FIRST QUARTER January – March 2009

1. FIRST  QUARTER January – March 2009 Gerhard Pfandl - Principal Contributor John the Baptist was called by Jesus to be the greatest of all the prophets. But “the prophetic gift involved something other than writing the books of the Bible.” This Sabbath School Bible Study Guide not only introduces God’s messengers through out the ages but the also Source of all true prophecy, the ‘Gift-Giver.’

2. FIRST  QUARTER 2009 This Sabbath School lesson help was produced for the glory of God. It is being distributed through the internet media for you to use as you teach our Sabbath School classes . Please do not alter the way it was arranged. Thanks and God bless. Yours–in-Christ, Pastor N. V. Macatiag M N V

3. February 7, 2009 Lesson Title: Testing the Prophets Memory Text: “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21, NKJV)

4. February 7, 2009 Goal: 1. To learn to discern between true and false prophets. 2. To learn to express our gratitude for revealing Himself to us though we are sinners. 3. To accept the truth that the church is still being guided by His messenger today.

5. February 7, 2009 Introduction: Tests are being conducted daily that gives different results. But ultimately, these test are being done to satisfy the one what desirable result he wished to obtain. Whether in medical lines, electronics, government, physics, religion, tests are needed for there are true and fakes. Satan has also his counterfeits that emulated God’s gifts but not to the extent of making it the real thing.

6. February 7, 2009 People’s clamor of knowing what “lies beyond” or what the “future holds” drove many to so called foretellers. Multitudes had been deceived not only of their money but also of their destiny. It is upon learning how to segregate the true from the false and being continuously aware of Satan’s schemes can a Christian believer find safety only in the fold of God’s redemptive arms.

7. February 7, 2009 God’s gift of prophecy is not immune to the schemes of the archenemy, Satan. It is his continuous desire to lead God-believing Christian astray. But there is hope and we will learn it. Read exhaustively and drink from the fountain of His Word and you will find safety, comfort and life. As what our memory text says, “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.”(1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21, NKJV).

8. February 7, 2009 II. The Litmus Test of Prophecy 1. The need “One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White, the Lord’s messenger. Her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.

9. February 7, 2009 They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.”— Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . (2nd ed.) (Nampa, Idaho: PPPA2005), p. 247 The Bible is rich with prophets’ who received messages from God. Their experiences were marked by reproof from God for his wayward people. These received messages served as a means to remind them of their sins.

10. February 7, 2009 Though there are false prophets yet they were severely corrected the intent was to correct them and save His people. True prophets were proven because they were tested.

11. February 7, 2009 God’s church today was given a gift of prophecy through the ministry of E.G. White She wrote in 1905, “Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that title. I have not felt that it was my duty thus to designate myself.”—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 36. To prove that she is such is the burden of this SS Lesson

12. February 7, 2009 2. The means “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).

13. February 7, 2009 Prophetic dreams and visions was the means by which God communicate with His messengers as recorded in the Bible. So was in the 70 years of the ministry of E.G. White, God gave her visions and prophetic dreams. These received messages were written for the benefit of God’s people today. Testimonies either personal or those who observe her during visions testified that she received messages from God.

14. February 7, 2009 3. The Litmus Test a. To the Law and the Testimony – Law (Heb. torah)refers to” the inspired writings of Moses (Deut. 4:44, 31:9); the testimony refers to the witness of the prophets (2 Chron. 23:11, John 3:32)”. This is to say that, “what a prophet says must harmonize with what God has revealed already.”

15. February 7, 2009 b. Their fruits should be their proof – Matt. 7:15-20 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. . . . . . . You will recognize them by their fruit.” The lifestyle of the person who receive the gift of prophecy must be in consonance with the Word of God and not only that but also the kind of fruit produced in the life of the people who follow the person who received the gift of prophecy. NetBible

16. February 7, 2009 c. Fulfilled Predictions – Jer. 28:9 So if a prophet prophesied. . . . ., it was only known that the Lord truly sent him when what he prophesied came true.” NetBible One should take a serious look at predicted prophecy for there are what we call conditional and unconditional prophecies.

17. February 7, 2009 d. The Prophet should confess Christ as the “God-man” I John 4:1, 2 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God. Ellen G. White’s life was devoted to ‘point people

18. February 7, 2009 to Jesus, the God-man, who is the Savior and example of all humanity.’ She wrote, “Jesus Christ is everything to us,—the first, the last, the best in everything. Jesus Christ, His Spirit, His character, colors everything; it is the warp and woof, the very texture of our entire being. . . . Christ is a living Saviour. Continuing to look unto Jesus, we reflect His image to all around us.”—Messages to Young People, p. 161

19. February 7, 2009 III. The Challenge 1. Different opinions a. At E.G. White’s death a non-Adventist wrote in a newspaper, “The life of Mrs. White is an example worthy of emulation by all. . . . She was a humble, devout disciple of Christ and ever went about doing good. . . . Her death marks the calling of another noted leader of religious thought and one whose almost ninety years were full to

20. February 7, 2009 overflowing with good deeds, kind words and earnest prayers for all mankind.”—“Called to Her Reward,” St. Helena Star (Calif.), July 23, 1915. b. Some people have difficulties accepting her prophetic ministry because they stumble over certain details of her writings but fail to see the bigger picture: the way God used her to raise up this church, the many wonderful insights she received from God, and the contributions she has made to this church.

21. February 7, 2009 c. Where will you stand as a believer of God? i. With those who recognize E.G. White as a prophet? OR ii. With those who reject her as a prophet?

22. February 7, 2009 God Bless and a Happy Sabbath! MARANATHA!