Sabbath Afternoon April 18

Memory Text: “For the word of God is quick,

and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.” KJV — Hebrews 4:12
“The study of the Bible will give strength to the
intellect. Says the psalmist, “The entrance of thy
words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto
the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] The question has
often been asked me, “Should the Bible become
the important book in our schools?” It is a
precious book, a wonderful book. It is a treasury
containing jewels of precious value. It is a history
that opens to us the past centuries. Without the
Bible we should have been left to conjectures and
fables in regard to the occurrences of past ages.
Of all the books that have flooded the world, be
they ever so valuable, the Bible is the Book of
books, and is most deserving of the closest study
and attention. It gives not only the history of the
creation of this world, but a description of the
world to come. It contains instruction concerning
the wonders of the universe, and it reveals to our
understanding the Author of the heavens and the
earth. It unfolds a simple and complete system of
theology and philosophy. Those who are close
students of the word of God, and who obey its
instructions, and love its plain truths, will
improve in mind and manners. It is an
endowment of God that should awaken in every
heart the most sincere gratitude; for it is the
revelation of God to man.” CE 105.2
“The Bible is a book which discloses the
principles of right and truth. It contains whatever
is needful for the saving of the soul, and at the
same time, it is adapted to strengthen and
discipline the mind. If used as a text book in our
schools, it will be found far more effective than
any other book in the world, in guiding wisely in
the affairs of this life, as well as in aiding the soul
up the ladder of progress which reaches to
heaven. God cares for us as intellectual beings,
and he has given us his word as a lamp to our feet
and a light to our pathway. “The entrance of thy
words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto
the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] It is not the mere
reading of the word that will accomplish the
result that is designed by Heaven, but the truth
revealed in the word of God must find an
entrance into the heart, if the good intended is
obtained.” CE 108.1
Sunday April 19 – The Tight Fingers of Pride
Even when we have an up-and-down and very
inconsistent relationship with God, He is
wonderfully constant, as Lamentations 3:22,
23 tells us. What do you notice in these verses,
and how do they compare with our human
natures?
“God has revealed his interest in fallen men by
giving them a Saviour. He covenanted not to stir
up his wrath against the perversity of his
children, not to censure them in his hot
displeasure, until every advantage had been
given them through all their period of probation.
And even when they shall refuse his warnings,
his messages of invitation, the presentation of his
righteousness; when they continue to sin in the
face of light and evidence, still he will not break
forth upon them in his great anger. He leaves all
judgment to his Son, whom he gave as a sin
offering for the world.
“God has a yearning desire to save the purchase
of the blood of Christ from the sure result of a
wrong course of action; for sin, if persisted in,
will bring upon them the wrath of the rejected
Lamb. Mercy, rich and free, is presented in the
gift of Christ's righteousness. Those who scorn
this precious gift, who despise and reject the
Saviour, who refuse the invitation, “Let him take
hold of my strength, that he may make peace with
me; and he shall make peace with me,” reject the
offer of the attributes of character which will
constitute them sons and daughters of God. For
“as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name [What name?—Immanuel,
the Son of God]: which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full
of grace and truth.”
“The Word is our instructor. All who will be
doers of the word, in sincerity and truth, will
behold his glory,—'the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’
Then there is indeed a new birth, a transformation
of character. ‘Of his fulness have all we received,
and grace for grace.’ This makes us living
epistles, ‘known and read of all men.’ ‘He that
hath received his testimony hath set to his seal
that God is true. For he whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not
the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth
the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;
and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.’ RH
December 1, 1896, par. 16-18
Monday April 20 – Scripture, the Authority
The Bible’s authority and function are clearly
declared within its pages. Read and copy out 2
Timothy 3:15–17. Take note of what these
verses tell you about the function of the Bible.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved
by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:20, 21.
Affirmatively stated, all Scripture (not merely a
part of It) is inspired. Negatively stated, none of
It is privately interpreted, for the reason that It did
not come of men but of God. And It can be
interpreted by men only as and when God's Spirit
decrees. Accordingly, every jot and title of
Scripture and Its interpretation is of Inspiration,
and thus wholly profitable to guide the man of
God doctrinally, to reprove and to correct him,
and righteously to instruct him, unto perfection
of faith and works.
Let us therefore covenant with the Lord that
henceforth we shall neither accept nor advance as
revealed truth any private interpretation of the
Scriptures. And to keep understandingly
inviolate this solemn promise to the Lord, we
must first, of course, understand
“The word of God is the standard of character.
In giving us this word, God has put us in
possession of every truth essential to salvation.
Thousands have drawn water from these wells of
life, yet there is no diminishing of the supply.
Thousands have set the Lord before them, and by
beholding have become changed into the same
image. But these searchers have not exhausted
these grand and holy themes. Thousands more
may engage in the work of searching out the
mysteries of salvation. GW 250.4
“As the worker studies the life of Christ, and the
character of His mission is dwelt upon, each fresh
search will reveal something more deeply
interesting than has yet been unfolded. The
subject is inexhaustible. The study of the
incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and
mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the
diligent student as long as time shall last; and
looking to heaven with its unnumbered years, he
will exclaim, “Great is the mystery of godliness!”
[1 Timothy 3:16.]” GW 251.1
Tuesday April 21 – Bible Truth
Read the following verses slowly, and then
read them again a second time. What do you
notice about these messages?
John 17:17 – “If studied and obeyed, the word of
God works in the heart, subduing every unholy
attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin,
and the faith that springs up in the heart works by
love to Christ, conforming us in body, soul, and
spirit to His own image. Then God can use us to
do His will. The power given us works from
within outwardly, leading us to communicate to
others the truth that has been communicated to
us.
“The truths of the word of God meet man's great
practical necessity—the conversion of the soul
through faith. These grand principles are not to
be thought too pure and holy to be brought into
the daily life. They are truths which reach to
heaven and compass eternity, yet their vital
influence is to be woven into human experience.
They are to permeate all the great things and all
the little things of life. COL 100,101
“Received into the heart, the leaven of truth will
regulate the desires, purify the thoughts, and
sweeten the disposition. It quickens the faculties
of the mind and the energies of the soul. It
enlarges the capacity for feeling, for loving.”
Prov. 30:5, 6 – “We are not doing the will of God
when we speculate upon things that He has seen
fit to withhold from us. The question for us to
study is: “What is truth, the truth for this time,
which is to be cherished, loved, honored, and
obeyed?” The devotees of science have been
defeated and disheartened in their efforts to find
out God. What they need to inquire at this time
is: ‘What is the truth that will enable us to win
the salvation of our souls?’” 8T 317.1
Ps. 12:6 – “In His word, God has committed to
men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The
Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an
authoritative, infallible revelation of His will.
They are the standard of character, the revealer
of doctrines, and the test of experience. “Every
scripture inspired of God is also profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction which is in righteousness; that the
man of God may be complete, furnished
completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy
3:16, 17, R.V. GC vii.1
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Psalm 33:4, 5; and
Ephesians 1:13. What is the message found in
these texts?
“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us just as
surely as though we could hear Him with our
ears. The word of the living God is not merely
written, but spoken. Do we receive the Bible as
the oracle of God? If we realized the importance
of this Word, with what awe would we open it,
and with what earnestness would we search its
precepts. The reading and contemplating of the
Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with
the Most High. HP 134.2
“God’s Word is a message to us to be obeyed, a
volume to be perused diligently, and with a spirit
willing to take in the truths written for the
admonition of those upon whom the ends of the
world are come. It must not be neglected for any
other book.... When we open the Bible, let us
compare our lives with its requirements,
measuring our character by the great moral
standard of righteousness.”11 HP 134.3
Wednesday April 22 – Bible Claims
What is David’s advice in Psalm 119:11, and
how might you follow it? (See also Heb. 4:12.)
“The Bible is our rule of faith and doctrine.
There is nothing more calculated to energize the
mind and strengthen the intellect than the study
of the word of God. No other book is so potent to
elevate the thoughts or give vigor to the faculties,
as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If
God's word were studied as it should be, men
would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of
character, and a stability of purpose that are
rarely seen in these times. GW 249.2
“Thousands of men who minister in the pulpit
are lacking in the essential qualities of mind and
character because they do not apply themselves
to the study of the Scriptures. They are content
with a superficial knowledge of the truths of
God's word, and they prefer to go on losing much
in every way rather than to search diligently for
the hidden treasure.” GW 249.3
“The life of God, which gives life to the world,
is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus
healed disease and cast out demons. By His word
He stilled the sea and raised the dead; and the
people bore witness that His word was with
power. He spoke the word of God as He had
spoken it to all the Old Testament writers. The
whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ. It is our
only source of power. GW 250.2
“This word does not repress activity. It opens
before the conscientious searcher channels for
activity. It does not leave men in uncertainty,
without an object, but places before them the
highest of all aims,—the winning of souls to
Christ. It puts in the hand a lamp that lights the
way to heaven. It tells of unsearchable riches,
treasure beyond estimate. GW 250.3
“The word of God is the standard of character.
In giving us this word, God has put us in
possession of every truth essential to salvation.
Thousands have drawn water from these wells of
life, yet there is no diminishing of the supply.
Thousands have set the Lord before them, and by
beholding have become changed into the same
image. But these searchers have not exhausted
these grand and holy themes. Thousands more
may engage in the work of searching out the
mysteries of salvation.” GW 250.4
Thursday April 23 – State of the Heart
Our ability to receive instruction from God’s
Word (Job 22:22) depends largely on what the
state of our heart is like when we come to the
Bible. How does 1 Corinthians 2:14 explain
this?
“Read also the third chapter of this book, and
study and pray over these words. As a people our
faith and practice need to be energized by the
Holy Spirit. No ruling power that would compel
man to obey the dictates of the finite mind should
be exercised. “Cease ye from man, whose breath
is in his nostrils,” the Lord commands. By
turning the minds of men to lean on human
wisdom, we place a veil between God and man,
so that there is not a seeing of Him who is
invisible.
“In our individual experience we are to be
taught of God. When we seek Him with a sincere
heart, we will confess to Him our defects of
character; and He has promised to receive all who
come to Him in humble dependence. The one
who yields to the claims of God will have the
abiding presence of Christ, and this
companionship will be to him a very precious
thing. Taking hold of divine wisdom, he will
escape the corruptions that are in the world
through lust. Day by day he will learn more fully
how to carry his infirmities to the One who has
promised to be a very present help in every time
of need.” TM 483
So, both our attitude toward the Bible and the
way we approach reading it are very
important when it comes to growing in a
relationship with God. How does Paul explain
this in 1 Thessalonians 2:13?
“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us just as
surely as though we could hear Him with our
ears. The word of the living God is not merely
written, but spoken. Do we receive the Bible as
the oracle of God? If we realized the importance
of this Word, with what awe would we open it,
and with what earnestness would we search its
precepts. The reading and contemplating of the
Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with
the Most High. HP 134.2
“God’s Word is a message to us to be obeyed, a
volume to be perused diligently, and with a spirit
willing to take in the truths written for the
admonition of those upon whom the ends of the
world are come. It must not be neglected for any
other book.... When we open the Bible, let us
compare our lives with its requirements,
measuring our character by the great moral
standard of righteousness.11 HP 134.3
“The life of Christ, that gives life to the world,
is in His Word. It was by His word that Jesus
healed disease and cast out demons; by His word
He stilled the sea, and raised the dead; and the
people bore witness that His word was with
power. He spoke the Word of God, as He had
spoken to all the prophets and teachers of the Old
Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of
Christ. It is our source of power.” HP 134.4
Friday April 24 – Further Thought
“The Bible is not exalted to its place, and yet of
what infinite importance it is to the souls of men.
In searching its pages, we move through scenes
majestic and eternal. We behold Jesus, the Son of
God, coming to our world, and engaging in the
mysterious conflict that discomfited the powers
of darkness. O how wonderful, how almost
incredible it is, that the infinite God would
consent to the humiliation of His own dear Son!
Let every student of the Scriptures contemplate
this great fact, and he will not come from such a
contemplation without being elevated, purified,
and ennobled. FE 131.1
“The Bible is a book which discloses the
principles of right and truth. It contains whatever
is needful for the saving of the soul, and at the
same time it is adapted to strengthen and
discipline the mind. If used as a textbook in our
schools, it will be found far more effective than
any other book in the world, in guiding wisely in
the affairs of this life, as well as in aiding the soul
up the ladder of progress which reaches to
heaven. God cares for us as intellectual beings,
and He has given us His word as a lamp to our
feet and a light to our pathway. “The entrance of
Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding
unto the simple.” It is not the mere reading of the
word that will accomplish the result that is
designed by Heaven, but the truth revealed in the
word of God must find an entrance into the heart,
if the good intended is obtained. FE 131.2
“The best educated in the sciences are not
always the most effective instruments for God's
use. There are many who find themselves laid
aside, and those who have had fewer advantages
of obtaining knowledge of books, taking their
places, because the latter have a knowledge of
practical things that is essential to the uses of
everyday life; while those who consider
themselves learned, often cease to be learners,
are self-sufficient, and above being taught, even
by Jesus, who was the greatest teacher the world
ever knew. Those who have grown and
expanded, whose reasoning faculties have been
improved by deep searching of the Scriptures,
that they may know the will of God, will come
into positions of usefulness; for the word of God
has had an entrance into their life and character.
It must do its peculiar work, even to the piercing
asunder of the joints and marrow, and discerning
the thoughts and intents of the heart. God's word
is to become the nourishment by which the
Christian must grow strong in spirit and in
intellect, that he may battle for truth and
righteousness.” FE 132.1
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