Sunday
May 28
1. THE SPECIAL SIN OF THIS AGE
a. What are some scriptural admonitions that carry special weight in the climate of these last days, so similar to the days of Noah? 2 Peter 2:9-14.
“Immorality abounds everywhere. Licentiousness is the special sin of this age. Never did vice lift its deformed head with such boldness as now. The people seem to be benumbed, and the lovers of virtue and true goodness are nearly discouraged by its boldness, strength, and prevalence. The iniquity which abounds is not merely confined to the unbeliever and the scoffer. Would that this were the case, but it is not. Many men and women who profess the religion of Christ are guilty. Even some who profess to be looking for His appearing are no more prepared for that event than Satan himself. They are not cleansing themselves from all pollution. They have so long served their lust that it is natural for their thoughts to be impure and their imaginations corrupt. It is as impossible to cause their minds to dwell upon pure and holy things as it would be to turn the course of Niagara and send its waters pouring up the falls.”-Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 346.
“Sensuality has quenched the desire for holiness and has withered spirituality. The soul is held in lowest bondage.”-Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 129.
Monday
May 29
2. FLEE THE PERVASIVE PERIL
a. What is Christ’s standard regarding the seventh commandment? Matthew 5:27, 28.
b. How is self-discipline for this evil illustrated? Matthew 5:29, 30; Psalm 101:3.
c. Why is adherence to the seventh commandment particularly important for believers in the three angels’ messages? Romans 2:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:8, 11, 12.
“Not all who profess to keep the commandments of God possess their bodies in sanctification and honor. The most solemn message ever committed to mortals has been entrusted to this people, and they can have a powerful influence if they will be sanctified by it. They profess to be standing upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, keeping all of God’s commandments; therefore, if they indulge in sin, if they commit fornication and adultery, their crime is of tenfold greater magnitude than is that of the classes . . . who do not acknowledge the law of God as binding upon them. In a peculiar sense do those who profess to keep God’s law dishonor Him and reproach the truth by transgressing its precepts.
“It was the prevalence of this very sin, fornication, among ancient Israel, which brought upon them the signal manifestation of God’s displeasure. His judgments then followed close upon their heinous sin; thousands fell, and their polluted bodies were left in the wilderness.”-Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 450, 451.
d. What are the perils of sensuality? Proverbs 2:11, 16-19; 5:3-5; 6:23-26, 32, 33.
“Some employ their powers to evil purposes. The subtle poison of sensuality courses through their veins, and it finds little obstruction in its way. It is fascinating, bewitching. The mind, which, with due regard for moral integrity, is capable of the highest degree of cultivation and literary excellence, is often degraded to administer to lust.”-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 521.
Tuesday
May 30
3. AN ENTANGLING SNARE
a. Why is the sin of adultery such an insidious snare? Proverbs 7:7-27; 1 Peter 2:11.
“The word of God will make but a feeble impression upon those whose faculties are benumbed by any sinful gratification. The heart cannot preserve consecration to God while the animal appetites and passions are indulged at the expense of health and life.”-The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, p. 303.
b. How and why must freedom from sensuality be gained? Romans 8:12, 13; 13:14.
“All the passions of man, if properly controlled and rightly directed, will contribute to his physical and moral health, and insure to him a great amount of happiness. The adulterer, the fornicator, and the incontinent, do not enjoy life. There can be no true enjoyment for the transgressor of God’s law. The Lord knew this, therefore He restricts man. He directs, commands, and He positively forbids.
“But many are so far deceived by the devil that they think that they themselves can excel the great God in providing ways and means for human happiness. They charge their unhappiness to the prohibitions contained in the law of the ten commandments; and if they can in any way feel released from the claims of the law of God, they will be free and happy indeed. . . .
“The work they should engage in is to put away sin, and every impurity, and work righteousness. Their remaining in willing ignorance of the claims of the law of God will not shield them from the penalty to be inflicted in consequence of its violation. . . .
“Man may pass on awhile, and conceal the fact that he is an adulterer; yet God has His eye upon him. He marks the man. He cannot conceal his crimes from God. He may apparently conduct himself properly before his family and before the community, and be esteemed as a good man. But does he deceive himself in thinking there is not knowledge with the Most High? He is exposing his corruption to the view of the Majesty of Heaven.”-The Review and Herald, March 8, 1870.
Wednesday
May 31
4. NOT ONLY A TEMPTATION OF YOUTH
a. What are some ways in which even older, married persons are to maintain a safeguard on their purity? Psalm 141:3, 4; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.
“There are families where the husband and father has not preserved that reserve, that dignified, godlike manhood which a follower of Jesus Christ should. He has failed to manifest kind, tender, courteous acts due to his wife, whom he has promised before God and angels to love and respect and honor while they both shall live. The girl employed to do the work may be free and somewhat forward in her attentions to dress his hair and be affectionately attentive, and he is pleased, foolishly pleased. And he is not as demonstrative in his attention and love as he once was to his wife. Be sure Satan is at work here. Respect your hired help, treat them kindly, considerately, but go no farther. Let your deportment be such that there will be no advances to familiarity from your help. If you have words of kindness and acts of courtesy to give, it is always safe to give them to your wife. It will be a great blessing to her, and will bring happiness to her heart which will be reflected back upon you again. Also, the wife may let her sympathies and interest and affection go out to another man beside her husband. He may be a member of the family, whom she makes a confidant, and to whom she relates her troubles and perhaps her private family matters. She shows a preference for his society.
“Satan is at the bottom of this; and unless she can be alarmed and stopped just where she is, he will lead her to ruin. My sisters, you cannot observe too great caution in this matter. If you have tender, loving words and kindly attentions to bestow, let them be given him you have promised before God and angels to love, honor, and respect, while you both shall live. Oh, how many lives are made bitter by the walls being broken down which enclose the privacies of every family calculated to preserve purity and sanctity! A third person is taken into the confidence of the wife, and her private family matters are laid open before the special friend. This is the device of Satan to estrange the hearts of the husband and wife. Oh, that this would cease! What a world of trouble would be saved! Lock the faults of one another within your own hearts. Tell your troubles alone to God. He can give you right counsel and sure consolation, which will be pure, having no bitterness in it.”-A Solemn Appeal, pp. 155-157.
Thursday
June 1
5. VICTORY IS FREEDOM
a. What are some keys to victory over sensuality? Galatians 5:16, 24; Colossians 3:5.
“None can glorify God in their body, as He requires, while they are living in transgression of the law of God. If the body violates the seventh commandment, it is through the dictation of the mind. If the mind is impure, the body will naturally engage in impure acts. Purity cannot exist in the soul of one who yields his body to impure acts. If the body is serving lust, the mind cannot maintain consecration to God. To preserve a sanctified mind, the body must be preserved in sanctification and honor. The mind will then serve the law of God, and yield willing obedience to all its claims. Then, with the apostle, such can yield their members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ‘Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof’ (Romans 6:12). The freedom which the apostle describes as the privilege of Christ’s followers will never be experienced by those who delight to trample under foot the law of God. The freedom and blessedness expressed in the following words will be experienced by that class who yield obedience to the law of Jehovah: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Romans 8:1).”-The Review and Herald, March 8, 1870.
b. How is the seventh commandment to affect us? 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Job 31:1.
“The Holy Spirit will not come upon the man whose mind is a highway for sensuality. We cannot afford to make a mock at sin. We cannot afford to say to the sinner, It shall be well with thee. We can only point the transgressor to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”-The Signs of the Times, August 1, 1892.
Friday
June 2
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTION
1. In what ways do I need to come up to a higher standard on the seventh commandment?