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Here is a link to show exactly where the Space Station is over earth right now: Click Here
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: Daryl]
#171015
12/31/14 05:53 PM
12/31/14 05:53 PM
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SDA Active Member 2020
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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From Wednesday:What happens when wisdom has finally found a home in the heart? “When wisdom enters your heart,” it marks the final stage of conversion. This implies that conversion comes in stages, which I never thought about that way before. Do you picture conversion as an instantaneous thing? A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion; yet this does not prove him to be unconverted. Said Christ 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 every one that is born of the Spirit." Though the work of grace is silent and almost imperceptible, it may be fully as effective as when its operations are more apparent. But if the heart has been renewed by the Holy Spirit, the life will bear witness to the fact. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Light and darkness are not more distinct than are the state of the converted and the unconverted. 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. {ST, May 18, 1882 par. 16}
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: Daryl]
#171018
01/01/15 01:52 AM
01/01/15 01:52 AM
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OP
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From Wednesday:What happens when wisdom has finally found a home in the heart? “When wisdom enters your heart,” it marks the final stage of conversion. What does it mean "when wisdom enters your heart? "Read Proverbs 1:33. Given the context in what came before, what promise and hope is found here for us? How is this promise manifested in our own experience?" (from Tuesday's Lesson) 1:33 But who ever hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. As we studied ---- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The beginning of all our beliefs originate in God as our Creator. An unconverted person naturally seeks to become his own god, thinking himself to be wise and the originator of wisdom, but all worldly wisdom is foolishness and leads to destruction. We also know that Christ is the active member of the Godhead who created all things. Thus to have true wisdom Christ must reign in the heart. "Christ is the Great Teacher and the Source of all true wisdom." 6T 331 "The fruits of true wisdom come from Christ alone. " TM 259 Thus indeed when self is dethroned and Christ the true source of wisdom reigns in our hearts it does signify conversion.
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: Daryl]
#171023
01/01/15 04:19 PM
01/01/15 04:19 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
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Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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From Wednesday:What happens when wisdom has finally found a home in the heart? “When wisdom enters your heart,” it marks the final stage of conversion. This implies that conversion comes in stages, which I never thought about that way before. The first is, "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness." The very first step in the path to life is to keep the mind stayed on God, to have his fear continually before the eyes. A single departure from moral integrity blunts the conscience, and opens the door to the next temptation. {ST, February 7, 1884 par. 3} The first step toward salvation is to respond to the drawing of the love of Christ. God sends message after message to men, entreating them to repentance, that He may forgive, and write pardon against their names. {1SM 323.2} The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent. {1SM 390.1} The first step in the path of obedience is to surrender the will to God. {BEcho, April 6, 1903 par. 1} Repentance for sin is the first step in conversion. Repentance is an intense hatred of sin in all its forms. {BEcho, November 5, 1894 par. 4} Conviction of sin is the first step in conversion; and the law of God is the instrument to convict the sinner. It is this holy law that discovers the deformity of character, that reveals the plague-spot of sin. {ST, November 26, 1885 par. 7} The first step toward heaven is conviction of sin, the second is repentance and obedience. {RH, September 17, 1895 par. 4} The first step toward obedience is repentance. We are to see the excellence of its requirements by beholding the wrong of disobedience. {BEcho, November 5, 1894 par. 5} Repentance toward God for our failure to keep His law, is the first step in the Christian life, while faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ claims the merits of His blood for the remission of sins that are past, and makes us partakers of the divine nature. The carnal heart, that "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," is made spiritual, and exclaims with Christ, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart." We cannot afford to make any mistakes in this matter, for our eternal interests are at stake. A correct faith will be made manifest in godly works, and will bring the whole life into harmony with the law of God. Faith and works must go hand in hand. When, through the goodness of God, our attention has been called to the demands of God's commandments, and light shines on us from His word, we are to believe and obey from the heart. {BEcho, June 11, 1894 par. 3} Repentance comes from Christ just as much as does pardon for transgression. That repentance is a work which man must do without any special help from Christ, is a false theory. The sinner cannot take the first step in repentance, without the help of Christ. He cannot keep the moral law unless Christ imputes to him his righteousness. The grace that works contrition and repentance, as well as the forgiveness of sins, is the grace of Christ. If one step could be taken without Christ, every step in the way of salvation might be taken without him. {ST, August 11, 1890 par. 3} The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. {AA 551.1} The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2} True conversion means a radical change of heart. {13MR 165.1} True conversion is a radical change. The very drift of the mind and bent of the heart should be turned and life become new again in Christ. {4T 16.4} For "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." That which was objectionable in the character is purified from the soul by the love of Jesus. All selfishness is expelled, all envy, all evil-speaking, is rooted out, and a radical transformation is wrought in the heart. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. {RH, July 22, 1890 par. 15} The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again. {RH, April 12, 1892 par. 9}
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: dedication]
#171027
01/01/15 05:26 PM
01/01/15 05:26 PM
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OP
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Wednesday: The Benefit of WisdomRead Proverbs 2:1–5. What are the conditions for understanding the “fear of the LORD”? What choices do we have to make in this matter? 1.My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2. So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. The lesson talks about this as three stages in obtaining wisdom 1) listening and being receptive and attentive to God's Word (wisdom) 2) crying out, asking God for discernment and understanding 3) seeking wisdom with passion as for the most precious treasure. From EGW: The knowledge of God is not to be gained without mental effort, without prayer for wisdom in order that you may separate from the pure grain of truth the chaff with which men and Satan have misrepresented the doctrines of truth. Satan and his confederacy of human agents have endeavored to mix the chaff of error with the wheat of truth. We should diligently seek for the hidden treasure, and seek wisdom from heaven in order to separate human inventions from the divine commands. The Holy Spirit will aid the seeker for great and precious truths which relate to the plan of redemption. I would impress upon all the fact that a casual reading of the Scriptures is not enough. We must search, and this means the doing of all the word implies. As the miner eagerly explores the earth to discover its veins of gold, so you are to explore the word of God for the hidden treasure that Satan has so long sought to hide from man. The Lord says, "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 7:17 (R. V.) {FE 307.2}
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: Mountain Man]
#171047
01/03/15 02:56 PM
01/03/15 02:56 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
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D: “When wisdom enters your heart,” it marks the final stage of conversion. This implies that conversion comes in stages, which I never thought about that way before.
M: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Through obedience comes sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. This sanctification is a progressive work, and an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4} The stages of conversion begin with the first and second steps described in the passages posted above - "The first step toward heaven is conviction of sin, the second is repentance and obedience. {RH, September 17, 1895 par. 4} The result of these two steps is rebirth. "The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. {RH, April 12, 1892 par. 9} The rebirth described above is radical and rare. "Half-way converts abound; singleness in love for Jesus is rare. {1888 718.1} The "real, trusting, persevering faith is rare. {CC 85.4} "A character unsullied before God is rare. {4T 622.2} "Genuine faith, sustained by works, is rare. {RH, February 23, 1886 par. 5} "True Christian love is rare in our churches. {YI, March 22, 1900 par. 6} "Holiness of life and character is a rare thing, but this the worker must have or he cannot yoke up with Christ. {FE 109.3} "Practical religion as it was manifested in the life and character of Christ is a rare thing. Many in our churches are strangers to the experience that it is the privilege of those who believe in Christ to have in the things of God. {RH, May 24, 1892 par. 3} "The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ. Thousands who claim to be religious are not Christians. {12MR 51.1} The subsequent stages of conversion are advances from one stage of perfection to another - "an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4} An advance from "grace to grace," from "faith to faith," from "glory to glory" - not from greater sins to lesser sins. "Perfecting holiness" will continue throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. We will never reach a point where we can no longer advance in holiness. Thank you, Jesus. However, the majority reject this message. Most believe people are born again with many of their sinful habits in tact ignorantly practicing them. To them, rebirth and conversion is an advance from one stage of imperfection to another gradually outgrowing unknown sinful habits and practices.
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: dedication]
#171168
01/08/15 07:57 AM
01/08/15 07:57 AM
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OP
Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
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Are wisdom and foolishness personified as two women? One "wisdom" (a pure, noble woman) giving the counsels and commandments of God which are the way of goodness, peace of mind, wellbeing. The other "folly" (a generously decorated harlot woman) is enticing, luring, deceptive, leading people away from God's ways of righteousness unto the slippery path of sin and death. To study Lesson #2 http://ssnet.org/lessons/15a/less02.html
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: dedication]
#171221
01/10/15 05:36 AM
01/10/15 05:36 AM
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OP
Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
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Proverbs 4:18 the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
To those who make God first --
" God's promise is, “I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] It is the privilege and the duty of every Christian to have a rich and abundant experience in the things of God. “I am the light of the world,” said Jesus. “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12.] “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” [Proverbs 4:18.] Every step of faith and obedience brings the soul into closer connection with the Light of the world, in whom “there is no darkness at all.” The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon the servants of God, and they are to reflect his rays. As the stars tell us that there is a great light in Heaven with whose glory they are made bright, so Christians are to make it manifest that there is a God on the throne of the universe whose character is worthy of praise and imitation. The graces of his Spirit, the purity and holiness of his character, will be manifest in his witnesses. {GC88 475.3}
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Re: 1st Quarter, 2015 PROVERBS
[Re: dedication]
#171271
01/12/15 05:28 AM
01/12/15 05:28 AM
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Ded-To those who make God first --
Absolutely we should make God 'first". How do we do that? By obeying His word.
For instance , do we not know that ONLY those who "sigh and cry" for the abominations that are done in the church--today, will be sealed?
"Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those "that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel." (Testimonies for the Church, vol 3, p.267)
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