Friday: Further Thought – Standing in All the Will of God
Daily Lesson for Friday 27th of March 2026
“The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 324.
Discussion Questions
- Look at the Ellen G. White quote above. There are, yes, only two sides in the great controversy, and unless we consciously choose Christ, we are on Satan’s side (Luke 11:23). However much that idea might bother our sensibilities, God is not under any obligation to make sure His truths don’t offend them. What does this reality tell you about how crucial the surrender of your will to Christ really is?
- Read Revelation 14:14-16. The early rain of Pentecost enabled the gospel seed to sprout and grow, while the latter rain prepares the earth for the final harvest. How does Revelation 14:12 relate to this prospect?
- What are the various ways that we, as a church as a whole and as individual believers, are impacted by the culture and world around us? How can we be protected against the negative influences of the world, which have always been a problem for God’s people in every age?
There is one lesson that stands out in the series of lesson on Philippians and Colossians: Pastoral care is important.
In Australia we have a program called R U OK. It’s purpose is to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention, particularly among young men. The aim is to encourage ordinary people to connect and encourage others who may be struggling. There are four key ideas:
When you read Paul’s epistles you see a spiritual R U OK plan in action. Reread at least one of the epistles under study this quarter and see if you can find Paul’s implementation of the plan.
And of course, if it was good enough for Paul, we need to remind ourselves that the most strategically important thing we can do is take an active role to check and encourage our fellow Christian’s spiritual health. Are we afraid to ask one another if they are OK? Do we know how to listen, or do we want to jump in with, “What you should have done is …”? Do we know how to suggest action? And, finally, how many of us take the time to ask R U OK? the second time. Has the time come for us to start an R U OK? program in the church to check spiritual help and prevent spiritual suicide. This is not just the work of church pastors; it is the responsibility of ordinary members. And I might add, that we could use that strategy effectively with our secular friends as well.
Maurice I really like your comments. You gave me an idea to use it as improvements for our sabbath school. Mostly people looks normal from outside, but they struggling, they have many issues. It is time to care more for people then for programs. Once again thank you. Enjoy your sabbath.
We may want to believe that we think independently and are not influenced by trends and fads around us. However, the naked truth is that we are profoundly shaped by our environment, and the people around us have a great influence on us. This sad reality has existed since humanity was beset by the deceptive nature of sin in Eden (Romans 5:12–21; Hebrews 3:13). As much as we are in a position to influence others, we are also influenced in diverse ways, both consciously and unconsciously. Our experiences mold the direction of our decisions, often without us realizing it.
Being human, we are susceptible to influence and possess different blind spots that make us vulnerable. These blind spots allow external pressures to shape our perceptions and actions. No wonder submission to the Holy Spirit is essential to guide and influence our decisions, since human influence is often subtle and goes unnoticed. Without discernment, we can easily be entrapped because of our imperfections. Scripture also reminds us of the power of association: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20).
On our own, it is impossible to survive in an evil world without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The opinions of others and their personalities impact our lives like rain on a sunny day—they quietly shape our views and ultimately affect our decisions. Therefore, continual dependence on the Holy Spirit is vital so that our choices are not merely reflections of surrounding influences, but are aligned with God’s will. Through His guidance, we gain wisdom, clarity, and strength to resist subtle pressures and remain steadfast.
Touching on question 2.
It is vital to keep the commandments of God and just as vital to have the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12. Let’s turn that around. To facilitate keeping the commandments of God it is vital to have the faith of Jesus. Psalm 23:3. How do we have the faith of Jesus. 1. The indwelling of Christ in our hearts through faith in His righteousness. Ezekial 11:19. 2. Seeking a vital connection with God, opens up your heart to Him on a moment-by-moment basis. 3. Spend time with Him in the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that way you will become acquainted with Christ, thus avoid being at the mercy of the enemy. And when a church member asks you if you are okay, you can say, before breakfast every morning I spend time becoming acquainted with Christ, how about you are you staying acquainted with Christ? Okay but what about the commandments.
Trust in Christ.
He will look upon no trembling suppliant without raising him up. He who through His own atonement provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in our behalf. We may take our sins and sorrows to His feet; for He loves us. His every look and word invites our confidence. He will shape and mold our characters according to His own will. Christ Object Lessons 157.2
Yes, I also like not only R U Okay, also listen don’t condemn, encourage action, and follow up. Thank-you Maurice for those suggestions of church connectivity, and outreach to our fellow members.
Our choices day in and day out indirectly places in either God’ or Satan’s camp. We must be vigilant and alert in prayer for God’s guardianship and guidance.
A community of believers supported Paul as he traveled 1,000s of miles to spread the gospel. The true story of Jesus would never have spread so far and so fast if he or the other apostles were doing this by themselves.
Same with that first Pentecost after Jesus ascended; 3,000 chose Jesus on that day when the disciples had been united in prayer. The believers had met for 40 days, fasting, praying and preparing their hearts to receive the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The flame of His Power that day did not fall upon one isolated head bowed in solitary prayer at home (also important to do), but He came with a mighty rush upon a gathering who were humbling themselves before God and each other.
God does of course come to us in private devotions. However, mission work is not a solo endeavor. This lesson is so timely for us right now! World events, American politics and militant voices of government leaders are all pointing to the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus. “Christian nationalists” are mis-using the Bible to justify violence and the subjugation of non-Christians under the auspices of cleaning up national morality. NOW is the time for the LOUD CRY of the true gospel message, that of God’s gift of choice and sacrificial love, to go out every day, everywhere.
One solo instrument on stage is beautiful to listen to, but passers-by outside may not hear it and be drawn to come in. On the other hand, a soaring, harmonious orchestra crescendoing passionately will burst the seams of the listening hall and broadcast the melody for all to hear.
I can only say a wholehearted ‘Amen’ to Ellen White’s comment quoted in today’s lesson. I did not know any Seven Day Adventist when coming accross a flyer inviting one to attend a ‘Prophecy Seminar’. ‘The Desire of Ages’ was the first book I read. Finding so much commonality with my own thoughts regarding the ‘Great Controversy’, I felt comfortable with her being my sister in Christ.
Other books by Ellen G. White followed and their core message remains the same – “But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one.” (The Desire of Ages, p.324) Clarity and conviction took the place of uncertainty and wavering about accepting the living ‘Righteousness’ of Christ as my own.
So much of what Ellen G. White explaines about the conduct of a true Christian finds its resonance deep within. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings about unity in Spirit. God’s Truth, conveyed by Him, makes us one in Spirit with Jesus Christ’s Righteousness – desiring to live as He lived, doing the things He did, thinking the thoughts He thought, understanding God’s Truth as He did -, and in this state of spiritual and practical immersion, we will be able to stand in the Will of God.
I have to raise a counter point to question #1. I fully agree that there are only two sides in the Great Controversy. The verse quoted in the question clearly shows this. However, that is different from saying that unless we consciously choose Christ, we are on Satan’s side. In fact there is a verse where Jesus actually says the opposite (Mark 9:39,40), that whoever is not against us is for us. This tells me that sorting people into categories for Christ or Satan is not so simple and we should probably refrain from doing so. After all, many of the sheep mentioned in Matthew 25 did not consciously choose Jesus but they were still His.