King Artaxerxes had a surname that translates to “Longimanus” in Latin, supposedly because he had a right hand that was noticeably longer than his left hand. Artaxerxes, ruler of Persia, displayed compassion that amazed the prophet Ezra, who gave praise to God for putting it in the king’s heart to be merciful to him and to the Jewish people.
The king commissioned Ezra to return to Jerusalem, taking with him as many people as wanted to return, and to continue work on the temple of God. He even gave Ezra generous gifts of silver and gold for the temple and advised him to buy many offerings to sacrifice to God. He told him to take from the king’s treasury anything else he might need to help with the temple, and he gave Ezra the power to collect from his treasurers “beyond the river.” He also advised him and empowered him to enforce the law of God and the law of the king and to teach anyone in his region who didn’t know the law.
This was all quite astonishing; apparently God had blessed this heathen king with wisdom from above. Artaxerxes recognized the supreme authority of God and didn’t hesitant to bow to that authority, even in front of his counselors and princes. Because of his respect for the true God, the people of the Lord were greatly blessed.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: Ezra 7:27 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Ezra 7:28
The end of all things is at hand. What we have done must not be allowed to place the period to our work. The Captain of our salvation says, “Advance. The night cometh, in which no man can work.” Constantly we are to increase in usefulness. Our lives are always to be under the power of Christ. Our lamps are to be kept burning brightly…. He who places himself where God can enlighten him, advances, as it were, from the partial obscurity of dawn to the full radiance of noonday.
How is it possible that we may grow in grace? It is possible to us only as we empty our hearts of self, and present them to Heaven, to be molded after the Divine Pattern. We may have a connection with the living channel of light; we may be refreshed with the heavenly dew, and have the showers of heaven descend upon us. As we appropriate the blessing of God, we shall be able to receive greater measures of His grace.
As little children we are to sit at the feet of Christ, learning of Him…. We should not allow a day to pass without gaining an increase of knowledge in temporal and spiritual things. We are to plant no stakes that we are not willing to take up and plant further on, nearer the heights we hope to ascend. The highest education is to be found in training the mind to advance day by day. The close of each day should find us a day’s march nearer the overcomer’s reward. Day by day our understanding is to ripen. Day by day we are to work out conclusions that will bring a rich reward in this life and in the life to come. Looking daily to Jesus, instead of to what we ourselves have done, we shall make decided advancement in temporal as well as spiritual knowledge.
The unseen is illustrated by the seen. On everything upon the earth, from the loftiest tree of the forest to the lichen that clings to the rock, from the boundless ocean to the tiniest shell on the shore, they may behold the image and superscription of God.
As Christians, we must never forget that we are in the midst of a cosmic drama. The great controversy between Christ and Satan is unfolding all around us. The battle takes many shapes and is manifested in many ways. And though much is hidden, we can understand that, as followers of Christ, we have a part to play in this drama and can bring honor to Christ through our lives.
Robert Wadlow (1918 – 1940) was the tallest person in history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He was known as the Alton Giant (or Giant of Illinois) because he was born in and grew up in Alton, Illinois. He reached a height of 8 feet, 11.1 inches and weighed 485 pounds at the time of his death at age 22.
How did Wadlow grow to be so large? Doctors believe it was caused by hypertrophy of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. Robert showed no end to his growth, even at his death. His shoe size was 37AA. Unfortunately, his height had its drawbacks. He needed leg braces in order to walk and had little feeling in his legs and feet. Ten days before his death, while traveling on a tour, his ankle became infected because of a faulty leg brace. On July 15, 1940, he died in his sleep.
The Bible tells us that David fought against a giant named Goliath, who stood about 9-½ feet tall. His staff was “like a weaver’s beam,” which is the bar to which the long threads are fastened in a cloth-making loom, probably two inches in diameter. The iron spearhead weighed about 15 pounds.
Saul’s army stood shaking in their boots every time Goliath came out and defied the God of Israel. But David knew that while the weapons of man are no match for giants, he also understood that God’s power can save man. That’s true for you as well as you face your own giants.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
Children should be encouraged to search out in nature the objects that illustrate Bible teachings, and to trace in the Bible the similitudes drawn from nature. They should search out, both in nature and in Holy Writ, every object representing Christ, and those also that He employed in illustrating truth. Education, p. 120.
For several years a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a burglar. ‘Good evening,’ said the man of the house. ‘I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting ten years to meet you.
A burglar can steal from you once. Anxiety can steal from you for decades.
One of the worst things about anxiety is that it gives us spiritual amnesia: We forget who we are in Christ. We forget that as His coheirs, we have access to His power and glory, that when our priorities line up with His, He will meet our needs. This doesn’t mean we go from miracle to miracle in life. Rather, it means that whatever we are facing, we can rest assured that our heavenly Father is aware of it and will stick with us through it all, no matter what. He will even give us the grace and courage to face our challenges.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Doubters are tempted to dismiss those verses in Philippians, thinking that sort of approach to anxiety is nice, but our problems are just more complex than that. Though these verses may be simple, they are not simplistic. They are grounded in God’s unchanging character and nature, which means they are very needful for us today.
We know we’re sinners who fall short of God’s glory, and we know that Jesus died to save us from our sin, but somewhere along the way, we’ve failed to embrace what that means for our outlook on life. To be a Christian means to be adopted by God as His child—to have access to His not-worldly love, power, strength, and peace.
If we can come to embrace and trust God’s promise in Philippians 4:6-7, it will revolutionize our life.
Many of us live huge chunks of our lives trying not to worry but worry anyway. We tell God what we need, and doubt whether He will provide. We believe He exists, but we’re often not convinced He loves us enough to really help us. We hold on to only certain bits and pieces of the truth, leaving us stuck in a world of anxiety where it’s tempting to believe that failure, uncertainty, and worrying is all there is in life.
Many things can cause anxiety—health, the holidays, unexpected hardships, current events—and our reasons for worrying are often multi-faced and complex. Add to that the fact that most people in the world see life without any real purpose, believing that they live in a universe that has no rhyme, reason, or God – A lonely, frightening place to be.
The unbelieving world recognizes that anxiety is rampant, and a lot of well-meaning psychologists, doctors, therapists, and counselors are trying to help stem the tide. It’s not hard to find advice about how to cope with anxiety. One article stated that: “Our goal shouldn’t be to dismiss anxiety entirely—just to make it a healthy, manageable part of our lives.”
We are left with the seemingly reasonable idea that the best we can do is manage our anxiety and keep it from overwhelming us. But if we belong to Christ, is that enough? Are we satisfied with that answer?
Because God offers us a way to eliminate anxiety, as impossible as that may sound. We can ask Him to open our hearts and minds to the truth that He is enough to help us face whatever problems we are facing now.
God is seeking to purify us, to refine us like gold, to transform us into His image. That’s an astonishing goal, and it seems even more astonishing that a Christlike character is developed in us only as we pass through life’s crucibles.
Christ came to demonstrate the value of the divine principles by revealing their power for the regeneration of humanity. He came to teach how these principles are to be developed and applied. Education, p. 77.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20, 21.
Here is portrayed the value of eternal riches, in contrast with the treasures of earth. If the purpose and aim of your life is to lay up treasure in heaven, you will be lifted above the base, sordid, demoralizing influence of an inordinate desire to obtain wealth in this life. Laying up treasure in heaven will give nobility to the character; it will strengthen benevolence, encourage mercy; cultivate sympathy, brotherly kindness, and charity. It will unite the soul of man with Christ, by links that can never be broken. You may lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven by being rich in good works—rich in imperishable and spiritual things.
The instruction is to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” It is for our own interest that we secure heavenly riches. God is not benefited by our benevolence. The cattle upon a thousand hills are His. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” Psalm 24:1. But in using the gifts that He has entrusted to our care for the salvation of souls, we transfer our wealth to the treasury of heaven. When we are seeking the glory of God, and hasting unto the day of God, we are co-laborers with Christ, and our joy is not a base and fleeting emotion; but it is the joy of our Lord. We are elevated above the corroding, perplexing cares of this frail, fickle world.
While we are in this world, we are subject to losses and disappointments. Thieves break through and steal; moth and rust corrupt; fire and storm sweep away our possessions…. How many have devoted life and soul to acquiring wealth, but were not rich toward God; and when adversity came upon them, and their possessions were swept away, they had nothing laid up in heaven. They had lost all—both temporal and eternal riches….
Everything that is laid up upon earth may be swept away in a moment; but nothing can disturb the treasure that is laid up in heaven.12The Review and Herald, September 18, 1888.
Though we tend to think of “knowledge” in and of itself as good, why is that not always the case? What are some things that we are better off not knowing?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: God confronted Adam in Eden and asked him questions in order not only to establish his guilt but also to lead him to repentance. This motif reappears with Cain (Gen. 4:9, 10), the Flood (Gen. 6:5–8), the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:5), and Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:21). How is the idea of an investigative judgment revealed in these incidents?
Why did Eve think that eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would give her wisdom?
God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey or disobey Him. Adam and Eve were free to do anything they wanted, except eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
God did not want Adam and Eve to sin. God knew ahead of time what the results of sin would be. God knew that Adam and Eve would sin and would thereby bring evil, suffering, and death into the world. Why, then, did God allow Satan to tempt Adam and Eve? God allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to force them to make the choice. Adam and Eve chose, of their own free will, to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. The results—evil, sin, suffering, sickness, and death—have plagued the world ever since. Adam and Eve’s decision results in every person being born with a sin nature, a tendency to sin. Adam and Eve’s decision is what ultimately required Jesus Christ to die on the cross and shed His blood on our behalf. Through faith in Christ, we can be free from sin’s consequences, and ultimately free from sin itself.
How could we avoid, in our context, making a similar mistake; that is, openly defying God’s Word in hope of something “better” than what God has offered us?
AN AMAZING FACT: When Alexander the Great was leading his victorious armies down through Asia Minor, the great leader came at last to the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, beyond which lay the Khyber Pass and India. As far as Alexander was concerned, he was standing at the end of the world. You see, up until that time no maps had been made of the vast territory before him. As far as he knew he was marching his soldiers off the map of the world!
Often when ancient mapmakers reached the edge of what had been charted, they drew a line and depicted dragons and monsters beyond. You can understand why this practice didn’t exactly encourage exploration. One Roman commander in the first century had led his troops beyond the line on the map into “dragon territory.” He sent a courier back to Rome with a straightforward message: “We have just marched off the map. Please send new orders.”
In the same way, when Columbus first sailed west in search of a shortcut to the Indies, he knew he would be essentially sailing off the map into a region that mapmakers marked with sea monsters. Moreover, because of the unknown distance ahead, he loaded his ships with as many provisions as they could carry and set sail by faith across the trackless sea, believing God was urging him forward.
When we consider conditions in the world today, with the unprecedented change in every arena of life, it would seem we have reached a point in history where we are drifting off the map! But the good news is that nothing that happens takes God by surprise. All these things have been charted before in Bible prophecy. When Daniel was asked to interpret a strange dream of an ancient Babylonian king, he said, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28).
Nothing is hidden from God’s eyes, not even the ends of the earth. The past, present, and future are all before the Lord.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS: For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. Deuteronomy 2:7
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a coach’s right to pray on school grounds immediately after high school football games has raised concerns about the wall of separation between church and state. What is the issue, and should you be worried?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness …
If you were sentenced to life in prison would you refuse a pardon? It’s happened before. Way back in 1895, a young Rhode Island man named Martin Dalton was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving over 30 years, in 1930 he was offered a pardon. Incredibly, Dalton refused it. He explained that he no longer had a family, nothing to do, and nowhere to go. The prison officials were not quite sure what to do with a rejected pardon. After much legal evaluation it was determined that a pardon refused was invalidated. Martin Dalton remained in prison until his death in 1960.
Dalton and his friend, Dan Sullivan, lured a man out of town, beat him up, and robbed him of a gold watch and cash. Before the man died he identified his assailants. Sullivan was arrested a few days later, and Dalton was caught three years later. He was working in Atlanta. From the first, Dalton was a docile prisoner. His behavior in prison was cooperative, his record clean. He worked in a machine shop, then the prison laundry, and later the prison farm. When he was given a “preview visit” of life outside of prison, he was supposedly frightened. Everything had changed. Clothing was different, automobiles scared him. He had nowhere to go.
During the last 61 years of his confinement he didn’t have a single visitor, and the last letter he received came to him in 1929. How sad. What’s even sadder is when millions of people under a death sentence refuse to accept the pardon and eternal life Jesus has purchased for them. Paul warned the Galatians, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
Jesus wants to visit you in your prison of sin. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Christ has purchased your freedom and will set you free. Do not refuse the pardon He offers. Eternal life outside is well worth accepting.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in mercy.”Micah 7:18
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”Psalm 51:1
Sometimes when we think of mercy we only think of avoiding punishment and discipline. But sometimes the greatest mercy is in getting caught in our sin. Like a child going into a dark closet to play with matches, sometimes the most loving thing God can do is bring our failures into the light. Sin grows strongest in the dark. Maybe there is some sin in your life that needs to be dealt with in the light? Maybe you have tried to struggle with it on your own but it continues to hold you captive.
God has given us each other to lean on, and hold each other accountable. Find a wise and godly friend, let them know you are struggling and see what God can do.
The world seems to be witnessing increasing levels of violence, fear and hatred that challenge us each day. In such times, talk about mercy may seem more like wishful thinking. But mercy matters – now more than ever.
At its core, mercy is forgiveness. The Bible speaks of God’s love for sinners – that is, for all of us. But the Bible also relates mercy to other qualities beyond love and forgiveness.
According to the Bible, mercy does matter: It matters because we all need forgiveness and because it is what can join us all together in spite of our differences.
When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it.
What would you do if your financial advisor revealed a failure proof plan for financial security? How would you react if you were told that all of your needs would be provided for the rest of your life? What would you say if someone told you that you can be a part of an economy that will never have a deficit? As far-fetched as that may sound such an economy does exist.
In an economically unstable world God has revealed in His Word a financial plan that will never fail. He has given us principles, that if wisely applied, will bring us financial success. It will also help us avoid the pitfalls of unwise spending, ill-advised investing, and give us insight on how to prepare for a secure retirement.
God’s financial plan goes a step further. It helps us to realize that God is the rightful owner of everything in heaven and in the earth. Following God’s plan also changes our attitude about money and gives us wisdom to know how to help our neighbors and those in need.
When we follow God’s system of giving we will also become cheerful givers. Our financial plans and successes are in the hands of our loving heavenly Father. As you study this outline you will discover that God has a banking system and an economy that helps us to live a balanced life in this world. You will also discover that God’s Plan for Financial Security also comes with a retirement plan that’s out of this world.
GOD’S RIGHT TO OWNERSHIP Genesis 1:1 – God created the heavens and the earth. Job 41:11 – God doesn’t pay anyone, everything belongs to Him. Psalms 8:3 – The heavens, are the works of God’s fingers. Psalms 19:1 – The heavens declare God’s glory. Psalms 24:1 – The earth and all that it contains belong to God. Psalms 50:10 – Every beast and the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to God. Psalms 50:12 – The world in all of its fullness belongs to God. Psalms 102:25 – God created the foundation of the world and the heavens. Haggai 2:8 – The silver and the gold belongs to the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:18 – God gives us power to get wealth. Ecclesiastes 5:19 – Wealth, riches, and power are gifts from God. 1 Timothy 6:7 – We brought nothing into the world and we carry nothing out. Acts 17:24 – God is the Lord of Creation, He made everything. Acts 17:28 – We need God to live and to move and to have hope. Hebrews 1:10 – God laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens.
OUR STEWARDSHIP TO GOD Genesis 14:20 – Abraham gave a tithe of his possessions to honor God. Leviticus 27:32 – A Tithe is equal to One-Tenth of our possessions Deuteronomy 14:22 – We are called to tithe on our increase each year. Proverbs 3:9 – We honor the Lord with the first of all our profits. Malachi 3:8 – We are not to rob God in our tithes and in our offerings. Malachi 3:9 – We bring a curse on ourselves when we fail to be faithful. Malachi 3:10 – God will blesses us when we worship through giving. Malachi 3:11 – God will not allow the enemy to destroy our plans.
GOD’S PROMISED BLESSINGS Psalms 1:3 – Those that are faithful to God will experience prosperity. Proverbs 11:24, 25 – Those that are generous in giving will be generously blessed. Matthew 6:33 – God will provide when we seek Him first. Luke 6:38 – The same measure that we give, will be measured to us 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Don’t give grudgingly, God loves a cheerful giver. Philippians 4:19 – God will supply all of our needs according to His riches.
EXAMPLES OF STEWARDSHIP IN THE BIBLE Deuteronomy 8:11-18 – Remember that without God there are no blessings. Luke 12:15 – Do not be covetous, life is not abundant possessions. Luke 12:16-20 – When we hoard our blessings we leave them behind. Luke 12:21 – Store your treasures in heaven by faithfully giving to God. Proverbs 22:7 – Avoid being in debt, the borrow is a servant of the lender. 1 Timothy 5:18 – The laborer is worthy of his hire don’t expect things for free. 1 Corinthians 9:13 – Those that minister are to be supported by those for whom they labor.
No circumstance of birth or nationality, no condition of life, can turn away His love from the children of men.
