Sunday
September 3
1. KNOW THE ENEMY’S STRATEGY
a. In order to be successful in a battle, it helps to know the enemy’s strategy. What is Satan’s number-one-way to defeat the work of God? 1 Peter 5:8.
“Satan can skilfully play the game of life with many souls, and he acts in a most underhanded, deceptive manner to spoil the faith of the people of God and to discourage them.”–Evangelism, p. 359.
b. Why is division so successful? Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:25.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. When Christians contend, Satan comes in to take control. How often has he succeeded in destroying the peace and harmony of churches. What fierce controversies, what bitterness, what hatred, has a very little matter started! What hopes have been blasted, how many families have been rent asunder by discord and contention!
“Paul charged his brethren to beware lest in trying to correct the faults of others they should commit sins equally great themselves. He warns them that hatred, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, and envyings are as truly the works of the flesh as are lasciviousness, adultery, drunkenness, and murder, and will as surely close the gate of heaven against the guilty.”–Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 244.
Monday
September 4
2. God’s Plan for Victory
a. The enemy may have his strategy but God has His as well. What is God’s plan to defeat Satan? 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 12:10–16; James 4:7, 8.
b. How does Solomon explain the benefits of unity? Ecclesiastes 4:9–12.
“Only as they were united with Christ could the disciples hope to have the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of angels of heaven. With the help of these divine agencies they would present before the world a united front and would be victorious in the conflict they were compelled to wage unceasingly against the powers of darkness. As they should continue to labor unitedly, heavenly messengers would go before them, opening the way; hearts would be prepared for the reception of truth, and many would be won to Christ. So long as they remained united, the church would go forth ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners’ (Song of Solomon 6:10). Nothing could withstand her onward progress. The church would advance from victory to victory, gloriously fulfilling her divine mission of proclaiming the gospel to the world.”–The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 90, 91.
c. What will a united front do for the work of God? John 13:34, 35; Ephesians 4:13.
“But, on the other hand, when the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep will hear the true Shepherd’s voice. Self-denying efforts will be put forth to save the lost, and many who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the great Shepherd. The people of God will draw together and present to the enemy a united front. In view of the common peril, strife for supremacy will cease; there will be no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest. . . .
“The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.”–Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 401.
Tuesday
September 5
3. HOW TO GET CLOSE AND STAY CLOSE
a. Since unity is so important, how can we have it in our families and in our churches? 1 Peter 1:22, 23; John 17:17.
“After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.”–The Great Controversy, p. 45.
b. How can I be gaining a closer walk with Jesus? 1 John 1:6, 7; John 15:4–7.
“Then as the children of God are one in Christ, how does Jesus look upon caste, upon society distinctions, upon the division of man from his fellow man, because of color, race, position, wealth, birth, or attainments? The secret of unity is found in the equality of believers in Christ. The reason for all division, discord, and difference is found in separation from Christ. Christ is the center to which all should be attracted; for the nearer we approach the center, the closer we shall come together in feeling, in sympathy, in love, growing into the character and image of Jesus. With God there is no respect of persons.”–Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 259.
c. How will this experience help us keep close to our fellow believers? Galatians 5:25, 26.
“Draw near to God, and come into closer union with His people. Let your interest and your affections center in Christ and His followers. Love those best who love Christ most. Sever the links which have bound you to those who love not God and the truth. What communion hath light with darkness? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”–Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 48.
Wednesday
September 6
4. PRAY and WORK
a. What two ingredients are necessary in fulfilling God’s commission as a church body? James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:25.
“It is the will of God that union and brotherly love should exist among His people. The prayer of Christ just before His crucifixion was that His disciples might be one as He is one with the Father, that the world might believe that God had sent Him.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 520.
b. When does the Lord desire His people to pray together and for one another? Hebrews 10:24, 25; Malachi 3:16.
“Some, fearing they will suffer loss of earthly treasure, neglect prayer and the assembling of themselves together for the worship of God, that they may have more time to devote to their farms or their business. They show by their works which world they place the highest estimate upon. They sacrifice religious privileges, which are essential to their spiritual advancement, for the things of this life, and fail to obtain a knowledge of the divine will. They come short of perfecting Christian character, and do not meet the measurement of God. They make their temporal, worldly interests first, and rob God of the time which they should devote to His service. Such persons God marks, and they will receive a curse rather than a blessing.”–Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 654.
c. How can we work together? John 9:4; Nehemiah 4:6.
“Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their movements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the angelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenly agents in our behalf. If we see no necessity for harmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, cannot work for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they are not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization. All who desire the cooperation of the heavenly messengers must work in unison with them.”–Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 649.
Thursday
September 7
5. UNITED THANKSGIVING
a. Which other element is needed to be victorious in defeating the foe? What does God tell us to do? Psalms 111:1; 149:4.
“To praise God in fullness and sincerity of heart is as much a duty as is prayer. We are to show to the world and to all the heavenly intelligences that we appreciate the wonderful love of God for fallen humanity and that we are expecting larger and yet larger blessings from His infinite fullness. . . . After a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, our joy in the Lord and our efficiency in His service would be greatly increased by recounting His goodness and His wonderful works in behalf of His children.
“These exercises drive back the power of Satan. They expel the spirit of murmuring and complaint, and the tempter loses ground. They cultivate those attributes of character which will fit the dwellers on earth for the heavenly mansions.
“Such a testimony will have an influence upon others. No more effective means can be employed for winning souls to Christ.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 299, 300.
b. Why is praise such a wonderful weapon? Psalm 22:3; 2 Chronicles 20:21, 22.
“The principalities and powers of heaven are watching the warfare which, under apparently discouraging circumstances, God’s servants are carrying on. New conquests are being achieved, new honors won, as the Christians, rallying round the banner of their Redeemer, go forth to fight the good fight of faith. All the heavenly angels are at the service of the humble, believing people of God; and as the Lord’s army of workers here below sing their songs of praise, the choir above join with them in ascribing praise to God and to His Son.”–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 154.
c. What will praise accomplish in my own heart and in the fellowship of believers? 1 Peter 2:9.
“We are to praise God by tangible service, by doing all in our power to advance the glory of His name.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 300.
Friday
September 8
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Can I recognize situations where the enemy is seeking to distract, discourage, and divide? How can I put a stop to his plan?
2. What am I doing to press together with Jesus and my fellow believers?
3. Is Christ and every element of His truth the most important in my daily life? If not, what will I do to change that?
4. Am I praying with and for my fellow believers? Am I willing to meet together with them on a regular basis?
5. Do I praise the Lord? Am I willing and do I give Him thanks and praise in the midst of the congregation? If not, what is stopping me?
The Most Powerful Argument. “A Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity.”–Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 21.
Double Agents. “There are many who profess the name of Christ whose hearts are not engaged in His service. They have simply arrayed themselves in a profession of godliness, and by this very act they have made greater their condemnation, and have become more deceptive and more successful agents of Satan in the ruin of souls.”–The Review and Herald, March 27, 1888.
An Irresistible Power. “Our confession of [the Lord’s] faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christlike life, have an irresistible power, that works for the salvation of souls.”–The Desire of Ages, p. 347.
Harvest of the Enemy. “Divisions, and even bitter dissensions which would disgrace any worldly community, are common in the churches . . . A house divided against itself cannot stand. Criminations and recriminations are engendered and multiplied. Satan and his angels are actively at work to secure a harvest from seed thus sown.”–Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 123.