Scriptures, 49:22 can someone look up Proverbs 3? 49:24 Ryan, you got that? Proverbs 3:5 and 6. 49:28 Key Number 2... choose to trust... 49:30 Ryan: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 49:32 and lean not on your own understanding; 49:33 in all your ways acknowledge Him, 49:35 and He shall direct your paths. " 49:36 Jill: Yes, I love that. 49:38 Sometimes, God's blessings are not in what He gives, 49:41 but in what He takes away. 49:43 Trust Him anyway. Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 49:47 Jill: Charles Spurgeon said this... I love this... 49:49 "To trust God in the light... that is nothing 49:52 but to trust Him in the dark... that is faith. " 49:56 Panel: Hmmm... Hmm... hmmm... 49:58 Jill: Trust God in the light is really nothing 49:59 because we can see 50:00 but to trust Him in the dark, that is faith. 50:02 Choose to trust when you cannot see. 50:04 Pastor John, can you look up Isaiah 12 verse 2, 50:08 we're going to Key Number 3: 50:10 this is: Choose to trust instead of fear. 50:15 Often when we go through the fiery trial, 50:17 we want to be afraid... that's our natural response. 50:20 We want to choose to trust, Isaiah 12 verse 2, 50:23 Lomacang: Okay, "Behold God is my salvation, 50:25 I will trust and not be afraid; 50:27 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my song; 50:31 He also has become my salvation. '" 50:35 Jill: Thank you, God is my salvation, 50:36 I will trust and not be afraid. 50:39 Choose to trust instead of fear. 50:42 Pastor Johnny, you want to get Exodus 14 verse 14, 50:46 this is Key Number 4. 50:47 Choose to trust and be still. 50:51 So many times when we go through the fiery trial, 50:53 I want to run or I want to do something 50:55 or I want to step in 50:56 but sometimes, we need to trust and be still. 50:59 Exodus 14 verse 14, 51:01 Dinzey: "The Lord will fight for you, 51:04 and you shall hold your peace. " 51:07 Jill: Choose to trust and be still. 51:09 Key Number 5... Pastor James, Romans 8:28, 51:11 Key Number 5: 51:13 Choose to trust that He will turn your pain into purpose. 51:20 James: "For we know that all things 51:21 work together for good to them that are of the called... 51:24 to them that love God 51:26 and are called according to His purpose. " 51:27 Jill: Amen, you know, I went to a funeral just... 51:30 not too long ago 51:31 and it was a younger woman who had passed away 51:33 in tragic circumstances 51:35 and this was the keynote Scripture in the funeral. 51:39 It was in the bulletin and they read it in the funeral. 51:42 We know that all things work together for good 51:45 those who love God... 51:46 to those who are called according to His purpose. 51:48 Key Number 5: 51:49 Choose to trust that God will turn your pain into purpose. 51:55 Pain has a purpose in that trial by fire. 51:59 Key Number 6: Choose to trust that eternity is coming. 52:05 I like what Pastor Johnny brought out 52:07 in that 1st Peter 1 passage, 52:09 we look at eternity in light of the trials... 52:11 you look at that 52:13 and this is the same thing really 52:14 this is Paul... 2nd Corinthians 4:16 and 17, 52:17 "Therefore we do not lose heart. 52:19 Even though our outward man is perishing, 52:21 yet the inward man or woman is being renewed day by day. 52:25 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 52:28 works for us a far more exceeding 52:31 and eternal weight of glory... " 52:33 Jill: You know this world is not all there is... 52:35 heaven is coming. 52:37 Heaven is our home. 52:39 Make decisions and endure trials 52:43 in light of eternity. 52:46 You could be gossiped about at school or at work... 52:48 make decisions in light of eternity. 52:51 God is working redemptively through your trial. 52:55 And finally, Key Number 7: 52:56 Choose joy while you trust in God. 52:59 This is a hard one sometimes for me, 53:02 James chapter 1: Choose joy while you trust in God. 53:06 "My brethren, count it all a joy 53:08 when you fall into divers temptations or trials 53:11 or fiery places 53:14 knowing that the trying of your faith 53:16 worketh patience. " 53:18 Accepting the trial with joy... it changes your character 53:22 it gives us patience... it brings perfection... 53:25 it brings wholeness. 53:27 Right by my side of our bed, Greg and I, 53:30 is a poem that I love and we have it framed 53:33 and it simply says this: 53:35 In acceptance lies peace... 53:37 O my heart be still... 53:39 Let your restless worry cease and accept His will. 53:43 Though this test is not my choice, 53:46 it is His... therefore rejoice. 53:49 In His plan there cannot be anything to make me sad. 53:53 If this is God's choice for me, 53:56 I want to take it and be glad. 53:58 Make for it some lovely thing to the glory of your King. 54:03 Cease from sighs and murmuring... 54:05 Sing His loving grace. 54:07 This trial means my furthering to a wealthy place. 54:11 From my fears, He brings release. 54:15 In acceptance lies peace. 54:19 So the seven keys to walk through trials. 54:22 Number 1: Choose to trust His presence. 54:25 Number 2: Choose to trust even when you cannot see. 54:29 Number 3: Choose to trust instead of fear. 54:34 Number 4: Choose to trust and be still. 54:38 Number 5: 54:39 Choose to trust that He can turn your pain into purpose. 54:43 Number 6: 54:45 Choose to trust that eternity is coming. 54:48 and Number 7: 54:49 Choose joy while you trust. 54:52 You know, someone once said, 54:54 "You cannot preach conviction of sin 54:56 unless you have suffered it. " 54:58 You cannot preach repentance unless you have practiced it. 55:03 You cannot preach faith unless you have exercised it 55:07 and I would add to that... 55:09 you cannot sing like the bird in the bird cage 55:13 unless you have learned to sing in the dark. 55:16 Panel: Hmmm... Hmmm... hmmm... 55:18 James: Praise God. 55:19 Good stuff... thank you Jill and John and John and Ryan, 55:23 we got time now for just a few closing thoughts. 55:25 Ryan, we'll start with you. 55:26 Ryan: Amen, Israel had a hard time trusting in the Lord 55:29 and it led them to worry about things 55:32 that the Lord was going to provide for them in that moment. 55:35 A text that comes to mind is of course in Matthew chapter 6 55:38 verse 34 and it says, 55:40 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 55:42 for tomorrow will worry about its own things. 55:44 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. " 55:47 Put it into Jesus' hands and He will take care of you. 55:50 Lomacang: Thank you, Romans... 55:52 I mean, Deuteronomy 8 and verse 2, 55:53 "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you 55:57 all the way these forty years in the wilderness, 56:00 to humble you and to test you, 56:01 to know what was in your heart, 56:03 whether you would keep His commandments or not. " 56:06 Panel: Hmmm... 56:08 Lomacang: God knows our heart 56:09 and the journey that we follow with Him reveals 56:11 what He already knows. 56:12 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 56:13 Dinzey: Amen, I'm reading from Radiant Religion page 100, 56:17 it says, "All our sufferings and sorrows, 56:20 all our temptations and trials, 56:22 all our sadness and griefs, 56:25 all our persecutions and privations... 56:26 in short, all things work together for our good. 56:30 All experiences and circumstances are God's workman 56:33 whereby good is brought to us. " 56:35 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 9, 56:37 "Receiving the end of your faith... 56:39 the salvation of your soul. " 56:41 Keep that before you. 56:42 Jill: Amen, Romans 8:28, we often say that 56:46 that means that all things are good. 56:48 That's not what the text says. 56:49 But it says that God can turn even something painful... 56:52 even something bad into good 56:55 if you choose to trust Him in the midst of it. 56:58 Amen... amen. 56:59 James: Really challenging lesson... really good lesson 57:02 and we are learning a lot in this Crucible with Christ 57:05 and I love that phrase, Jill, that you brought out, 57:07 you know, in James chapter 1, "Count it all a joy" 57:10 and sometimes when people ask me how I'm doing 57:13 and I'm going through a trial, I'm going through a difficulty, 57:15 that's the phrase I'll turn to. 57:17 To be honest... but at the same time to be hopeful, 57:20 I'll say, "Well, I'm counting it all a joy. " 57:23 Panel: Laughter. 57:24 James: And God has a way of turning those trials 57:27 into something good, 57:29 bringing good out of them for those who love Him 57:31 that are called according to His purpose. 57:32 And so, we've got to trust Him 57:34 and that's the... the main thing that I think we're learning here 57:37 through this Quarterly... 57:38 this Quarter: The Crucible with Christ 57:40 is learning how to trust God 57:42 and learning how to remain in the crucible 57:45 until those impurities are pruned out of us 57:49 through that fiery trial 57:51 so that we can shine more and more for the glory of God. 57:53 Well, next week's lesson is entitled: 57:56 Seeing the Goldsmith's face 57:59 and so, we just going to encourage you 58:01 to continue to... to tune in with us 58:04 as we continue to study this beautiful 58:06 Sabbath School Quarterly... God bless. |
Revised 2022-10-10