GROWING IN CHRIST: ROOTED IN HIS WORD

Prepared by Keith Chuumpu

INTRODUCTION
This is a three-section study, designed first to help us get rooted in God’s word and second, to
help us see the importance of doing so. The first section focuses mainly on scripture as our
safeguard in these last days. The second section focuses on the consequences of neglecting
the study of scripture. The third focuses on the results of feeding on scripture. Each section—
discussions included—is designed to last for forty-five minutes. The whole study is designed
in a simple question-to-answer format in order to make it as user-friendly as possible. It is our
prayer that the study will be a blessing.
SECTION 1: THE SCRIPTURES—OUR ONLY SAFETY
How did Jesus describe the last days of earth’s history?
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if
possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24
The wind of deception will be so strong that it will be almost impossible, even for the very
elect, to withstand it. Ellen White describes the final times of trouble in the following words,
as seen in a vision: “The conflict was severe. Evil angels were corrupting the atmosphere
with their poisonous influence, and crowding about these souls to stupefy their sensibilities”
(Testimony Treasures, p. 120). And the bible says, “because of the multiplication of
wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12, Berean Standard Bible).
During this time, what alone will be our safety?
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
Our only safety will be in the scriptures. According to Ellen White, “The last great delusion is
soon to open before us,” and “so closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be
impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures” (The Great
Controversy, p. 593). She further states that “none but those who have fortified the mind with
the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict” (The Great Controversy, p.
593-594).
To what does Jesus liken those who fortify their minds with God’s word?
“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise
man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew
7:24-25.
The times that are to come upon the earth are likened to a powerful storm. And the only way
to survive this storm is to build one’s house on the rock, which is the word of God. In doing
so, we are building our lives on Christ, the unshakable Rock. Therefore, the hymn says, “on
Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand”—Edward Mote.

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What question does Christ ask, indicating the seriousness of the last day storm?
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? Luke 1:8.
Judging from scripture, the answer is a definite yes. Christ will have His own, waiting for his
return. But it is also clear from Christ’s question that finding this faith will be hard.
Apparently, very few people will be found ready for His coming. Most people will instead be
indulging themselves in the pleasures of this world.
What does the bible say concerning all of us?
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who
does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21.
God’s will is expressed in His word. That means that nobody can know and do His will
unless they read His word. And the time of the end is at hand. In fact, the bible says, “Blessed
is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which
are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).
To what does Christ compare His coming?
Likewise, as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they
planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is
revealed. Luke 17:28-30.
Christ compares His coming to the days of Lot. People continued to live normal lives, as
though nothing was coming. Ellen White describes that fateful morning as follows: “The
bright rays of the morning seemed to speak only prosperity and peace to the cities of the
plain. The stir of active life began in the streets; men were going their various ways, intent on
the business or the pleasures of the day. The sons-in-law of Lot were making merry at the
fears and warnings of the weak-minded old man. Suddenly and unexpectedly as would be a
thunder peal from an unclouded sky, the tempest broke. The Lord rained brimstone and fire
out of heaven upon the cities and the fruitful plain; its palaces and temples, costly dwellings,
gardens and vineyards, and the gay, pleasure-seeking throngs that only the night before had
insulted the messengers of heaven—all were consumed” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 162.)
What does God do before destruction?
Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7.
This is seen at the time God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. God is recorded as
saying, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” (Genesis 18:17). And the bible
records that the plan to destroy the two cities was revealed to Abraham. Not only that, but
Abraham was granted the chance to warn his sons-in-law about the coming destruction.
“Then the men said to Lot, ‘Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your
daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place!’” (Genesis
19:12).

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What was the response of Lot’s sons-in-law when they were warned?
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said,
“Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he
seemed to be joking. Genesis 19:14.
Ellen White narrates the story as follows, “They laughed at what they called his superstitious
fears. His daughters were influenced by their husbands. They were well enough off where
they were. They could see no evidence of danger. Everything was just as it had been. They
had great possessions, and they could not believe it possible that beautiful Sodom would be
destroyed” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 160). Thus, because they did not believe God’s word
as spoken by their father-in-law, Lot’s sons-in-law were destroyed with the rest of the lawless
multitude. And so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man.

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SECTION 2: THE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING SCRIPTURE
According to the bible, what happens when the word of God is neglected?
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.
Proverbs 29:18.
That means wherever there is no guidance, people do whatever they want. In the absence of
law, there is chaos and disorder. This is the reason why, in any country, we need the law. We
need to be regulated. We need to be told, for example, that in Zambia, we cannot drive on the
right-hand side of the road. We need to be told that we cannot marry girls below a particular
age group. In the absence of these and other laws, there would be chaos. Everybody would
drive the way they want. Older men would pick any girl, and nobody would question why.
This is why the verse concludes by saying, “but happy is he who keeps the law.”
What happened in Israel when there was no king?
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 (NIV).
Everyone did as they pleased. And, when we forget the way of the Lord and choose our own
way, the bible also warns that “there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads
to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Whenever human beings disconnect themselves from the source
of truth, they disconnect themselves from the source of life.
But what has God promised to those who love Him?
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,
“This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21.
God has promised guidance—ever present guidance. In other words, God is saying, “if you
ever get lost, do not worry. You will hear a voice telling you which way to go.” God said a
similar thing to His disciples: “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or
what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it
is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matthew 10:19-20). It
is of this same Spirit of Whom the Lord said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13).
What does the bible say about the last days?
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed
to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1.
Despite God’s kindness and provisions to keep us safe, some will leave the path of life and
disappear into fearful oblivion. Whereas God desires that “all men” should be saved and
“come to the knowledge of truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), He does not force people to choose his
way. He only pleads. For this reason, human beings can choose their own path. And
unfortunately, many will choose the wrong path.
What will happen to the Christian church just before Jesus comes again?
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. 1 Timothy
4:3

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Many Christian churches will lose their regard for the bible. Instead, they will move and
teach according to their desires. And they will hire teachers for this purpose. Unfortunately,
our wants are never a dependable guide for decision making. But the word of God is. David
says, “your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). And history
has taught us that whenever humanity has shut out the word of God, opting for its own ways,
the results have been disastrous.
What will God do to those who shun the word of God?
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. Romans 1:28
Because they did not want to have a clean mind, God gave them up to a dirty mind. It is the
rule of nature that “by beholding we become changed.” While focusing on the Lord, Paul
says “we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). While beholding
the devil and his evil work, we become transformed into the same image. We become what
we see.
So, what does it mean that they had unclean minds?
The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and
that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Genesis
6:5.
It means that now, their hearts can only think evil. God is no longer resident in them. The
Light of life is gone. They think evil, they plan evil, and they dream evil. At this point God
says to them, “Ephraim is joined to idols, leave him alone!” (Hosea 4:17). He says, “O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her
wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you
shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
(Matthew 23:37-39). At this point, it is too late.
What did they do in their uncleanness?
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the
natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the
woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful.
Romans 1:26-27
They followed the desires of their hearts, which were evil continually. This is what is
happening today. Again, the bible says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off
restraint” (Proverbs 29:18). People do whatever they feel like doing. No wonder the world is
fighting so hard to show that God does not exist. It’s because God and His word are a
disturbance in their lives. Who ever thought that Christian ministers would come to a point
where their churches allow them to bless homosexual marriages?

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In contrast, what does the bible say will happen to those who stand in God’s light?

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn
many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3.

Those who stand in the light, which is God’s word, will shine like stars. It is at midnight
when the stars shine brightest. Similarly, it is at the world’s moral midnight that God’s
children will shine brightest. And just like the moon cannot shine unless it is exposed to the
sun, no one can shine unless they are exposed God’s light.

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SECTION 3: THE RESULTS OF FEEDING ON SCRIPTURE

To what does the bible compare those who feed on scripture?

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like
a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when
heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will
cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8.
It compares them to a tree planted by the waters. Such a tree is always strong. It is always
green. It is always well fed. And it is always fruitful. No amount of heat or drought can
threaten it. And this is what God desires for each of His children to be. We all must be
planted firmly in the Lord. Nothing must threaten us. Nothing must move us. Ellen White
says “If God’s word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a
nobility of character, and a stability of purpose that is rarely seen in these times” (Christian
Education, p. 58).

To what does the bible compare Christians who do not feed on scripture?

These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only
themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees
without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots. Jude 12.

It compares these Christians to stains or spots on some clean cloth. These are persons who are
indeed in the Christian church but are far away from God. They are Christians in name only,
but their deeds are far from what it means to be a Christian. Like rainy clouds, they appear
promising when in the actual fact they are empty and void of all Christian love and being.
They have no foundation. Therefore, contrary to Christians who have made the bible their
foundation, they are carried about by every sweeping doctrine. In the end, they are lost.

What happens to those who regularly read the word of God?

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they
said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road,
and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Like 24:31-32.

Their eyes are open and they see the Lord. In the scriptures, they meet God, just as the
disciples of old met Jesus—face to face. “Search the scriptures,” said Jesus, for “these are
they which testify of me” (John 5:39). “It is true of the bible,” says Ellen White, “as it was
with Christ, that ‘the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (Great Controversy, p. 8).
This means that the experience that we get when we deep ourselves in the bible is the same
experience that the disciples got when they physically encountered Jesus.

What do the scriptures do to those who read them?

“And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15.

They make them wise for salvation. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the
bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their
lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going

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out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but
go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves’” (Matthew 25:6-9). When the Lord
descends from heaven, there shall be a stark difference between the wise and the foolish.
Daniel says “those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament,” and those
who are foolish “shall awake…to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:3, 2). And it’s
the scriptures that will make the difference.

And how does scripture define wisdom or the beginning of it?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding. Proverbs 9:10.
An acknowledgment of the existence of God is the foundation of all wisdom and knowledge.
This applies to every field of study. And we only know God and therefore come to fear Him
through the study of His word. Again, Jesus says “Search the scriptures…these are they
which testify of me” (John 5:39).
As people know their God more and their hearts warm up, what inevitably happens to
them?

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come,
see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:28-28.

They inevitably become God’s witnesses. Ellen White says “No sooner does one come to
Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend
he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we
are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His indwelling
Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good
we shall have something to tell (Steps to Christ, p. 78).

How else may we know that we truly know the Lord?

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I
know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1
John 2:3-4.

We know that we know the Lord, if we do what He says. One preacher said “It is a good
thing to remember that the Bible in the head won’t do. The Bible in the hand won’t do. The
Bible in the pocket won’t do. The Bible on the shelf won’t do. But the Bible, the Word of
God in the heart…will bring a new life” (Bible Readings for the Home, p. 34, Emphasis
supplied). “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1
John 2:6). He who has encountered the Lord will live differently.

What does the Bible say about he who waters?

The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.
Proverbs 11:25.

Ellen White tells the following story on the blessings that come with helping others, whether
physically in community service or spiritually in bible studies.

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 I have read of a man who, journeying on a winter’s day through the deep, drifted snow,
became benumbed by the cold, which was almost imperceptibly stealing away his vital
powers. And as he was nearly chilled to death by the embrace of the frost king, and about
to give up the struggle for life, he heard the moans of a brother traveler, who was
perishing with cold, as he was about to perish. His sympathy was aroused, and he
determined to rescue him. He chafed the ice-clad limbs of the unfortunate man, and after
considerable effort, raised him to his feet; and as he could not stand, he bore him in
sympathizing arms through the very drifts he had thought he could never succeed in
getting through alone. And when he had borne his fellow-traveler to a place of safety, the
truth flashed home to him that in saving his neighbor he had saved himself also. His
earnest efforts to save another quickened the blood which was freezing in his own veins,
and created a healthful warmth in the extremities of his body (Gospel Workers, p. 46).

As we preach the gospel; as we water others, we too get watered; we too get blessed; we too
grow in Christ.
CONCLUSION
As we reach the end of times, and as Satan redoubles his efforts to keep us away from God’s
kingdom, our only safety is in God’s word. It is important therefore that we do not only
reaffirm our faith in this word but that we live in it; that we root our lives in it, and that we
find our safety in it. Without God’s word, we are like a ship at sea but without an anchor. We
get tossed about as the wind wills, and at last, we get lost. With God’s word however, we are
anchored; we are fastened, and we are rooted. This means that no matter how hard the winds
of hell blow, we shall remain steadfast in the Lord. And we shall not keep quiet; we shall tell
others about our experience; we shall go. It is our prayer that this will be our experience.