“The Esssential Knowledge”
Let us pray; Father, if we would fully appreciate Your attributes and Your loving care for us, we would face the future with confidence. Help us to remember how You have led us, and will see us through to the end. Our lives are just vanity without You. Speak to us individually, that we may better know Your love for us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
What do we need for this life, and the next? 
     As usual, I have adapted from the Spirit of Prophecy to provide a sermon that has more substance, that will be a blessing to us, as it has been a blessing to me to prepare it. 
     2 Peter 1:4  “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 
To be partakers of the divine nature; what a great and wonderful plan that He has for us.

(1 SM Chapter 42 The Revelation of God )

     Now, we want to know about ourselves. For example, ancestry research is a billion dollar industry (https://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/jun/19/ancestors-genealogy-high-cost-money#:~:text=Odds%20are%2C%20you%27ll%20be,%24149%20to%20%24199%20a%20year.), but this type of endeavor pales in comparison to God’s claims for all of us. He establishes our real ancestry..... and our destiny. And it is to Him that we will eventually give an account, just one- on - one, that’s what it comes down to- just God and us. At that time, nothing else will matter. Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things      [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”       

    In Genesis 1:27 we read, “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” 

     What greater honor could God bestow upon us? How much He has stooped down to us in love, He demonstrates at the very start, by creating us in His image. As this drawing ( stick figure) is a poor representation of a person, we al so  imperfectly reflect our Creator.. but still, we were created in His image, and we will for- ever bear in our selves to the universe, a witness of our kinship with our heavenly Father.

     When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker.. and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image and reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties... were continually to increase. The mysteries of the visible universe-- the "wondrous works of Him (who) is perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16)--invited man's study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his high privilege. All this would have been his forever.   Throughout eternal ages he would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and ... clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God.  More and more fully would he have fulfilled the (purpose) of his creation...  {Ed 15.1}  
  
     Now, God being who He is, He can do what- ever He wants, right? And s o the people said, (show slide)
Please read these verses with me; (Isaiah 45: 5-7)
I am the LORD, and there is none else, 
there is no God beside me:  
I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
That they may know from the rising of the sun, 
and from the west, that there is none beside me. 
I am the LORD, and there is none else.   (next slide)
I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil: 
I the LORD do all these things.  (next slide)
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; 
and his greatness is unsearchable.” 
Psalm 145:3   (next slide).
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: 
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure 
they are and were created."     Revelation 4:11         (blank slide)

There is none like God. His greatness is unsearchable. He is worthy; and yet, 
God created us for- His- pleasure. 
We were created after His image, and we know how (slide)  to have fun, (slide) spending time (slide) on things (slide) that we enjoy (slide). (blank slide)
I won’t try to explain God’s pleasure, but it is fair to say that God wants us, He loves us, and He wants to spent time with us...... And how can He spend time with us, if we do not spend time with Him? (father and son in hammock)“
This really impressed me. Here we have Almighty God, the great I Am, self- sufficient, perfect, complete; and yet, He- wants- to have a relationship with each one of us. We are told that all heaven grieves when one of us is lost, a little like Jack is no longer with our church family. But we know that this separation is temporary. God is a personal God. He is unique; an individual. He has all the best qualities  that we appeciate in a person, And He wants to be your friend, and mine.

     God could not make this any clearer (blank slide), but that He wants a relationship with us, and nothing else else (people on devices slide) that we can dedicate ourselves to, (slide of man on blue background), that turns our hearts and (slide of blue man) souls inward. (slide of money raining) And what (body builders) do we find there? (wall of records)? Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (slides of despair stockbroker, Covid 19 downturn, man’s face, girl alone, suicide, blank slide). So with the world’s efforts, what do we end up with? We have ignored His still s mall voice, we have believed the lies that circulate about God, we have ignored His claims for our lives, we have been the prodigal sons and daughters, living “life to the fullest” as it’s been called, until it has disappointed us thoroughly and we are left without hope. We have dismissed Him repeatedly...  until our resources are spent and we despair of hope, and we desire to end our lives as we know it. So it says in Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” 
(slide of despair statement) Despair does not come because the world is against us, but because our efforts have failed. Whereas...

“They that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31. 

     Hopefully, someone has been praying for us, and the Lord will send someone who will take the time and remind us that there is always hope.

Basically, if someone has not tried God, if he has not given God a chance, he cannot know what God can do for him. We may be assured that Jesus however, has been looking for us.

(slide)
John 4:29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: 
is not this the Christ?”....    

Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good;
  blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

(slide)
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

(Blank slide)
 So Jesus knows us. He is good for us. He has good plans for us. And he will meet all our needs.

We were all born with a world of potential before us (slide of baby), but we become distracted along the difficult path of life (rocky path), and sometimes we lose our way (in the greenery).  (blank slide)

     ... Living for a purpose makes one truly happy.-- Those who live for a purpose, seeking to benefit and bless their fellowmen and to honor and glorify their Redeemer, are the truly happy ones on the earth, while the man who is restless, discontented, and seeking this and (trying) that, hoping to find happiness, is always (disappointed). He is...  never satisfied, because he lives for himself. Let it be your aim to do good, to act your part in life faithfully.-- Lt 17, 1872. (HC 242.)   

     "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." He gave Him not only to live among men, to bear their sins, and die their sacrifice. He gave Him to the fallen race. Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of humanity. He who was one with God has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that (will never) be broken. Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11); He is our Sacrifice, our Advocate, our Brother, bearing our human form before the Father's throne, and through eternal ages one with the race He has redeemed-- the Son of man. All this, (so) that man might be uplifted from the degradation of sin (to) reflect the love of God and share the joy of holiness.
                                                                           
 {SC 14.3}  
     The infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the apostle John beheld the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love toward the perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence; and (not finding adequate words to communicate) the greatness and tenderness of this love, (he could only exclaim)  "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we, should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1... By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. Through... Christ, fallen man may indeed become worthy of the name "sons of God."  {S  C 15.1} This is our redemption and reconciliation with our Creator.

     In fulfillment of the divine plan, the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. He taught the erring and sinful ones whom he came to save, and wrestled in earnest prayer to his Father in their behalf; and we should engage in the same work.... (for)  there is no calling that is higher, holier, and more ennob ling than to be a co-laborer with the Son of God.  {ST, September 16, 1886 par. 11} This is the work of God, and it is worthy of our best efforts. We will have no regrets for making this our life’s mission, whatever our earthly calling may be. 
 
     Often we are so wrapped up in our selfish interests that our hearts are not allowed to take in the needs and wants of (our fellow human beings); we are lacking in deeds of sympathy and benevolence, in sacred and social ministry to the needy, the oppressed, and the suffering. (We need to)... work with the meekness of Christ wherever (we) can find anything to do for the salvation of souls. All who have been made partakers of the heavenly benefits, should be earnest and anxious that others.... should have the... truth presented (to) them...  {ST, September 16, 1886 par. 12}  

     Those who become co-laborers with God will increase in moral and spiritual power, while those who devote their time and energies to serving themselves will (shrink)... and die. In engaging in this work they will obtain an experience of the highest value. In forgetting about themselves, they will grow in grace... They will learn how to bear burdens for Jesus, and will be blessed for their labors. And it will come to pass, that "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy."  
      
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. (pic of atmosphere). That blue haze above the earth, is the atmosphere that supports all living things. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.  {SC 68.1} 
     As the flower (sunflower pic) turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ.  {SC 68.2}  
     Jesus teaches the same thing when He says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. . . . Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:4, 5. You are just as dependent upon Christ... to live a holy life, as the branch is dependent on the trunk for growth and life.  Apart from Him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. (But) abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing your life from Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. (picture of green trees by water)
     By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,-- God's thought made (real). In His prayer for His disciples He says,
"I have declared unto them Thy name,"--"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"-- "that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them,    and I in them." But not (just) for mankind was this revelation given, (but for the universe). God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout (the) ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find their science and their song in the cross of Christ. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love.  In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly (Jesus) is manifested the character of (God) who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto.  {DA 19.2}  
     In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ (who) spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the  worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. "His strength setteth fast the mountains." "The sea is His, and He made it." Psalm 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all (the ) earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father's love.  {DA 20.1} 
     ... sin has marred God's perfect work, (but) that handwriting remains. Even now all created things declare the glory of His excellence. There is nothing, (except) the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself. (Every) bird that (cuts through) the air, (every) animal that moves upon the ground, ministers to some other life. (Every) leaf of the forest, or ... blade of grass, ... has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf (that) pours forth (oxygen (gives to) man and animal, (which in turn give to the ) life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains, receives the streams from every land; (but it takes so that it may give). The mists ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud.  {DA 20.2}  
     The angels of glory find their joy in giving,--giving love and tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen and unholy. Heavenly beings woo the hearts of men; they bring to this dark world light from the courts above; by gentle and patient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer than they themselves can know.  {DA 21.1}  
     But turning from ... lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. "I do nothing of Myself," said   Christ; "the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father." "I seek not Mine own glory," but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe... Christ received (all things) from God, but He took ... (so that he could) give. ... In the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, (returning) to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.  {DA 21.2} 
In John 10:18 Christ said, “No man taketh (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
And so should we also, live to give, and discover for ourselves the glory of God and the purpose of our lives.     
Ephesians 1: 5,6   “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved... Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" 
Shall we pray; Thank you Father for the glorious future that You have provided for, that we may bring glory to Your name, and  we may have joy and fulfillment. This is Your plan for us. We praise Your name, and thank You for sending Jesus to us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.