The Undercover Adventist

  Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4–22; 1 Kings 18:4–19; 2 Chronicles 34:29–33 Key Verse: “Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations.” — 1 Samuel 8:19, 20 (KJV) One of the greatest dangers God’s people have faced throughout history is the desire to be like everyone else. When the Israelites demanded a king, they wanted to be like the surrounding nations. God had already warned them about the consequences of their request, but they insisted on having what they wanted. Through the prophet Samuel, God explained that their king would take their sons, daughters, possessions, and produce. Yet the people refused to listen. They wanted to follow the pattern of the world rather than trust God to lead them. Their mistake offers an important lesson for the church today. It is natural to want acceptance, popularity, and the approval of others. Churches can face the same temptation when they begin measuring success by the standards of society rather than by faithf...

  1 Samuel 9:6 (NKJV) “Look, now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass.” In 1 Samuel 9:6, Saul’s servant describes Samuel as a “man of God,” someone known for his godly character and trustworthy words. Samuel was recognized as a person who had a close relationship with God and could be trusted to deliver His message. But what does it mean to be a man or woman of God today? Throughout the Bible, God's messengers were not perfect people. They were ordinary human beings whom God called to serve Him. Yet their lives reveal important qualities that should characterize anyone who desires to be faithful to God. A man or woman of God should demonstrate the following qualifications: 1. A close relationship with God. A person of God seeks the Lord through prayer, studies His Word, and desires to follow His will. Like Samuel, who learned to respond, “Speak, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10), we must be willing to listen to...

  Finding hope in God when life doesn't turn out as expected Have you ever tried your best to do what was right, only to feel as though you had failed? Perhaps you prayed for something that never happened, worked hard toward a goal that fell apart, or tried to help someone who rejected your efforts. Sometimes, even when we are doing our best to follow God, circumstances can leave us feeling discouraged, inadequate, and uncertain about the future. The Bible reminds us that we are not alone in these experiences. Even God's faithful prophets struggled with discouragement. Consider Elijah. After his dramatic victory on Mount Carmel, when God answered his prayer with fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36–39), Elijah soon found himself running for his life from Queen Jezebel. Exhausted and afraid, he sat beneath a tree and asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19:3–4). What a contrast! The prophet who had just witnessed God's mighty power now felt overwhelmed and defeated. But God did not ...

  The lives of the Old Testament prophets remind us that being God’s messenger has never been easy. They faced fear, opposition, discouragement, and personal struggles. Ellen G. White experienced many of these same anxieties. She was only seventeen, shy, in poor health, and lacking confidence when she believed God was calling her to share what He had revealed. The thought of the responsibility frightened her so much that she prayed for God to choose someone else. Yet God continued to lead her, and eventually she accepted the call. She did not become a messenger because she was perfect or fearless. She became willing to obey despite her weaknesses. That is an important lesson for every believer. God has never needed perfect people before He could use them. Scripture is filled with imperfect men and women who struggled with fear, doubt, weakness, and failure. What mattered was their willingness to trust God and follow where He led. Ellen G. White would go on to become an influential ...

  In the Seventh-day Adventist understanding, Ellen G. White was regarded as having the spiritual gift of prophecy , rather than being a prophet in the same canonical sense as Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Daniel. Adventists believe her ministry was a manifestation of the biblical prophetic gift promised to God's people, intended to point people back to Scripture rather than replace Scripture. She did not write another Bible or claim that her writings were an addition to the biblical canon. Adventists have traditionally emphasized that the Bible remains the supreme authority and that her writings should be tested by Scripture. Her role was understood as providing counsel, encouragement, correction, and spiritual guidance to the developing Adventist movement. This distinction also fits well with the larger lesson about prophets: being called by God did not make a person perfect. The biblical prophets were human beings with weaknesses, and Ellen White likewise experienced physical difficult...

  Sabbath School The Gift of Prophecy  Old Testament Prophets  Lesson 3 - Thursday When People Speak for God Without God’s Message Jeremiah 14 describes a painful time in Judah. The land was suffering from a severe drought, the people were desperate, and they were looking to God for relief. Jeremiah recognized that the suffering was connected to Judah’s persistent rebellion against God. Yet while Jeremiah was faithfully delivering God's warning, other people were claiming to speak in God's name and giving the nation a very different message. These false prophets were saying that Judah would not experience the disaster Jeremiah had warned about. They offered reassuring words—peace, prosperity, and protection—without calling the people to repentance. Their message may have been much easier to hear, but it was not God's message. The Lord's response was serious. He told Jeremiah, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name" (Jer. 14:14). God had not sent these people, ...

  Sabbath School The Gift of Prophecy  Old Testament Prophets  Lesson 3 - Wednesday When God Calls, He Gives a Voice The Bible gives us several powerful examples of women who served in prophetic roles. Miriam is called a prophetess in Exodus 15:20. Deborah is identified as a prophetess in Judges 4:4. Huldah is called a prophetess in 2 Kings 22:14. And Nehemiah 6:14 even mentions a woman named Noadiah among those who claimed to be prophets. These passages remind us that the prophetic role in Scripture was not limited to men. God could call and use women to communicate His message, guide His people, and provide spiritual direction when it was needed. Huldah's story is especially significant because of the circumstances surrounding her ministry. During the reign of King Josiah, the Book of the Law had been discovered in the temple. When the king heard its words, he was deeply troubled because he realized how far the nation had wandered from God's commands. Josiah's officia...