Sunday
January 29
1. COOPERATION-A HEAVENLY CONCEPT
a. Why does the attitude of holy angels promote harmony and happiness among them? Psalm 148:2; 1 Peter 3:18, 22.
I have been shown the order, the perfect order, of heaven, and have been enraptured as I listened to the perfect music there. . . . There is one angel who always leads, who first touches the harp and strikes the note, then all join in the rich, perfect music of heaven.-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 146.
b. How was leadership enjoined in the days of Moses? Exodus 18:21-23; Deuteronomy 1:15, 16.
c. What attitude is particularly offensive to God, and why? 2 Peter 2:9-11.
Lucifer in heaven desired to be first in power and authority; he wanted to be God, to have the rulership of heaven; and to this end he won many of the angels to his side. When with his rebel host he was cast out from the courts of God, the work of rebellion and self-seeking was continued on earth.-Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 32.
Monday
January 30
2. SECULAR AUTHORITIES
a. What duty do Christians owe to civil authorities? 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; Titus 3:1.
b. How did Daniel treat the Babylonian authorities? Daniel 1:8, 9; 6:19-22.
[Daniel 1:8 quoted.] This request was not preferred in a defiant spirit, but as if soliciting a great favor. The appearance of Daniel and his companions was like what every youth's should be. They were courteous, kind, respectful, possessing the grace of meekness and modesty. And the good behavior of these youth obtained favor for them.-The Youth's Instructor, September 15, 1898.
c. Summarize the attitude we are to have toward authorities. Romans 13:1-7.
We are not required to defy authorities. Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order. We are not to say or do anything that would unnecessarily close up our way. We are to go forward in Christ's name, advocating the truths committed to us. If we are forbidden by men to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles, 'Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard' (Acts 4:19, 20).-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 69.
The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses-extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.-The Desire of Ages, p. 509.
Let God have the matter of condemning authorities and governments wholly in His own keeping. In meekness and love let us as faithful sentinels defend the principles of truth as it is in Jesus.-Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 397.
Tuesday
January 31
3. CHURCH LEADERS
a. Name one problem which has ever existed since the days of the early church. 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:11.
The church had been properly organized, and officers had been appointed to act as ministers and deacons. But there were some, self-willed and impetuous, who refused to be subordinate to those who held positions of authority in the church. They claimed not only the right of private judgment, but that of publicly urging their views upon the church. In view of this, Paul called the attention of the Thessalonians to the respect and deference due to those who had been chosen to occupy positions of authority in the church.-The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 261, 262.
b. Explain some of the various reasons why we need to respect and cooperate with our ministers and church leaders. Psalm 105:12-15; Hebrews 13:17.
It is of great importance what attitude we assume toward those who are laborers together with God. I am so sorry to write that the Lord withholds many blessings which He longs to bestow upon those who have a knowledge of the truth; He cannot pour out His blessing upon the human agents because of their attitude toward their fellow laborers and their fellowmen.-The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896.
Satan is constantly working through his agents to dishearten and destroy those whom God has chosen to accomplish a great and good work. They may be ready to sacrifice even their own life for the advancement of the cause of Christ, yet the great deceiver will suggest doubts, distrust, jealousy, concerning them that, if entertained, will undermine confidence in their integrity of character and thus cripple their usefulness. Too often he succeeds in working through their own brethren.-Sketches From the Life of Paul, p. 232.
Jesus is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, but He is with His workers also; for He declares, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). He is spiritual director of His church on earth, and He longs to see the members filled with a determination to labor harmoniously for the advancement of His kingdom. He has raised up a succession of workers who derive their authority from Him, the Great Teacher.-Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 210.
Wednesday
February 1
4. THE CHURCH ITSELF
a. What essential duties are entrusted to the church? Matthew 16:19; John 20:23.
The world's Redeemer has invested great power with His church. He states the rules to be applied in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, He says: 'Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever [in church discipline] ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven' (Matthew 18:18). Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members when the Bible rule has been followed.
The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government, the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body."-Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 428.
Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. 'Reprove, rebuke, exhort,' the Lord says, 'with all longsuffering and doctrine' (2 Timothy 4:2). Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. 'They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God' (Galatians 5:21). If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God's word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.
But there is a brighter side to the picture. 'Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted' (John 20:23). Let this thought be kept uppermost. In labor for the erring, let every eye be directed to Christ. Let the shepherds have a tender care for the flock of the Lord's pasture. Let them speak to the erring of the forgiving mercy of the Saviour."-The Desire of Ages, p. 806.
Thursday
February 2
5. RESPECTING GOD'S REMNANT
a. What duty of Christ's militant church may not always be easy, but must nonetheless be acknowledged as part of God's plan? Matthew 18:15-18.
There is altogether too little respect paid to the opinion of members of the same church. It is the want of deference for the opinions of the church that causes so much trouble among brethren. The eyes of the church may be able to discern in its individual members that which the erring may not see. A few persons may be as blind as the one in error, but the majority of the church is a power which should control its individual members.-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 107.
b. How can we overcome one factor which often hinders this necessary part of reform? Psalm 119:104.
Reproofs always hurt human nature. Many are the souls that have been destroyed by the unwise sympathy of their brethren; for, because the brethren sympathized with them, they thought they must indeed have been abused, and that the reprover was all wrong and had a bad spirit. The only hope for sinners in Zion is to fully see and confess their wrongs, and put them away.-Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 329.
c. How does God view His faithful church members who discharge difficult duties in the needed work of reformation? Zechariah 2:8; Job 23:10.
The church is the one object of Christ's intense interest in this world, and for which He has unceasing care.-The Upward Look, p. 239.
Friday
February 3
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are some common ways by which we may tend to disregard authority?
2. How long will reproof be necessary in the purification of God's remnant?