The Bounty's Bible

v Word Up! | Lesson 3 | April 20, 2013 The Bounty ’s Bible

Sabbath Afternoon | Today’s Reading

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (New International Version ) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12 (Contemporary English Version ) “What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.”

Child Guidance , p. 506 “The truths of the Bible, received, will uplift the mind from its earthliness and debasement. If the Word of God were appreciated as it should be, both young and old would possess an inward rectitude, strength of principle that would enable them to resist temptation.”

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing , pp. 18, 19 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6 .

“Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and ‘God is love.’ 1 John 4:16. It is conformity to the law of God, for ‘all Thy commandments are righteousness’ (Psalm 119:172), and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him. “Not by painful struggles or wearisome toil, not by gift or sacrifice, is righteousness obtained; but it is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it. ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat, . . . without money and without price.’ ‘Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord,’ and, ‘This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.’ Isaiah 55:1; 54:17; Jeremiah 23:6. “No human agent can supply that which will satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. But Jesus says, ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.’ ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.’ Revelation 3:20; John 6:35. “As we need food to sustain our physical strength, so do we need Christ, the Bread from heaven, to sustain spiritual life and impart strength to work the works of God. As the body is continually receiving the nourishment that sustains life and vigor, so the soul must be constantly communing with Christ, submitting to Him and depending wholly upon Him. “As the weary traveler seeks the spring in the desert and, finding it, quenches his burning thirst, so will the Christian thirst for and obtain the pure water of life, of which Christ is the fountain.

“As we discern the perfection of our Saviour's character we shall desire to become wholly transformed and renewed in the image of His purity. The more we know of God, the higher will be our ideal of character and the more earnest our longing to reflect His likeness. A divine element combines with the human when the soul reaches out after God and the longing heart can say, ‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.’ Psalm 62:5. “If you have a sense of need in your soul, if you hunger and thirst after righteousness, this is an evidence that Christ has wrought upon your heart, in order that He may be sought unto to do for you, through the endowment of the Holy Spirit, those things which it is impossible for you to do for yourself. We need not seek to quench our thirst at shallow streams; for the great fountain is just above us, of whose abundant waters we may freely drink, if we will rise a little higher in the pathway of faith.”

1. How is righteousness obtained?

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2. Who can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul?

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3. “The more we know of God . . .” (please finish this sentence)

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4. Why should we not seek to quench our thirst at shallow streams?

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THE BOUNTY ’S BIBLE

In 1787, on a ship called the Bounty , William Bligh made a voyage to the South Pacific on a mission to collect breadfruit trees. Of course, a crew of men willingly signed on for the journey when they heard it was a trip to such a beautiful place. Bligh made his friend Fletcher Christian his second in command. The men loved Tahiti so much that they didn’t want to leave. When ordered to do so, several men attempted to run and hide but were caught and severely punished. The drama of wrenching these men from their tropical paradise soured the atmosphere on the Bounty to the point of rebellion. In 1789, Captain Bligh’s own friend Fletcher Christian instigated a mutiny that would be written about and portrayed in movies for years to come. In the middle of the ocean, Bligh and those who remained faithful to him were abandoned on a lifeboat to make their own way to land. With the captain gone it would seem that the crew would be happy. However, those left on the Bounty continued to fight about what to do and where to go. Fletcher Christian returned to Tahiti and kidnapped some women and slaves before the group made their way to Pitcairn Island. The group began to quarrel. They quickly learned to distill alcohol. Crimes such as murder, rape, and stealing became common, and by 1808, all the men were dead, either from disease or murder except John Adams. He was the only man left on the deserted island with a group of women and children. What does this story have to do wit the Bible? Adams found a Bible that had been left on the Bounty . He pored through the passages of Scripture, and as he studied, God’s Word penetrated deep in his heart. He began to share the good news of Scripture with those in his little community. They learned of God’s love for them through this neglected Book that had simply taken up space on the ship. Twenty years later, when another ship happened upon Pitcairn island, the crew found a happy, wholesome Christian community with no sign of the evil qualities that brought the people to the island in the first place. Today, that Bible sits on display on Pitcairn Island as a testimony of the power of God’s message to people.

1. What did the people of Pitcairn do that lead them to become a Christian community? ______

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2. According to the Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy quotations that you have studied, what caused the huge change in these people? Did they change by themselves? ______

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Sunday | Today’s Reading

Psalm 119:160 (New International Version ) “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing , p. 20 “The words of God are the wellsprings of life. As you seek unto those living springs you will, through the Holy Spirit, be brought into communion with Christ. Familiar truths will present themselves to your mind in a new aspect, texts of Scripture will burst upon you with a new meaning as a flash of light, you will see the relation of other truths to the work of redemption, and you will know that Christ is leading you, a divine Teacher is at your side. “Jesus said, ‘The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ John 4:14. As the Holy Spirit opens to you the truth you will treasure up the most precious experiences and will long to speak to others of the comforting things that have been revealed to you. When brought into association with them you will communicate some fresh thought in regard to the character or the work of Christ. You will have some fresh revelation of His pitying love to impart to those who love Him and to those who love Him not.

“‘Give, and it shall be given unto you’ (Luke 6:38); for the word of God is ‘a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams of Lebanon’ (Song of Solomon 4:15). The heart that has once tasted the love of Christ, cries out continually for a deeper draft, and as you impart you will receive in richer and more abundant measure. Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love. The continual cry of the heart is, ‘More of Thee,’ and ever the Spirit's answer is, ‘Much more.’ Romans 5:9, 10. For our God delights to do ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.’ Ephesians 3:20.”

1. As you seek “the living springs,” what will happen through the Holy Spirit?

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2. What will make you “treasure . . . the most precious experiences”?

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3. As a result of what is mentioned in question number 2, what will you long to do?

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HERE’S WHAT I THINK

How often do you study the Bible to see what God has to say to you?

Every day Once a week Once a month

Three or four times a year Almost never

Log on to http://www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative to posting. You may wish to record your thoughts and share them with your class later. ______

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Monday | Today’s Reading

Please read the following passages taken from Signs of the Times , by Ellen G. White, October 3, 1906. When you have finished reading, answer the questions that follow. The questions are not meant to be “school work.” They are provided as a way to help you understand what you have read and how it applies to you.

“When a real love for the Bible is awakened, and the student begins to realize how vast is the field and how precious the treasure, he will seize upon every opportunity for acquainting himself with God's Word. His study will be restricted to no special time or place. And this continuous study is one of the best means of cultivating a love for the Scriptures. Keep the Bible always with you. As you have opportunity, read a text and meditate upon it. While walking the streets, waiting at a railway station, waiting to meet an engagement, improve the opportunity to gain some precious thought from the treasure-house of truth. “We should not take the testimony of any man as to what these Scriptures teach, but should study the Word of God for ourselves. If we allow others to do our thinking for us, we shall have crippled energies and contracted abilities. The noble powers of the mind may be so dwarfed by lack of exercise in themes worthy of their concentration as to lose their ability to grasp the deep meaning of the Word of God. The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. “There is but little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the whole Bible through, and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning. One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind, and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view, and no positive instruction gained.

Study to Know What God Says “In your study of the Word, lay at the door of investigation your preconceived opinions and your hereditary and cultivated ideas. You will never reach the truth if you study the Scriptures to vindicate your own theories. Leave these at the door, and with contrite heart go in to hear what the Lord has to say to you. As the humble seeker for truth sits at Christ's feet, and learns of Him, the Word gives him understanding. To those who are too wise in their own conceit to study the Bible, Christ says, ‘You must become meek and lowly in heart, if you desire to become wise unto salvation.’ “Do not read the Word in the light of former opinions. Do not try to make everything agree with your creed. With a mind free from prejudice, search the Word carefully. If, as you read, conviction comes, and you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions. Do not allow what you have believed or practised in the past to control your understanding. Open the eyes of your mind to behold wondrous things out of the Word. “We can not obtain wisdom without earnest attention and prayerful study. Some portions of the Scriptures are indeed too plain to be misunderstood; but there are others whose meaning does not lie on the surface, to be seen at a glance. Scripture must be compared with scripture. There must be careful research and prayerful attention. And such study will be richly repaid. As the miner discovers veins of precious metal concealed beneath the surface of the earth, so will he who perseveringly searches the Word of God as for hid treasure, find truths of the greatest value, which are concealed from the view of the careless seeker. The words of Inspiration, pondered in the heart, will be as streams flowing from the fountain of light. “We should reverence God's Word. For the printed volume we should show respect, never putting it to common uses, or handling it carelessly. And never should the Scriptures be quoted in jest or paraphrased to point a witty saying. ‘Every word of God is pure;’ ‘as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’ “Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. And it will be given.”

1. We are told that our Bible is a precious treasure; we should keep it with us always so that we can read when we have some free time. Does that sound like something anyone would do today? What would you have to change or stop doing, so that you could memorize Bible verses in your spare time?

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2. Should we let other people tell us what the Scripture says? Please explain. ______

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3. When you are about to study the Bible what should be done with a preconceived idea? ______

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4. How should we handle our Bible?

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5. What should we do before we begin to study the Bible?

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Tuesday | Today’s Reading

Isaiah 41:17, 18 (New International Version ) “‘The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.’

“‘I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.’”

Isaiah 45:8 (New International Version ) “‘You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.’”

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing , p. 21 “To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling. Our Lord Himself has given the command, ‘Be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18), and this command is also a promise of its fulfillment. It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Christ should ‘all the fullness dwell,’ and ‘in Him ye are made full.’ Colossians 1:19, R.V.; 2:10, R.V. “God has poured out His love unstintedly, as the showers that refresh the earth. He says, ‘Let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together.’ ‘When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.’ Isaiah 45:8; 41:17, 18.”

How is the Holy Spirit given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered? ______

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SO WHAT?

“Nearly nine out of 10 churched teenagers said their church experience exposed them to Bible stories (95 percent), taught them about the lives of great people in the bible (92 percent), and gave them fun experiences related to religion (89 percent). But only half (53 percent) said their church experience helped them understand the Bible well enough to help them make decisions based on biblical principles.”—From “Real Religion,” Christian Parenting Today (Winter 2003). What’s th e problem? Few people would ever say that the Bible is useless. People who go to church would maintain that it is very important. But when it comes to living out the truths in God’s Word and putting them into practice, people tend to shut down. To illustrate this point, Jesus told the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock. He said, “Therefore everyone who hears these worlds of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24, 25, NIV). Of course, the foolish man illustrates someone who hears God’s Word but doesn’t put it into practice. It may be that we just don’t know how to integrate the messages of Scripture into our lives. It may be that we haven’t discovered how God can speak to us through His Word. It may be that we know which day is the Sabbath but we haven’t truly rested with Sabbath rest. You might be able to articulate what happens when a person dies, according to Scripture, but have you ever had to share the words of Scripture with someone who was grieving the loss of a loved one? It may be that the missing link in our communication with God is learning how to allow His Word to shape the way we live each moment.

1. If we are having a problem integrating the messages of Scripture to our lives, what can we do that will help us? Yes, communications with God, but what should be the first thing we do when we open the Bible to study?

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2. What or who will give us the understanding to relate to someone else what the Bible is talking about?

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Wednesday | Today’s Reading

Match the text with the verse. When you have finished, choose a text that you like and memorize it. All texts are taken from the New International Version .

1. Psalm 102:18 ______

2. Hebrews 1:1, 2 ______3. Romans 15:4 ______4. Matthew 5:16 ______5. Isaiah 55:8, 9 ______6. John 20:30, 31 ______7. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ______

1. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . .” 2. “And we also thank God continually because . . .” 3. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us . . .” 4. “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence . . .” 5. “Let this be written for a future generation . . .” 6. “Let your light shine before others . . .” 7. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the . . .”

Thursday | Today’s Reading

Steps to Christ , pp. 90, 91 “There is but little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the whole Bible through and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning. One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained. Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory. Even while you are walking the streets you may read a passage and meditate upon it, thus fixing it in the mind. “We cannot obtain wisdom without earnest attention and prayerful study. Some portions of Scripture are indeed too plain to be misunderstood, but there are others whose meaning does not lie on the surface to be seen at a glance. Scripture must be compared with scripture. There must be careful research and prayerful reflection. And such study will be richly repaid. As the miner discovers veins of precious metal concealed beneath the surface of the earth, so will he who perseveringly searches the word of God as for hid treasure find truths of the greatest value, which are concealed from the view of the careless seeker. The words of inspiration, pondered in the heart, will be as streams flowing from the fountain of life. “Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given. When Nathanael came to Jesus, the Saviour exclaimed, ‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ’ Nathanael said, ‘Whence knowest Thou me? ’ Jesus answered, ‘Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.’ John 1:47, 48. And Jesus will see us also in the secret places of prayer if we will seek Him for light that we may know what is truth. Angels from the world of light will be with those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance. “The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour. It is His office to present Christ, the purity of His righteousness, and the great salvation that we have through Him. Jesus says, ‘He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.’ John 16:14. The Spirit of truth is the only effectual teacher of divine truth. How must God esteem the human race, since He gave His Son to die for them and appoints His Spirit to be man's teacher and continual guide!”

1. What can strengthen our mind?

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2. How can we obtain wisdom?

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3. What is studying the Bible compared to?

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4. We should never study the Bible without what?

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5. Who did God appoint to be our teacher and guide?

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6. How much does God love us?

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Isaiah 55:8-11 (Amplified Bible ) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

Justine received weekly letters from her grandmother who lived across the country. There were coupons, newspaper clippings, and complaints about the weather in each letter. Each week, Justine could almost guess what would be in the letter. She wrote back although not quite as faithfully.

While at summer camp, she received a typical letter from Grandma. Someone in her cabin noticed the letter and asked about it. Her response was glib and not well thought out. “My grandma is always sending me this stuff. Every week I get a letter from her with all this stuff in it. I never know what to do with it.” The fellow camper said. “Well, it’s obvious that she loves you very much.” Those words struck Justine in a powerful way. She never really thought about why her grandma would write so often. Such a simple consideration changed the way she read each letter. Maybe the reason God has spoken through the Bible needs to sink into your heart today. If you remembered why God wrote the Bible, would it change the way you read it? Understanding the purpose of Scripture can provide the right mood in which to read it. It’s a letter from Someone who dearly loves you. The message inside the Bible screams about how much you matter to God.

Friday | Today’s Reading

Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times , September 19, 1906 “The Bible contains all the principles that men need in order to be fitted either for this life or for the life to come. And these principles may be understood by all. No one with a spirit to appreciate its teachings can read a single passage from the Bible without gaining from it some helpful thought. But the most valuable teaching of the Bible is not gained by occasional or disconnected study. Its great system of truth is not so presented as to be discerned by the careless or hasty reader. Many of its treasures lie far beneath the surface, and can be obtained only by diligent research and continuous effort. The truths that go to make up a great whole must be searched out and gathered up ‘here a little and there a little.’. . . “Not alone in searching out truth and bringing it together does the mental value of Bible study consists. It consists also in the effort required to grasp the themes presented. The mind occupied with common place matters only becomes dwarfed and enfeebled. If never taxed to comprehend grand and far-reaching truths, it [the mind] after a time loses the power of growth. As a safeguard against this degeneracy, and a stimulus to development, nothing can equal the s tudy of God's Word. As a means for intellectual training, the Bible is more effective than any other book, or all other books combined. The greatness of its themes, the dignified simplicity of its utterances, the beauty of its imagery, quicken and uplift the thoughts as nothing else can. No other study can impart such mental power as does the effort to grasp the stupendous truths of revelation. The mind thus brought in contact with the thoughts of the Infinite can not but expand and strengthen.

“And even greater is the power of the Bible in the development of the spiritual nature. Man, created for fellowship with God, can only in such fellowship find his real life and development. Created to find in God his highest joy, he can find in nothing else that which can quiet the cravings of the heart, or satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. He who with sincere and teachable spirit studies God's Word, seeking to comprehend its truths, will be brought into touch with its Author, and, except by his own choice, there is no limit to the possibilities of his development. “In childhood, youth, and manhood, Jesus studied the Scriptures. As a little child, He was daily, at His mother's knee, taught from the scrolls of the prophets. In His youth the early morning and evening twilight often found Him alone on the mountainside or among the trees of the forest, spending a quiet hour in prayer and in the study of God's Word. During His ministry His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures testified to His diligence in their study. And since He gained knowledge as we may gain it, His wonderful power, both mental and spiritual, is a testimony to the value of the Bible as a means of education.”

1. How can the treasures of the Bible be discovered?

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2. The most valuable teaching of the Bible is not gained by what?

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3. How is the Bible as a book for intellectual training?

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4. What three things make the Bible quicken and uplift as no other book can?

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5. If you study and seek God is there any limit to the possibilities of your development? Why?

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6. Did Jesus study the Scripture? Why? What did studying the Scripture do for Jesus?

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

There are two basic questions to ask yourself as you study the Bible. Take time to listen to God’s Word this week, and think about these two questions as a framework for your study. Journal your thought about what God is trying to say to you, and plan a course of action for how you might apply that to your life this week.

1. What is God saying to me in this passage?

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2. What am I going to do about it?

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Bible texts credited to Amplified are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.