The Undercover Adventist

  Uniting Heaven and Earth Christ in Philippians and Colossians  Living with Christ Lesson 12 - Thursday Walking in Wisdom Speaking and Living with Grace Read: Colossians 4:5–6 The apostle Paul the Apostle gives a simple yet powerful instruction: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:5–6, KJV). His focus is clear—believers must be especially careful in how they live and speak before those who do not yet share their faith . Paul points to situations where we interact with “those who are without,” meaning people outside the Christian faith. In these moments, wisdom matters greatly because our conduct becomes a living testimony. Many people may never read the Bible, but they will read the lives of those who claim to follow Christ. Our attitudes, our patience, our kindness, and even the tone of our speech can either draw people toward the gospel or push them away. Paul also say...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 6 -  Thursday A Witness to God’s Power Read: Joshua 7:6–9 Israel had just experienced a powerful victory at Jericho, yet moments later they faced a humiliating defeat at Ai. Joshua, overwhelmed with grief and confusion, fell before the Lord. His prayer in Joshua 7:9 reveals a profound theological truth: when God’s people stumble, the world notices. Joshua’s concern was not only Israel’s loss but God’s reputation among the nations—“What will You do for Your great name?” This is a powerful reminder: believers are God’s witnesses. Our obedience displays His power; our sin and compromise can distort His character before those watching us. When we claim to be followers of Christ yet live in contradiction to His ways, we give the world a false picture of who He is. Sin is not only personal—it becomes communal in its consequences. Israel’s defeat affected the entire nation. In the same way, when we compromise, we don’t just hur...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Tuesday “Remembering God’s Faithfulness” Scripture Reading: Joshua 4 After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God commanded Joshua to have twelve men, one from each tribe, take a stone from the riverbed and set it up as a memorial. The Lord said, “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (Joshua 4:6–7). The memorial was not just a monument—it was a testimony. It reminded Israel of the power and presence of the living God who brought them safely into the Promised Land. God knew how easily His people could forget. Just as the Israelites needed tangible reminders of His mighty acts, we too need memorials in our spiritual journey. These are not always made of stone—they may be moments, places, or symbols that mark God’s faithfulness in our lives. It could be a journal entry about a pra...

  A Testimony that Speaks to the Nations Text: Exodus 18:8–10 When Moses met with his father-in-law Jethro in the wilderness, the conversation quickly turned to the mighty acts of God. Exodus 18:8–10 tells us that Moses “told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.” And when Jethro heard this testimony, he blessed the Lord, saying, “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.” Here is a beautiful truth: Jethro, a Midianite priest, did not learn about the true God from philosophical debate or clever argument. He learned about Him through the evidence of what God had done for His people. That was the witness that won his heart. The Witness that Changed Jethro Jethro had his own religious background and gods, but what Moses shared was different—it was personal and powerful. It was personal – Moses didn’t speak of God in ab...

  Wise Praise and Wise Counsel Text: Exodus 18:1–27 Exodus 18 is a turning point in Israel’s history. They have been delivered from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, seen God’s provision of food and water in the wilderness—and now, in this chapter, two crucial moments take place. First, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, comes to visit and hears about the mighty acts of God. Second, Jethro gives Moses wise counsel that changes the way leadership is carried out among God’s people. In this chapter, we learn about praising God before others and humbly accepting godly advice. Jethro Praises God for His Mighty Acts (Exodus 18:1–12) When Jethro arrives, Moses tells him all that the Lord has done to Pharaoh and Egypt, and how God has delivered His people. Jethro’s reaction is immediate—he praises the Lord, saying, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods” (v. 11). This is more than a polite acknowledgment; it’s a declaration of faith and recognition of God’s supremacy. It shows u...

  Tell the Children: Passing Down the Story of Salvation Text: Exodus 12:24–28 In Exodus 12:24–28, we find God giving His people a crucial command—not just to keep the Passover as a memorial, but to teach it . This was not a private ceremony to be kept in silence or secrecy. It was a divine appointment for storytelling , for legacy , for instruction . It was about remembrance—but even more than that—it was about transmission . Let’s read the passage: “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.” (Ex. 12:24–28, NI...

  “That I May Know Him” Text: Exodus 5:1–2 “Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”’” What would you say to someone who says, “I do not know the Lord”? Not in rebellion, not in mockery, but simply in honesty? That question was asked long ago by Pharaoh—though his version was full of pride and resistance. But what about today, when someone says it out of confusion, curiosity, or even sadness? “I don’t know the Lord.” Today, I want us to walk through how God responded to that statement in Exodus and how we can lovingly respond to those who say it today. Pharaoh’s Words: “I Do Not Know the Lord” Pharaoh’s statement in Exodus 5:2 was blunt: “I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.” It was not a quest...

  Restored to Proclaim: The Fruit of Forgiveness Scripture: Psalm 51:7–15 Today we turn our hearts and minds to one of the most heartfelt and powerful confessions of repentance in all of Scripture—Psalm 51. Penned by David after his grievous sin with Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan’s confrontation, this psalm teaches us not only how to confess our sins, but what to do after we have been forgiven. Our focus is Psalm 51:7–15, where David pleads with God for cleansing and restoration. But more than that, David makes a profound promise— a promise of purpose after pardon. The Plea for Purging (vv. 7–9) “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (v. 7) David understands that no surface-level ritual can remove the deep stain of his sin. He invokes the image of hyssop , used in ceremonial cleansing, especially in the purification of lepers. He is saying: "I am not just dirty—I am diseased with sin. I need more than forgiveness—I ne...

  In John 5:36–38, Jesus emphasizes His close relationship with the Father and the validation of His mission through the Father’s works and testimony. Works as a Testimony (v. 36)  Jesus points out that the works He performs—miracles, healings, and teachings—are given to Him by the Father. These works are not only miraculous signs but also a testimony that God sent Him. Direct Testimony of the Father (v. 37)  Jesus says that the Father has personally testified on His behalf. This may refer to events like Jesus' baptism, where God’s voice was heard, affirming Jesus as His beloved Son, and other scriptural prophecies that point to Jesus. The Father's Word and Belief (v. 38)  Jesus confronts His listeners, saying that they don’t have the Father's word abiding in them because they don’t believe in the One He has sent. Their lack of belief in Jesus reflects a disconnect from truly receiving and understanding God’s word. Jesus points to the Father’s active role in affirmin...