November 19-25, 2000
MEMORY VERSE: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
STUDY HELP: Christ’s Object Lessons, 414–421.
INTRODUCTION: “Christ does not bid His followers strive to shine. He says, Let your light shine. If you have received the grace of God, the light is in you. Remove the obstructions, and the Lord’s glory will be revealed. The light will shine forth to penetrate and dispel the darkness. You cannot help shining within the range of your influence. The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity will bring heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Saviour dwells. Men will be captivated by the glory of an abiding Christ. And in currents of praise and thanksgiving from the many souls thus won to God, glory will flow back to the great Giver.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 420.
“To Cause the Lamps to Burn Continually”
1 What was placed on the south side in the Holy Place? Exodus 26:35. (Read also Exodus 37:17–24.)
NOTE: “On the south was the seven-branched candlestick, with its seven lamps. Its branches were ornamented with exquisitely wrought flowers, resembling lilies, and the whole was made from one solid piece of gold.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 348.
“At God’s command, only man’s most precious gift might be used for the candlestick. So Israel’s purest gold was brought. This sings of Jesus who is more precious than Ophir’s fabled gold (Isaiah 13:12), and whose life holds up the flame of ageless truth.” Hardinge, With Jesus in His Sanctuary, 147.
“The gold mentioned by Christ, the True Witness, which all must have, has been shown me to be faith and love combined, and love takes the precedence of faith.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 36.
2 What instruction was given concerning the candlestick? Leviticus 24:2–4.
NOTE: “There being no windows in the tabernacle, the lamps were never all extinguished at one time, but shed their light by day and by night.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 348.
“We search in vain for windows, only to find that no sunbeam ever plays upon the sacred table nor does moonlight fall upon the golden altar. Only the candlestick’s seven flames chase the darkness from the chamber. Their light illumines the way which stretches with prophetic eye into the most holy shrine, where the pilgrim’s journey will end at God’s throne of mercy. …The lamp of life is Christ, man’s only and complete and everlasting Light.” Hardinge, With Jesus in His Sanctuary, 147.
3 How were the lamps lit? Exodus 27:20, 21; Exodus 30:7, 8.
NOTE: “No common fire might ever be used to ignite the sacred wicks. The wood burning on the altar alone supplied the sacred spark.” Hardinge, With Jesus in His Sanctuary, 153.
“At the hour of worship, as the prayers and praise of the people were ascending to God, two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer and burned fragrant incense thereon, to rise as a sweet odor before the Lord. But they transgressed His command by the use of ‘strange fire.’ For burning the incense they took common instead of the sacred fire which God Himself had kindled, and which He had commanded to be used for this purpose. For this sin a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them in the sight of the people.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 359.
“The Light of the World”
4 How did Jesus describe Himself? John 9:5; John 12:46.
NOTE: “Heaven, looking down, and seeing the delusions into which men were led, knew that a divine Instructor must come to earth. Men in ignorance and moral darkness must have light, spiritual light; for the world knew not God, and He must be revealed to their understanding. Truth looked down from heaven and saw not the reflection of her image; for dense clouds of moral darkness and gloom enveloped the world, and the Lord Jesus alone was able to roll back the clouds: for He was the Light of the world. By His presence He could dissipate the gloomy shadow that Satan had cast between man and God. Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Through the accumulated misrepresentations of the enemy, many were so deceived that they worshiped a false god, clothed with the attributes of the satanic character. The Teacher from heaven, no less a personage than the Son of God, came to earth to reveal the character of the Father to men, that they might worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 176, 177.
Read The Desire of Ages, Chapter 51.
5 Now that Christ has returned to heaven, who is to continue His work of enlightening the world? Matthew 5:14–16; Philippians 2:15.
NOTE: “The purity, faith, zeal, and consistency of character in those who go forth to work for the Lord, should be so evident that others may see their good works, and be led to glorify our Father who is in heaven. If our profession of faith is sustained by heartfelt piety, it will be a means of good; for thereby souls will be influenced to comply with the terms of salvation. God designs that His grace should be made manifest in the believer, that through the Christlike character of individual members, the church may become the light of the world.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 203.
“A Light unto My Path”
6 What did the psalmist describe as a light? Psalm 119:105. (Compare Proverbs 6:23.)
NOTE: “If we would study the Bible diligently and prayerfully every day, we should every day see some beautiful truth in a new, clear, and forcible light.” Child Guidance, 511.
“We are to give the last warning of God to men, and what should be our earnestness in studying the Bible, and our zeal in spreading the light! Let every soul who has received the divine illumination seek to impart it. Let the workers go from house to house, opening the Bible to the people, circulating the publications, telling others of the light that has blessed their own souls.” Gospel Workers, 353.
7 What particular aspect of Scripture is to be a light to us in this dark world? 2 Peter 1:19.
NOTE: “It was not the scholarly theologians who had an understanding of this truth, and engaged in its proclamation. Had these been faithful watchmen, diligently and prayerfully searching the Scriptures, they would have known the time of night; the prophecies would have opened to them the events about to take place. But they did not occupy this position, and the message was given by humbler men. Said Jesus: ‘Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.’ John 12:35. Those who turn away from the light which God has given, or who neglect to seek it when it is within their reach, are left in darkness. But the Saviour declares: ‘He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ John 8:12. Whoever is with singleness of purpose seeking to do God’s will, earnestly heeding the light already given, will receive greater light; to that soul some star of heavenly radiance will be sent to guide him into all truth.” Maranatha, 17.
“What Fellowship Hath Light With Darkness?”
8 What warnings are we given about trying to mingle light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8.
NOTE: “What can there be in common between these parties? There can be no fellowship, no communion. The word fellowship means participation, partnership. God employs the strongest figures to show that there should be no union between worldly parties and those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ. What communion can there be between light and darkness, truth and unrighteousness?—None whatever. Light represents righteousness; darkness, error, sin, unrighteousness. Christians have come out of darkness into the light. They have put on Christ, and they wear the badge of truth and obedience. They are governed by the elevated and holy principles which Christ expressed in His life. But the world is governed by principles of dishonesty and injustice.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 476.
9 What blessings come to those who walk in the light? 1 John 1:7. (Compare Ephesians 5:8–11.)
NOTE: “Those who wear Christ’s yoke will draw together. They will cultivate sympathy and forbearance, and in holy emulation will strive to show to others the tender sympathy and love of which they feel such great need themselves. He who is weak and inexperienced, although he is weak, may be strengthened by the more hopeful and by those of mature experience. Although the least of all, he is a stone that must shine in the building. He is a vital member of the organized body, united to Christ, the living head, and through Christ identified with all the excellencies of Christ’s character so that the Saviour is not ashamed to call him brother.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 16.
10 What difference will be seen between those who are in the light and those who are in darkness? 1 John 2:9, 10.
NOTE: “The Lord is fitting a people for heaven. The defects of character, the stubborn will, the selfish idolatry, the indulgence of faultfinding, hatred, and contention, provoke the wrath of God and must be put away from His commandment-keeping people. Those living in these sins are deceived and blinded by the wiles of Satan. They think that they are in the light when they are groping in darkness.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 180.
“Under a Bushel”
11 Against what misuse of the light given to us does Jesus warn us? Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33.
NOTE: “Jesus does not bid the Christian to strive to shine, but just to let his light shine in clear and distinct rays to the world. Do not blanket your light. Do not sinfully withhold your light. Do not let the mist and fog and malaria of the world put out your light. Do not hide it under a bed or under a bushel, but set it on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house.…God bids you shine, penetrating the moral darkness of the world.” Our High Calling, 297.
12 What reaction against the light are we warned against? John 3:19–21.
NOTE: “Suppose that because some ship had disregarded his warning beacon, and gone to pieces on the rocks, the lighthouse keeper should put out his lights, and say, ‘I will pay no more attention to the lighthouse;’ what would be the consequence? But that is not the way he does. He keeps his lights burning all night, throwing their beams far out into the darkness, for the benefit of every mariner that comes within the dangerous reach of rocks and shoals. Were some ship to be wrecked because the lights went out, it would be telegraphed over the world that on such a night, at such a point, a ship went to pieces on the rocks because there was no light in the tower. But if some ships are wrecked because they pay no attention to the light, the lighthouse keeper is guiltless; they were warned, but they paid no heed.” Reflecting Christ, 167.
“Salvation to the Ends of the Earth”
13 What is the purpose of the light? Acts 13:47. (Compare 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6; Ephesians 5:13.)
NOTE: See Christ’s Object Lessons, 149.
14 What warning is given to the church that fails to let its light shine? Revelation 2:4, 5.
NOTE: “Let each member of the church study this important warning and reproof. Let each one see if in contending for the truth, if in debating on the theory, he has not lost the tender love of Christ. Has not Christ been left out of the sermons, and out of the heart? Is there not danger that many are going forward with a profession of the truth, doing missionary work, while the love of Christ has not been woven into the labor? This solemn warning from the True Witness means much; it demands that you shall remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; ‘or else,’ says the True Witness, ‘I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent’ (Revelation 2:5). O that the church might realize its need of its first ardor of love! When this is wanting, all other excellences are insufficient.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 370.