SSLS 2017-04-25

2017 2nd Quarter

Lesson 5, April 15-21, Living for God

Tuesday, April 25

“For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” KJV, 1 Peter 4:3-6, emphasis added.

“Personal piety bears its testimony in a wise and unreserved co-operation with divine principles….

“These directions to the elders of the church are to be heeded. If God, the great Master worker, is with his servants, they will reveal this fact in their daily conduct. Among those who have the oversight of the flock of God are men who bear the stamp of defective characters. They are not walking with Christ. Their piety is not sound and healthful; it is of a cheap order. These need to learn what constitutes true religion. Religion is not a patchwork concern, which makes everything of the Christian’s name, and in which self is personified. A man’s religion must be founded on the word of God. Practiced in the home life, and exemplified in the church, it will constitute him a laborer together with God.” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, August 28, 1900, emphasis added.)

“It is the wisdom of God that makes men great. The utterances of men are to be judged, because they are the fruit of human ability, and work either good or evil according to the source from which men draw their inspiration; but the word of God is able to save your souls, to make you wise unto salvation. The Psalmist says, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ Then let us hide the word of God in our hearts, that we may ‘be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.'” (Ellen White, Signs of the Times, September 18, 1893, emphasis added.)

“The Lord has often given me a view of the situation and wants of the scattered jewels who have not yet come to the light of the present truth, and has shown that the messengers should speed their way to them as fast as possible, to give them the light. Many all around us only need to have their prejudices removed and the evidences of our present position spread out before them from the Word, and they will joyfully receive the present truth. The messengers should watch for souls as they that must give account. Theirs must be a life of toil and anguish of spirit, while the weight of the precious but often-wounded cause of Christ rests upon them. They will have to lay aside worldly interests and comforts and make it their first object to do all in their power to advance the cause of present truth and save perishing souls.” (Ellen White, Early Writings, 61, emphasis added.)