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Sabbath Bible Lessons

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

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Lesson 9 Sabbath, December 1, 2012

Investing in Heavenly Gold

“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich” (Revelation 3:18).

“The Lord shows that there is something better for His people than mere outward worship. He demands of them a pure and undefiled religion. The gold He bids them buy of Him is the gold of character.”—The General Conference Bulletin, June 6, 1909.

Suggested Reading:   Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 115-121

Sunday November 25

1. LIVING IN THE LAODICEAN ERA

a. Describe the naturally inherent tendency in all Christians born during the era of church history known as Laodicea—that is, after 1844. Revelation 3:17. What are we to do about this problem?

“The names of the seven churches [of Revelation] are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 585.

“The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition.”—The Review and Herald, July 23, 1889.

“The warning for the last church . . . must be proclaimed to all who claim to be Christians. The Laodicean message, like a sharp, two-edged sword, must go to all the churches.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 77.

b. What must each of us understand when studying the message to Laodicea? 2 Corinthians 10:12; 13:5.

“It was not the design of the message [to the Laodiceans] to lead brother to sit in judgment over his brother, to tell him what to do, and just how far to go; but for each individual to search his own heart, and attend to his own individual work.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 223.


Monday November 26

2. VALUABLE MERCHANDISE

a. What is the first thing the True Witness to the Laodiceans counsels us to do—and why do we need this so urgently? Revelation 3:18 (first part).

“The great Redeemer represents Himself as a heavenly merchantman, laden with riches, calling from house to house, presenting His priceless goods.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 965.

“Faith and love are the true riches, the pure gold which the True Witness counsels the lukewarm to buy. However rich we may be in earthly treasure, all our wealth will not enable us to buy the precious remedies that cure the disease of the soul called lukewarmness. . . .

“The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster. . . .

“Some may say it is exalting our own merits to expect favor from God through our good works. True, we cannot buy one victory with our good works; yet we cannot be victors without them. The purchase which Christ recommends to us is only complying with the conditions He has given us. True grace, which is of inestimable value, and which will endure the test of trial and adversity, is only obtained through faith and humble, prayerful obedience. Graces that endure the proofs of affliction and persecution, and evidence their soundness and sincerity, are the gold which is tried in the fire and found genuine. Christ offers to sell this precious treasure to man: ‘Buy of Me gold tried in the fire.’ The dead, heartless performance of duty does not make us Christians. We must get out of a lukewarm condition and experience a true conversion, or we shall fail of heaven.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 88, 89.

b. What reveals a dire need of the heavenly gold? Ezekiel 33:30–33.

“Much excellent labor was bestowed upon the Laodicean church. To them was given the exhortation, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48). But the church did not follow up the work begun by God’s messengers. They heard, but they failed to appropriate the truth to themselves, and to carry out the instruction given them.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 964.


Tuesday November 27

3. EVIDENCE OF OUR POVERTY

a. What illustrates our natural inclination to doubt that the message to Laodicea actually refers to us personally? Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 4:17.

“I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under temptation. The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their spirits are not steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, many are offended.

“Let these look back a few months to the time when they were sitting on the cases of others who were in a condition similar to that which they now occupy. Let them carefully call to mind the exercise of their minds in regard to those tempted ones.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 89.

“The wares of heaven are offered to our churches. Every individual needs to have a decided interest in the invitation of Christ. Brethren and sisters, are your thoughts after this order? ‘These sharp, decided words do not mean me; I am in a fairly good condition spiritually, though I may not have all the fervor and zeal that some have. I believe the truth. Those to whom this message belongs may take it. I think some need it.’ You who think and reason thus, be assured that you are the very ones to whom this message belongs.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, pp. 964, 965.

b. Describe another symptom revealing a serious lack of this gold. Matthew 15:8; Hebrews 3:12. How can this problem be remedied?

“Faith and love are golden treasures, elements that are greatly wanting among God’s people. I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting away the light from God’s people.”—Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 255.

“While the costly wares of heaven are open before you, draw nigh and buy that which you have lost—the gold of love and faith.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 965.


Wednesday November 28

4. “BUYING”

a. How can we “buy” the goods of heaven if they are supposed to be free? Isaiah 55:1, 2.

“Salvation is a free gift, and yet it is to be bought and sold. In the market of which divine mercy has the management, the precious pearl is represented as being bought without money and without price. In this market all may obtain the goods of heaven. The treasury of the jewels of truth is open to all. ‘Behold, I have set before thee an open door,’ the Lord declares, ‘and no man can shut it.’ No sword guards the way through this door. Voices from within and at the door say, Come. The Saviour’s voice earnestly and lovingly invites us: ‘I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich’ (Revelation 3:8, 18).

“The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess. The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession. Education, even of the highest class, cannot of itself bring a man nearer to God. The Pharisees were favored with every temporal and every spiritual advantage, and they said with boastful pride, We are ‘rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing’; yet they were ‘wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked’ (Revelation 3:17). . . .

“We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for it.

“We are to seek for the pearl of great price, but not in worldly marts or in worldly ways. The price we are required to pay is not gold or silver, for this belongs to God. Abandon the idea that temporal or spiritual advantages will win for you salvation. God calls for your willing obedience. He asks you to give up your sins. . . .

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. Therefore they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 116-118.


Thursday November 29

5. REFINING THE GOLD

a. Describe the work Christ desires to perform in the heart of every one of us during this period of Laodicea. Malachi 3:3, 4.

“Everything in our character that cannot enter the city of God will be reproved; if we submit to the Lord’s refining, all the dross and the tin will be consumed. As the Lord’s chosen ones will receive the light appropriate for this time, they will not be led to exalt themselves. They will not manufacture a standard whereby to measure their own character; for the Lord has given one standard, by which every character is to be tested.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 4, p. 1181.

b. Give some practical examples of how this refining process works. Romans 5:1–5.

“A harsh-spirited man is unrefined, coarse; he is not spiritual, he has not a heart of flesh, but a heart as unimpressible as a stone. His only help is to fall on the Rock, and be broken. The Lord will place all such in the crucible, and try them in fire, as gold is tried. When He can see His image reflected in them He will remove them; but if there proves to be no genuine gold, then they consume like dross.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p. 116.

“Buy faith and love, the precious, beautiful attributes of our Redeemer, which will enable us to find our way into the hearts of those who do not know Him, who are cold and alienated from Him through unbelief and sin.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 964.


Friday November 30

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why does Christ insist that we need His gold?

2. By our negligence, how may we be in danger of refusing Christ’s offer?

3. How much does this spiritual gold cost?

4. Why is the gold especially valuable in these last days?

5. How are others benefited from the spiritual gold we purchase?

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