THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Here's Pastor Doug Batchelor from www.amazingfacts.com CLICK ON THE LINK THAT FOLLOWS FOR A VIDEO OF THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON PRESENTED BY DR DEREK MORRIS OF THE LAKE FOREST CHURCH http://media.forestlakechurch.org/content/media/2010q103-13-fruit-spirit-righteousness http://www.ssnet.org The Fruit of the Spirit Is Righteousness

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study:

Matt. 23:25-28, Rom. 3:28, 8:4, 10:3, Gal. 3:6, 1 John 2:3-6, 5:1-3.

Memory Text:

" 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled' " (Matthew 5:6, NKJV).

Last week we finished our study on nine branches of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). The next two weeks we will study two more: "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth" (Eph. 5:9, NKJV). In this verse, Paul repeats the reference to "goodness" while he adds righteousness and truth. This week we look at what this "righteousness" is. We understand righteousness in two ways. First, there is the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is what Jesus has done for us, the righteousness that covers us and that is our title to heaven. Second, there is the imparted righteousness of Christ, which is what He does in us, through the Holy Spirit, to mold us into His image. Thus understood, righteousness has two inseparable components, even though it's all really one righteousness--the righteousness of Christ, without which we would have no hope of salvation.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath.

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SUNDAY

The Necessity of Righteousness

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28). “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright”(Ps. 11:7, NKJV). “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness” (Prov. 15:9, NKJV). “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed”(1 Pet. 2:24, NKJV). “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit”(Rom. 8:4, NKJV). “ ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ ”(Matt. 6:33, NKJV). “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him”(1 John 2:29, NKJV).

Referring to the texts quoted above, respond to the following questions:

If we cannot be justified by the law, how then are we justified?

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Although we know that God hates sin but loves sinners, what wrong conclusions must we avoid?

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What does it mean: “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us”? Can we ever keep the law well enough to fulfill it? Or does Paul mean something else? If so, what?

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How should our lives be changed when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

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What does it mean “to do righteousness”? Can we be righteous without doing righteousness? Justify your answer.

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MONDAY

Do-It-Yourself Righteousness

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God”(Rom. 10:3, NKJV). What do you think Paul was talking about here? About whom is he talking, and how might these folk have tried to establish their “own righteousness”? Given human nature, why is that impossible anyway?

A “do-it-yourself” activity is one in which a person does or makes something (as in woodworking or home repair) without professional training or assistance. In its broadest sense it is an activity in which one does something oneself or on one’s own initiative. We sometimes refer to a particularly successful person as a self-made man or woman. According to the Bible, however, a “do-it-yourself” approach to true righteousness is impossible. There is nothing that we can do of ourselves, no matter how hard we try, to be righteous before God. Our righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). In fact, seeking to make yourself righteous often leads to the opposite result.

Read Matthew 5:20 and 23:25–28. How does Jesus here pinpoint the problem that comes from those who seek to make themselves righteous?

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The crucial thing for Christians to understand is how utterly dependent they are upon Christ for their righteousness. What makes them holy before God is what Christ has done for them, not what they do. The moment someone loses sight of that truth, it’s so easy for self-righteousness to rise up, along with pride and inner corruption. The scribes and Pharisees were prime examples of how that happens. So concerned with their outward deeds of piety, they lost sight of what really matters.

In what ways might you be guilty of the same sin as the scribes and Pharisees? How might this trap be more subtle than we think?

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TUESDAY

Christ Our Righteousness (Rom. 5:17)

Read Romans 5:17–19 and summarize in your own words what Paul is saying here. How are we condemned, and how do we become righteous?

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If the righteousness of Jesus is a gift, how do we obtain it? Gal. 3:6, James 2:23.?

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In Romans 5:19, notice the emphasis on disobedience and on obedience. One man’s disobedience, Adam’s, led to all of us becoming sinners. This is basic biblical teaching. Adam’s sin brought the downfall of the human race. We’re all, each of us, every day of our lives, living with the results. No one is immune.
The same verse, however, also talks about obedience. Whose obedience? Of course, the obedience of Christ, who alone has the righteousness needed for salvation, the righteousness given to all those who will “receive the abundance of grace” Indeed in that same verse Paul says that those who receive this grace get “the gift of righteousness.” Notice, it is a gift. As a gift it must be unearned and be undeserved. The moment it’s earned, or deserved, it’s no longer grace (Rom. 4:4).
Yet, it’s not a blanket gift. The righteousness of Christ is’nt automatically bestowed on everyone (Rom. 5:17, NASB). Paul is clear, it comes to those who will receive it; that is, it is given to those who claim it by faith—such as Abraham, who believed God, and it was “accounted to him for righteousness”(Gal. 3:6).

Do you really understand what it means to be saved by faith? How well do you grasp the idea that it’s only the righteousness of Jesus, credited to you by faith, that allows you to stand righteous and justified before God? What can you do to better grasp this wonderful provision, the foundation of the gospel?

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WEDNESDAY

Righteousness and Obedience (1 John 2:29)

Though we are covered by the righteousness of Christ, that righteousness must be revealed in our lives. Righteousness isn’t just a legal declaration. It also becomes a reality in the life of the person who has it.
How carefully we should heed John’s words: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

What might we be deceived about in regard to what it means to be righteous?

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Righteousness is the fruit of the Spirit that is connected to obedience. To some people, obedience is inconsistent with salvation by faith. On occasion one might hear, “Now that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, won’t you accept Him as the Lord of your life?” The implication seems to be that our obedience to the will of God and our salvation are separate issues. That’s a radical misinterpretation of what salvation is. John wrote that living a righteous life is a verifiable indicator of those who have salvation.

Read 1 John 2:3–6. What’s John’s point there?

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When the subject of obedience is raised, it is not unusual for someone to point out that we are not saved by works. While there can be no doubt that Lucifer’s obedience to the will of God did not put him into heaven, we must bear in mind that it was his disobedience that caused him to be expelled. The same can be said for Adam and Eve. Their obedience did not put them into the Garden of Eden, but it was their disobedience to the will of God that resulted in their being put out of the garden.
“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.”—Ellen G. White,Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 312.

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How well do you manifest the fruit of righteousness in your life? What practices might you need to give up that are hindering the fruit of righteousness in your life? (Be careful not to try to rationalize them away!)

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THURSDAY

The Righteous Life

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:1–3).

How does John tie in the love of God with the love other fellow believers have and with keeping the commandments? Why would he link all these together?

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“The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely—because he is required to do so—will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to God.”—Ellen G. White,Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 97, 98, emphasis provided.
And what better way to inspire a desire to be loyal to God than through contemplation of His incredible sacrifice in our behalf on the cross? There’s no power in telling people that they have to keep the law. The power comes in pointing people to Jesus and to His substitutionary death in our behalf. The power comes from letting sinners know that their sins can be forgiven through Jesus, and they can stand perfect before God in the robe of Christ’s righteousness.
Love of God, and not the fear of hell and condemnation, should be the power that motivates our lives, and nothing will cause us to love God more than focusing on the Cross and the riches and promises that are ours through it.

Do you really love God? If so, how do you know? (Might you be deceiving yourself?) What do you do or say that reveals the reality of this love? In other words, what evidence is there that this love is real?

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FRIDAY

Further Study:

“It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 312, 313.

Discussion Questions:

How can we avoid the trap of legalism, that of thinking that our works will save us or that of cheap grace, thinking that our works have nothing at all to do with our salvation? How do we strike the right balance here? Which ditch do you tend to lean more toward, cheap grace or legalism? What is the inherent danger of having our lives driven by the desire to do good works? What can this lead to, and how can we avoid it? Think of a person you know who seems to be “righteous.” What is this person like? How does he or she act? How does he or she treat people? What does this person talk about? What can you learn from this person? We tend to think of righteousness in individual terms, which is correct. But is there not a community element, as well? Can our church community be “righteous”? If so, how? What would a “righteous” church community look like? How does yours compare with the ideal that you’ve come up with? If salvation by faith means more than merely making a profession of faith in Christ and having our names registered on the church roll, then what does it really mean? What is “faith” in the biblical sense of the term?

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		I N S I D E Story
		A Child's Song by MA YE PORTER Asap peeked into the hospital ward in her hometown of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. The doctor wasn't there, so she slipped inside. She knew that the doctor didn't want her to be around sick people, but Asap was on a mission. The patients looked so sad, and she wished she could do something to cheer them up. Sing! A voice seemed to whisper. So Asap walked from bed to bed singing songs she had learned in Sabbath School. One old man, Salatiel, smiled as Asap approached his bed. "What church do you attend, Girlie," he asked teasingly. "The Adventist church," she answered. "What day do you attend church?" he asked. "On Sabbath, the seventh day," she said innocently. Her simple answer surprised him. He gave her his Bible and said, "Show me a verse that says that Saturday is the Sabbath." Five-year-old Asap couldn't read, but she opened the Bible and pointed to a verse. "Here," she said to the man. "Read this." Salatiel read the verse Asap had pointed to. He blinked and read it again. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord" (Exod. 20:10). "Go get your father," he told Asap. "Hurry!" Asap scampered from the hospital and soon returned with her father. "1 want you to see this miracle," Salatiel said, pointing to the verse Asap had shown him. "Surely the Sabbath is the Lord's day of worship!" he said. Asap's father studied the Bible with Salatiel, and by the time the old man was well enough to return to his village, he had accepted many new Bible truths. "How am I going to explain this to my pastor and others in my village?" Salatiel asked. Asap's pastor offered to go with him to help him. Many people listened as Salatiel and the pastor explained the Sabbath and other Bible truths, and soon several asked to be baptized. The pastor invited Asap and her family to attend the baptism, and when it was SalatiePs turn to be baptized in the sea, little Asap took his hand and led him to the water. Today a new group of believers worship in a little bamboo church in their village—all because a little girl obeyed when the Holy Spirit whispered, "Sing!" Someone needs your help to find the Savior today. And every day your mission offerings help to share your faith with people you may never meet. MAYE PORTER and her pastor-husband have served as missionaries throughout the South Pacific Division. Currently they share their faith on Norfolk Island, off the coast of eastern Australia.
		Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/10a/less11.html

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Here's Pastor Doug Batchelor from www.amazingfacts.com

CLICK ON THE LINK THAT FOLLOWS FOR A VIDEO OF THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON PRESENTED BY DR DEREK MORRIS OF THE LAKE FOREST CHURCH

http://media.forestlakechurch.org/content/media/2010q103-13-fruit-spirit-righteousness




http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/10a/helps/index.html

The Fruit of the Spirit Is Righteousness

Memory Text: Matthew 5:6 NKJV 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

“Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION”. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Used by Permission.

Sabbath Afternoon

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 NKJV 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

Sunday
The Necessity of Righteousness

Romans 3:28 NKJV 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Psalms 11:7 NKJV 7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

Proverbs 15:9 NKJV 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.

Romans 8:4 NKJV 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

1 John 2:29 NKJV 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Monday
Do-It-Yourself Righteousness

Romans 10:3 NKJV 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

Matthew 5:20 NKJV 20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:25-28 NKJV 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Tuesday
Christ Our Righteousness

Romans 5:17-19 NKJV 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Galatians 3:6 NKJV 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

James 2:23 NKJV 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

Romans 5:19 NKJV 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 4:4 NKJV 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

Romans 5:17 NASB 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 NKJV 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Galatians 3:6 NKJV 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Wednesday
Righteousness and Obedience

1 John 2:29 NKJV 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 3:7 NKJV 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 2:3-6 NKJV 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 312

The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. {COL 312.1}
Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. {COL 312.2}
It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor,
and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by (p. 313) the Spirit which He hath given us." "Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness. (p. 314) {COL 312.3}

Thursday
The Righteous Life

1 John 5:1-3 NKJV 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 97-98

As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart. {COL 97.1}
A profession of faith and the possession of truth in the soul are two different things. The mere knowledge of truth is not enough. We may possess this, but the tenor of our thoughts may not be changed. The heart must be converted and sanctified. {COL 97.2}
The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely--because he is required to do so--will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness (p. 98) is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right--because right doing is pleasing to God. {COL 97.3}
The great truth of the conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit is presented in Christ's words to Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God. . . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:3-8, margin. {COL 98.1}
The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says, "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:4-8. {COL 98.2}
The leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. (p. 99) A new standard of character is set up--the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are endowed with traits of character that enable us to do service for God. {COL 98.3}

Friday

1 John 3:24 NKJV 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 2:3 NKJV 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 312-313

The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. {COL 312.1}
Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. {COL 312.2}
It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by (p. 313) the Spirit which He hath given us." "Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness. (p. 314) {COL 312.3}

The truth is to be planted in the heart. It is to control the mind and regulate the affections. The whole character must be stamped with the divine utterances. Every jot and tittle of the word of God is to be brought into the daily practice. {COL 314.1}
He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God's great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment. {COL 314.2}
There are many who claim that by the death of Christ the law was abrogated; but in this they contradict Christ's own words, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. . . . Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law." Matthew 5:17, 18. It was to atone for man's transgression of the law that Christ laid down His life. Could the law have been changed or set aside, then Christ need not have died. By His life on earth He honored the law of God. By His death He established it. He gave His life as a sacrifice, not to destroy God's law, not to create a lower standard, but that justice might be maintained, that the law might be shown to be immutable, that it might stand fast forever. {COL 314.3}
Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God's commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God's precepts. {COL 314.4}
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. This power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ. (p. 315) {COL 314.5}

Jerry Giardina of Pecos, Texas, assisted by his wife, Cheryl, prepares a series of helps to accompany the Sabbath School lesson. He includes all related scripture and most EGW quotations. Jerry has chosen the "New King James Version" of the scriptures this quarter. It is used with permission.

http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/10a/helps/lesshp11.html

http://www.whiteestate.org/

The Test of Discipleship

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. Christ said to Nicodemus, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8. Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart. That regenerating power, which no human eye can see, begets a new life in the soul; it creates a new being in the image of God. While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed, not
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by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts.
It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means, then, shall we determine whose side we are on?
Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.
Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:22, 23. They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober, and the profligate pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. Christians will seek not the "outward adorning," but "the hidden man of
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the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation. If he restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, confess his sins, and love God and his fellow men, the sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life.
When, as erring, sinful beings, we come to Christ and become partakers of His pardoning grace, love springs up in the heart. Every burden is light, for the yoke that Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness, becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness.
The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers. It was His delight to do the will of God. Love to God, zeal for His glory, was the controlling power in our Saviour's life. Love beautified and ennobled all His actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. "We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19, R.V. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around.
There are two errors against which the children of God--particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace--especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their
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own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.
The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption.
But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience--the service and allegiance of love--is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the scripture says, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 5:3; 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith,
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and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience.
We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith. "Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:5, 6. Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." 1 John 3:7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God's holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai.
That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. "By grace are ye saved through faith." But "faith, if it hath not works, is dead." Ephesians 2:8; James 2:17. Jesus said of Himself before He came to earth, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8. And just before He ascended again to heaven He declared, "I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10. The scripture says, "Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. . . . He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:3-6. "Because Christ also
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suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps." 1 Peter 2:21.
The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,--just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,--perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized.
It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.
More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do
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according to His good pleasure. So you may say, "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. So Jesus said to His disciples, "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:20. Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works --works of righteousness, obedience.
So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and through us.
When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that "the devils also believe, and tremble;" but this is not faith. James 2:19. Where there is not only a belief in God's word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith--faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, "O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97. And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, "who
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walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1.
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance.
The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their
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power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you.
No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character; but if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ.
The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image.

http://www.whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc7.html

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF CONTROL

Here's Pastor Doug Batchelor from www.amazingfacts.com

CLICK ON THE LINK THAT FOLLOWS FOR A VIDEO OF THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON PRESENTED BY DR DEREK MORRIS OF THE LAKE FOREST CHURCH

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The Fruit of the Spirit Is Self-Control
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified”
(1 Cor. 9:27, NKJV).


Christ-Control Is Self-Control
Edinor Lindiwe Donda, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Sabbath Introduction
Prov. 25:28; Gal. 5:18, 24, 25

Proverbs 25:28 basically tells us about controlling one’s temper. Walls were erected to guard a city against crime. a city that was not protected was exposed to all sorts of things. likewise, a person without self-control exposes himself or herself to all sorts of evil. Self-control is the power to restrain and direct oneself according to God’s will and for His glory.

We learn self-control as we surrender ourselves to the Lord.

Temptation, my beloved guest That keeps me in denial on my quest To find fulfillment for this my burden Which does on my shoulders rest. It irritates this self that I hesitate to resist That which satisfies my lustful being. I persist To think of the consequences of my existence. I exist Within this weak brand of flesh That has led me to the rivers of sin, to taste Of sin wrapped in the desires of still this flesh. But resistance is now a dream, a dream that I live for. as my thoughts travel through time, I see My mind has driven me to owning a value— SelF-CONTrOl.
Self-control is not gained merely by suppressing lust, but also by controlling lust. It is the manifestation of God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit. The lack of self-control is responsible for many of today’s problems. lacking in love for God and His Word results in a lack of self-control (2 Tim. 3:1–4).

How does one gain self-control? “In order to know how to behave our- selves circumspectly, we must follow where Christ leads the way.”* We learn self-control as we surrender ourselves to the lord. To be Christ-controlled is to know that we are His. This week, let your prayer be, “Uphold my steps in your paths, / That my footsteps may not slip” (Ps. 17:5, NKJV).
____________
*Sons and Daughters of God, p. 154.



Self-Control or Self-Destruction
Sipiwe Nelani, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
Sunday Evidence
Phil. 4:8

Details involving alexander the Great’s death are debatable. One account states that while busy with plans to improve the irrigation of the euphrates and to settle the arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, alexander became quite ill at a function honoring Nearchus’s departure for arabia. This same function also com- memorated the death of Heracles. at this affair, alexander filled a huge beaker with wine and drank it quickly. This caused him great pain and distress. However, no one was able to help him, and it was evident he would die. His friends asked him: “To whom do you leave the kingdom?” He replied, “To the best [the stron- gest].” These were his last words.

“Control of consciousness determines quality of life.”

Before he died, Alexander gave his ring to Predicca. This ring was a symbol of kingship. at sundown on either June 10 or 11 323 b.c., after a ten-day fever, alexander died in the palace of [Nebuchadnezzar].1 He was called the Great, but he was not the greatest in exercising self-control. He conquered the world, but he could not conquer his lust. If this account is the true account, then he literally drank his life away.

According to a convergence of scientific evidence and spiritual beliefs, con- sistent well-being depends more on one’s ability to control internal experience than on controlling external events and circumstances. By no means is this a new view. It is an insight found in many cultures and religions. “The sim- ple truth—that control of consciousness determines quality of life—has been known . . . for as long as human records exist.”2 The control of internal desires determines the outcome of the external experiences.

In the first part of 2 Samuel 11, David intentionally observes Bathsheba bathing and orders that she be brought to him. as a result of his lack of self-control, Bath- sheba becomes pregnant, and David has her husband murdered so he can marry her. This murder itself displays further lack of self-control. Joseph, in contrast, did exercise self-control when Potiphar’s wife presented herself to him. even though her lie about what happened landed Joseph in prison, the final outcome of his refusal to succumb to her proposition was that a nation was saved from starvation.
____________
1. “Alexander the Great,” http://w3.usf.edu/~hellenic/FrameMakedonia.htm (accessed December 12,
2008). 2. Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (New york: Harper and row,
1990), p. 20.



Mastery of Self
Khwezi Yanga Toni, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
Monday Logos
Judges 13–16; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:1–10; Heb. 12:1, 2;
1 John 2:15, 16

The Meaning of Temperance (Ps. 101:3; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Gal. 5:23; Phil. 3:8, 9)
Temperance is the mastery of all our actions, thoughts, feelings, habits, appetites, desires, and passions. Temperance, or self-control, means dying to self and letting Christ take control of every aspect of our lives. Notice that this fruit describes one’s relationship to self.

The Word encourages us to season our speech with grace.

When to Acquire Self-Control (Genesis 37–39; Judges 13–16; Daniel 1; Luke 2:52)
“In childhood and youth the character is most impressible. The power of self- control should then be acquired. . . . More than any natural endowment, the hab- its established in early years will decide whether a man shall be victorious or van- quished in the battle of life.”1 Proof of this is seen in the lives of Jesus, Daniel and his companions, and Joseph. Many people advise enjoying life while you are young. Then when you are old, you can start living righteously. This doesn’t work, however. Consider the lives of Samson, Nero, and alexander the Great. God teaches us that we must seek Him in the days of our youth (eccl. 11:9, 10; 12:1). “The youth who finds joy and happiness in reading the word of God and in the hour of prayer is constantly refreshed by draughts from the Fountain of life. He will attain a height of moral excellence and a breadth of thought of which others cannot conceive.”2

The Mind and Our Speech (Prov. 4:25, 26; Col. 3:2, 3; 1 John 2:15, 16)
“The mind is the capital of the body. The mind controls the whole man. all our actions . . . have their source in the mind. It is the mind that worships God and allies us to heavenly beings.”3 What we say and do originates in the mind. How we re- spond to stimuli in our environment generally originates in the mind. If our minds are focused on the world, we will act and think as the world does. The apostle Peter urges us to be in control of our minds (1 Pet. 1:13). If we want to think a certain way, we need to focus on things that are associated with that way (Prov. 4:25, 26), for by beholding we become changed. We must set our minds on things above, store our treasures in heaven, and love not the world. We must focus on Christ (Isa. 26:3) and learn to think the way He thinks, for He is our perfect example. Oncewe have control over our minds, it will be easier to control our speech. The Word encourages us to season our speech with grace so that others might be led to Christ (Col. 4:6; rom. 15:18). Pray for God to watch over your lips (Ps. 141:3). and always remember that our words express our thoughts.

Appetite (Heb. 12:1; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31)
Our bodies are temples of God. Therefore, we must not consume food or drink that will defile our bodies. In Hebrews 12:1, we are urged to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God.
What we eat affects how we think. “No Christian will take into his system food or drink that will cloud his senses, or that will so act upon the nervous system as to cause him to degrade himself, or to unfit him for usefulness. The temple of God must not be defiled. The faculties of mind and body should be preserved in health, that they may be used to glorify God.”4 all that we do should be done for God’s glory.

Fruit (Matt. 19:26; John 15:5, 16; Gal. 5:22–25; Phil. 4:13)
On a vine, the branches produce fruit. The fruit and the branches depend on the vine for survival. Christ said that He is the Vine, and we are the branches. If we as branches stay connected to Him, we will bear much fruit. So without Him, we cannot grow the fruit of the Spirit. Without Him, we cannot have self-control. The Holy Spirit’s fruit can only be grown in us to the extent that we depend on Christ (Matt. 19:26; Phil. 4:13).

A branch does not produce fruit for its own consumption, but to serve others. likewise, we bear the Holy Spirit’s fruit so that we can bless others and lead them to Christ. We “must be able to overcome the desires of the flesh and avoid what is bad, while doing good to others.”5 “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves” (rom. 14:7, NrSV).

REACT
1. Do you ever limit temperance to just health issues? If yes, how can you change?
2. Consider your own habits or lack thereof. Which habits show self-control
or a lack of self-control? How can you develop better habits? ____________
1. Messages to Young People, p. 134. 2. Ibid., p. 431.
3. Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 72. 4. Temperance, p. 18. 5. roberto Badenas, “Temperance,” Adventist Review, October 26, 1995, p. 19.



Determining the Future
Khaka Gomba, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Tuesday Testimony
1 Cor. 9:27

“What can be done to stay the tide of disease and crime that is sweeping our race down to ruin and to death? as the great cause of the evil is to be found in the indulgence of appetite and passion, so the first and great work of reform must be to learn and practice the lessons of temperance and self-control. To effect a permanent change for the better in society, the education of the masses must begin in early life. The habits formed in childhood and youth, the tastes acquired, the self-control gained, the principles inculcated from the cradle, are almost certain to determine the future of the man or woman. The crime and corruption occasioned by intemperance and lax morals might be prevented by the proper training of the youth.

Those who do not overcome in little things will have no moral power to withstand greater temptations.

“One of the greatest aids in perfecting pure and noble characters in the young, strengthening them to control appetite and refrain from debasing ex- cesses, is sound physical health. and, on the other hand, these very habits of self-control are essential to the maintenance of health.”1
“The walls of self-control and self-restriction should not in a single instance be weakened and broken down. . . . Those who do not overcome in little things will have no moral power to withstand greater temptations. all who seek to make honesty the ruling principle in the daily business of life will need to be on their guard that they covet ‘no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.’ While they are content with convenient food and clothing, it will be found an easy matter to keep the heart and hands from the defilement of covetousness and dishonesty.”2
“you will doubtless meet with things that will ruffle your spirit and severely test you; but self-control may be yours in the strength of Jesus.”3

REACT
1. What practical steps can we take to guard the avenues of our minds?
2. How much damage has lack of self-control caused in our communities?
____________
1. Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 13, 1881. 2. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 574. 3. Ibid., p. 501.



When No One Is Looking
Nkosazana Uviwe Maxhela, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
Wednesday How-to
Judges 13–16; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:1–10; Heb. 12:1, 2; 1 John 1:15, 16

You’re the only person in your parents’ room. Guess what you see on the dress- ing table? Money! It’s almost calling out your name. Do you take it and quickly disappear, or do you resist the temptation?

God left a trail for us to follow as we develop self-control.

Resisting temptation can be a battle, especially when there’s no one there to witness. Jesus Himself admitted that even though at times our spirits will be will- ing to do what is right, our carnal nature is like a wind that pushes us back (Mark 14:38). In the hour of trial, when we think no one is watching, God sees us. He desires that we practice self-control and that we control our tempers even when we are deliberately provoked by others (rom. 12:19–21). He desires that we be- come temperate in our diets and that we subject even our thoughts to that which is holy and acceptable to Him. God left a trail for us to follow as we develop self- control. The trail is clearly marked with signs. Here are a few:

Buckle up (1 Thess. 5:17). When we do, we’re making sure that our hearts are safely fastened to God’s throne of grace. We do this by fervently praying and put- ting our trust in the almighty, whose arm is not too short to save us. Being in constant communion with Him will keep His words fixed in our hearts. Then the Holy Spirit can deliver us.

Meditate (Phil. 4:8). If we fill our minds with pure thoughts, we will be better equipped to resist temptation. as the seeds of good thoughts germinate and take root in our minds, we will be better able to counter any attacks that jeopardize our self-control. resisting evil will then become a matter of principle.

Learn to do good (Isa. 1:17). Helping others is one of the best escape routes when fighting temptation. When you’re faced with a trying situation, stand up for God, turn full circle, and do what is good instead. acts of kindness will counter temptation and direct your focus to God’s strength rather than your weakness.

Run, friend, run (James 4:7). Fleeing from temptation is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of self-control. God says we must avoid the devil because the battle is not ours, but His. When we run, we acknowledge His saving grace and His ability to save us. run, and let Him take care of your fears.



Caution: Power of Self- Control Weakened!
Xhantilomzi Perseverance Mlamleli, East London, Republic of South Africa
Thursday Opinion
Ps. 101:3

Many Christians are not aware of the dangers present to us through various media. Television, radio, magazines, and many Internet Web sites are designed to control our minds without our even being aware of it. “any information programmed subliminally to your subconscious mind meets no resistance. This subliminal information is stored in your brain with an identification that will trigger a delayed alarm clock reaction capable of influencing your behavior.”1 Such messages are presented to us so rapidly in the form of printed words, pictures, or voices that we are not consciously aware of them. Knowing about information that is programmed to reach us subliminally gives added meaning to our text for today. It’s almost as if the psalmist understood fully that the sub- conscious mind can absorb many things that it’s not even aware of.

Media seek to define reality for us.

Media seek to define reality for us. a great deal of it presents sin in exciting ways. It’s as if those working in various media take special effort to degrade our mental and spiritual abilities. The danger for us is that the values of the sinful world gradually shape how we think and then eventually how we live. Hence, the struggle for self-control occurs. Media can also deaden our interest and ability to meditate on God’s Word. Here is what author and avid reader Nicholas Carr has to say about his personal experience: “What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in in- formation the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.”2

REACT
1. How can you personally avoid the deception of the media?
2. Consider what you read and watch, the music you listen to, and your In- ternet usage. How might they all be influencing your ability to study the Bible and apply its truths to your life? What might you need to change in order to more effectively study God’s Word and practice its teachings?
3. Why does the Bible require us to abstain from the appearance of evil
(1 Thess. 5:22)? ____________
1. Steven Jacobson, Mind Control in the United States (n.p.: Critique Pub., 1985), p. 7.
2. Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic, July/august 2008, http://www.theatlantic .com/doc/200807/google (accessed December 12, 2008).



Wholesome Choices
Jennifer Morgan, Newfoundland, Canada
Friday Exploration
Gal. 5:16–25; Col. 3:1–10
CONCLUDE

A temperate life is one of habitual self-control. This is easy if the individual develops healthy habits at an early age. However, with God’s grace, all of us can live happy, balanced lives whenever we start a good habit. Temperance is not what you don’t do. It’s all the good things you choose to do. If we fill our bodies with healthful food, our minds with wholesome study, our ears and eyes with God’s blessings, and our leisure time with acts of generosity, our lives will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

CONSIDER
• readingrudyardKipling’spoemIf,andconsiderhowhisadviceandPaul’s in Galatians and Colossians can help you live a life of self-control.
• Finding a new recipe with healthful ingredients to prepare and share for Sabbath lunch.
• Making a list of the things you did in your leisure time last week. evaluate each activity for its wholesomeness. Make a list of positive alternatives to the negatives on your first list. act on your positive alternatives.
• Finding a friend who will help you start a new good habit. Go jogging together; share diet tips, music, books, outreach activities, or anger manage- ment or addiction-fighting strategies. Commit with your friend to practice this new habit for 40 consecutive days.
• askingaclosefriendtonameonethingthatyouhabituallydothatishurt- ing yourself and others. Discuss ways to change this behavior and devise a plan to do so.
• reading a biography about a person who successfully overcame his or her bad habits.

CONNECT
The Ministry of Healing (There is an excellent abridged youth edition called Heal the World, Begin With Yourself, edited by Gary Swanson, 1997.)
Ben Carson and Cecil Murphey, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (Hagerstown, Md.: review and Herald®, 1990); rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? (Grand rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2002).

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