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The Crucibles that ARE

Prepared as a Study aid for the Sabbath School Class
The Crucibles that Come

Sabbath School Lesson – October 13, 2007

Jeremiah 9:7-8 —

⁷     Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:
“See, I will refine and test them,
for what else can I do  
because of the sin of my people?  

⁸     Their tongue is a deadly arrow;  
it speaks with deceit.  
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,  
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

Jeremiah 9:13-14 —

 ¹³ The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. ¹⁴ Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their fathers taught them.”

Matthew 22:36-39 —

 ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

1          What else could He do?  (Jeremiah 9:7)  _________________________________

2          Because of sin—through trials our sins are brought to our attention. (Revelation 3:17-19)

3          Our tongues are deadly arrows, speaking deceit and… (We say one thing and do another.) (Jeremiah 9:8)

4          We have forsaken God’s Law (How?—Compare Jeremiah 9:8, 13 with Matthew 22:36-39)

a.    We do not Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.

b.    We do not Love others as we should.    

5          Because we follow the stubbornness of our hearts.

1 Peter 4:12-19 —

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,  
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

 ¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1          Not to be surprised at having painful trials (1 Peter 4:12)

2          Not to consider such trials as being something strange [for Christians] (1 Peter 4:12) 

3          To rejoice in our sufferings (“the sufferings of Christ”)… so that we may…  
(1 Peter 4:13)

a.      Be overjoyed when God’s glory is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13)

b.      Be blessed  (1 Peter 1:14)

c.      Have the Spirit of glory rest on us  (1 Peter 1:14)

d.      Praise God and be proud to be Christians  (1 Peter 1:16)

e.      Learn how to commit ourselves to Christ  (1 Peter 1:19)

1 Peter 5:8-11 —

 ⁸ Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1)          Be self-controlled (sober)  (1 Peter 5:8)

2)          Be alert (vigilant) (1 Peter 5:8)

3)          Resist (in order to Resist we must…)  (1 Peter 5:9)

4)          Stand Firm in Faith  (1 Peter 5:9)

             God’s grace will (verse 10) …

1)          Restore us

2)          Make us Strong

3)          Make us Firm and Steadfast

… by His Power (not our own) – verse 11 compared with 2 Corinthians 12:9 (below)

Revelation 3:14-22 —

 ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

 ¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

 ²¹ To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 —

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

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