Sun,
Feb 2
1. PROMPTING INQUIRY
a. What question of Nicodemus shows that his heart was softening? John 3:9.
“Jesus virtually says to Nicodemus: It is not controversy that will help your case: it is not arguments that will bring light to the soul. You must have a new heart, or you cannot discern the kingdom of heaven. It is not greater evidence that will bring you into a right position, but new purposes, new springs of action. You must be born again. Until this change takes place, making all things new, the strongest evidences that could be presented would be useless. The want is in your own heart; everything must be changed, or you cannot see the kingdom of God.
“This was a very humiliating statement to Nicodemus. . . . He was not spiritually minded enough to discern the meaning of the words of Christ. But the Saviour did not meet argument with argument. . . .
“Some gleams of the truth were penetrating the ruler’s mind. Christ’s words filled him with awe, and led to the inquiry, ‘How can these things be?’ With deep earnestness Jesus answered, ‘Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?’ His words convey to Nicodemus the lesson that, instead of feeling irritated over the plain words of truth, and indulging irony, he should have a far more humble opinion of himself, because of his spiritual ignorance. Yet the words of Christ were spoken with such solemn dignity, and both look and tone expressed such earnest love to him, that he was not offended as he realized his humiliating position.”—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 368, 369.
Mon,
Feb 3
2. CHANGING THE TYPICAL ATTITUDE
a. In what did the Pharisees pride themselves? Luke 18:9–12.
“The Jews had been first called into the Lord’s vineyard, and because of this they were proud and self-righteous. Their long years of service they regarded as entitling them to receive a larger reward than others. Nothing was more exasperating to them than an intimation that the Gentiles were to be admitted to equal privileges with themselves in the things of God.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 400.
b. How did Jesus illustrate the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart? John 3:8.
“The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is invisible, and no man knows whence it comes or whither it goes. So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. It can no more be explained than can the movements of the wind. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 172.
c. How are divine impressions fixed in the heart? Isaiah 30:21; Jeremiah 42:3; Matthew 16:17.
“Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God—a patient, protracted process.”—Ibid.
“Allow your hearts to be softened and subdued by the Spirit of God. Let icebound souls melt under the Holy Spirit’s working.”—Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 12, Letter 53, 1897.
Tue,
Feb 4
3. EVIDENCE OF NEW BIRTH
a. How are inner workings of the Holy Spirit revealed outwardly? Galatians 5:22–25.
“While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 173.
b. When does a person receive the blessing of transformation? Romans 10:9, 10; 1 John 1:9.
“No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.”—Ibid.
“If you have the Holy Spirit molding and fashioning your heart daily, then you will have divine insight to perceive the character of the kingdom of God. Nicodemus received the lesson of Christ and became a true believer.”—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 369, 370.
c. How does Christ illustrate this process? Matthew 13:33.
“The leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. A new standard of character is set up—the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are endowed with traits of character that enable us to do service for God.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 98, 99.
Wed,
Feb 5
4. A FAMILIAR ILLUSTRATION
a. How did Jesus illustrate His crucifixion soon to occur? John 3:14, 15.
“[John 3:14, 15 quoted.] Here was ground with which Nicodemus was familiar. The symbol of the uplifted serpent made plain to him the Saviour’s mission. When the people of Israel were dying from the sting of the fiery serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of brass, and place it on high in the midst of the congregation. Then the word was sounded throughout the encampment that all who would look upon the serpent should live. The people well knew that in itself the serpent had no power to help them. It was a symbol of Christ. As the image made in the likeness of the destroying serpents was lifted up for their healing, so One made ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh’ was to be their Redeemer. Romans 8:3. Many of the Israelites regarded the sacrificial service as having in itself virtue to set them free from sin. God desired to teach them that it had no more value than that serpent of brass. It was to lead their minds to the Saviour. Whether for the healing of their wounds or the pardon of their sins, they could do nothing for themselves but show their faith in the Gift of God. They were to look and live.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 174, 175.
b. Despite the provision, why did some die? 1 Corinthians 10:9; Hebrews 3:12.
“Many of the Israelites saw no help in the remedy which Heaven had appointed. The dead and dying were all around them, and they knew that, without divine aid, their own fate was certain; but they continued to lament their wounds, their pains, their sure death, until their strength was gone, and their eyes were glazed, when they might have had instant healing.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 432.
c. If we want to be saved, where must we look? Hebrews 6:19, 20.
“The fatal effects of sin can be removed only by the provision that God has made. The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent. That look implied faith. They lived because they believed God’s word, and trusted in the means provided for their recovery. So the sinner may look to Christ, and live. He receives pardon through faith in the atoning sacrifice. . . . Christ has power and virtue in Himself to heal the repenting sinner.”—Ibid., p. 431.
Thu,
Feb 6
5. KEEPING OUR EYES FIXED
a. What lesson later understood by Nicodemus do we need to assimilate—and always keep in mind? Ephesians 2:8; Luke 13:20, 21.
“Often the question arises, Why, then, are there so many, claiming to believe God’s word, in whom there is not seen a reformation in words, in spirit, and in character? Why are there so many who cannot bear opposition to their purposes and plans, who manifest an unholy temper, and whose words are harsh, overbearing, and passionate? There is seen in their lives the same love of self, the same selfish indulgence, the same temper and hasty speech, that is seen in the life of the worldling. There is the same sensitive pride, the same yielding to natural inclination, the same perversity of character, as if the truth were wholly unknown to them. The reason is that they are not converted. They have not hidden the leaven of truth in the heart. It has not had opportunity to do its work. Their natural and cultivated tendencies to evil have not been submitted to its transforming power. Their lives reveal the absence of the grace of Christ, an unbelief in His power to transform the character.
“ ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ Romans 10:17. The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, ‘Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.’ John 17:17. If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, conforming us in body, soul, and spirit to His own image. Then God can use us to do His will. The power given us works from within outwardly, leading us to communicate to others the truth that has been communicated to us.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 99, 100.
Fri,
Feb 7
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What was the main characteristic of the Pharisees in the days of Christ?
2. Explain how we are regenerated into the likeness of Christ.
3. How is a transformation of the heart manifested?
4. Explain the symbol of the lifted serpent.
5. How does the parable of the leaven reveal growth in God’s grace?