Further Study:
“There was one who perverted the freedom that God had granted to His creatures. Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and was highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, ‘son of the morning,’ was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. He stood in the presence of the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glory enshrouding the eternal God rested upon him.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35.Made a Final Choice: “Lucifer in heaven had sinned in the light of God's glory. To him as to no other created being was given a revelation of God's love. Understanding the character of God, knowing His goodness, Satan chose to follow his own selfish, independent will. This choice was final. There was no more that God could do to save him.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 761, 762.
Discussion Questions:
Think about the fact that Lucifer was a “perfect” being and yet iniquity was found in him. What does that tell us about the kind of freedom God has given to His intelligent creatures? What kind of moral responsibility does this freedom place on each of us? 
Keeping the idea of our freedom in mind, discuss the role of the law. Why would law be so important for free beings? If we were not free, why would there be no need for law? That is, what’s the purpose of a law for beings who don’t have moral choices to begin with?
Go back to the question at the end of Tuesday’s lesson. What are the various ways Satan seeks to manifest his character in us, both individually and as a church? What are the things we do that show, at times, just how successful he has been?
Summary:
| Lucifer, a free being, abused the freedom that God gave him, and he cherished evil thoughts until those thoughts turned into action, action against God’s government and against God Himself. The result was a disruption of heaven’s established order. Truly the issues of sin and rebellion have consequences beyond our mere earth. |
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| "God Was My Umbrella" by ALEX ERIGA I was called to the headmaster's office in the high school I attended in northern Uganda. My school fees were due, and I had no money. I walked the 29 miles home and told my parents the problem. They asked relatives to help pay my fees then sent me back to school. As I walked toward school, I saw storm clouds gathering. Rain would follow, and there was no place to take refuge. I hurried on, watching the dark clouds approach. Their feathery bottoms told me it was raining hard. With no shelter, I kept walking. I worried that my schoolbooks would get wet. As the storm drew closer, I remembered God's promise that He will not leave His servant to suffer. I knelt beside the road and prayed. I could hear the wind blowing and could smell the rain. "Thank You for the school fees, God," I prayed. "Please protect me from the rain so my books won't get wet." I got up and hurried on. The rain clouds were closing in. Two people walking toward me were soaking wet. Then I noticed that the ground was wet. The rain was in front of me as well as behind me. It was getting late, and I still had a long way to go. I kept walking. Two miles farther I felt a few drops of rain. The clouds above me were dark and heavy. At last I approached the school and the nearby trading center. The mud puddles along the road told me that it had rained quite hard there. Some of my classmates returning from the trading center saw that my clothes were dry and asked, "Where did you wait out the storm?" "Nowhere," I said. "God was my umbrella." I told them how I had prayed and God had protected me on my long walk to school. I thank God for giving us miracles to share and faith to live by as we tell the world about God's love. And thank you for supporting the mission offering each week, for it helps carry the gospel to the world.
ALEX ERIGA (left) lives in a Sudanese refugee camp in Adjumani, Uganda. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Web site: www.adventistmission.org |
When I arrived at school, other boys asked how I had stayed dry in the storm. Again I shared how God had protected me. As I told my story, I realized that God cares about the little things in my life; surely He also cares for the big things. As I told how God had kept me dry, I was able to witness to others who didn't know how much God loves them. 
No comments:
Post a Comment