Third Quarter Adult Division, No. 305, Third Quarter, 1971 Eesson Titles fol. the Quartlev 1. A World in Revolt 2. The Message of Missions 3. The Morning of Missions 4. The Master of Missions 5. The March of Missions 6. The Mystery of Missions 7. The Motive of Missions 8. The Method of Missions 9. Missions Misunderstood 10. Money and Missions 11. The Ministry of Missions 12. The Men of Missions 13. The Miracle of Missions Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 305, July-September, 1971. 30 cents a single copy, $1.20 a year (four issues) ; no additional charge to countries requiring extra postage. Published in the U.S.A. by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S.D.A.), 1350 Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94040. Second-class mail privileges authorized at Mountain View, California. Form 3579 requested. When a change of address is desired, please be sure to send both old and new addresses. Copyright, 1971, by Pacific Publishing Association Cover photo by John Hancock Illustrations by James Converse The Blessing of Daily Study "Every day some portion of time should be appropriated to the study of the lessons, not merely in learning to me- chanically repeat the words, while the mind does not com- prehend the meaning; but to go to the very foundation, and become familiar with what is brought out in the lesson." —Counsels on Sabbath School Work, page 53. My Pledge As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of the Scriptures, I pledge myself to the careful and prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath School lesson each day of the week. (signed) The Chtuinch and Ilts Woilild Mission THIRD QUARTER, 1971 Seventh-day Adventists, who owe their very existence to the divine call to carry the "advent message to all the world," do well to restudy the Bibli- cal and historical bases of our call and commitment, and to reexamine our methods of carrying on mission work. This inquiry should help us catch again the enthusiasm and spirit that motivated our early pioneers and their successors upon whom the reality of a world mission challenge began to dawn. These lessons are designed not only to develop new interest in world witnessing, but also to show that every member of the church, regardless of age, station in life, education, or race, is to be involved, in fact must be involved, if the task is to be accomplished. Today, when many countries scattered around the globe are serving as home bases for overseas missionaries, it is no longer correct to designate "missions" as a branch of the church which is concerned with the evangeli- zation of certain areas or racial groups. "Missions" is to be the immediate concern of every member, and missionary work is to be carried out in one's own household, neighborhood, and town as well as outside the borders within which he was born. Although these lessons may emphasize the "overseas" aspect of mission service, they are also intended to reawaken an interest in the overall mission of the church and the purpose of our exis- tence as a movement, whether such activity be carried on at home or abroad. In these challenging and trying times, if we will take the opportunity to do so, we may lift up our eyes "and look on the fields"; noting certainly that "they are white already to harvest." 4 LESSON 1 July 3, 1971 A WORLD IN REVOLT 1 "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 2 Cor. 5:19. In introducing a new series of lessons for fluence."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page this quarter on the topic of "The Church 635. and Its World Mission," we wish first of Reconcile, reconciliation. Here we have all to establish a Biblical and theological words with rather deep theological involve- basis for mission. Rebellion began in heaven, ments because they come to us in the Eng- and was transferred to this earth. In part lish KJV from a background of Hebrew at least, Satan rebelled because he was not and Greek words with a wide range of consulted over the creation of man and this meaning: "to cover, make atonement," "to earth. make self pleasing," "to change thoroughly," "Satan was envious and jealous of Jesus "to appease, or propitiate." According to Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to the Adventist concept, the atonement on Jesus to acknowledge His supremacy and the cross was one thing, while the work high authority and rightful rule, Satan of reconciling man to God is a second step. bowed with them; but his heart was filled Reconciliation includes man's intelligence, with envy and hatred. Christ had been his emotions, and his will. taken into the special counsel of God in regard to His plans, while Satan was un- acquainted with them. He did not under- LESSON OUTLINE stand, neither was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. . . . Why should I. Sin Enters Heaven Christ thus be honored before himself ?" Isa. 14:12-15 —Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p. 18. Man became a vital part of the whole 2. God's Purpose in Creating This drama: (1) creation, (2) disobedience in Earth Eden, (3) rebellious attitude, (4) redemp- tion and reconciliation, and (5) man's re- Isa. 45:18 sponsibility in helping God reconcile the 3. Controversy Transferred to world to Himself. KEY WORDS This Earth Rebellion. The words "rebel," "rebel- Rev. 12:7, 8, 12 lion," and "rebellious" in our English Bi- ble, are translations from three Hebrew 4. Sin Enters This Earth words, and take on the meanings of to Rom. 5:12 turn aside, to provoke, to make bitter, and to transgress. The dictionary says that re- 5. Man in Rebellion bellion is open resistance to authority, in- Eph. 6:12; Rom. 3:23; 8:10 subordination, forcible resistance. "Rebellion originated with Satan, and all rebellion 6. Reconciling the World Unto God against God is directly due to satanic in- Col. 1:20, 21 5 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Sunday June 27 Part 1 "How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of SIN ENTERS the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which HEAVEN didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the Isa. 14:12-15 sides of the pit." "Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and was highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, 'son of the morning,' was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 35. While urging changes in the order and laws of heaven, what were the underlying motivations of Lucifer? Isaiah 14:13, 14. "Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and be- came the more determined. "To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus im- peaching the wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince of angels."—Ibid., p. 36. "While claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God, he urged that changes in the order and laws of heaven were necessary for the stability of the divine government."—Ibid., p. 38. "Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in rebel- lion."—Ibid., p. 42. THINK IT THROUGH What personal attitudes could place us in jeopardy similar to Lucifer's when he attacked God? "The King of the universe summoned dience; and to all He grants freedom of the heavenly hosts before Him, that in will, that they may render Him volun- their presence He might set forth the tary service."—"Ibid.," p. 34. true position of His Son and show the "God permitted Satan to carry for- relation He sustained to all created be- ward his work until the spirit of disaf- ings. The Son of God shared the Father's fection ripened into active revolt. . . . throne, and the glory of the eternal, Until fully developed, it could not be self-existent One encircled both."—"Pa- made to appear the evil thing it was; triarchs and Prophets," page 36. his disaffection would not be seen to be "God desires from all His creatures rebellion."—"Ibid.," p. 41. the service of love—service that springs FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and from an appreciation of His character. Prophets," pages 33-43. He takes no pleasure in a forced obe- 6 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Monday June 28 Part 2 "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God GOD'S PURPOSE IN Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath estab- CREATING THIS lished it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be EARTH inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." Isa. 45:18 "God created both the world and its inhabitants, and must have had a beneficent purpose for so doing."—SDA Bible Com- mentary, on Isa. 45:12. "God made the world to enlarge heaven. He desires a larger family of created intelligences."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, page 1081. What was the crowning act of creation? Gen. 1:26, 27. "In the creation it was His purpose that the earth should be inhabited by beings whose existence would be a blessing to themselves and to one another, and an honor to their Creator." —Prophets and Kings, page 500. What relationship would created man sustain to cre- ated celestial beings? Ps. 8:4-6. "All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and dis- tinct order. They were made 'in the image of God,' and it was the Creator's design that they should populate the earth. They were to live in close communion with heaven, receiving power from the Source of all power. . . . "God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in the image of God, and is capable of partaking -of the divine nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans."—Sons and Daughters of God, page 7. THINK IT THROUGH In creating the earth for man, what responsibilities did God place upon man? "After the earth was created, and the had not consulted him in regard to the beasts upon it, the Father and Son car- creation of man."—"Ibid.," p. 36. ried out their purpose, which was de- "At the creation, labor was appointed signed before the fall of Satan, to make as a blessing. It meant development, man in their own image."—"Spiritual power, happiness. The changed condi- Gifts," Vol. 3, page 33. tion of the earth through the curse of "Before the fall of Satan, the Father sin has brought a change in the condi- consulted His Son in regard to the for- tions of labor. . . . It is still a source of mation of man. They purposed to make happiness and development. And it is this world, and create beasts and living a safeguard against temptation. . . . things upon it, and to make man in the Thus it becomes a part of God's great image of God, to reign as a ruling plan for our recovery from the Fall." monarch over every living thing which —"Education," page 214. God should create. When Satan learned FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and the purpose of God, he was envious at and Prophets," pages 50, 51. Christ, and jealous because the Father 7 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Tuesday June 29 Part 3 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels CONTROVERSY fought against the dragon; . . . and he [Satan] was cast TRANSFERRED TO out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with THIS EARTH him." "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! Rev. 12:7-9, 12 for the devil is come down unto you." Here John the Revelator reviews briefly the history of the great controversy between Satan and Christ from its inception in heaven and its transfer to this earth, down to Christ's vic- tory at the cross and afterward. See SDA Bible Commentary, on Rev. 12:7. 1). Did Satan willingly leave the courts of heaven, or was he ejected? Rev. 12:9. "When Satan had succeeded in winning many angels to his side, he took his cause to God, representing that it was the desire of the angels that he occupy the position that Christ held. "The evil continued to work until the spirit of disaffection ripened into active revolt. . . . Satan, with all who sympa- thized with him, was cast out. Satan had warred for the mas- tery in heaven, and had lost the battle. God could no longer trust him with honor and supremacy, and these, with the part he had taken in the government of heaven, were taken from him."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, pp. 972, 973. Upon being excluded from heaven, where did Satan decide to set up his kingdom? Rev. 12:12. THINK IT THROUGH Does jealousy and self-exaltation always involve per- sonalities? Does this same spirit lead to a desire for revenge? "When Satan rebelled, there was rallied."—Ellen G. White Comments, war in heaven, and he, with all his "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p. sympathizers, was cast out. He had 973. held a high office in heaven, possessing "There is a grand rebellion in the a throne radiant with light. But he earthly universe. . . . Lucifer revolted swerved from his allegiance to the from his allegiance and makes war on blessed and only Potentate, and fell the divine government. Christ is ap- from his first estate. All who sympa- pointed to put down the rebellion. He thized with him were driven from the makes this world His battlefield. He presence of God, doomed to be no more stands at the head of the human fam- acknowledged in the heavenly courts ily. . . . as having a right there. Satan became "The salvation of a world is at the avowed antagonist of Christ. On stake."—"Ibid." Vol. 4, p. 1163. the earth he planted the standard of FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of rebellion, and round it his sympathizers Ages," pages 490, 493. 8 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Wednesday June 30 Part 4 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, SIN ENTERS and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for THIS EARTH that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12 What essential difference was there between the fall of Eve and that of Adam? 1 Tim. 2:14. Compare 2 Cor. 11:3. THINK IT THROUGH In the light of the story of Genesis 3, think over these questions: 1. What reasons can you think of for denying Adam and Eve the privilege of eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Was it simply an arbitrary restriction? Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-3. 2. What did the choice involve? 3. Had Adam and Eve been warned of Satan's inten- tions? "The angels warned them to be on their guard against the devices of Satan, for his efforts to ensnare them would be unwearied."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 53. 4. Would you classify the test as easy or hard? 5. Did Satan exercise creative power in the Garden of Eden? 6. Why do you suppose Satan assumed or chose the serpent as his medium? Wasn't that degrading himself? "In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose to employ as his medium the serpent—a disguise well adapted for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. It had wings, and while flying through the air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness, having the color and brilliancy of burnished gold."—Ibid., p. 53. "The fall of Lucifer, who had been love. . . . Inasmuch as God did not foremost among the angels of heaven wish them to be tempted above their (Isa. 14:12, 13; Eze. 28:13-15), obvi- ability to withstand (1 Cor. 10:13), He ously preceded the Fall of man (see did not allow Satan to approach them "Patriarchs and Prophets," page 36). in the likeness of God, or at any other God, who daily conversed with man in place than this one tree. . . . Satan, the garden, had not left him ignorant of therefore, came in the form of a crea- events in heaven, but had acquainted ture, not only inferior to God, but far him with the apostasy of Satan and below man himself."—"SDA Bible Com- other angels. . mentary," on Gen. 3:1. "The trial of our first parents was FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Education," permitted as a test of their loyalty and pages 23-27. 9 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Thursday July 1 Part 5 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of MAN IN REBELLION God." "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of Rom. 3:23; 8:10 sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Man is responsible for the results of his own sin. He is involved in the rebellion, and the outcome for him will depend upon his choice. How much was actually lost by the fall of man? What warning has been given in regard to the insti- gator of rebellion? 1 Peter 5:8. "Rebellion will exist as long as Satan exists."—Selected Messages, Bk. 1, p. 72. Not only did man sin, but he became an enemy of God by nature. And as long as men are at enmity with God, they are also at enmity with one another. See The Desire of Ages, pages 302, 305. When man was created, he was given dominion over this earth. When man sinned, he forfeited this dominion, and it was usurped by the deceiver. THINK IT THROUGH Did sin enter any other world than our own? "The beasts of the field obey their to understand the claims of the divine Creator's law in the instinct which gov- law and a conscience to feel the guilt erns them. He speaks to the proud of transgression and the peace and joy ocean, . . . and the waters are prompt of obedience. God made him a free to obey His word. The planets are mar- moral agent, to obey or disobey."— shaled in perfect order. . . Of all the "The Sanctified Life," page 76. creatures that God has made upon the FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of earth, man alone is rebellious. Ages," pages 302, 305; "The Great Con- "Yet he possesses reasoning powers troversy," pages 505, 506. 10 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 ❑ Friday July 2 Part 6 "And having made peace through the blood of His RECONCILING cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, THE WORLD I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in UNTO GOD heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath Col. 1:20, 21 He reconciled." The Old Testament word "atonement" meant a "covering"; that is, a covering in the sense of making things right. This included the idea of bringing estranged persons into agreement with each other. "The term [atonement] appears in the NT but once and only in the KJV (Rom. 5:11), where it describes the state of reconciliation the sinner attains through the sacrifice and priestly ministry of Christ."—SDA Bible Dictionary, page 92. What did Christ come to this earth to accomplish? Rom. 5:10. We can now come to certain definite conclusions, as the result of our study: 1. God planned to create this world and man. 2. A revolt in heaven, resulting in part from God's plans to create this earth, made necessary Satan's expulsion. 3. Satan transferred his revolt to the Garden of Eden. 4. There Satan tempted Eve and Adam, and they forfeited their rights and dominion by their own free choice. 5. This resulted in man's becoming an enemy of God, es- tranged from God. 6. Our little world became the stage on which the contro- versy would be worked out. Read 1 Cor. 4:9. 7. Man cannot disassociate himself from this struggle on which his entire destiny depends. 8. Christ came to earth to reconcile man to God. 9. Man was involved in bringing sin and its curse upon this world. Surely he has a vital interest in the outcome of the controversy. THINK IT THROUGH Who was it that initiated the plan for the reconcilia- tion of men to God? Is man's reconciliation possible with- out human involvement? "The world is a theater; the actors, theater on which would be fought out its inhabitants, are preparing to act the grand struggle between good and their part in the last great drama. ... evil, between heaven and hell. Every God is looking on. His purposes in re- human being acts a part in this con- gard to His rebellious subjects will be flict. No one can stand on neutral fulfilled."—"Testimonies," Vol. 8, p. 27. ground."—"Sons and Daughters of "The fallen world is the battlefield God," page 242. for the greatest conflict the heavenly FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and universe and earthly powers have ever Prophets," pages 154, 155; "The Desire witnessed. It was appointed as the of Ages," page 693. 11 A World in Revolt LESSON 1 July 3 Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. Give as many Scriptural names for Satan as possible • 2. Complete: "Thou bast made him [man] a little lower 3. What is at stake in the great controversy between Christ and Satan? 4. Complete: "Satan comes to man with his temptations as an , as he came to Christ." 5. Complete: "Upon the earth, rebellious." 6. Name the things it takes to constitute a theater and/or drama • (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) sioleloads 'wog 'u'esy. ';o p:1 'slope '02els (g) !s! amp nem (9) :4421!' lo 'ague (t) !plioot or') Jo umlemes ay; (c) !slam ay; ueq) (g) :2murow ay; jo uos '4uadras 'ropona 'Yokel') 'llnap (") :sionssuy 12 LESSON 2 THE MESSAGE OF MISSIONS 2 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a wit- ness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24:14. The preaching of "this gospel of the king- Fear God. "Fear" is used in Rev. 14:7 dom" began, not with Jesus and the disci- "not in the sense of being afraid of God, but ples, but with the "good news" of salva- in the sense of coming to Him with rever- tion given to /..dam and Eve after their ence and awe. It conveys the thought of ab- fall. Gen. 3:15. It has always been God's solute loyalty to God, of full surrender to intention that it be preached in "all the His will."—SDA Bible Commentary, on world for a witness unto all nations." Com- Rev. 14:7. bined with preaching of the gospel in every age there have been messages of warning and hope especially applicable to the peo- LESSON OUTLINE ple of that age. The central theme of these 1. The Everlasting Gospel messages has always been, Christ our righ- teousness. Rev. 14:6 KEY WORDS 2. For All Men Gospel. (Anglo-Saxon, godspel, "good Matt. 24:14 story" or "good news.") Translated in the Bible from a Greek word that originally 3. In a Latter-day Setting referred to a reward to one who brought Rev. 14:14-16 good tidings. Later employed for the good tidings themselves. 4. The First Angel's Message Three angels' messages. A term based Rev. 14:7 on the prophetic messages recorded in Rev. 14:6-11. Particularly used by Seventh-day 5. The Second Angel's Message Adventists to describe God's final warning Rev. 14:8 and last appeal to the world before the close of probation and the second coming 6. The Third Angel's Message of Christ. Rev. 14:9-12 13 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 ❑ Sunday July 4 Part 1 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, THE EVERLASTING having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that GOSPEL dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, Rev. 14:6 and tongue, and people." In this symbolic vision, the angel represents God's messen- gers who preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred (tribe), tongue, and people. The extent of the message and its reception is seen not only in the commission to preach to all nations and people, but also in the symbol of the area of flight, "in the midst of heaven." This indicates that all men everywhere will be aware of the final proclamation of the everlasting gospel. In what words does Isaiah describe prophetically the universal spread of the gospel? Isa. 52:7, 10. It is significant that in Revelation 14:6 the Bible links the term "everlasting" with the word "gospel." Ever since the first man sinned, the only means of redemption has been the salva- tion provided by God Himself in the gift of Jesus Christ to die the death that was ours that we might have the life that is His. It will ever be so. Set as they are in the Revelation prophecy, the "three an- gels' messages" come as the final worldwide warning that pre- pares the way for the second coming of Christ. The threefold message includes appeals to respond to issues that revolve around doctrinal truths. Yet any such response is meaningless unless it is based on love for Christ and grateful acceptance of Him as "the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6. THINK IT THROUGH Is it possible for those of us who have lived so long in the light of the "three angels' messages" and have taken part in its presentation to be lost ourselves while pos- sessing God's message to man-today? 1 Cor. 9:27. What must happen in the hearts and lives of God's people before the everlasting gospel can effectively reach all the people of the world? Ps. 50:5. "Our standing before God depends, for lack of a knowledge of the truths not upon the amount of light we have that have been committed to us. The received, but upon the use we make of members of the church are in need of what we have. Thus even the heathen an awakening, that they may realize who choose the right as far as they can their responsibility to impart these distinguish it are in a more favorable truths. Those who have been enlight- condition than are those who have had ened by the truth are to be light bear- great light, and profess to serve God, ers to the world. To hide our light at but who disregard the light, and by this time is to make a terrible mistake." their daily life contradict their profes- —"Testimonies," Vol. 7, p. 62. sion."—"The Desire of Ages," page 239. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the "Everywhere people are perishing Apostles," pages 598-601. 14 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 ❑ Monday July 5 Part 2 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached FOR ALL MEN in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then Matt. 24:14 shall the end come." In vision John saw an angel with die "everlasting gospel" to preach to every "nation and tribe and tongue and people." Rev. 14:6, RSV. God has but one system of religion and one church embracing all the ages. He is not the author of con- fusion. "All of God's people upon the earth are one body, from the beginning to the end of time. They have one Head that directs and governs the body."—Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 283. How was a message similar to that of the first angel presented to the Babylonian Empire in the days of Daniel? Dan. 2:28-30; 4:24, 25; 5:22-28. "By the captivity God purposed not only to bring Israel to repentance but also to acquaint with the true religion the Babylonians and other nations whom the Jews would meet in their exile. Through such men as Daniel and Ezekiel, the Babylonians were given the opportunity to know and to fol- low Jehovah. Their failure to do this was a contributing factor in their downfall."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Jer. 51:9. How was Nebuchadnezzar given a message similar to that of the second angel? Dan. 2:36-39, 47. "Light direct from Heaven had been permitted to shine upon King Nebuchadnezzar, and for a little time he was influenced by the fear of God. But a few years of prosperity filled his heart with pride, and he forgot his acknowledgment of the living God. He resumed his idol worship with increased zeal and bigotry."—The Sanctified Life, page 36. What parallel to the worship of "the beast and his image" is found in Daniel 3? Dan. 3:1-6. THINK IT THROUGH Are there parallels between ancient and modern Babylon? In ancient Babylon as well as in princes of the Neo-Babylonian empire. modern "Babylon" there will be those The judgment visited upon ancient Bab- who are characterized by the faith of ylon, as described in Daniel 5, is a fit- Jesus and loving obedience to His com- ting symbol of the final judgment that mandments who will refuse to worship will be visited on those who fail to re- the beast and his image and will thus spond to God's last warning message witness before the whole world of their today. fidelity to God as did the three Hebrews FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Prophets and before the king and the assembled Kings," pages 514-521. 15 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 ❑ Tuesday July 6 Part 3 "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon IN A LATTER-DAY the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on SETTING His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth Rev. 14:14-16 was reaped." Following the proclamation of these messages a typical de- scription of the second coming of Christ is presented, and that is followed by the fourth angel of this chapter who is por- trayed as reaping the harvest of the earth. When is the harvest? Matt. 13:39. The harvest portrayed in Rev. 14:15-20 is the final harvest at the end of the world. Actually two harvests are presented here which are prefigured in the two annual harvests in Pales- tine, the grain harvest and the vintage. The grain harvest rep- resents the gathering of the righteous. The gathering of the "fully ripe" grapes which are cast into the winepress of the wrath of God represents the gathering of the wicked for destruction. What blessing is pronounced upon those who die in the faith of the three angels' messages? Rev. 14:13. Com- pare Dan. 12:2. This blessing may be pronounced on this group because theirs is the privilege of being raised in the special resurrection which precedes the general resurrection of the righteous. "All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law."—The Great Con- troversy, page 637. The phrase "their works do follow them," in Rev. 14:13, may refer to the fruitage of the work they have begun in first proclaiming the three angels' messages which will be evidenced in the large harvest at the end of the world. THINK IT THROUGH If we really believe what we have studied in this section, what should be our relationship to stewardship of our time and means? "The time has come when through must lighten the darkness of every con- God's messengers the scroll is being tinent, and extend to the islands of the unrolled to the world. The truth con- sea. There must be no delay in this tained in the first, second, and third work."—"Gospel Workers," page 470. angels' messages must go to every na- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- tion, kindred, tongue, and people; it troversy," pages 635-652. 16 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 El Wednesday July 7 Part 4 "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory THE FIRST ANGEL'S to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship MESSAGE Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the Rev. 14:7 fountains of waters." The three angels' messages are messages of hope. It is true that they contain clear and sharp warnings to those who are unprepared for Christ's return. But they are, most of all, voices of certainty and eternal hope in the midst of our present con- fusion, fear, and bewilderment. Seventh-day Adventists are ever making an effort to preach these messages in their fullness. They are not just another Christian sect or denomination. Our church is made up of people who have, for the most part, come from other religions and denominations into the belief that only the messages of the three angels are adequate to meet the challenge of the present state of our world and to prepare men to meet their God. The power of these messages, however, is not in the doc- trines or truths they present to modern men but in the Christ to whom these truths point. What should be the primary stress in all our witness- ing? Eph. 2:7-10. To "fear God and give glory to Him" in this age when men pride themselves in their own achievements and do not feel the need of a Saviour, is to love, honor, and respect Him so much that our lives will be dedicated to the one all-consuming pur- pose of bringing glory and honor to Him. "The hour of His judgment is come." The investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary, which began in 1844, is an awesome time of heart-searching and solemn responsibility to ourselves and those about us; it is not a time of fear to those whose lives are filled with love for Christ. Read 1 John 4:17-19. The call to worship the Creator of heaven, earth, and water is also extremely pertinent in this age when evolutionary as- sumptions characterize nearly every field of learning and much of what passes for theology. THINK IT THROUGH What attests to the process of sanctification in the lives of God's people? Ezek. 20:12, 20. Are the three angels' messages merely part of our doctrinal beliefs, or are they part of our lives? How do they enable us to understand and reveal Christ better? "To give glory to God is to reveal His "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p. character in our own, and thus make 979. -Him kno7A7i--- ). Ah- d-in whatever way we FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- make known the Father or the Son, we troversy," pages 375-380, 433-438. glorify God."-E. G. White Comments, 17 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 ❑ Thursday July 8 Part 5 "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon THE SECOND is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all ANGEL'S MESSAGE nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Rev. 14:8 Historically, the second angel's message followed the first and "was first preached in the summer of 1844." But, just as the first angel's message has not yet been given to the world in all its fullness, so "not yet . . . can it be said that 'Babylon is fallen, . . . because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' . . . The work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination."—The Great Controversy, page 389. Babylon, from its beginning, was symbolic of rebellion against God and oppression of His people. Perhaps Satan's greatest achievement is the introduction of "Babylon" into the Christian church itself, and in this prophecy it is symbolic of all apostate religions and individuals. What did Jesus declare to indicate that there would be "Babylonish" elements within the church, causing Him to be misrepresented? Matt. 7:21-23. Rev. 18:1-4 "points forward to a time when the announce- ment of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Rev. 14:8, is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organiza- tions that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given."—Ibid., p. 603. The "loud cry" of the third angel "has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 984. In Rev. 14:8 coercion by religious powers suggested in the terms "made" and "all nations" indicates the universal extent of apostasy. But, at the same time that apostasy becomes worldwide, the righteousness of Christ is to be revealed in the lives of His people as a "witness to all nations." THINK IT THROUGH How long has it been since this message was first given? How much longer must we wait for the call to "come out of her"? Rev. 18:4. "Miller and his associates fulfilled before the Lord should come. The first prophecy and gave a message which and second angels' messages were Inspiration had foretold should be given given at the right time and accom- to the world, but which they could not plished the work which God designed have given had they fully understood to accomplish by them."—"The Great the prophecies pointing out their dis- Controversy," page 405. appointment, and presenting another FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Early Writings," message to be preached to all nations pages 237-240. 18 The Message of Missions LESSON 2 ❑ Friday July 9 Part 6 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a THE THIRD loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, ANGEL'S MESSAGE and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand." Rev. 14:9' The test of the seventh-day Sabbath, which is a part of the third angel's message, was carried to the world by many of those who preached the first two messages of Rev. 14:6, 7. Among these were Joseph Bates and James and Ellen White, who in the mid-1840's began to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. In the long years that have followed, Sabbath-keeping Advent- ists have been carrying this great truth to the world. But the time comes for it to be given with greatest power when the attention of the whole world is focused upon this issue. See The Great Controversy,. pages 604-606. This is still unfulfilled prophecy, and Adventists clearly teach that no one yet has received the "mark of the beast" mentioned in this prophecy. But the time is soon coming when "the Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially con- troverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the ob- servance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keep- ing of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evi- dence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God."—The Great Controversy, page 605. "Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their fore- heads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a set- tling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, . . . that we may know what is coming."—Ellen G. White Com- ments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 1161. THINK IT THROUGH What will bring about a change in the experience of the Laodicean church that will enable the members fully to reflect Christ's character to the world? "There is to be a mark placed upon the golden chain of obedience, every God's people, and that mark is the link of which is a promise. He shows keeping of His holy Sabbath." that he regards God's Word as above "Individually we need to inquire, In the word of man, God's love as pref- observing a day of rest, have I drawn erable to the love of man."—Ellen G. my faith from the Scriptures, or from White Comments, "SDA Bible Commen- a spurious representation of truth? Ev- tary," Vol. 7, p. 981. ery soul who fastens himself to the FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," divine, everlasting covenant, made and Vol. 6, p. 90; "The Great Controversy," presented to us as a sign and mark of pages 611, 612. God's government, fastens himself to 19 Ot Answers: (1) everywhere, aware, proclamation, gospel; (2) True; (3) the time is come to reap; or, the harvest of the earth is ripe; (4) the Sabbath; (5) they have called, "Lord, Lord," but have not done the will of God; (6) True. Caged all; tuo4loq all; 45 0.1E srannsue ally) „ uatu uodn ..reaq lrpnoiq st Ism !Euu alp„ 'pun 4seaq aq1 jo 3putu alp sauaaai Aliernae auo oN lo anu .9 .uLlop2upf sIH olu! aalreulla ausap otink SaLIO 111STIOD /1/13UI IOAOLI 3H kes Aqm .s Isn pue poi) uaamlaq u2Is iepads E s! leqm *-17 pue apps ay LIt isnup papueuulloo „pnota all; 110 ;es ;ell;„ auo aq1 sum Atm\ •E iezzaupetianqaN aiojaq smalqaH aanp alp pp su poo 01 Auppu uatp jo ppom atoqm all; aioj -aq ssauum oqm asotp aq illm ant"; „uoiAqug„ Luapoui ui :asted anII 7 2upsepana all; JO luau alt; 3° aq [pm 113UI IIV * I 213MOd Aanis mnoA JO 1S31 V O SNOI1S3f10 AIIVWWI1S O L Pod OT AInf Z NOSS31 suopsm Jo ayssan att,L LESSON 3 July 17, 1971 THE MORNING OF MISSIONS 3 "For Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isa. 56:7. The history of missions is the history of with the gospel message. This study of how men—men of great vision and faith who God used missionary-minded men of the under the guidance of the Holy Spirit were past is evidence of what He can and will willing to forsake all and go wherever God do today when our lives are yielded to Him. led them in the task of proclaiming the everlasting gospel. This section on "the LESSON OUTLINE morning of missions" deals with the period covered by the Old Testament, but it pre- 1. Witness in Past Ages sents only a few from among those great Acts 14:15-17 missionaries of Testament times whose lives and work are recorded in the Scrip- 2. Abraham, an Apostle of Faith tures. There are countless more, named and Heb. 11:8 unnamed, whose record is written in heaven and whose work will be attested to by 3. Moses and the Establishment redeemed ones in the new earth who are of a Missionary Nation there because of the sacrifice of those heroes of faith. Even the writer of Hebrews said Deut. 7:6 that "time would fail me to tell" of the 4. Jonah, the Reluctant Missionary multitude of those "of whom the world was not worthy." Heb. 11:32, 38. Jonah 3:2 The mission movement seems to be espe- cially linked to earth's great crisis periods. 5. Isaiah's View of Missions Just when it seems that the forces of dark- Isa. 56:6, 7 ness and evil are about to overcome the people of God and eliminate the true wit- 6. Daniel, Witness to Two Great nesses from this planet, a counteraction Empires takes place which fills the earth once again Dan. 5:18-21; 6:22 21 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Sunday July 11 Part 1 "The living God . . . in times past suffered all nations WITNESS IN to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not PAST AGES Himself without witness." Acts 14:15-17 After the Fall the first of the great periods of crisis of which we have a clear record is the time of Noah. Although Adam, Abel, Enoch, and the other antediluvian patriarchs clearly have a place in God's long line of witnesses, it is Noah's part in this great world crisis that leads us to refer to him as one of earth's first great missionaries. A tremendous challenge faced God's missionary before the Flood. Large numbers of people needed to be warned. What was the basis of Noah's missionary preaching? Heb. 11:7. Noah's message was far more than a mere prophetic warn- ing of judgment to come. It was a timely appeal to repent and forsake sins. That salvation from sin was to be accomplished through the death of Christ was portrayed in Noah's age in the ritual of the sacrificial lamb. The author of Hebrews points out that Noah was an "heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Noah preached the everlasting gospel centered in a very strong and urgent prophetic message of God's judgment soon to come. How did Noah demonstrate his faith before the skep- tical world of his day? Gen. 6:13, 14, 22. Noah's message and faith were vividly illustrated by a most unusual visual aid—the ark. What a strange thing it must have been to those antediluvians to see such a huge ship erected on dry ground. Certainly, "Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the people."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 95. Few responded—but for 120 years Noah faithfully warned the world of the day of judgment. How is the blindness of Noah's generation with re- spect to the approaching Flood described by Peter? 2 Peter 3:5, 6. THINK IT THROUGH In the light of Luke 17:26, what parallels might be drawn between the challenge of missions in our day and that in the time of Noah? "Noah stood like a rock amid the for one hundred and twenty years his tempest. Surrounded by popular con- solemn voice fell upon the ears of that tempt and ridicule, he distinguished generation in regard to events, which, himself by his holy integrity and un- so far as human wisdom could judge, wavering faithfulness. A power at- were impossible."—"Patriarchs and tended his words, for it was the voice Prophets," page 96. of God to man through His servant. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Connection with God made him strong Prophets," pages 92-98. in the strength of infinite power, while 22 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Monday July 12 Part 2 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into ABRAHAM, AN a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, APOSTLE OF obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." FAITH Heb. 11:8 "He [God] chose Abraham, of the line of Shem, and made him the keeper of His law for future generations. Abraham had grown up in the midst of superstition and heathenism. Even his father's household, by whom the knowledge of God had been preserved, were yielding to the seductive influences surrounding them, and they 'served other gods' than Jehovah. But the true faith was not to become extinct."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 125. Abraham's hometown, Ur, has been extensively excavated by archaeologists. That Abraham left a very advanced civili- zation and a prosperous and progressive metropolis in accept- ing God's call to missionary service is demonstrated by the following notable discoveries: 1. The houses were well-built and pleasant, in many respects superior to most houses in this area today. 2. Sanitation was excellent. All houses were well drained and connected to a covered sewer system. 3. An extensive school system was maintained. Children were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography. 4. Gold and silver artifacts, table service, weapons, tools, and musical instruments all attest to a high state of civilization and a high standard of cultural achievement. Yet, when God called, Abraham unhesitatingly forsook friends and security and set out for the unknown land of Canaan; and, although blessed with wealth and a large number of retainers, he lived in tents and moved from place to place in the land of sojourn. In Palestine Abraham "exerted a telling influence in favor of the true faith."—Ibid., p. 133, 134. What inspired Abraham's missionary zeal? Heb. 11:8-10. THINK IT THROUGH What missionary characteristics did Abraham clearly demonstrate during his years of service? "Many are still tested as was Abra- ence of friends and kindred would ham. They do not hear the voice of hinder the development of the very God speaking directly from the heav- traits essential for its accomplishment. ens, but He calls them by the teaching . . . Who will accept new duties and of His Word and the events of His prov- enter untried fields, doing God's work idence. They may be required to aban- with firm and willing heart, for Christ's don a career that promises wealth and sake counting his losses gain? He who honor, to leave congenial and profitable will do this has the faith of Abraham." associations, and separate from kin- —"Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 126, dred, to enter upon what appears to 127. be only a path of self-denial, hardship, FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and and sacrifice. God has a work for them Prophets," pages 125-130. to do; but a life of ease and the influ- 23 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Tuesday July 13 Part 3 "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: MOSES AND THE the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people ESTABLISHMENT unto Himself, above all the people that are upon the OF A MISSIONARY face of the earth." NATION Deut. 7:6 God had given the •Canaanites 400 years from the time of Abraham to fill up their "cup of iniquity." Now He intended that the strategically located area of Palestine become the center of a missionary nation. Moses was commissioned to lead Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land, and the stop- over at Sinai was ordained for Israel's mission orientation pro- gram. By their example in following God and through His evident blessing upon them, they were to be witnesses to all nations. "Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by their advantages, they would have been the world's object lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived according to God's plan, they would have been preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations. Above any other people they would have possessed physical strength and vigor of intellect. They would have been the mightiest nation on the earth."—The Ministry of Healing, page 283. Deut. 7:14 adds, "Thou shalt be blessed above all people." According to SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, pp. 27, 28, these blessings were to include: 1. Holiness of character—Lev. 19:2. 2. The blessings of health—Ex. 15:26. 3. Superior intellect—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 378. 4. Skill in agriculture and animal husbandry—Deut. 7:13. 5. Superior craftsmanship—Ex. 31:2-6. 6. Unparalleled prosperity—Deut. 8:17, 18. 7. National greatness—Deut. 28:1. "Even the heathen would recognize the superiority of those who served and worshiped the living God."—Christ's Object Lesson, page 289. THINK IT THROUGH Which of these promises to ancient Israel are appli- cable to God's missionary people today? Are they being fulfilled? "In the years that followed the occu- of the nations shall worship before pation of the Promised Land, the benefi- Thee.' .. . cent designs of Jehovah for the salva- "Had Israel been true to her trust, tion of the heathen were almost wholly all the nations of earth would have lost sight of, and it became necessary shared in her blessings."—"Prophets for Him to set forth His plan anew. 'All and Kings," pages 370, 371. the ends of the world,' the psalmist was FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object inspired to sing, 'shall remember and Lessons," pages 284-296 (1923 ed., turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds pages 287-300). 24 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Wednesday July 14 Part 4 "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach JONAH, THE unto it the preaching that I bid thee." RELUCTANT Jonah was a "reluctant missionary," called •to preach the MISSIONARY gospel to one of earth's most wicked cities. The Assyrians were Jonah 3:2 noted for their cruelty and vindictiveness. Jonah was intensely nationalistic, and thus did not want to see Nineveh spared. Jonah seems also to have been concerned that God might spare Nineveh if the people repented; thus his predictions would not come to pass. This would be humiliating to him. So, when he carefully analyzed the whole situation, his decision was to go as far away as possible in the opposite direction. Acting on this decision, he purchased a ticket to Tarshish (probably in Spain). But, through direct intervention by God, he ended up being brought ashore closer to Nineveh than he was when he boarded ship to try to flee from God's purpose. Recognizing the inevitability of the divine purpose, he did follow God's command at this juncture and preached the mes- sage of God's impending judgment up and down the streets of Nineveh, which was "an exceeding great city" (Jonah 3:3) for its time. How did Jonah react to his success as a missionary to Nineveh? Jonah 4:1. Jonah was not happy about being such a successful mission- ary evangelist, but the •impression that God made •on his mind through the object lesson of the gourd (Jonah 4:6-11) seems to have done something to change Jonah's selfishness and his hesitancy to place God's will first. At least he didn't hide the facts of his disobedience and discouragement when later telling the story—and this may have taken more courage than even going •to cruel and sinful Nineveh with God's message of warn- ing. Not all mission experiences are thrilling and bright, and the modern missionary may take comfort that a man later recognized by Christ as a true prophet of God (Matt. 12:39, 40) had his discouraging moments and even questioned the wisdom of God's purpose. THINK IT THROUGH Can we really blame Jonah for his attitude? What would we do if asked by God to preach impending judg- ment in a cruel enemy city? "As the prophet thought of the diffi- whom he served was all-wise and all- culties and seeming impossibilities of powerful. While he hesitated, still this commission, he was tempted to doubting, Satan overwhelmed him question the wisdom of the call. From with discouragement."—"Prophets and a human viewpoint it seemed as if Kings," page 266. nothing could be gained by proclaim- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Prophets and ing such a message in that proud city. Kings," pages 265-278. He forgot for the moment that the God 25 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Thursday July 15 Part 5 "The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the ISAIAH'S VIEW Lord . . . ; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, OF MISSIONS and make them joyful in My house of prayer." Isa. 56:6, 7 "Throughout his ministry Isaiah bore a plain testimony con- cerning God's purpose for the heathen. Other prophets had made mention of the divine plan, but their language was not always understood. To Isaiah it was given to make very plain to Judah the truth that among the Israel of God were to be numbered many who were not descendants of Abraham after the flesh. This teaching was not in harmony with the theology of his age, yet he fearlessly proclaimed the messages given him of God and brought hope to many a longing heart reaching out after the spiritual blessings promised to the seed of Abra- ham."—Prophets and Kings, page 367. How extensive was to be the world outreach of God's people? Isa. 49:6, 12. Isaiah's description of his vision inspired William Carey's work for God. May 31, 1792, is recognized as the birth date for modern missions. On that date Carey preached his famous sermon from Isa. 54:2, 3, presenting the concepts that we should "expect great things from God" and "attempt great things for God." The greatest days for missions are still before us. Read Isaiah 60 and apply it to our day. When will it meet its greatest fulfillment? THINK IT THROUGH How will prophecies such as Isa. 60:1-3 meet their fulfillment? What will happen in the church that will lead to these accomplishments? "Every shining star which God has will increase and grow brighter. Give placed in the heavens obeys His man- out your light, . . . pour forth your date, and gives its distinctive measure beams mirrored from heaven."—Ellen of light to make beautiful the heavens G. White Comments, "SDA Bible Com- at night; so let every converted soul mentary," Vol. 4, p. 1153. show the measure of light committed FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Prophets and to him; and as it shines forth the light Kings," pages 367-370. 26 The Morning of Missions LESSON 3 ❑ Friday July 16 Part 6 "There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit DANIEL, WITNESS of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and TO TWO GREAT understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, EMPIRES was found in him." Dan. 5:11 "The prophet Daniel was an illustrious character. He was a bright example of what men may become when united with the God of wisdom."—The Sanctified Life, page 18. A man of strict integrity and principle, Daniel was used as God's witness to two great empires—the Neo-Babylonian and the Persian. "Honored by men with the responsibilities of state and with the secrets of kingdoms bearing universal sway, Daniel was honored by God as His ambassador."—Prophets and Kings, page 547. 1). What were the results of Daniel's missionary witness? 1. Dan. 1:19, 20. 2. Dan. 2:47 3. Dan. 4:37 4. Dan. 5:29 5. Dan. 6:25-27 "King Nebuchadnezzar, before whom Daniel so often hon- ored the name of God, was finally thoroughly converted, and learned to 'praise and extol and honor the King of heaven.'" —Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 1170. THINK IT THROUGH What attitudes and characteristics of Daniel made him an ideal candidate for the position in which he was placed? "Daniel, the prime minister of the scrutiny of his enemies, were found to greatest of earthly kingdoms, was at be without one flaw. He was an exam- the same time a prophet of God, re- ple of what every businessman may ceiving the light of heavenly inspira- become when his heart is converted and tion. A man of like passions as our- when his motives are right with God." selves, the pen of inspiration describes —"Prophets and Kings," page 546. him as without fault. His business trans- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Prophets and actions, when subjected to the closest Kings," pages 545-548. 27 8Z Answers: (1) faith; (2) city, foundations, builder, Maker, God; (3) holy, special; (4) False. He failed in his own life at this time; but he was a successful missionary; (5) False; (6) Yes. Daniel 4:37. (•a2ed alp Jo tuolloq ail; 4E aie siannsue otu,) 4t1iva Mau ap ut zuzzaupulpnqaN 211IN paw iDadxa am. Auyv .9 .slatidaul luauxelsaj, MO JO IIIDDITOD V 1011 alaM. suo!ssuu ppom :aqua .10 arui .s .X.reuoIssIut u su pairej quuof :aqua zo anzl .t, •pm--1 alp own aidoad E puu us axam salllaursi aqi •E st put? asoqm tputi tpuim E Joj papol„ tuuqurqv 7 .anai 'Aug 4tpIej ‘aatia2llialuf ‘ssautuoqqms paluilsuourap quoN Spy alp 2uyllnq "Ca •I IHMOd Aanis anoA AO IS31. V o SNOILS3flO Aavwwns O L 4Apci LI AIni £ NOSS31 suo:IssIn Jo att,L LESSON 4 July 24, 1971 THE MASTER OF MISSIONS 4 "As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18. Every missionary except one has exhib- Christ, is His depositary, in which the ited human weakness. That one is, of course, riches of His mercy, His grace, and His Jesus. He is the only perfect example of love, are to appear in full and final display." what a missionary should do and be. —Ibid., p. 680. Jesus was a foreign missionary, to a greater extent than most realize. His effec- tiveness as a teacher of missionaries made LESSON OUTLINE the first century the greatest ever in the expansion of Christianity. 1. The Power of Christ's Exemplary The secret of Jesus' success as a mission- Life ary is found in His life of prayer and in His Rom. 1:16 total submissioirfo-ttie—Fifdaiice of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated what God can ac- 2. Meeting Man's Total Needs complish through us when we, too, are fully Matt. 4:23 surrendered to His use. "Jesus revealed no qualities, and exer- 3. Working With the Despised cised no powers, that men may not have John 4:9 through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, 4. Working With the Hopeless if they will be in subjection to God as He Matt. 15:28 was."—The Desire of Ages, page 664. "Christ has given to His church ample 5. Working With the Unconverted facilities, that He may receive a large reve- nue of glory from His redeemed and pur- John 10:16 chased possession. He has bestowed upon His people capabilities and blessings that 6. Training the Disciples to Be they may represent His own sufficiency. The Missionaries church, endowed with the righteousness of Matt. 28:18-20 29 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ Sunday July 18 Part 1 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for THE POWER OF it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that CHRIST'S believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." EXEMPLARY LIFE Jesus erected no monuments, wrote no books, •held no politi- Rom. 1:16 cal office. To many His life must have appeared a failure. He was misunderstood by His own family and finally forsaken by His friends. He had no home, no wife, no children, and, even though He was a master carpenter, as far as we know He possessed no furniture of His own. At the end of His first year of ministry in the Judean district, He was forced to leave under the threat that if He ever came back He would be killed. At the end of His second year •of ministry in Galilee He was rejected by His own people. During His last year of ministry some of the despised Samaritans and Gentiles responded, but at the end of that year He was betrayed by one of His disciples, crucified, and buried in a borrowed •tomb. Yet His life changed all history. How did this happen? Men saw in His life a perfect example of what they might become if wholly united to God as He was. What reaction did the ministry of Jesus bring? John 7:46; Luke 11:1. When the disciples saw the happiness, joy, and peace that characterized His life in spite of the storms of controversy that blew about Him, they determined to find the secret of His power and learn to live as He lived. Almost •two thousand years later we are still amazed at the power of His exemplary life, and we still strive to live as He lived. How did Jesus react to needy humanity? Matt. 14:14. THINK IT THROUGH What must happen before Christ's work on earth is finished, and what must we as individuals do to allow Him to accomplish this through us? "The life of the true believer reveals "Love to man is the earthward mani- an indwelling Saviour. The follower of festation of the love of God. It was to Jesui—ls—Chi-igflikTrrispirit and in tem- implant this love, to make us children per. Like Christ, he is meek and hum- of one family, that the King of glory ble. His faith works by love and purifies became one with us. And when His the soul. His whole life is a testimony parting words are fulfilled, 'Love one to the power of the grace of Christ. The another, as I have loved you' (John pure doctrines of the gospel never de- 15:12); when we love the world as He grade the receiver, never make him has loved it, then for us His mission is coarse, or rough, or uncourteous. The accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; gospel refines, ennobles, and elevates, for we have heaven in our hearts."— sanctifying the judgment and influenc- "The Desire of Ages," page 641. ing the whole life."—"Testimonies," Vol. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of 7, p. 67. Ages," pages 642-645. 30 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ M'onday July 19 Part 2 "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their MEETING MAN'S synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, TOTAL NEEDS and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of Matt. 4:23 disease among the people." By healing He met man's physical needs. By teaching He met man's mental needs. By preaching He met man's spiritual needs. Thus Christ set the example of how best to conduct mission- ary work today. We are to minister to the needs of the whole man. Actually the physical, mental, and spiritual powers can- not be isolated or separated. What affects one affects the others. Therefore, any ministry that comes short of meeting all of man's needs will be only partial and incomplete. The impera- tive necessity of combining the health message with the spiri- tual is pointed out in such quotations as the following: "True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It is impossible to work for the salvation of men and women without presenting to them the need of breaking away from sinful gratifications, which destroy the health, debase the soul, and prevent divine truth from impressing the mind."— Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 137. 1). What instruction did Christ give His followers? Luke 9:2; 10:9. How is last-day evangelism to be accomplished? Isaiah 58. "The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah contains present truth for the people of God. Here we see how medical missionary work and the gospel ministry are to be bound together as the message is given to the world. Upon those who keep •the Sab- bath of the Lord is laid the responsibility of doing a work of mercy and benevolence. Medical missionary work is to be bound up with the message, and sealed with the seal of God." —Evangelism, pages 516, 517. THINK IT THROUGH What needs to be done in a practical way in our day to implement further the instruction found in Isaiah 58? "Gospel workers should be able . . . life to come. They need to be awak- to give instruction in the principles of ened to their responsibility for the hu- healthful living. There is sickness every- man habitation fitted up by their Crea- where, and much of it might be pre- tor as His dwelling place, and over vented by attention to the laws of which He desires them to be faithful health. The people need to see the bear- stewards."—"Ibid.," p. 525. ing of health principles upon their well- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of being, both for this life and for the Healing," pages 17-25. 31 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ Tuesday July 20 Part 3 "How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of WORKING WITH me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have THE DESPISED no dealings with the Samaritans." John 4:9 "The Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies, and as far as possible avoided all dealing with each other. To trade with the Samaritans in case of necessity was indeed counted lawful by the rabbis; but all social intercourse with them was condemned. A Jew would not borrow from a Samaritan, nor receive a kindness, not even a morsel of bread or a cup of water. The disciples, in buying food, were acting in harmony with the custom of their nation. Bu•t beyond :this they did not go. To ask a favor of the Samaritans, or in any way seek to benefit them, did not enter into the thought of even Christ's disciples."—The Desire of Ages, page 183. How did Christ indicate the universal nature of mis- sions? John 4:23. "Jesus had begun to break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and to preach salvation to the world. Though He was a Jew, He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting at naught the Pharisaic customs of His nation. In face of their prejudices He accepted the hospitality of this despised people. He slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables,— partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands, —taught in their streets, and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy."—Ibid., p. 193. What results came from Christ's mission to the Samari- tans? John 4:39-42. How did Jesus handle a subject of contention between the two peoples? John 4:20-24. THINK IT THROUGH What are the implications of His tactfulness to His followers today? "The stay of Jesus in Samaria was despised strangers. When Peter went to designed to be a blessing to His disci- preach in Samaria, he brought the same ples. . . . Fidelity to Him kept their spirit into his own work. When John prejudices under control; yet in heart was called to Ephesus and Smyrna, he they were unreconciled. They were slow remembered the experience at Shechem, to learn that their contempt and hatred and was filled with gratitude to the must give place to pity and sympathy. divine Teacher, who, foreseeing the But after the Lord's ascension, His les- difficulties they must meet, had given sons came back to them with a new them help in His own example."— meaning. After the outpouring of the "Ibid.," pp. 193, 194. Holy Spirit, they recalled the Saviour's FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of look, His words, the respect and ten- Healing," pages 25-28. derness of His bearing toward these 32 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ Wednesday July 21 Part 4 "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, 0 woman, WORKING WITH great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And THE HOPELESS her daughter was made whole from that very hour." Matt. 15:28 The woman to whom Jesus addressed these words was a Canaanite. "She was a heathen, and was therefore excluded from the advantages which thesew daily enjoyed."—The De- sire of Ages, page 399. They considered such people to be without hope of salvation. In dealing with her request Jesus treated her "as the Jews would have done" (Ibid., page 400) in an attempt to impress upon the Jews their indifference and prejudice. Jesus had traveled the long distance to minister to her need. He taught the disciples by this experience that those they considered hopeless were to be included in the gospel work and would respond to the gifts of His grace. Our work is ".to minister to the despairing, and inspire hope in the hopeless."—Ibid., p. 350. What groups are often included in the "hopeless"? Often it is the wealthy, the great and gifted men, the abnormal, the outcast, the depraved, the stranger, the rebellious youth, and those who have been disfellowshiped. We should realize that their apparent "hopelessness" is God's opportunity. "Many among the rich are longing for some divine assurance, some spiritual hope. Many long for something that will bring to an end the monotony of their aimless lives."—The Ministry of Healing, page 210. Study these other examples of salvation for the apparently hopeless: 1. The healing of the demoniacs. Matt. 8:28-34. 2. The repentance of the Ninevites. Jonah 3:10. 3. The conversion of Saul. Acts 9:10-16. THINK IT THROUGH Can we know who is hopeless? Read "Christ's Object Lessons," the first few pages of the chapter entitled "Tares." "Pride and prejudice have built are without church relations, and who, strong walls of separation between dif- in their loneliness, come to feel that ferent classes of men. Christ and His God has forgotten them. They do not mission have been misrepresented, and understand what they must do to be multitudes feel that they are virtually saved. Many are sunken in sin. Many shut away from the ministry of the gos- are in distress. They are pressed pel. But let them not feel that they are with suffering, want, unbelief, despon- shut away from Christ. There are no dency.... barriers which man or Satan can erect "In these suffering ones we are to but that faith can penetrate."—"The see those whom Christ came to save." Desire of Ages," page 403. —"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 232, "In the courts and lanes of the great 233. cities, in the lonely byways of the coun- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of try, are families and individuals—per- Ages," pages 399-402. haps strangers in a strange land—who 33 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ Thursday July 22 Part 5 "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: WORKING WITH THE them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; UNCONVERTED and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." John 10:16 Not only did Christ commission His disciples to preach the gospel to every creature in all the world (Mark 16:15), but He indicated that the end would not come until this mission was accomplished. Matt. 24:14. It was clearly His purpose that His church be a missionary church, involved in taking the gospel everywhere. His own ministry is an example of what His followeers were to do. During His ministry Christ taught not only in Judea and Galilee, but also in the following places: 1. Samaria—John 4. 2. Decapolis—Mark 5:1-20; 7:31. 3. Phoenicia—Matt. 15:21-28. 4. Caesarea Philippi—Mark 8:27. Many of those considered "heathen" in these parts responded favorably to Christ's ministry. In the parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus emphasized that the sheep of God's fold are scattered everywhere and that the time was coming when all His sheep, no matter where they were, would hear His voice and come into His fold. As under- shepherds of Christ, we must put forth self-denying efforts to reach the lost sheep that they may hear His voice before the black night comes when they will be eternally lost. THINK IT THROUGH Who would you include in the term "heathen," and where are they to be found? "Jesus longed to unfold the deep limits of Galilee, in a region where mysteries of the truth which had been idolatry prevailed. Here the disciples hid for ages, that the Gentiles should were withdrawn from the controlling be fellow heirs with the Jews, and influence of Judaism, and brought into 'partakers of His promise in Christ by closer contact with the heathen worship. the gospel.' Eph. 3:6. This truth the dis- Around them were represented forms ciples were slow to learn, and the di- of superstition that existed in all parts vine Teacher gave them lesson upon of the world. Jesus desired that a view lesson."—"The Desire of Ages," page of these things might lead them to feel 402. their responsibility to the heathen."— "Jesus and His disciples had now "Ibid.," p. 411. come into one of the towns about Cae- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of sarea Philippi. They were beyond the Ages," pages 637-641. 34 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 ❑ Friday July 23 Part 6 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All TRAINING THE power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye DISCIPLES TO therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the BE MISSIONARIES name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I hove commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, Matt. 28:18-20 even unto the end of the world." Christ's commission to His followers throughout time is a very appropriate conclusion to the Gospel of Matthew, which stresses Christ's teaching ministry. By His life, as well as by His teachings, He has taught His followers how to be mission- aries to the world. Now He commands them to go to every nation, sharing what they have learned from Him. About 500 followers of Christ were gathered on the mountainside when Christ repeated this commission to them. See The Desire of Ages, page 818. "Thus Christ gave His disciples their commission. He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe, but know that My pres- ence will be there. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I will forsake you. "The Saviour's commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. . . . For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves the sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ."—The Desire of Ages, page 822. What does God, through the prophet Isaiah, say about those who fulfill this commission, and what will be the result of their labors? Isa. 52:7-10. THINK IT THROUGH Why has it taken so long for the Christian church to complete the task Christ assigned? "It is in doing Christ's work that the "Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be church has the promise of His presence. reflected in the character and mani- Go teach all nations, He said; 'and, lo, fested in the life. Christ is sitting for His I am with you alway, even unto the end portrait in every disciple. Everyone God of the world.' To take His yoke is one of has predestinated to be 'conformed to the first conditions of receiving His the image of His Son.' Rom. 8:29. In power. The very life of the church de- everyone Christ's long-suffering love, pends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth the Lord's commission. To neglect this are to be manifested to the world."— work is surely to invite spiritual feeble- "Ibid.," page 827. ness and decay."—"The Desire of FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," page 825. Ages," pages 818-828. 35 The Master of Missions LESSON 4 July 24 Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. Why could the life of one Man—Jesus Christ—change all history) 2. Can a ministry be complete that meets man's spiritual and mental needs? 3. By visiting in the Samaritan town, Jesus began to break down the between and 4. Which of the following may be considered by some as "hopeless"? (a) the stranger, (b) the wealthy, (c) the great and gifted, (d) the abnormal? 5. What is involved in being a missionary church) 6. True or False: Christ placed upon His disciples the responsibility for the success of the work to which He had assigned them (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) •asjed (9) !aaatimuflarta jadso2 (c) !la 'a 'q 'e (1,) :apwao 'Mal 'Hem (c) :spaau jeots.fild attl watt' osie ;snuff t !or4 (z) !SEM all se pop 'pp& pattun jt atuoaaq 4112pu Sato 4ELIM ;o aphuexa taajiad u tulli ut mes uauz (j) :s.mustiv 36 LESSON 5 July 31, 1971 THE MARCH OF MISSONS "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:3, 4. In the last lesson we studied Christ's full reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit? commission to His church. This lesson dem- What were the results? "The Spirit came onstrates that we cannot fulfill the com- upon the waiting, praying disciples with a mission apart from the power of the Spirit. fullness that reached every heart. . . . And Witnesses cannot share what they have not what followed? The sword of the Spirit, received or tell of that which they have not newly edged with power and bathed in the experienced. After living with Christ and lightnings of heaven, cut its way through learning from Him, they still needed His unbelief. Thousands were converted in a Spirit to give them power. He told them day."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 38. not to go until they had received it. Luke 24:49. The Acts of the Apostles, pages 36, 37, gives us the following essential steps the LESSON OUTLINE disciples took in preparing for the reception of the Holy Spirit: 1. The Missionary Commitment of 1. "Higher and still higher they extended the Early Church the hand of faith." Acts 1:8 2. "They humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief." 3. "As they meditated upon His 2. The Apostles' Early Missionary [Christ's] pure, holy life, they felt that no Efforts toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too 1 John 1:3 great, if only they could bear witness in their lives to the loveliness of Christ's char- 3. Peter's Missionary Vision acter." Acts 10:34 4. They "prayed with intense earnest- ness for a fitness to meet men and in their 4. Paul, the Pattern for Missionary daily intercourse to speak words that would Service lead sinners to Christ." Rom. 1:1 5. "Putting away all differences, all de- sire for the supremacy, they came close to- gether in Christian fellowship." 5. John's Missionary Emphasis 6. "They did not ask for a blessing for John 1:12 themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls." 6. Witnessing in All Ages Aren't these same steps the key to our Rev. 12:11 37 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Sunday July 25 Part 1 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost THE MISSIONARY is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me COMMITMENT OF both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and THE EARLY CHURCH unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8 "The disciples were to begin their work where they were. The hardest and most unpromising field was not to be passed by. So every one of Christ's workers is to begin where he is.... "But the command, `Go ye into all the world,' is not to be lost sight of. . . . He teaches us to look upon every needy soul as our brother, and the world as our field."—The Desire of Ages, pages 822, 823. Ezek. 47:6-12 gives a picture of the work that God designed to accomplish through ancient Israel. How can this same de- scription be applied to the church of the first century? "The church beheld converts flocking to her from all direc- tions. Backsliders were reconverted. . . . Every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 48. Note how the book of Acts traces the growth of the early church. Acts 1:15-120 believers 2:41-3,000 added 4:4-5,000 believed 4:32—A multitude 5:14—Multitudes 5:28—Filled Jerusalem 6:1—Grecians 8:4-6—City of Samaria 8:25—Villages of Samaritans 11:1—Gentiles believed 11:19-21--Phenice, Cyprus, Antioch 17:6—"Turned the world upside down" THINK IT THROUGH What characteristics of the early church need reem- phasis in our day that we may receive the "great grace" that "was upon them all"? Acts 4:33. "If the fulfillment of the promise is matters occupy the attention, the divine not seen as it might be, it is because power which is necessary for the growth the promise is not appreciated as it and prosperity of the church, and which should be. If all were willing, all would would bring all other blessings in its be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the train, is lacking, though offered in in- need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little finite plenitude."—"The Acts of the thought of, there is seen spiritual Apostles," page 50. drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the declension and death. Whenever minor Apostles," pages 30-34. 38 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Monday July 26 Part 2 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto THE APOSTLES' you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly EARLY our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son MISSIONARY Jesus Christ." EFFORTS 1 John 1:3 If tradition can be relied upon at all, every book in the New Testament except James was written by a foreign mis- sionary. It is commonly understood that Peter, Paul, Mark, Luke, and John were foreign missionaries; but what about the other New Testament workers? 'Matthew—Tradition assigns him to Parthia and Persia. James—Probably the stepbrother of Jesus—possibly mar- tyred in Jerusalem. Jude—Said to have preached in Palestine, Syria, and Arabia. How widespread was the witness on the Day of Pente- cost? Acts 2:9-11. The language of the books of the New Testament is not the Aramaic of Palestine, but the most-used language of the New Testament world—Greek. The map of the early Christian world reveals the apostles' widespread missionary journeys. All of Christ's disciples accompanied Him on His foreign missionary tours, and many of them later became foreign missionaries. Besides those listed above, it is thought that Peter's brother, Andrew, preached the gospel in Scythia and Thrace. Tradition indicates that Nathanael (or Bartholomew) preached in Arabia and possibly Ethiopia. Philip is said to have ministered in Phrygia in Asia Minor. Simon is thought to have preached in North Africa, and Thomas is considered to be the one who carried the gospel to Persia and India. Nicodemus became poor in this world's goods because he put his great wealth into the missionary endeavor of the early church. See The Acts of the Apostles, page 105. 1). What work did Philip, one of the seven deacons, do as a missionary? Acts 8:4-40. THINK IT THROUGH What share do I have in the gospel commission? "The unselfish labor of Christians in compassion, they are to minister to the past should be to us an object les- those in need of help, bringing to sin- son and an inspiration. The members ners a knowledge of the Saviour's love. of God's church are to be zealous of Such work calls for laborious effort, but good works, separating from worldly it brings a rich reward."—"The Acts of ambition and walking in the footsteps the Apostles," pages 109, 110. of Him who went about doing good. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the With hearts filled with sympathy and Apostles," pages 105-111. 39 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Tuesday July 27 Part 3 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth PETER'S I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." MISSIONARY VISION While Peter was staying at Joppa, he was called by God to take the gospel to the Roman centurion Cornelius in Caesa- Acts 10:34 rea. At that time Peter shared the reluctance of Christ's fol- lowers to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. In order to help Peter and his associates overcome the concept of exclusion, God gave him a vision. Read the vision as described in Acts 10:9-16. Read about Peter's understanding of the vision in Acts 11:5-18. "On hearing this account, the brethren were silenced. Con- vinced that Peter's course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God, and that their prejudices and exclusiveness were utterly contrary to the spirit of the gospel, they glorified God, saying, 'Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.' "Thus, without controversy, prejudice was broken down, the exclusiveness established by the custom of ages was abandoned, and the way was opened for the gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 142. What mistake, in this respect, did Peter make later at Antioch, and how was he rebuked? Gal. 2:11-21. "Peter saw the error into which he had fallen, and imme- diately set about repairing the evil that had been wrought, so far as was in his power."—/bid., p. 198. Peter ended his ministry as a foreign missionary in Rome, being imprisoned there by Nero and martyred about the same time as Paul. See John 21:18 and The Acts of the Apostles, page 537. THINK IT THROUGH In what way does Peter's vision at Joppa apply to the mission of the church today? "The angel was not commissioned to And to men and women has been com- tell Cornelius the story of the cross. A mitted the sacred trust of making man subject, even as the centurion him- known 'the unsearchable riches of self, to human frailties and temptations, Christ.' . . . In His wisdom the Lord was to be the one to tell him of the brings those who are seeking for truth crucified and risen Saviour. As His rep- into touch with fellow beings who know resentatives among men, God does not the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that choose angels who have never fallen, those who have received light shall but human beings, men of like passions impart it to those in darkness."—"The with those they seek to save. Christ took Acts of the Apostles," page 134. humanity that He might reach hu- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the manity. A divine-human Saviour was Apostles," pages 131-142. needed to bring salvation to the world. 40 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Wednesday July 28 Part 4 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apos- PAUL, THE tle, separated unto the gospel of God." PATTERN FOR MISSIONARY Christ's purpose for Paul's life of ministry among the Gen- tiles was made clear to him through the following experiences: SERVICE 1. On the road to Damascus—Acts 26:15-18. Rom. 1:1 2. When his sight was restored by Ananias—Acts 22:12-16. 3. In a vision at Jerusalem—Acts 22:17-21. How did Paul react to divine instructions? Acts 26:19. At Antioch, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Acts 13:2. "Before being sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church." —The Acts of the Apostles, page 161. Paul and his fellow laborers conducted three missionary tours, each reaching out farther than the previous one. Paul's missionary efforts were characterized by: 1. Training of young men, such as Timothy, for service. The Acts of the Apostles, page 184. 2. Surrounding the churches he raised up with the "safe- guards of gospel order."—Ibid., p. 185. 3. Making even the smallest churches that he raised up "the object of his constant solicitude."—Ibid., p. 186. 4. Practical and careful training of new converts.—Ibid., pp. 186,187. 5. A ministry in which "hearts were broken by his presenta- tion of the love of God, as revealed in the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son."—Ibid., p. 208. What testimony did Paul give at the close of his min- istry? 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. THINK IT THROUGH What might be accomplished if every missionary could be used by God as Paul was? "In the solitude of the desert, Paul dices and traditions that had hitherto had ample opportunity for suiel study shaped his life, and received instruc- and meditation. He calmly reviewed tion from the Source of truth. Jesus his experience and made sure communed with him and established work of repentance. He sought God him in the faith, bestowing upon him a with all his heart, resting not until he rich measure of wisdom and grace." knew for a certainty that his repentance —"The Acts of the Apostles," pages 125, was accepted and his sin pardoned. He 126. longed for the assurance that Jesus FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the would be with him in his coming min- Apostles," pages 201-210. istry. He emptied his soul of the preju- 41 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Thursday July 29 Part 5 "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power JOHN'S to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on MISSIONARY His name." EMPHASIS John 1:12 Whereas Paul was the great itinerant missionary of the early church, carrying the gospel to many unentered provinces, John's missionary service seems to have consisted largely of his pastorate of the Ephesus district. Where did John work with Philip and Peter in mis- sionary service? Acts 8:14. How does this contrast with his former attitudes? Luke 9:52-54. John lived longer than did any of the other of the Twelve. He became known for his confiding love and unselfish devotion. "He was a powerful preacher, fervent, and deeply in ear- nest. In beautiful language and with a musical voice he told of the words and works of Christ, speaking in a way that im- pressed the hearts of those who heard him. The simplicity of his words, the sublime power of the truths he uttered, and the fervor that characterized his teachings, gave him access to all classes."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 546. In the messages recorded in the book of Revelation, John's ministry reaches out not only to the churches of Asia Minor bat to all the world unto the end of time. "When his voice could no longer testify to the One whom he loved and served, the messages given him on that barren coast [Patmos] were to go forth as a lamp that burneth, de- claring the sure purpose of the Lord concerning every nation on the earth."—Ibid., p. 571. Note how Rev. 10:11; 11:1; and 14:6-12 particularly por- tray the last great missionary movement. THINK IT THROUGH What part did Pentecost have in preparing John for missionary service? Can we have the same kind of prep- aration through the Holy Spirit today? "John did not naturally possess the transforming power of love."—"The Acts loveliness of character that his later of the Apostles," page 540. experience revealed. By nature he had "John knew the Saviour by an ex- serious defects. . . . But beneath all perimental knowledge. . . . When he this the divine Teacher discerned the testified of the Saviour's grace, his ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus re- simple language was eloquent with the buked his self-seeking, disappointed his love that pervaded his whole being." ambitions, tested his faith. But He re- —"Ibid.," pp. 544, 545. vealed to him that for which his soul FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the longed—the beauty of holiness, the Apostles," pages 539-545. 42 The March of Missions LESSON 5 ❑ Friday July 30 Part 6 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, WITNESSING IN and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not ALL AGES their lives unto the death." Rev. 12:11 John had been given a vision of the entire great controversy between Christ and Satan. He had seen all those who over- came by Christ's victory on Calvary. He had also witnessed the history of the first century of Christianity. What threat hung over the early church? Acts 12:1, 2. John himself had been cast into a cauldron of boiling oil upon the orders of the Emperor Domitian, but his life had been preserved. And even as he wrote the book of Revelation he was suffering banishment on the barren and lonely isle of Patmos. Here John was shown the church victorious and triumphant in spite of the attacks of Satan and his agents throughout its history. "Centuries of fierce persecution followed the establishment of the Christian church, but there were never wanting men who counted the work of building God's temple dearer than life itself."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 597. Study carefully the great controversy as it has expanded during the Christian era down to the time of the remnant or last witnesses for Christ. Rev. 12:13-17. THINK IT THROUGH Revelation 12:10 describes the victory of Christ over Satan at the time when He cried out on Calvary, "It is finished!" (See "The Desire of Ages," page 761.) Why didn't God end the great controversy at that point in time, since Satan's defeat was sure? "The commission that Christ gave to so much as the manifestation through the disciples, they fulfilled. As these humanity of the Saviour's love. All messengers of the cross went forth to heaven is waiting for men and women proclaim the gospel, there was such a through whom God can reveal the revelation of the glory of God as had power of Christianity. The church is never before been witnessed by mortal God's agency for the proclamation of man. By the cooperation of the divine truth, empowered by Him to do a spe- Spirit, the apostles did a work that cial work; and if she is loyal to Him, shook the world. To every nation was obedient to all His commandments, the gospel carried in a single genera- there will dwell within her the excel- tion."—"The Acts of the Apostles," page lency of divine grace. . . . 593. "It is the privilege of every Chris- "Every member should be a channel tian, not only to look for, but to hasten through which God can communicate the coming of the Saviour."—"Ibid.," to the world the treasures of His grace, p. 600. the unsearchable riches of Christ. . . . FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the There is nothing that the world needs Apostles," pages 593-602. 43 The March of Missions LESSON 5 July 31 Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS <> A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. What essential gift to the early church made missionary work successful? 2. True or False: Most of Christ's original Twelve never became real mis- sionaries. 3. What did the vision of the animals in the sheet teach Peter, and what does it teach us today 4. Paul was an apostle to 5. The three angels' messages were given through Peter, Paul, John, Timothy, Thomas 6. Memorize and quote Rev. 12:17. Who is the woman? Who are the remnant of her seed? (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) •siadaan juatuptlemuroo 'tomula (9) :utpof (s) :sapjuao auj (t). !He o4 o2 ;sum jadso2 alp `suosiad ;o amaadsai ou poo (r) !asjea (z) '.;!_t!dg Atoll alp Jo J;j2 (j) :siannsuv 44 LESSON 6 THE MYSTERY OF MISSIONS "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." Eph. 1:9. The term "mystery" as applied to the to Him and filled with the power of the gospel has the meaning of "secret," and it Holy Spirit. is so translated in the Revised Standard and some other versions. The mystery of redemption is something the human mind LESSON OUTLINE is incapable of discovering and can never 1. Christ, the Only Saviour fully know without a revelation. We are discussing here the "mystery" or "secret" John 14:6 of God in changing wayward men so that their lives produce the fruits of righteous- 2. Salvation Provided for All ness. It is the mission of the church to John 1:9, 1 Tim. 2:4 reveal to a lost world the "mystery" of the purpose of God. 3. The Need for Preaching the In this lesson the "Mystery of Missions" Gospel is seen against the background of Scrip- Rom. 10:17 ture revelation of God's eternal purpose for the salvation of a lost world. The mystery 4. Personal Responsibility in of missions is the fulfillment of the proph- Missionary Service ecy of Rev. 10:7 that in the days of the Ezek. 33:7-9 seventh trumpet the mystery of God should be finished. Tracing the term "mystery" 5. The Power of the Holy Spirit through such passages as Mark 4:11; Eph. Promised 6:19; Col. 1:26, 27; 4:3, it becomes appar- ent that the "mystery" of God is His deter- Zech. 4:6 mination to restore man through the plan of rederription7Tliiss-e reaches out to 6. The Unlimited Scope of all through redeemed men revealing the Missionary Achievement mystery of God through lives consecrated John 14:12 45 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Sunday August 1 Part 1 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and CHRIST, THE ONLY the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." SAVIOUR John 14:6 Revelation unfolds the ways and the will of God through such forms as the Holy Spirit may choose. Yet it cannot be separated from Jesus Christ "the way, the truth, and the life." The ultimate purpose of revelation is man's salvation, and the way of salvation is rigidly singular. Religion, culture, or life itself apart from Jesus lacks eternal value. How does salvation come to mankind? Acts 4:12. "All the altars and sacrifices, the traditions and inventions whereby men hope to earn salvation, are fallacies. . . . Christ is the only sin bearer, the only sin offering."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 913. There are, of course, traces and reflections of truth in reli- gious writings other than Christian, but here we are dealing with the way salvation is provided. God has provided the only way through the gift of Christ, and men can be saved only by what He has done. Certainly there are those who have never known Christ or taken His name upon their lips who will be saved. But they will be saved only by what He has made possible for them. "Among the heathen are those who worship God igno- rantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God."—The Desire of Ages, page 638. Through what instrumentality does God speak to man- kind? John 14:26. THINK IT THROUGH How is God justified in saving those who have never heard the name of Christ or accepted Him? "In heaven instruction will be given all righteousness has turned them aside, to those who, when they died, did not and they grope as blind men. But they understand perfectly the plan of salva- are honest in heart and desire to learn tion. Christ will lead the redeemed ones a better way. Although in the depths of beside the river of life, and will open heathenism, with no knowledge of the to them that which while on this earth written law of God nor of His Son they could not understand."—"Selected Jesus, they have revealed in manifold Messages," Bk. 1, p. 262. ways the working of a divine power on "Among all nations, kindreds, and mind and character."—"Prophets and tongues, He sees men and women who Kings," page 376. are praying for light and knowledge. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of Their souls are unsatisfied; long have Ages," pages 637-641. they fed on ashes. . . . The enemy of 46 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Monday August 2 Part 2 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man SALVATION that cometh into the world." PROVIDED "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come onto FOR ALL the knowledge of the truth." John 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:4 God reveals Himself to all men, in all places, and by all means possible to save all who will yield their sinful lives to the transforming power of His Spirit. None who are account- able are without opportunity, none can claim to have had no light, none can accuse God of failure to provide for their salvation. Provision for the salvation of all men does not imply either equal knowledge or, in a sense, "equal oppor- tunity" for all men. While no one can accuse God of failing to provide for his salvation, many will accuse men who should have conveyed the revelations of God entrusted to them. See The Great Controversy, page 656. How widespread is God's offer to mankind? Thus 2:11; Rom. 1:20. "Sufficient light and evidence will be given to every soul. If men are overcome by the enemy, it will be because they have hardened their hearts, refusing to listen to the voice of God." —Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, p. 20. Since salvation is made possible for all men through Jesus Christ, and each individual receives some light, our standing before God depends on the use we make of the light we have individually received. "He has given light and life to all, and according to the measure of light given, each is to be judged. And He who has given the light, He who has followed the soul with tenderest entreaty, seeking to win it from sin to holiness, is in one its Advocate and Judge."—The Desire of Ages, page 210. What are some of the means God will use to provoke inquiry on the part of non-Christian peoples? Joel 2:28-32. THINK IT THROUGH With whom does the ultimate responsibility rest in deciding whether an individual will be saved or lost? "As through Christ every human be- which lighteth every man that cometh ing has life, so also through Him every into the world,' . . . is shining in his soul receives some ray of divine light. soul; and this Light, if heeded, will Not only intellectual but spiritual guide his feet to the kingdom of God. power, a perception of right, a desire The prophet Micah said: 'When I sit in for goodness, exists in every heart." darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto —"Education," page 29. me. . . . He will bring me forth to the "The Holy Spirit is implanting the light, and I shall behold His righteous- grace of Christ in the heart of many a ness.' "—"Prophets and Kings," pages noble seeker after truth, quickening his 376, 377. sympathies contrary to his nature, con- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Education," trary to his former education. The 'Light, pages 28, 29. 47 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Tuesday August 3 Part 3 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the THE NEED FOR Word of God." PREACHING THE GOSPEL Considering the universal revelation in nature of the power Rom. 10:17 of God, the constant witness of the Holy Spirit to the require- ments of God, and the ministry of angels showing the concern of God for all men, in what perspective are we to view the gospel commission? Some will respond directly to the appeals of God by His Spirit. But it is evident that God wills that this revelation be conveyed by humanity in the preaching of the gospel. We are our brother's keeper. The main channel through which the revelation of God in Christ is to be preached to the world is His church. Just as the child in a Christian home, educated in a Christian school, may be said to have a better "chance" of being saved than one deprived of such opportu- nities, so in non-Christian cultures those hearing the preach- ing of the Word are far more likely to make a saving confes- sion of Him. The necessity of preaching. How the revelation of God in Scripture or in nature may reach man in his depravity (with all that the rebellion of the sinful heart implies) seems the question posed in Romans 10. Whom will God save? Rom. 10:13. Knowledge of Christ requires a revelation, and the means of this revelation is most often the preaching of the Word of God. "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ." RSV. But some light reaches even those who have not heard a specific preaching of the gospel. Paul declares in a quotation from Psalm 19:4 (re- ferring originally to revelation hi nature), "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Rom. 10:18. To what particular merscje does Rom. 10:18, 20 apply? THINK IT THROUGH What is the most effective way to "preach the word"? "Many are waiting to be person- others what a precious friend he has ally addressed. In the very family, the found in Jesus. The saving and sancti- neighborhood, the town, where we live, fying truth cannot be shut up in his there is work for us to do as mission- heart."—"The Desire of Ages," page aries for Christ. If we are Christians, 141. this work will be our delight. No sooner FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of is one converted than there is born Ages," pages 141-143. within him a desire to make known to 48 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Wednesday August 4 Part 4 "So thou, 0 son of man, I have set thee a watchman PERSONAL unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the RESPONSIBILITY word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say IN MISSIONARY unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if SERVICE thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast de- Ezek. 33:7-9 livered thy soul." How may we affect the probability of an individual's being saved or lost by our witness? (Note the implications in this respect of Mark 16:15, 16.) "There are many who need the ministration of loving Chris- tian hearts. Many have gone down to ruin who might have been saved if their neighbors, common men and women, had put forth personal effort for them."—The Desire of Ages, page 141. How should Christ's response to Nicodemus guide us in our personal evangelism? John 3:1-10. THINK IT THROUGH If we really believe that people may be lost or saved by our words, our influence, and the witness of our lives, will there be a change in our way of living and witness- ing? "Heaven stands indignant at the ne- passion on the ignorant, and on them glect shown to the souls of men. Would that are out of the way.' Heb. 5:2. Hav- we know how Christ regards it? How ing been in peril themselves, they are would a father and mother feel, did acquainted with the dangers and dif- they know that their child, lost in the ficulties of the way, and for this reason cold and the snow, had been passed are called to reach out for others in by, and left to perish, by those who like peril. There are souls perplexed might have saved it?"—"The Desire of with doubt, burdened with infirmities, Ages," page 825. weak in faith, and unable to grasp the "It is manifest that the power which Unseen; but a friend whom they can works through the weakness of human- see, coming to them in Christ's stead, ity is the power of God; and thus we can be a connecting link to fasten their are encouraged to believe that the trembling faith upon Christ."—"Ibid.," power which can help others as weak page 297. as ourselves can help us. And those FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of who are themselves 'compassed with Ages," pages 825-827. infirmity' should be able to 'have com- 49 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Thursday August 5 Part 5 "Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This THE POWER is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by OF THE might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of HOLY SPIRIT hosts." PROMISED Zech. 4:6 We cannot do the work of Christ without the Spirit of Christ. But this has been fully provided, as is attested by the promises of Christ (John 14 to 16) and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church at Pentecost (Acts 2). That same power •is available now to all who are willing to be used by the Holy Spirit. How is the promise of the Spirit received? Gal. 3:14. What is accomplished in us by the Holy Spirit? Eph. 3:16-19. "Without the Spirit and power of God it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth."—Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 158. But the missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to be culminated by the greatest display of the Holy Spirit's power the world has ever seen. "Many . . . will be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the Spirit of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the Word of God, •is as a fire in their bones, filling them with a burning desire to enlighten those who sit in darkness. . . . The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield •to its promptings, and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power. Multitudes will receive the faith and join the armies of the Lord."—Evangelism, page 700. THINK IT THROUGH How much longer must we wait to see these promises fulfilled? "We can be fitted for heaven only have not obtained all the benefits that through the work of the Holy Spirit God has thus provided for them. They upon the heart; for we must have expect that the lack will be supplied Christ's righteousness as our credentials by the latter rain. When the richest if we would find access to the Father. abundance of grace shall be bestowed, . . . It is the work of the Holy Spirit to they intend to open their hearts to re- elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, ceive it. They are making a terrible to ennoble the whole man."—"Selected mistake."—"Testimonies to Ministers," Messages," Bk. 1, p. 374. page 507. "Many have in a great measure FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," failed to receive the former rain. They Vol. 5, pp. 157-159. 50 The Mystery of Missions LESSON 6 ❑ Friday August 6 Part. 6 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on THE UNLIMITED Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater SCOPE OF works than these shall he do; because I go unto My MISSIONARY Father." ACHIEVEMENT John 14:12 "By this Christ did not mean that the disciples' work would be of a more exalted character than His, but that it would have greater extent."—The Desire of Ages, page 664. Jesus did not have available the modern facilities of auto- mobiles or airplanes which He might have utilized for the spread of the gospel. In our world today with all these ad- vantages to aid in finishing God's work on earth, ours is the privilege of more extensive service for Christ if we will allow ourselves to be filled with divine power as He did. "God did not design that His wonderful plan to redeem men should achieve only insignificant results."—Ibid., p. 667. Christ ascended to heaven on the resurrection morning, not only to receive the assurance that His atonement for man had been accepted, but to receive gifts for His church. See The De- sire of Ages, page 790. What did Christ make available at His ascension? Matt. 28:18-20. "His sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The conditions of the atonement had been fulfilled; the .work for which He came to this world had been accomplished. . . . Clothed with boundless authority, He gave His commission to the disciples."—The Desire of Ages, page 819. What prediction seems near fulfillment? Isa. 60:1-3. THINK IT THROUGH Why are we content with so little when Christ has made so much available to His people today? "And still our General, who never ery continent and extend to the islands makes a mistake, says to us, 'Advance; of the sea•. There must be no delay in enter new territory; lift the standard in this work. Our watchword is to be, On- every land. "Arise, shine; for thy light ward, ever onward! Angels of heaven is come, and the glory of the Lord is will go before us to prepare the way. risen upon thee." ' The time has come Our burden for the regions beyond can when through God's messengers the never be laid down till the whole earth scroll is being unrolled to the world. is lightened with the glory of the Lord." The truth contained in the first, second, —"Gospel Workers," page 470. and third angels' messages must go to FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of every nation, kindred, tongue, and peo- Ages," pages 662-667. ple; it must lighten the darkness of ev- 51 ES Answers: (1) False; (2) transformed; (3) b; (4) watchman, house of Israel; (5) a; (6) Christ had ascended to His Father. ( •a2ed au; Jo ulopoq au; le o.xe siamsue 04,1,) asnepaq ls!Jqo uutp sTom zaluaiS nano op o patquua aiam saIdpsIp Supianaq ain .9 1P!cIS alp asn A.11 (q) '4114 s‘poo Xq pasn aq (v) !um 1031.10AA anpDaJja ata .s alp own E aaql las anuq :alaIdluoD •17 sp2uu Jo illsww! alp (a) 'sSulaq uzulnq Imp° (q) Jo sapuwu (ii) Aq s&r!aq urtunq umoqs lsaq s! poo Jo anoi age •E •ip!ds Ai°H alp Jo Jamod atp Xq aq Amu ajq Inju!s hang 7 UOINAIES kFAA > zaBo hal uoI2qaz ue!ls!IqD aq1 UE1.13 J3t10 suo!Slial lugI Ximq!ssod E s! azaq j :asiud 10 anu 113MOd Aanis ano,k JO 1S3.1. V <> SNOI1S3110 Alit/WWIlS O L Pod L 4sn2ny 9 NOSS31 suoPs1III Jo kialsfin azjj August 14, 1971 I "1 II 1 1' I THE MOTIVE OF MISSIONS 7 "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Cor. 9:16. "Necessity is laid upon me," Paul stated the glory of God's truth. The light is to in his epistle to the Corinthians. The same shine to all lands and all peoples. And it necessity is laid upon all who take upon is from those who have received the light themselves the name of Christ. "The church that it is to shine forth. The daystar has of Christ was organized for missionary pur- risen upon us, and we are to flash its light poses."—Gospel Workers, page 464. Yet too upon the pathway of those in darkness." often in its history the church has somehow —Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 24. lost sight of its purpose. If the remnant "The common people are to take their people of God are to avoid this error and place as workers. Sharing the sorrows of retain their missionary objective, individual their fellowmen as the Saviour shared the members must be motivated with mission- sorrows of humanity, they will by faith see ary zeal. Him working with them."—Gospel Work- this lesson is designed to present the ers, page 38. basis for such motivation, but the stimulus for motivation comes through the work of LESSON OUTLINE the Holy Spirit on the hearts of men and not from intellectual acceptance of the 1. For the Glorification of God necessity for the preaching of the gospel. Matt. 5:16 Continued motivation therefore depends on a close and constant individual yielding to 2. For the Fulfillment of Christ's the Holy Spirit. Command The gospel with its saving power must Mark 16:15 go to every kindred, nation, people, and tongue in this generation. "The vineyard 3. For the Hastening of Christ's includes the whole world, and every part of it is to be worked. There are places which Return are now a moral wilderness, and these are 2 Peter 3:11, 12 to become as the garden of the Lord. The waste places of the earth are to be culti- 4. For the Love of Mankind vated, that they may bud and blossom as 2 Cor. 5:14 the rose. New territories are to be worked by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. New 5. For the Revival of the Church churches must be established, new congre- Eph. 4:11-13 gations organized. At this time there should be representatives of present truth in every 6. For the Growth of Christian city and in the remote parts of the earth. Character The whole earth is to be illuminated with Eph. 4:15 53 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Sunday August 8 Part 1 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may FOR THE see your good works, and glorify your Father which is GLORIFICATION in heaven." OF GOD Matt. 5:16 Christ is the source of this light. It is when He is fully reflected in our lives that our works are recognized as "good." Because men recognize 'that this kind of works must come from a source other than the natural human heart, God is glorified as the source rather than man. This was the experience of the first Christians, who recog- nized God's glory in the life and witness of Christ. John 1:14. Whose glory was reflected in Christ and should be re- flected in us? John 17:1-5, 22. Through the glorious light of Christ seen in His followers the world would be attracted to Him. This experience would be shared by those who accepted, and thus the witness would grow. John 17:20-23. This light cannot be hidden. It just naturally shines out of happy hearts dedicated to Christ and His service and becomes the light of the world. What gives glory to God? John 15:8. THINK IT THROUGH If the world lacks light, is it the fault of the world, or is it because the church is not fulfilling its responsibility to be the light of the world? "To His people He says, 'Arise, shine; Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the for thy light is come, and the glory of Lord God will come with strong hand, the Lord is risen upon thee.' . . . It is and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, the darkness of misapprehension of His reward is with Him, and His work God that is enshrouding the world. Men before Him.'"—"Christ's Object Les- are losing their knowledge of His char- sons," page 415. acter. It has been misunderstood and "When once the gaze is fixed upon misinterpreted. At this time a message Him [Christ], the life finds its center. from God is to be proclaimed, a mes- The enthusiasm, the generous devotion, sage illuminating in its influence and the passionate ardor, of the youth find saving in its power. His character is to here their true object. Duty becomes a be made known. Into the darkness of delight and sacrifice a pleasure. To the world is to be shed the light of His honor Christ, to become like Him, to glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, work for Him, is the life's highest am- and truth. "This is the work outlined by bition and its greatest joy."—"Educa- the prophet Isaiah in the words, '0 tion," page 297. Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object lift up thy voice with strength; lift it Lessons," pages 414-421 (1923 ed., up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of pages 423-431). 54 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Monday August 9 Part 2 "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and FOR THE preach the gospel to every creature." FULFILLMENT OF CHRIST'S COMMAND "Christ's commission, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach Mark 16:15 the gospel to every creature,' is spoken to every one of His followers. . . . All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellowmen. Their hearts will throb in unison with the heart of Christ. The same longing for souls that He has felt will be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there is a place and a work for all."—Christ's Object Lessons, pages 300, 301. This quotation points up the fact that missionary motivation is based on more than the command of Christ as such. It is also found in the desire and willingness of those whose hearts "throb in unison with the heart of Christ" to accomplish in their world that which Christ showed when He ministered to the needs of a lost world. His was a great heart longing for the souls of men, and those ,who have His heart transplanted in them will have the same deep longing for souls that He had. How did Paul rise above human weakness to fulfill his commission? 1 Cor. 2:1-4. Heeding Christ's command to serve as missionary in one's neighborhood, hometown, or halfway around the world brings no glory .to the individual. His is an inner compulsion that leads him to go anywhere or be anything if only Christ's cause can be advanced. 1 Cor. 9:16. Toward what reward did the apostle Paul look? 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. THINK IT THROUGH Is it possible to be a true follower of Christ and not share His longing for souls? "Millions upon millions have never resolution and faith that are indispens- so much as heard of God or of His love able in the missionary field. By perse- revealed in Christ. It is their right to vering toil and a firm trust in the God receive this knowledge. They have an of Israel, resolute, courageous men will equal claim with us in the Saviour's accomplish wonders. There is scarcely mercy. And it rests with us who have a limit to what may be achieved if the received the knowledge, with our chil- efforts made are governed by enlight- dren to whom we may impart it, to ened judgment and backed by earnest answer their cry."—"Education," page endeavor."—"Gospel Workers," pages 263. 469, 470. "God calls for men who will push FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object the triumphs of the cross; men who will Lessons," pages 296-306 (1923 ed., persevere under discouragements and pages 300-311). privations; men who have the zeal and 55 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Tuesday August 10 Part 3 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, FOR THE what manner of persons ought ye to be in all conversa- HASTENING OF tion and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the com- CHRIST'S RETURN ing of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with 2 Peter 3:11, 12 fervent heat?" Just as it was not God's will that the children of Israel should wander forty years in the wilderness before entering the promised land •of Canaan, it has not been His will that the second coming of Christ be so long delayed. "Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome into the City of God."—Testimonies, Vol. 6, page 450. "I know that if •the people of God had preserved a living connection with Him, if they had obeyed His Word, they would today be in the heavenly Canaan."—Evangelism, page 694. What work is entrusted to God's people? Mal. 4:5, 6. The whole world is waiting for a revelation of Christ in His people. Christ also is waiting for this •to happen so that He can return. We are told: "Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own."—Christ's Object Lessons, page 69. What should our lives reveal about the second coming? Titus 2:11-14. Therefore "it is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." —Ibid., p. 69. THINK IT THROUGH Are we praying with our lives as well as our lips, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus"? "When the members of the church of of war naturally cause men's hearts to God do their appointed work in the fail them for fear—a fear that their love needy fields at home and abroad, in of pleasure cannot dispel. Set right in fulfillment of the gospel commission, the midst of this dark picture as a bright the whole world will soon be warned star in a dark night is the declaration and the Lord Jesus will return to this of Jesus that the advance of His gospel earth with power and great glory."— to every kindred and tongue is also a "The Acts of the Apostles," page 111. token of His soon coming to establish It is a very dark picture which our His eternal kingdom of love. Saviour draws of events that portend FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," His second advent to the world. Earth- Vol. 2, pp. 189-192. quakes, tidal waves, wars, and rumors 56 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Wednesday August 11 Part 4 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we FOR THE LOVE thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead." OF MANKIND 2 Cor. 5:14 Paul does not speak in this scripture about his love for Christ. It was the love of Christ that constrained or "held together" or "controlled" the early church. Christ's love in us compels us to do the very work He would be doing if He were here where we have been placed. It is true, of course, that our love for Him leads us to want to accomplish His will and His work, but this apparently is not what Paul had in mind in this text. Christ's love in us reaches out to all man- kind through us. It "constrains" us to give our all for our fellowmen even as Christ gave His all when He personally ministered to men. This is the "treasure" that we have "in earthen vessels." Therefore we do not credit ourselves with missionary achieve- ments but recognize that it is Christ accomplishing His purpose in us, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." "That the life also of Jesus might be made mani- fest in our mortal flesh." 2 Cor. 4:7, 11. What ministry has been committed to us? 2 Cor. 5:18-20. This is accomplished by our allowing His mind to take over our minds that our every impulse may be but the carrying out of His will for us. Phil. 2:5. What sense of urgency grips the faithful worker? 2 Cor. 6:1, 2. THINK IT THROUGH What is the constraining, compelling influence in our everyday lives? What is it that we want more than any- thing else? "Oh, that they would now exert their Then those who engage with Christ and powers of mind in seeking ways to angels in the work of saving perishing approach perishing sinners, that they souls are richly rewarded in the king- might make known to them the path dom of heaven."—"Testimonies," Vol. of holiness, and by prayer and en- 1, p. 512. treaty win even one soul to Christ! "Our Lord and Saviour asks us to What a noble enterprise! One soul to give ourselves to Him. Surrendering self praise God through eternity! One soul to God is all He requires, giving our- to enjoy happiness and everlasting selves to Him to be employed as He life! One gem in their crown to shine sees fit. Until we come to this point of as a star forever and ever! But even surrender, we shall not work happily, more than one can be brought to turn usefully, or successfully anywhere."— from error to truth, from sin to holiness. Ellen G. White Comments, "SDA Bible Says the Lord by the prophet: 'And they Commentary," Vol. 6, p. 1101. that turn many to righteousness [shall FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of shine] as the stars forever and ever.' Healing," pages 156-158. 57 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Thursday August 12 Part 5 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; FOR THE REVIVAL and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; OF THE CHURCH for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the min- istry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure Eph. 4:11-13 of the stature of the fullness of Christ." As God gives gifts to men, they in turn become the bearers of these gifts to the church. All His gifts, then, are made pos- sible .to enable His church better to accomplish the work given it to do. Each was designed to lead the "body of Christ" to a higher experience, to the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Not simply a building up of the church in numbers is envisioned, but a building up in the character of its members. As the church uses its gifts to serve the world, there is in turn a "perfecting of the saints." Toward what achievement is the church constantly to strive? 2 Thess. 1:11, 12. It has often been stated that the working church is a growing church and not a problem church, and that the best way to revive the church is to put the members to work for others. The law of the universe is that as we give we gain. See The Desire of Ages, pages"20, 21. A giving church is a grow- ing, gaining church. The history of the Christian church demonstrates that the periods of greatest strength and vitality have been those that coincided with the greatest missionary effort. It is when this wanes that the church is •in trouble. It might be difficult to determine which is cause and which is effect. Perhaps it is more accurate to see both as symptoms of the same basic disease —loss of zeal and a waning love for Christ. Rev. 2:4. 1). How may we remedy the spiritual lethargy of the church? Rev. 3:18-20. THINK IT THROUGH "Evangelism," page 356, states: "There is danger of religion losing in depth that which it gains in breadth." What does this mean? "The best medicine you can give the "When we have entire, wholehearted church is not preaching or sermonizing, consecration to the service of Christ, but planning work for them. If set to God will recognize the- faCi-by an out- work, the despondent would soon forget pouring of His Spirit without measure; their despondency, the weak would but this will not be while the largest become strong, the ignorant intelli- portion of the church are not laborers gent, and all would be prepared to together with God."—"Ibid.," page 699. present the truth as it is in Jesus."— FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," "Evangelism," page 356. Vol. 2, pp. 165-167. 58 The Motive of Missions LESSON 7 ❑ Friday August 13 Part 6 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into FOR THE GROWTH Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ." OF CHRISTIAN Not only will missionary zeal help restore the church to CHARACTER its "first love" experience and bring a revival in the church, Eph. 4:15 but it will also bring about growth of individual Christian character. In this text "speaking the truth in love" is clearly connected with "growing up into Him." The truth is preached in love—not so much by the words as by the lives of those who are growing up into Christ. "As the tree strikes its roots down into the soil for nourishment and moisture, so the growing child of God reaches up to Christ for his vitality and sustenance. Union with Christ is at once the cause and the result of growth. He is .the head of each man as well as head of the church."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Eph. 4:15. What may the Christian expect as the result of unself- ish service? 1 Thess. 3:12, 13. Just as physical growth is dependent upon the use of our muscles in exercise, so spiritual growth is dependent upon spir- itual exercise, one manifestation of which is the sharing of our faith with those who lack faith. The following texts emphasize the importance of working for others in the development of Christian experience: 1. A labor of love-1 Thess. 1-3. 2. Every man has a work—Mark 13:34. 3. The parable of the •talents—Matt. 25:14-30. THINK IT THROUGH Is there so-called "missionary work" that can hinder rather than help the Christian's spiritual development? "Nothing saps spirituality from the viewing them as a fortress impregnable soul more quickly than to enclose it in to his sophistries and delusions. They selfishness and self-caring. Those who are to him an incomprehensible mys- indulge self and neglect to care for the tery. The angels of God, seraphim and souls and bodies of those for whom cherubim, the powers commissioned to Christ has given His life, are not eating cooperate with human agencies, look of the bread of life, nor drinking of the on with astonishment and joy, that water of the well of salvation. They are fallen men, once children of wrath, are dry and sapless, like a tree that bears through the training of Christ develop- no fruit."—"Evangelism," page 357. ing characters after the divine simili- "The Lord Jesus is making experi- tude, to be sons and daughters of God, ments on human hearts through the to act an important part in the occu- exhibition of His mercy and abundant pations and pleasures of heaven."— grace. He is effecting transformations "Testimonies to Ministers," page 18. so amazing that Satan, with all his FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Thoughts From triumphant boasting, with all his con- the Mount of Blessing," pages 79-83 federacy of evil united against God and (1943 ed., pages 119-124). the laws of His government, stands 59 09 Answers: (1) True; (2) through the Spirit's power; (3) dissolved, melt, fervent heat; (4) Christ Jesus; (5) False; (6) c. (*aSad Sin Jo tuottoq ato te ate SIOMSUU atia,) .aidoad qsqooj (p) fsassawoj aiquuSaidui! (a) fsia!pios patneTi -un (q)!XaJd As (v) :su umus Tuadde suuojsum ispqp Luoqm asolll, .9 slaquialu 0I0111 used 03 aq pploqs Liainqa alp jo tuo5 pup aqj :asiud To arui .s tl ul osie sum gaup& noic ui aq punu sup lai„ Ireqs quatuala aLp puu aq Heqs suanuaq 3i.a„ •E .sinos anus 01 vom. siq 11i sapualagap tua!sicqd aLTIODIDA0 Ined pp moH .z Taped aLp tplm auo sl ls!TqD su asuas cures Teqmatuos ul 1spqD gaits auo aq 01 amssod s! ij :asied 10 anTi •I 213MOd Aanis NnoA 401S31 V o sNous3no Ativwwns O L IJod tI lsn2ny L NOSS31 slio?sslyv Jo annolli LESSON 8 August 21, 1971 THE METHOD OF MISSIONS 113 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." John 14:12. In John 14, 15, and 16 we have what endeavor to discover if the message, pre- appears to be our Lord's longest sermon, sentation, and methods of the disciples dif- given to a small group of disciples just be- fered in any way from those of Christ. fore His betrayal and crucifixion. Several thoughts stand out in this conversational discourse to the eleven: LESSON OUTLINE 1. "The object of Christ's departure was the opposite of what the disciples feared. 1. Build My Church It did not mean a final separation. . . Matt.-16:18, 19 While He was building mansions for them, they were to build characters after the di- 2. Laying the Foundation vine similitude."—The Desire of Ages, page Matt. 10:1, 5, 6; Luke 10:1 663. 2. Repeatedly in these chapters, He as- 3. Early Beginnings sures them of the coming of the Comforter Acts 2:1, 4, 41, 47 after His departure: John 14:16, 18, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 8, 13, 14. 4. Outreach of the Church 3. He emphasizes the oneness and unity Acts 9:15; 10:45 in Him (chapter 15), and He prays (chap- ter 17) that His disciples and all believers 5. Paul Sent Forth may be one, that they may be sanctified through the word which He had given Acts 13:2, 3 them, and that they might be made perfect. And then He tells them, "Tarry ye in the 6. Paul's Message and Methods city of Jerusalem" (Luk 24:49) for the 1 Cor. 2:2; 9:16; Eph. 3:8; power of witnessing. In this lesson we shall 2 Tim. 1:11 61 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Sunday August 15 Part 1 "And I say also unto thee, That thou .art Peter, and BUILD MY CHURCH upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatso- ever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed Matt. 16:18, 19 in heaven." We find the word "church" used only in two places in the four Gospels, here in Matthew 16, and then again in Matthew 18:17. In both instances Jesus is speaking. He says that He will "build" the church. Just what might that infer? Are we to understand that the church is going through a sort of evolu- tion, or does it mean expanding, growing, in organization and methods as the needs indicate? In the building of the church universal, what or who is the foundation? Eph. 2:19-22. What phases of spiritual work did Christ Himself emphasize? Luke 7:22; 20:1. Compare Isa. 61:1-3. "'Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.' 1 Cor. 3:11. 'Upon this Rock,' said Jesus, 'I will build My church.' In the presence of God, and all the heavenly intelligences, in the presence of the unseen army of hell, Christ founded His church upon the living Rock. That Rock is Him- self,—His own body, for us broken and bruised. Against the church built upon this foundation, the gates of hell shall not prevail."—The Desire of Ages, page 413. THINK IT THROUGH Arrange the following in two columns under the head- ings "Things Specified in the NT" and "Things Not Spe- cified": Basic organization Modes of travel Methods of communication Travel restrictions Doctrines Mode of baptism Methods of presenting Dialogue doctrines Place of laymen in church Approach to non-Christians "During His ministry, Jesus devoted highest place among the teachers of the more time to healing the sick than to Jewish nation, but He preferred rather preaching.... to take the gospel to the poor."—"The "The Saviour made each work of Ministry of Healing," pages 19, 20. healing an occasion for implanting FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of divine principles in the mind and soul. Healing," pages 17-28. . . . Christ might have occupied the 62 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Monday August 16 Part 2 "And when He had called unto Him His twelve dis- LAYING THE ciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to FOUNDATION cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." "These Twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy Matt. 10:1, 5, 6; also, and sent them two and two before His face into Luke 10:1 every city and place, whither He Himself would come." "When the Twelve were sent out on their first separate mission, other disciples accompanied Jesus in His journey through Galilee. Thus they had the privilege of intimate asso- ciation with Him, and direct personal instruction. Now this larger number also were to go forth on a separate mission. . . . But the command to the Twelve, not to enter into any city of the Gentiles or of the Samaritans, was not given to the Seventy. . . . When the Seventy went forth in His name, they visited, first of all, the cities of Samaria."—The Desire of Ages, page 488. What promise did Jesus make to His disciples regard- ing their work as His representatives after He would leave them? John 14:12. What preparation did they need before they under- took their global mission? Mark 16:15; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4. THINK IT THROUGH Assuming that the Twelve Disciples, judged in the light of their later leadership in the church, were qualified and able men, how do you 'account for the restrictions placed on them when they were first tent out? "The first disciples went forth preach- was to be carried to the uttermost parts ing the word.... And the Lord worked of the earth, and they claimed the en- with them, 'confirming the word with dowment of power that Christ had signs following.' Mark 16:20. These dis- promised. Then it was that the Holy ciples prepared themselves for their Spirit was poured out, and thousands work. Before the Day of Pentecost they were converted in a.day."—"The Desire met together, and put away all. differ- of Ages," page 827. ences.. They were of one accord. . . . FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The. Desire of They were weighted with the burden Ages," pages .823-828. for the salvation of _souls. The gospel 63 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Tuesday August 17 Part 3 "And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they EARLY were all with one accord in one place." BEGINNINGS "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." "And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." "And the Lord added to the church daily such as Acts 2:1;4, 41, 47 should be saved." As a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29 we have the mighty thrust of a revival, the rapid growth of the early church, and a real fulfillment of Christ's own words •in John 14:12. From the record in Acts 2:8-11, would you suppose all the 3,000 converts of the Day of Pentecost to be local people? Following this Pentecost experience and rapid expansion of the early church, we find a continual growth until soon there were "about five thousand men." Following this local growth, we find opposition, and then persecution. What gave rise to the election of deacons recorded in Acts 6:1-7? What reasons can you give for the tide of persecution that came to the early church? Acts 8:1. Read "The Acts of the Apostles," chapter 2. It is most interesting to note that while persecution was taking place in Jerusalem, Philip (one of the new deacons) was conducting an evangelistic campaign in Samaria. THINK IT THROUGH Thinking back on the Day of Pentecost: 1. Had the apostles perfected any new organization? 2. Did they employ any new methods? 3. Under what circumstances did God choose to pour out His Spirit? "During the patriarchal age the influ- which they could not have accomplished ence of the Holy Spirit had often been for themselves in a lifetime. They could revealed in a marked manner, but now proclaim the truths of the gospel never in its fullness. Now, in obedience abroad, speaking with accuracy the to the word of the Saviour, the disciples languages of those for whom they were offered their supplications for this gift, laboring. . . . From this time forth the and in heaven Christ added His inter- language of the disciples was pure, sim- cession. He claimed the gift of the ple, and accurate, whether they spoke Spirit, that He might pour it upon His in their native tongue or in a foreign people."—"The Acts of the Apostles," language."—"Ibid.," pp. 39, 40. page 37. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the "The Holy Spirit did for them that Apostles," pages 35-46. 64 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Wednesday August 18 Part 4 "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a OUTREACH OF THE chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the CHURCH Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Acts 9:15; 10:45 Ghost." The first •twelve chapters of the book of Acts have some- times been called the Petrine Section, and the remaining chap- ters the Pauline Section. The conversion of Saul took place no doubt shortly after the stoning of Stephen. "Saul remembered with terror that Stephen . . . had been sacrificed by his consent."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 116. "Christ had performed the work of revelation and conviction; and now the penitent was in a condition to learn from those whom God had ordained to teach His truth."—Ibid., p. 121. In •the instruction given to Ananias it is interesting to note that the Lord revealed what was .to be Saul's work and mission before •it was told or revealed to Saul. What reason can you assign why the church in Antioch was the first to be called "Christians"? Acts 11:24-27. (See final note on this page.) THINK IT THROUGH How would you classify those responsible for the revival in the Antioch church, ministerial or lay members? Acts 11:20-27; 13:1. "And he [Barnabas] went to Tarsus bringing to many a saving knowledge to seek for Paul, who, after his depar- of Jesus of Nazareth, the world's Re- ture from Jerusalem some time before, deemer. had been laboring in 'the regions of It was in Antioch that the disciples Syria and Cilicia.' . . . Barnabas was were first called Christians. The name successful in finding Paul and in per- was given to them because Christ was suading him to return with him as a the main theme of their preaching, their companion in ministry. . . . And he teaching."—"The Acts of the Apostles," proved just the help that Barnabas pages 156, 157. needed. For a year the two disciples FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the labored unitedly in faithful ministry, Apostles," pages 155-165. 65 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Thursday August 19 Part 5 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy PAUL SENT FORTH Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them Acts 13:2, 3 away." Here at Antioch was a most active church, and this church became the springboard for the notable missionary tours of Paul and his companions. No sooner were Saul and Barnabas ordained than they were sent out, not primarily to the Jews, but to the Gentiles. They had seen the results of Gentile evangelism in Antioch. In the Pauline section of the Book of Acts we have mainly the missionary activity of Paul and his associates. We must never for a moment conclude that they were the only mission- aries. All the disciples who lived long after Christ's ascension became missionaries. In the brief span of ten or eleven years, Paul planted the gospel and established churches in Cyprus and at least four provinces: Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia. As far as we know, the gospel had not penetrated into these provinces before Paul came, except perhaps in Asia. (See Acts 2:9-11.) Do you think that Paul followed his own planning in his endeavor to penetrate these provinces with the gos- pel? Acts 16:6, 7. Later on Paul did work in Asia, but never in Bithynia. Can we assign any reason for the difference? Some have surmised that Bithynia belonged in the assigned •territory of another; may it not have been instead that Paul was needed more some- where else? In writing to the church in Rome, what did Paul say about his work in preaching? Rom. 15:19, 23. THINK IT THROUGH 1. Who were some of Paul's companions on his mis- sionary journeys? 2. Why did it take so many years after Pentecost be- fore the first missionaries were sent forth? (If Paul and Barnabas were sent out about A.D. 48, then it could have been seventeen or eighteen years after Pentecost.) 3. Why didn't the Protestant missionary movement start until the close of the eighteenth century? 4. And why was it 1874 before the first Adventist missionary was sent overseas? "For the fifty years preceding 1792, But toward the close of the eighteenth little attention was given to the work century a great change took place."— of foreign missions. No new societies "The Great Controversy," pages 287, were formed, and there were but few 288. churches that made any effort for the FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the spread of Christianity in heathen lands. Apostles," pages 166-169. 66 The Method of Missions LESSON 8 ❑ Friday August 20 Part 6 "For I determined not to know anything among you, PAUL'S MESSAGE save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." AND METHODS "Unto me . . . is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto 1 Cor. 2:2; Eph. me, if I preach not the gospel!" 3:8; 1 Cor. 9:16; "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apos- 2 Tim. 1:11 tle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." We do not think of the New Testament as a thesis, a church manual, or even a ministerial manual. However, we find that Paul's letters were written first to churches he himself had a part in establishing and second to fellow laborers and in one case a convert. From the human standpoint we would say that they were dealing with the problems that each faced as regards doctrine, organization, membership in the church, relationship one to another, apostasy and rebellion, and the future problems that he foresaw the church would face. But in a wider sense the Holy Spirit was speaking through him to Christians to the end of time. What gifts, or offices, did God bestow in the church? 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-13. "God established His instrumentalities among a people who recognize the laws of the divine government. . . . And He who gives mental capabilities, and who entrusts talents to the men and women who are His by creation and redemption, expects that these talents and capabilities will be increased by use." —Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 243. THINK IT THROUGH 1. To what extent, do you think, did Paul identify himself with the people for whom he was working? 1 Cor. 9:22. 2. In the experience of Paul in Athens, what place does dialogue have? (See "The Acts of the Apostles," pages 235, 236.) What change in his work did Paul make after his experience in Athens? 1 Cor. 2:2. "A Mightier than Satan had chosen ing to the Jews in their own place of Saul to take the place of the martyred worship. Now he is preaching to the Stephen, to preach and suffer for His Gentiles, before their own temple and name, and to spread far and wide the in the very presence of their gods." tidings of salvation through His blood." —"Evangelism," page 554. —"The Acts of the Apostles," page 102. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Evangelism," "Paul in his journeys combined home pages 42, 71, 141, 227, 230, 231, 246, and foreign missions. Now he is preach- 327, 328, 358, 369, 370. 67 The Method of Missions IESSON 8 August 21 Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. True or False: When Christ founded the New Testament church, He specified every detail of organization and method 2. Complete: "But tarry ye in the city of until ye be endued 11 with from on 3. What effect did the Pentecost experience have on the language of the disciples ever after 4. Saul's (Paul's) commission to be an "apostle to the Gentiles" was revealed (a) at the Damascus road conversion; (b) to Saul while he waited in blind- ness; (c) to Ananias when he was sent to Saul; (d) during Paul's three-year time in Arabia. 5. True or False: Paul always followed a carefully preplanned itinerary on his missionary journeys. 6. Complete: "I am to all men, that I might by all some. (The answers are at the bottom of the page.)' •anes SUE3U1 4S2Up.1; lle apew (g) (9) !3 (v) :a4einaoe pue 'apiut!s 'aind sun& (E) :Op{ 'aannod qualestual (z) !asied (/) :siamsuy 68 LESSON 9 MISSIONS MISUNDERSTOOD "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. As we trace the struggle between the own time. The three angels' messages focus forces of good and evil, from the inception on this loyalty; therefore they arouse the of evil in heaven until its final eradication, greatest opposition of the ages. Rev. 12:17; we are aware of certain outstanding facts: 14:6-12. 1. Satan is doing all in his power to win support. 2. Satan can and does employ methods LESSON OUTLINE that God will not use. 1. First Human Family 3. As we near the end of time, Satan works harder. Heb. 11:4 4. Satan will do and is doing all in his 2. Noah and the Old Testament power to make men misunderstand God, His purposes, His kingdom, and His peo- Prophets ple. Heb. 11:7 5. If other methods fail, Satan will use fanaticism. He will tempt men to go to 3. Christ's Mission Misunderstood extremes. One extreme can be as bad as Isa. 53:3 another. The Jews in Christ's day had gone to extremes in their religion. 4. The Apostles Martyred 6. God depends upon His church to rep- Matt. 24:9 resent Him. In this lesson we shall study about how 5. Remnant Church Persecuted the mission God committed to man has Rev. 12:12 been misunderstood through the ages. The question of loyalty to God and His law 6. Individual Persecution has caused trouble from the Fall until our John 15:18; 17:14 69 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 ❑ Sunday August 22 Part 1 "By faith Abel offered unto God .a more excellent sacri- FIRST HUMAN fice than Cain, by which h"-rair-ained WM-less that-he was FAMILY 14fiteous, 1 God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being Heb. 11:4 dead yet speaketh." Was there anything wrong in Cain's vocation that led him into sin or caused his anger? Gen. 4:1-5. Is there any element of ignorance on Cain's part? On what basis would you question his motives? After all, he did offer; he brought what he had and no doubt brought some of the best. How did Cain know that God didn't accept his offering? What influenced Cain to do what he did and to take such extreme measures? 1 John 3:12. We have introduced this lesson with Abel because in a sense he and his brother Cain represent the human race as a whole. Sin had entered Eden. Our first parents had been ex- cluded. The controversy between Christ and Satan had begun in the hearts of men. The world's first two boys are prototypes of all who have followed. There are the obedient and the dis- obedient. "The murder of Abel was the first example of the enmity that God had declared would exist between the serpent and the seed of the woman—between Satan and his subjects and Christ and His followers."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 77. "Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw himself a sinner. . . He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed. Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice. . . . Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as had Abel."—Ibid., p. 72. THINK IT THROUGH Would considerable time be a factor in helping a per- son decide for Christ? Would a good environment, such as Cain and Abel had, be finally decisive for me? "Cain and Abel represent two classes tue of divine mediation, and thus it is that will exist in the world till the close not able to bring man into favor of time. One class avail themselves of with God."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," the appointed sacrifice for sin; the other pages 72, 73. venture to depend upon their own mer- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and its; theirs is a sacrifice without the vir- Prophets," pages 71-79. 70 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 ❑ Monday August 23 Part 2 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not NOAH AND THE seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the OLD TESTAMENT saving of his house; by the which he condemned the PROPHETS world, and became heir of the righteousness which is Heb. 11:7 by faith." Genesis devotes more than four chapters to the story of Noah. Gen. 5:28 to 9:29. In the New Testament God has en- shrined Noah's name in His Hall of Fame (Heb. 11:7) with other shining examples of righteousness by faith. What New Testament evidence can we cite for the historicity of Noah and the Flood? Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27. "Amid the prevailing corruption, Methuselah, Noah, and many others labored to keep alive the knowledge of the true God and to stay the tide of moral evil.... Enoch had repeated to his children what God had shown him in regard to the Flood, and Methuselah and his sons, who lived to hear the preaching of Noah, assisted in building the ark."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 92. "Noah and his family were not alone in fearing and obeying God. But Noah was the most pious and holy of any upon the earth, and was the one whose life God preserved to carry out His will in building the ark and warning the world of their coming doom. Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived until the very year of the Flood, and there were others who believed the preaching of Noah, and aided him in building the ark, who died before the Flood of waters came upon the earth."—Spir- itual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 65. What did Jesus accuse the. Jews of having done to the prophets? Matt. 23:37. How were the servants received in the parable of the householder? Matt. 21:35, 36. Compare Rom. 11:3. It was God's Israel that "stoned, mocked, and rejected the prophets of God" who were—SETE-Ti o warn, V1.-plead, and en- deavor to save. THINK IT THROUGH What would we have done if we had been living in that day? "The Pharisees built the tombs of the . . . It should open our eyes to the prophets, and adorned their sepulchers, power-a§raan-to-deceive the mind and said one to another, If we had , that-turns"--ffsrer=the--lig hf of truth."- lived in the days of our fathers, we ," pa ge.-6787- would not have united with them-in FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and 3h-eV- ding '—g--irO7)aatiod's te l servants. Prophets," pages 90-104. 71 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 ❑ Tuesday August 24 Part 3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sor- CHRIST'S MISSION rows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were MISUNDERSTOOD our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Isa. 53:3 Him not." "It was the rejection of the messages of the prophets that brought ruin upon Israel; it led to their refusal to accept their Messiah, and thus to their rejection as a nation."—SDA Bible Dictionary, page 882. Does the above statement harmonize with Christ's rebuke to the people of His day? Matt. 23:29-33. How did Christ identify the Jews of His day with the murders of the prophets? Matt. 23:31. Compare Luke 11:47-51. "Build the tombs. The martyrs of one generation often be- come the heroes of the next. While the prophets were alive it was popular to throw stones at them; after they had been dead for a time it became popular to set up elaborate stone monu- ments to commemorate them. The Jews could not honor liv- ing prophets without accepting their messages, but it was a simple thing to honor dead prophets without doing so."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Matt. 23:29. If Christ had come to the people outside of Israel, would He have been better.yeceived? John41:10, 11. Not only did the leaders of the Jewish nation misunderstand Jesus and the purpose of His mission, but also His own mother had some mistaken ideas (The Desire of Ages, page 147) ; His own brothers disbelieved in Him (John 7:5) ; His disciples misunderstood much of the purpose of His mission (The De- sire of Ages, page 799), and the priests interpreted against Him the very words they should have received as evidence of His divinity (The Desire of Ages, page 212). THINK IT THROUGH Was the rejection of Christ by the Jews because of a lack of understanding of Old Testament prophecies re- garding the time, manner, and circumstances of His coming? "There was never one who walked cause."—"Thoughts From the Mount of among men more cruelly slandered Blessing," 1956 edition, page 32. than the Son of Man. He was derided FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Thoughts From and mocked because of His unswerving the Mount of Blessing," pages 31-35 obedience to the principles of God's (1943 ed., pages 53-58). holy law. They hated Him without a 72 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 ❑ Wednesday August 25 Part 4 "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and THE APOSTLES shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for MARTYRED My name's sake." Matt. 24:9 These words of Jesus to His disciples warned them what they might expect to experience as His representatives: a. Intense hatred by the Gentile nations as well as by the Jews. b. Persecution and torture. c. Death. And Christ indicates the reason for all this—"for My name's sake." In other words, it would be most unpopular to identify oneself with the cause of Christ. What reason can you give for the martyrdom of Stephen? Acts 6:9-15. "Priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger. Act- ing more like beasts of prey than human beings, they rushed upon Stephen, gnashing their teeth."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 100. Remember this happened just over three years after the crucifixion of Christ. What would we have done? What was the occasion for the martyrdom of James? Acts 12:1, 2. Just why God permitted James to be beheaded, delivered Peter miraculously (Acts 12:6-11), and struck Herod down (verse 23), we do not know. This Herod (Agrippa I) was a grandson of Herod the Great and a nephew of Herod Antipas who had ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. He had a son by the same name—Herod (Agrippa II)—whom we meet in Acts 26 in the experience of Paul. Herod Agrippa I met his death around A.D. 44. See SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, pp. 63-69. THINK IT THROUGH What reasons can you give for the prejudice, persecu- tion, and trials which the apostles endured? "Paul attained to the full moral stat- of the apostle Paul. He had many trials. ure of a man in Christ Jesus. By what. . . . Far harder than ours was his lot. a process was his soul developed! His ... But Paul allowed nothing to hinder life was a continual scene of hardship, him from his work."—Ellen G. White conflcit, and toil. [2 Cor. 11:26, 27 Comments, "SDA Bible Commentary," quote" ."—Ellen G. White Comments, Vol. 6, p. 1106. "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the 903. Apostles," pages 143-154. "Gain courage from the experience 73 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 ❑ Thursday August 26 Part 5 "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in REMNANT CHURCH them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the seal PERSECUTED for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, Rev. 12:12 because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." "There was rejoicing in heaven, for the angels and the in- habitants of other worlds knew Satan was doomed by Christ's victory at Calvary. "Woe. For the church there was further persecution, hence its members could not yet rejoice."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Rev. 12:12. Satan was angry because of his defeat. His hostility to Christ continued in the form of intense persecution of 'Christ's fol- lowers. But now he is conscious of the shortage of time. Against whom is Satan especially directing his assaults? Rev. 12:17. "Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut."—The Desire of Ages, page 636. What reasons can you give for identifying Seventh-day Adventists with the remnant church of. Rev. 12:17? "The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus is the message we have •to bear to the world."—Selected Mes- sages, Bk. 2, p. 88. "In this day, when we are bidden to call attention to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we see the same enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ."—The Desire of Ages, page 398. THINK IT THROUGH What in your thinking are the real reasons why this enmity is generated against the remnant church? Isn't the remnant church a fulfillment of prophecy? Why should the fourth commandment be such a point of controversy? "As the message of Christ's first ad- which was begun in heaven, will be vent announced the kingdom of His continued until the end of time. Every grace, so the message of His second man will be tested. Obedience or dis- advent announces the kingdom of His obedience is the question to be de- glory. And the second message, like cided by the whole world."—"Ibid.," the first, is based on the prophecies." page 763. —"The Desire of Ages," page 234. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- "The warfare against God's law, troversy," pages 582-586. 74 Missions Misunderstood LESSON 9 D Friday August 27 Part 6 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me INDIVIDUAL before it hated you." PERSECUTION "I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as John 15:18; 17:14 I am not of the world." Earlier in our lesson, we discovered that the chosen people of God at the time of Christ misunderstood aria actually- Nated rfrrisr to the point of murder That hatred was actiTraTrd • ly—tsy—fli fFTWrist lived. It was a continual rebuke, especially to the teachers and leaders of Israel. In our day what adds to the hatred of the enemy of souls against the individual child of God? Rev. 12:12; 1 Peter 5:8. We must ever keep in mind that the church is people, not some abstract organization or thing. Satan's attacks against the church will not be primarily to destroy the building as a whole, (Eph. 2:19-22), to demolish the entire structure. He will seek to loosen one stone here, to cause a crack there, perhaps to weaken the mortar that holds the stones together. "In this last meeting with His disciples, the great desire which Christ expressed for them was that they might love one another as He had loved them. . . . The command to love one another had a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice.... "This love, manifested in the church, will surely stir the wrath of Satan. Christ did not mark out for His disciples an easy path. [John 15:18 quoted.] . . . The gospel is to be car- ried forward by aggressive warfare, in the midst of opposition, peril, loss, and suffering. But those who do this work are only following in their Master's steps."—The Desire of Ages, pages 677, 678. THINK IT THROUGH Is it possible to be hated and yet respected for one's conscientious convictions? "Ever since his fall, Satan has worked people in the closing scenes of the by means of deception. As he had mis- great day of atonement.... Those who represented God, so, through his agents, keep the commandments of God and he misrepresents the children of God." the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of —"Thoughts From the Mount of Bless- the dragon and his hosts."—"Prophets ing," page 31. and Kings," page 587. "Zechariah's vision of Joshua and FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- the Angel [Zech. 3:1-5] applies with pe- troversy," pages 589-592. culiar force to the experience of God's 75 9L Answers: (1) God still requires obedience; (2) he died the year of the Flood; (3) it was hypocrisy because they ignored the messages of the same prophets; (4) Stephen; (5) obedience or disobe- dience; (6) d. (-aged aq4 Jo umpoq aae siamsue oily) •anai jo spuoq aqe ui Jalpa2o1 pap goingp apImppom auo aiu Aag .a Too jo sluampuuunuo3 alp Aago )(au, .p Jo ulop2upt 2unuoD alp spIdal su jagaq anp3upsIp E anug Xagi .3 Jo &lump puooas alp ul anagaq Sag" ct .panes aq Him sispuanpv /quo Tipp Aaq J .v (IpaID) :asnu39q plug Kaupadsa aq 'um slaquialu gDing3 luuuulaz .9 apom aiogm alp Aq pappap aq uopsanb alp sI iugm .s Jo ‘lspclua alp uqof ‘sauluf ‘uagdals—JAlieux trupsplo lug alp sum 2Lumogo3 agl jo auo 113!qm cPio jo slagdold sluaumuour 2ufpunq ,smaf Ipm 2uoIm sum luqm 1.reoN Imm Tr alp ui panes quiasnglaw 1,usum Alm .z fag 1,upg3 'putt 0g 3ugm 1g2nolq 0H .2upajjo s‘ulup gaim 21.10IM SEM 3ELIM •I 213MOd AanlS anoA JO 1S31. V o sNous3no Atniwwns O L Pod 4sn5by 6 NOSS31 poolvapunsm suogsgv LESSON 10 September 4, 1971 MONEY AND MISSIONS 10 "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." 1 Cor. 9:14. LESSON OUTLINE "All that we do is to be done willingly. 1. Stewardship in the Old We are to bring our offerings with joy and Testament gratitude, saying as we present them, Of Ps. 24:1 Thine own we freely give Thee. The most costly service we can render is but meager 2. Stewardship as Lived and compared to the gift of God to our world. Taught by Christ Christ is a gift every day. God gave Him 2 Cor. 8:9 to the world, and He graciously takes the gifts entrusted to His human agents for 3. Stewardship as Practiced in the the advancement of His work in the world. Early Church Thus we show that we recognize and ac- 1 Cor. 9:14 knowledge that everything belongs to God, absolutely and entirely."—Counsels on 4. Love for the Lost and Needy Stewardship, page 198. Inspires Sacrifice In this lesson we shall confine our study 2 Cor. 5:14 to the stewardship of the monetary means of the gospel, which God has so plentifully 5. Mission Involves Stewardship placed in the hands of His children. Rom. 10:14, 15 6. Rewards of Stewardship 2 Cor. 9:7 77 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Sunday August 29 Part 1 "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the STEWARDSHIP world, and they that dwell therein." IN THE OLD TESTAMENT "Having sinned, man was sentenced to earn his livelihood by the sweat of his face (Gen. 3:17-19), and .there was danger Ps. 24:1 that he would come to say in his heart, 'My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth' (Deut. 8:17), whereas in reality it was God who had given him the power to get it (Deut. 8:18). . . . By paying tithe man acknowledges that he is a steward of God, the owner of all things.. . . Even prior to the entrance of sin the danger of forgetfulness was latent in man's character, and as a test God forbade man to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17), claiming it as His own."—SDA Bible Dictionary, pages 1102, 1103. What is the earliest Biblical record of tithing, by whom, to whom, and for what purpose? Gen. 14:18-20. "The tithing system reaches back beyond the days of Moses. Men were required to offer to God gifts for religious purposes, before the definite system was given to Moses, even as far back as the days of Adam. . . . This was continued through successive generations, and was carried out by Abraham, who gave tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. The same principle existed in the days of Job."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 1093. What provision did God make for the support of the priesthood? Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21. Was the tithe all that God expected of Israel? Ps. 96:8, 9. How did the last Old Testament prophet classify those who do not pay an honest tithe or give offerings? Mal. 3:8-10. THINK IT THROUGH Is tithe paying a matter of conscience? Is it a sacri- fice? "One of the greatest sins in the means to release the cause from finan- Christian world of today is dissem- cial embarrassment and to nobly carry bling and covetousness in dealing with forward the missionary work in its God.... various departments."—"Testimonies." "If all, both rich and poor, would Vol. 4, pp. 475, 476. bring their tithes into the storehouse, FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and there would be a sufficient supply of Prophets," pages 525-529. 78 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Monday August 30 Part 2 "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, STEWARDSHIP though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, AS LIVED AND that ye through His poverty might be rich." TAUGHT BY CHRIST 2 Cor. 8:9 Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of man, that we, born sons of men, might become the sons of God. 1 John 3:1, 2. We pause a moment to reflect on the motivation of Christ. He didn't have to come to this world. We poor mortals think so often in terms of "Do I have •to do this?" "Am I required to do •that?" et cetera. Someone says, "But there is no New Testament command to pay tithe!" What did Christ say in regard to tithing? Matt. 23:23. Christ states clearly that while there were weightier mat- ters, tithing ought not •to be neglected. "The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in a self-justifying spirit, •they are abominable to God. . . . These things call attention to the observer of rigorous duties, saying, This man is entitled to heaven. But it is all a deception. Works will not buy for us an entrance into heaven."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 1098. How did Christ tell one young man in His day to become involved in practical Christianity? Matt. 19:16-22. THINK IT THROUGH If the rich young ruler had sold his possessions and distributed to the poor, either directly or through an or- ganization, in what ways would he have been blessed? What about those who do not have possessions? "God's plan in the tithing system is carrying forward the precious work of beautiful in its simplicity and equality. salvation. Every man, woman, and All may take hold of it in faith and youth may become a treasurer for the courage, for it is divine in its origin. In Lord, and may be an agent to meet it are combined simplicity and utility, the demands upon the treasury."— and it does not require depth of learn- "Counsels on Stewardship," page 73. ing to understand and execute it. All FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Counsels on may feel that they can act a part in Stewardship," pages 101-103. 79 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Tuesday August 31 Part 3 "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach STEWARDSHIP AS the gospel should live of the gospel." PRACTICED BY THE EARLY CHURCH The disciples were merely following the instruction given by Christ when He sent out the Twelve early in His ministry: 1 Cor. 9:14 "For the workman is worthy of his meat." Matt. 10:10. Luke has it, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Luke 10:7. The Twelve were not to take along money, provisions, or extra clothing; they were to expect to be entertained by the people for whom they worked. "The principle of tithe paying is also tacitly approved by the writer of the book of Hebrews (see ch. 7:8)."—SDA Bible Dictionary, page 1104. In the epistles and letters of the New Testament, we find two types of references to finance in connection with the churches and/or ministry: first, the support of the ministry, and second, collections for the relief .of the poor saints. What reasoning does Paul use to justify not accepting support from the Corinthian church in either tithe or offer- ings? 1 Cor. 9:13-18. "As a gospel minister, it was Paul's privilege to claim a sup- port from those for whom he labored. But though he became the servant of all, yet he worked with his hands to support himself, that none might find occasion to charge him with selfishness. He did not receive wages for his labor, though as a minister of the gospel this was his right. Thus he made it evident that he was working for souls, not for money."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1088. How does Paul indicate that he had received support from churches other than the one at Corinth? 2 Cor. 11:8, 9. There is reason to believe that members of the church at Corinth were rather well-to-do. Perhaps Paul intended a slight rebuke, that they had been somewhat negligent in entertaining him. Evidently there were times when he had been in want. THINK IT THROUGH What was the economic experience of the early church in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts 4:32-35? Why was it necessary for God to give them the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira? "Not to the early church only, but to was given as a danger signal."—"The all future generations, this example Acts of the Apostles," page 74. [Ananias and Sapphire] of God's hatred FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the of coveteousness, fraud, and hypocrisy, Apostles," pages 70-76. 80 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Wednesday September I Part 4 "For the love of Christ constraineth us." LOVE FOR THE LOST AND NEEDY It is not enough for us to realize that we "have this trea- INSPIRES SACRIFICE sure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7) ; we must have the moti- vating power that Christ had. 2 Cor. 5:14 What actuated Christ in His entire earthly ministry? John 3:16; 2:17. "I am so thankful for the medical missionary work, carried in gospel lines. It is to be taught, it is to be carried forward; for it is the very work that Christ did when on this earth. He was the greatest •Missionary the world ever saw."—Medical Ministry, page 15. r;• What was Paul's attitude toward his stewardship of the gospel? Rom. 1:14. Paul refers in many places to his concern for the salvation of the lost: 1. In thinking of his own kinsmen, the Jews, he could wish that he himself were accursed, if by that means he might save some. Rom. 9:2, 3 ; 10:1. 2. To the Gentiles he speaks about magnifying his office as apostle if thus he might save some. Rom. 11:13, 14. 3. And again, he talks about being "all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1 Cor. 9:22. Giving of our means involves consecration and love for the cause, the object of our giving. Paul was pleading with the Corinthian members for a liberal offering for the saints in Jerusalem. And in so doing he "laid no command upon the Corinthian brethren. But he set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusa- lem, and showed what others had given who had fewer advan- tages and less ability than had the Corinthians. He presented the example of others, to induce them to give."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1103. THINK IT THROUGH How do I show my love for my Saviour? "Those only live for Christ and honor will be a natural outflow of love, sym- His name who are true to their Master pathy, and tenderness to others."— in seeking to save that which is lost. "Testimonies," Vol. 5, p. 606. ... If our hearts are softened and sub- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the dued by the grace of Christ, . . . there Apostles," pages 341-345. 81 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Thursday September 2 Part 5 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have MISSIONS INVOLVE not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom STEWARDSHIP they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings Rom. 10:14, 15 of good things!" "If we indeed have the truth for these last days, it must be carried to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Erelong the living and the dead are to be judged according to the deeds done in the body, and the law of God is the standard by which they are to be tested. Then they must now be warned; God's holy law must be vindicated, and held up before them as a mirror. To accomplish this work, means is needed. I know that times are hard, money is not plenty; but the truth must be spread, and money to spread it must be placed in the trea- sury."—Historical Sketches, pages 291, 292. How many of Christ's parables can you think of that involve value, money, costs, investments, and steward- ship? Examples are "Hidden Treasure" (Matt. 13:44) and "Pearl of Great Price" (Matt. 13:45, 46). Earlier in this lesson we read in 2 Cor. 4:7 that we are stewards of the gospel, having "this treasure in earthen vessels." Paul admonishes us to pray for the apostles (missionaries). 2 Thess. 3:1, 2. Christ admonished His disciples to give freely because they had received freely. Matt. 10:8. Paul indicated that there must be "first a willing mind" in giving. 2 Cor. 8:12. THINK IT THROUGH What responsibility does the sending church have toward the ones sent? 1 Cor. 9:7-14. How many workers has your church given to the cause? How many were home missionaries and how many foreign missionaries? Can churches in every country become sending churches, sooner or later? "Is not the missionary work that is truth may be sent into other countries, to be done in our world of sufficient im- and that home missions may be sus- portance to command our influence and tained?"—"Christian Service," page support? Should we not deny ourselves 221. of every extravagance, and put our FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," gifts into the treasury of God, that the Vol. 9, pp. 49-53. 82 Money and Missions LESSON 10 ❑ Friday September 3 Part 6 "For we are laborers together with God: ye are REWARDS OF God's husbandry, ye are God's building." STEWARDSHIP 1 Cor. 3:9 Not all Christian communions are universal in their scope or vision, nor are they all evangelistic in outlook. The Advent- ist concept stems from the gospel commission of Matt. 28:18-20 and from the three angels' messages of Revelation 14. The angels of Revelation 14 are flying. This indicates the urgency of the message which is to go to the entire world. The same spirit that actuated Christ will possess the remnant church as they become "laborers together with God." What reward may the missionary expect both here and hereafter? Mark 10:28-30. According to what standard does God reward us? Luke 6:38. God is lavish in the way He bestows His blessings on us. Is there reason to believe that He will not reward us in the same way? See 1 Tim. 6:17. What principle did Paul lay down in his letter to the Corinthian church? 2 Cor. 9:6, 7. What contrast did Jesus draw between the gifts of the rich and that of the "poor widow"? Mark 12:42-44; Luke 21:2-4. "She did what she could, and her act was to be a monument to her memory through all time, and her joy in eternity. Her heart went with her gift; its value was estimated, not by the worth of the coin, but by the love to God and the interest in His work that had prompted the deed."—The Desire of Ages, page 615. THINK IT THROUGH How does my account stand in heaven's bank? If I'm not drawing any interest, or not enough, what might be the cause? "God's people have a mighty work Lord Jesus Christ. God's people are not before them, a work that must con- to cease their labors until they shall en- tinually rise to greater prominence. Our circle the world."—"Testimonies," Vol. efforts in missionary lines must become 6, pp. 23, 24. far more extensive. A more decided FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," work than has been done must be done Vol. 9, pp. 53-59. prior to the second appearing of our 83 Vs Answers: (1) if all would pay tithe; (2) definitely; (3) he himself; (4) False; (5) "The Pearl of Great Price," "The Talents," "The Rich Fool," etc.; (6) 100-fold in this time, eternal life, souls won, etc. abed au4 to uzo4loq ati4 aze S.13/NSUE ally) •jo pup use not( sr dmspzumals utpspqD jo spremaz 'Cum St atuuN .9 asn s4t put huour Suptiaz At samtred autos aturN .s .uantaq Joj jtastitm Supudaid uopudn000aid asualut us s! 3spqD Jo amiS 2u!npqns atp 4pj stq oqm auo jo uonotaz 'mum' ata :asird JO aru .S.teuoIssIut s Su Allsnqui siq ut niud palioddns otim opuuoD ui .E pas.lopua put pallcitul aidpupd atp s! ‘Sunpp inoqu putunuop ou set' luatumsai maN aqi anqm suoputt -nuouap atp Jo saqoumq tit uo AIM on swam lualowns anisua mnom itqm •i 213MOd mulls zuloA AO 1S31 V <> SNOL1S3110 Azivwwns O L 440d iaqula4das OL NOSS31 suoIssm puv fiduoill LESSON 11 September 11, 1971 THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS 11 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9. LESSON OUTLINE Peter wrote this to his generation. If you had your choice, when would you choose to 1. Church Compared to the Body live, then or now? Peter could think of his 1 Cor. 12:12-14 generation in the context of Pentecost, when "more were converted by one sermon on 2. Our Relationship to the Church the day of Pentecost than were converted and to Christ during all the years of Christ's ministry."— Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Com- Mark 3:32-35 mentary, Vol. 6, p. 1055. 3. The Purpose of Leadership But let us rather think of "our" genera- tion: Eph. 4:11-14 1. A chosen generation—to complete the 4. Individual Responsibility work committed to the church. 2. A royal priesthood—with all, including Matt. 21:28 the laity, sharing in the witness. 5. Work of the Members 3. An holy nation—citizens of God's kingdom, pilgrims and strangers here. Matt. 5:14 4. A peculiar people—that is, a select or 6. The Reward to Individuals a special people, God's prized possession. Mark 10:29, 30 85 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Sunday September 5 Part 1 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and CHURCH COMPARED all the members of that one body, being many, are one TO THE BODY body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all bap- tized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, 1 Cor. 12:12-14. but many." There can be no question from the context that Paul is talk- ing about the church. In the first part of this twelfth chapter he enumerates the gifts which God has placed in the church. Then, after discussing the functioning of the spiritual body, he makes it most plain in verse 28 that he is talking about the church and the various talents which have been given to it. In verse 27, after comparing the church and its various functions to the human body, he specifically states, "Now, ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Who is the head of the body? Col. 1:18. "Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the "head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church."—Education, page 268. Now let us go back and call to mind some of the salient thoughts in 1 Corinthians 12: 1. Verse 12. One body, not one for each country. 2. Verse 13. Baptized into one body. 3. Verse 14 (also verse 20). Many members, various func- tions. 4. Verses 15-21. Appreciation and satisfaction for one's tal- ents and place in the church. 5. Verses 22-24. Delicate, less honorable, uncomely, feeble parts given extra protection. 6. Verse 25. Purpose of various functions to prevent schism in the body. 7. Verse 25. Members protect (care) for one another. 8. Verse 26. If one member of the body suffers, all suffer. THINK IT THROUGH What would you say is the greatest single factor in keeping us together doctrinally as a church in all the world? "'The head of every man is Christ.' foundation; it is to obey Christ as its God, who put all things under the Sav- head. It is not to depend upon man, or iour's feet, 'gave Him to be the head be controlled by man."—"The Desire of over all things to the church, which is Ages," page 414. His body, the fullness of Him that filleth FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the all in all.' 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22, 23. Apostles," pages 317, 318. The church is built upon Christ as its 86 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Monday September 6 Part 2 "And the multitude sat about Him, and they said OUR RELATIONSHIP unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without TO THE CHURCH seek for Thee. And He answered them, saying, Who is AND TO CHRIST My mother, or My brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, Mark 3:32-35 the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother." "Woman. In OT figure the true church is at times repre- sented by a woman (Isa. 54:5, 6; Jer. 6:2). When the church apostatized it was compared with a corrupt woman (Jer. 3:20; Eze. 23:2-4). The same figures appear in the NT ( 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 17:1-3). In Rev. 12 the woman represents the true church."—SDA Bible Commentary on Rev. 12:1. "The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they 'which keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.' "—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 972. What symbol or relationship does Paul use to illustrate the relationship of Christ and the church? 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-25. "God is the husband of His church. The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. Every true believer is a part of the body of Christ. . . . We are to remember that we are members of Christ's body."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Com- mentary, Vol. 7, pp. 985, 986. When we are born into God's family, God accepts us as His 'sons and daughters. And by the same token, the church elected to accept you and me as members of His remnant church. Does the majority of a local church have the power and the right to disfellowship a member? Matt. 18:17, 18. Where may we expect to find the presence of Christ and spiritual communion with Him? Rev. 1:13, 20. THINK IT THROUGH Does the individual church have the right to set stan- dards for admitting and disfellowshiping members? "All who would receive Christ by His brothers would receive no benefit faith were united to Him by a tie closer from their connection with Him unless than that of human kinship. They would they accepted Him as their personal become one with Him, as He was one Saviour."—"The Desire of Ages," page with the Father. As a believer and doer 325. of His words, His mother was more FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- nearly and savingly related to Him troversy," pages 381, 382. than through her natural relationship. 87 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Tuesday September 7 Part 3 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; THE PURPOSE and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; OF LEADERSHIP for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and Eph. 4:11-14 cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Lest some might misunderstand, where did Paul say in his letter to the Corinthians that these gifts of leadership were placed? 1 Cor. 12:28. According to the' above verses, the purpose of the church can be summarized thus: 1. To train and organize and direct the members in their work of ministry. 2. To perfect the saints spiritually as the church. 3. To bring the church into unity. 4. To establish the members doctrinally in Bible truth. "The church was intended to take up, and fulfill, the work that Israel failed to do—that of representing God's character to the world (see Mat 28:19; Rom 2:28, 29; Gal 3:28, 29; Eph 2:8-22; 1 Pe 2:5-10), and of preparing itself for the return of its Lord (1 Cor 1:7, 8; 2 Pe 3:14; Rev 14:5; etc.)."—SDA Bible Dictionary, page 210. What did Peter say the church, as the people of God, was to be? 1 Peter 2:9. THINK IT THROUGH What are the leaders of my church doing to train, organize, and direct me in my ministry for Christ? Am I willing to do my part? "In sending forth His ministers our labors of God's servant should, accord- Saviour gave gifts unto men, for ing to their ability, unite with him in through them He communicates to the working for the salvation of souls. This world the words of eternal life. This is is the work of all true believers, min- the means which God has ordained for isters and people."—"Testimonies," Vol. the perfecting of the saints in knowl- 5, pp. 237, 238. edge and true holiness. . . . FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies," "All who have been benefited by the Vol. 8, p. 169-171. 88 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Wednesday September 8 Part 4 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and INDIVIDUAL he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my RESPONSIBILITY vineyard." Matt. 21:28 The chief priests and elders confront Christ with a question, "By what authority doest Thou these things?" In reply, He asks them a question about John's baptism, which really puts His hearers on the horns of a dilemma. And then He tells them two parables, each of which ends in a question. The first of these parables is that of a man with two sons, both of whom were told •to "go work today in my vineyard." This parable is told only in the Gospel of Matthew, which was written mainly for the Jews. "The priests and rulers could not but give a correct answer to Christ's question, and thus He obtained •their opinion in favor of the first son. This son represented the publicans, those who were despised and hated by the Pharisees... . "The second son represented the leading men of the Jewish nation. Some of the Pharisees had repented and received the baptism of John; but the leaders would not acknowledge that he came from God."—The Desire of Ages, page 595. "The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gds-bel-tothe—World:-7. . The membersof the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 9. THINK IT THROUGH If the church of God is advancing as a mighty army, does it need organization? What is my part? Commis- sioned officer, noncommissioned officer, or private? "All are to show their fidelity to God His cause. 'Go labor in My vineyard,' by the wise use of His entrusted capi- is the Master's command to each of His tal, not in means alone, but in any followers."—"Testimonies," Vol. 5, p. endowment that will tend to the up- 462. building of His kingdom.... God never FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies to designed that the lay members of the Ministers," pages 183, 184. church should be excused from labor in 89 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Thursday September 9 Part 5 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an WORK OF THE hill cannot be hid." MEMBERS Matt. 5:14 "At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a mes- sage illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth."—Christ's Object Lessons, page 415. "Saul . . . was placed in direct communication with the church which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ's ministers."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 122. "The Jews thought to confine the benefits of salvation to their own nation. . . . Salvation is like the sunshine. It belongs to the whole world."—The Desire of Ages, pages 306, 307. "The followers of Christ are to go forth on their mission, diffusing the light of heaven upon those who are in the dark- ness of error and sin."—Thoughts From the Mount of Bless- ing, page 39. In the parable of the sower, Christ is represented as sowing the good seed. Matt. 13:37. "The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." Verse 38. "Christ's servants are grieved as they see true and false believers mingled in the church. They long to do something to cleanse the church. Like the servants of the householder, they are ready to uproot the tares. But Christ says to them, `Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.' " —Christ's Object Lessons, page 71. No one will deny that the church itself is, in a sense, a mis- sion field. When Jesus sent forth the Twelve, He sent them "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matt. 10:6. Should the larger mission outreach be delayed until the church is purged? Should some members be delegated to home missions while others go to lands afar? Do you think that modern methods of travel and communication have some part in God's plan for the timing of His worldwide message? What were Christ's last words to His disciples just before His ascension? Acts 1:8 Compare Luke 24:47, 48. THINK IT THROUGH Does a witness have to be forced before he will testify? "God desires that the receivers of them forth into the camp of the disloyal His grace shall be witnesses to its to proclaim His boundless mercy."— power. Those whose course has been "The Desire of Ages," page 826. most offensive to Him He freely accepts; FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object when they repent, He imparts to them Lessons," pages 37-43 (1923 ed., pages His divine Spirit, places them in the 31-37). highest positions of trust, and sends 90 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 ❑ Friday September 10 Part 6 "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, THE REWARD TO There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sis- INDIVIDUALS ters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with per- Mark 10:29, 30 secutions; and in the world to come eternal life." We have this same thought expressed in Matthew 19:29 and in Luke 18:29, 30, but Mark remains the most detailed and inclusive. What we have brought to mind in all three references are the results to the individual of forsaking the world for the things of God. "But Peter's question, 'What shall we have therefore ?' [Matt. 19:27] had revealed a spirit that uncorrected would unfit the disciples to be messengers for Christ; for it was the spirit of a hireling. . . . Lest the disciples should lose sight of the principles of the gospel, Christ related to them a parable illustrating the manner in which God deals with His servants, and the spirit in which He desires them to labor for Him. . . . Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God."—Christ's Object Lessons, pages 396, 397. Is there joy and pleasure in merely sowing the gospel seed? Need we worry about the harvest? Are we guaranteed a har- vest? "While the great final reward is given at Christ's coming, truehearted service for God brings a reward, even in this life. . . He may not see the fruit of his toil. But in face of all this he finds in his labor a blessed recompence."—Testimonies, Vol. 6, pp. 305, 306. In addition to the joys and pleasures of cooperating with God here and now, what can the worker for God look forward to? 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. Compare Matt. 25:21, 23. Paul refers here to his converts won and souls saved as his real joy at the coming of Christ. THINK IT THROUGH Do you think it is wrong to work for a reward? See Heb. 11:26. Is it enough just to warn people? Or is something more involved in winning souls? "By living a life of devotion and self- ments, "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. sacrifice in doing good to others, you 4, p. 1174. might have been adding stars and gems FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object to the crown that you will wear in Lessons," pages 395-399 (1923 ed., heaven, and laying up unfading, eter- pages 402-406). nal treasures."—Ellen G. White Corn- 91 The Ministry of Missions LESSON 11 September 11 Part 7 0 SUMMARY QUESTIONS 0 A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. The most important factor in the church organization is (a) the General Conference president, (b) the elected delegates to the General Conference, (c) the authority of each local church board, (d) recognizing that Christ is the Head of the church. 2. What symbol in Scripture represents the true church? The apostate church) 3. The church was intended to take up . . . the work . of God's to the world, and of itself for the of its Lord. 4. How does the parable of the two sons apply today? 5. True or False: The most important work for the local congregation is to clean up its own membership before it tries to evangelize the neighborhood. 6. Did Moses, or did he not, work for a reward) (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) *sa4 (9) !asfea (S) „•ioqei tuoi; pasnaxa aq pinoqs pinto mil Jo maqtuatu Aei 4e114 paalsap aanau poo„ (q) '2upeclaid 'iapeleto '2u9uasaidal !IletUOM e 'uetuom aind e (Z) (I) :mamsud 92 LESSON 12 September 18, 1971 !, .,-. .- .... ------ 1.- A—. •' i , I 71; odi THE MEN OF MISSIONS 112 "As thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world." John 17:18. The only instance in which John uses the of missions. What about your church and Greek word for "apostle" ("one sent," mine? "messenger") is in John 13 :16, where it is translated, "he that is sent," and where it refers to the Twelve and indirectly to any LESSON OUTLINE of Christ's messengers. In John 17:18 the 1. The Church as a Temple Greek word translated "sent" is the verb form of the same word. It might be trans- Eph. 2:19-22 lated, "Even so have I apostled them into 2. Christ's Zeal for His Temple the world," which would preserve the flavor of the original. John 2:17 As we in our day reflect on the gospel 3. Early Church Soon Loses Its commission, we should do so with two pro- found convictions clearly in mind—that we Vision are members of God's remnant church, and Rom. 1:14 that God has commissioned us to proclaim His last saving message to the world. For 4. Dawn of Protestant Missions nearly half a century the Protestant world Rev. 12:16 has been rethinking foreign missions. Such phrases as "missions in crisis," "rethinking 5. Adventist Mission Impulse missions," "missions in a time of testing," Rev. 14:6-10 and "redefining missions" have appeared again and again. It is a simple fact that 6. One Church in All the World the churches have been losing their vision Eph. 4:4-6 93 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 ❑ Sunday September 12 Part 1 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and for- GOD'S CHURCH eigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the AS A TEMPLE household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Eph. 2:19-22 God through the Spirit." Think on these things: 1. The church is the household of God. 1 Tim. 3:15. 2. Prophets and apostles laid the foundation. 3. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone that "holds together the various parts of the spiritual house, giving shape and unity to it."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Eph. 2:20. "In the quarry of the Jewish and the Gentile world the apostles labored, bringing out stones to lay upon the foun- dation. In his letter to the believers at Ephesus, Paul said [Eph. 2:19-22 quoted]. And to the Corinthians he wrote: [1 Cor. 3:10-13 quoted]. The apostles built upon a sure founda- tion, even the Rock of Ages. To this foundation they brought the stones they had quarried from the world. Not without hin- drance did the builders labor. Their work was made exceedingly difficult by the opposition of the enemies of Christ."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 596. Notice Peter's description of the same spiritual building. 1 Peter 2:5-8. How many similarities do you find here to what Paul wrote to the Ephesians? If every Christian becomes in a sense a priest, must he have an offering? Heb. 8:3. Compare Rev. 20 : 6. This figure of speech by which individual church members are thought of as being parts of a building occurs also in Ps. 144:12, where sons are spoken of as plants and daughters as cornerstones. THINK IT THROUGH What kind of stone am I in the temple of the Lord? "How amazed is Heaven at the pres- the Sun of Righteousness—the brigFv ent condition of the church that could glory in which are combined the beam: be so much to the world if every stone of mercy and truth that have met to were in its proper place, a living stone gether, of righteousness and peace tha to emit light! A stone that does not have kissed each other." Ellen G. Whit( shine is worthless. That which consti- Comments, "SDA Bible Commentary,' tutes the value of our churches is not Vol. 6, p. 1116. dead, lusterless stones, but living FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of th( stones, stones that catch the bright Apostles," pages 595-599. beams from the Chief Cornerstone, even 94 The Men of Mission's LESSON 12 ❑ Monday September 13 Part 2 "And His disciples remembered that it was written, CHRIST'S ZEAL The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up." FOR HIS TEMPLE John 2:17 This is not the first time that Jesus entered the temple. Thirty years earlier He had been brought here as a babe, to be presented as a firstborn son. Luke 2:22-24. At the age of twelve He had accompanied His parents to the Passover Feast, at which time we have His first recorded words: "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49. "As His mission had opened to Jesus in the temple, He shrank from contact with the multitude. He wished to return from Jerusalem in quietness, with those who knew the secret of His life. . . . As Joseph and 'Mary should return from Jeru- salem alone with Jesus, He hoped to direct their minds to the prophecies of the suffering Saviour."—The Desire of Ages, page 82. He came to save a lost world. But was the work of salvation completed when He ended His mission here on earth? John 17:4, 18. "As Christ is the channel for the revelation of the Father, so we are to be the channel for the revelation of Christ. . . . The church of Christ, every individual disciple of the Master, is Heaven's appointed channel for the revelation of God to man. Angels of glory wait to communicate through you Heaven's light and power 'to souls that are ready to perish."—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 40. When and under what circumstances was the gospel commission given? Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:6-8. "Before ascending to heaven, Christ gave His disciples their commission."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 27. "When the disciples asked Him, 'Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' He answered, 'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father bath put in His own power.' .. . It was not necessary for them to see farther into the future than the revelations He had made enabled them to see. Their work was to proclaim the gospel message."—Ibid., p. 30. THINK IT THROUGH Did the disciples find it easier to assist in feeding the five thousand than they did to preach and witness about Christ? Which was more popular? "To every child of God whose voice day of God. Why are you here? Who the enemy of souls had succeeded in sent you?"—"Prophets and Kings," page silencing, the question is addressed, 172. 'What doest thou here?' I commissioned FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of you to go into all the world and preach Ages," pages 75-82. the gospel, to prepare a people for the 95 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 ❑ Tuesday September 14 Part 3 "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; EARLY CHURCH both to the wise, and to the unwise." SOON LOSES ITS VISION "Read also Rev. 2:4. "The angel that appeared to Ananias had said of Paul, 'He Rom. 1:14 is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gen- tiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.' Acts 9:15."—The Acts of the Apostles, page 159. Paul caught the vision and accepted the 911. Later, leaders of the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2) were directed by the Holy Spirit to ordain Paul and Barnabas for the work to which they had been called. According to the SDA Bible Dictionary, the word "bar- barian" was used of "peoples who did not speak Greek, with- out reference as to whether they were civilized or not," or of "the unintelligible speech of a foreigner." To what extent do you think that Paul and the other disciples became involved in social and political issues of the day? See Acts 17:6; 1 Cor. 1:17, 18, 21, 23, 24; Eph. 6:19, 20. When did the early church lose its first love, its incen- tive, its vision? Rev. 2:4. "In John's day Ephesus was the leading city of the Roman province of Asia, and later was its capital. . . . Christianity appears to have been preached there first about A.D. 52, by Paul, when he stopped for a short time while homeward bound to Jerusalem and Antioch from his Second Missionary Journey. His friends Aquila and Priscilla settled there at that time and . . . fostered the work of evangelization until Paul's return. . . . This time the apostle remained at Ephesus for about three years. . . . "Tradition indicates that John . . . became the leader of this church. . . . Thus, at the time the Revelation was written, Ephesus must have been one of the leading centers of Chris- tianity. Consequently it was fitting that Christ's first message by John should have been addressed to this church."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Rev. 2:1. THINK IT THROUGH For how long a period of prophetic history did the true church go underground? Rev. 12:6, 13. What hap- pened to missions during this period? "The missionary activity of the early mation era saw little foreign mission Christian church has not been dupli- work, except on the part of the early cated until modern times. It had vir- Jesuits."—"The Great Controversy," Ap- tually died out by the year 1000, and pendix, page 690. was succeeded by the military cam- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- paigns of the Crusades. The Refor- troversy," pages 284-288. 96 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 ❑ Wednesday September 15 Part 4 "And the earth helped the woman, and the earth THE DAWN OF opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which PROTESTANT the dragon cast out of his mouth." MISSIONS Rev. 12:16 "The woman" here represents the true church at the time of the Protestant Reformation. After centuries of persecution, relief came to her a little while before "the remnant of her seed" appeared on the stage of action (verse 17) toward the close of time. Which prophetic period especially speaks of oppres- sion of the church? Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:14; 13:5-7. Why did the Protestant churches not awaken to their responsibility in foreign missions before the end of the eighteenth century? "The Reformers evidenced no concern for overseas missions to non-Christians. Indeed, three centuries elapsed before Prot- estantism at large even began such outreach. Why?"—W. R. Hogg, The Theology of the Christian Mission, page 95. "One searches in vain in the works of Martin Luther for any exposition of Matthew 28:19, 20 or Mark 16:15 that would hint at the church's responsibility to move beyond Christendom. . . . Examination of Zwingli, Bucer, John Knox, and Melanch- thon produces the same negative report."—Ibid., page 98. During the three centuries that followed the Protestant Reformation, a number of independent churches arose in Europe and spread to other lands. During these three centuries a few Protestant groups conducted missionary endeavors, notably the Moravians and certain Pietistic groups. The first mission societies were organized by volunteer groups, people interested in foreign missions, and some of them were nondenominational. None of the churches, as churches, took an interest in missions. THINK IT. THROUGH What led to the rapid spread of missions once the program got started? "For the fifty years preceding 1792, "The improvements in printing have little attention was given to the work given an impetus to the work of cir- of foreign missions. . . . Few churches culating the Bible. The increased facili- . . . made any effort for the spread ties for communication between differ- of Christianity in heathen lands. But ent countries, the breaking down of an- toward the close of the eighteenth cient barriers of prejudice and national century a great change took place. Men exclusiveness, . . . have opened the became dissatisfied with the results of way for the entrance of the Word of rationalism and realized the necessity God."—"The Great Controversy," pages of divine revelation and experimental 287, 288. religion. From this time the work of for- FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- eign missions attained an unprece- troversy," Appendix, pages 689, 690. dented growth. 97 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 ❑ Thursday September 16 Part 5 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, THE ADVENTIST having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that MISSION IMPULSE dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Rev. 14:6-10 Lamb." "At times during the early days of the message, Seventh-day Adventists caught glimpses of a broadening work that would eventually embrace many nationalities. Not until the early 70's, however, did the leaders in the advent movement begin to comprehend that theirs was a mission to the whole world. Even as late as in 1872, the scripture, 'This gospel of the king- dom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,' was regarded simply as a 'prominent sign of the last day,' meeting fulfillment in the extension of Protestant missions. . . . But in 1873 a marked change of sentiment began to appear in the utterances of leaders among Seventh-day Adventists regarding their duty to warn the world."—Life Sketches, footnote, page 203. What providential leading of the Spirit of God did Paul have on his missionary journeys? Acts 16:6, 9. At one time the Spirit of God restrained Paul from entering a certain country and guided him to Macedonia instead. In our time the Holy Spirit led the Advent people to establish foreign missions. THINK IT THROUGH The Lord used Christians of other faiths and other nationalities to lay the foundation for a strong foreign mission work when the time came for the third angel's message to be given to the world. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Life Sketches," pages 203-207. 98 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 ❑ Friday September 17 Part 6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are ONE CHURCH IN called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, ALL THE WORLD one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above Eph. 4:4-6 all, and through all, and in you all." "There is a sevenfold repetition of the word 'one' in ch. 4:4-6. Unity is the apostle's theme in these verses. There are many members, but one body. . . . The Christian is not a solitary pilgrim; he belongs to a vital organism, the family of God."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Eph. 4:4. Seventh-day Adventists around the world constitute one great family, and to this fellowship they invite all who love the Lord Jesus, who desire to order their lives in harmony with His purpose for them, and who look for His promised return. This invitation to all men everywhere will culminate in the call of the mighty angel of Rev. 18:1-4, summoning those who choose to obey God rather than to follow human traditions to unite with God's remnant people. "When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep will hear the true Shepherd's voice. . . . And many who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the Great Shepherd."—Christian Service, page 166. THINK IT THROUGH If you were sent out to pioneer mission work in a new country, how would you begin? Would you start (a) an English class, (b) a school, (c) medical work, (d) an evangelistic campaign, (e) a publishing house, (f) litera- ture distribution? "The object of this Conference is to and tending to the advancement of such teach all nations the everlasting gospel ends and aims."—"General Conference of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Working Policy," page 64. and the commandments of God."—"Sev- "Revelation 18 points to the time enth-day Adventist Year Book," 1970, when, as the result of rejecting the page 7. threefold warning of Rev. 14:6-12, the "The particular business and objects church [apostate] will have fully reached for which this corporation is formed are the condition foretold by the second for the purpose of diffusing moral and angel, and the people of God still in religious knowledge throughout the Babylon will be called upon to separate entire world by means of churches, or- from her communion. This message is ganizations, publishing houses, medical the last that will ever be given to the or health institutions, educational insti- world; and it will accomplish its work." tutions, publications, missionary agen- —"The Great Controversy," page 390. cies, and all other instrumentalities and FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- methods appropriate and available for troversy," pages 603-612. 99 The Men of Missions LESSON 12 September 18 Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. "The church . . . could be so much to the world if every stone were in its , a living stone to emit I A stone that does not is 2. The church is Heaven's appointed channel for (a) improving social con- ditions; (b) revealing myste-rious doctrines; (c) the revelation of God to man; (d) condemning sin. 3. Why did the early church lose its "first love and zeal, and what would you say were contributing causes 4. True or False: Luther and the other great Reformers failed to sense the importance of missionary outreach 5. When did the Seventh-day Adventist leaders become aware of our duty to warn the worlcP 6. "When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, . . . many who have from the will come back and the Great Shepherd." (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) 'Moll; 'pp; ‘pake.ns (9) :cm (9) !asieg !A;nteRs!ago paniojua Alletnuana Ratt". 'a4e4s ag3 ippm pamonul pue leindod atuenaq Allenpe32 tpintin aq (c) :3 (z) :ssappiont 'gums '41111H 'aDeld incload (I) :manssuv 100 September 25, 1971 • s k‘N \\ THE MIRACLE OF MISSIONS 11 4,D) "For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." Rom. 9:28. The task of evangelizing the world with the everlasting gospel, the "good news of LESSON OUTLINE the ages," will be complete before Christ returns to our world. He who has all power 1. The Miracle of Power in heaven and earth, He who has every re- Rom. 1:16 source at His disposal, has decreed it so. Men fail because they neglect to take all 2. The Miracle of Transformed factors into account, or because their re- Lives sources are limited, or because they do not Eph. 2:1, 2 possess the determination that is required. But there can be no failure in God's great 3. The Miracle of a Harvest program of missions when we take into Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20 account His omniscience, His power, and His sovereign will to "finish the work, and 4. The Miracle of One World cut it short in righteousness." Church The story of the growth and develop- ment of Christian missions is thrilling. The John 10:16 miracles of divine grace on the hearts and 5. The Miracle of a Completed in the lives of men in lands near and far Task inspire us all. But do we want this adven- ture to continue indefinitely? Will the end Matt. 24:14 never come? We close this quarter's series 6. The Miracle of the Church of lessons with a consideration of "The Miracle of Missions," with the church of Triumphant God triumphant on the sea of glass in the Rev. 7:9 kingdom of glory. 101 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Sunday September 19 Part 1 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it THE MIRACLE is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that OF POWER believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. 1:16 The word translated into English as "power" is the same one from which our word "dynamite" is derived. The gospel is the dynamic power of God to save men. It is the good news about God and His infinite purpose. What is the gospel to those who find salvation through it? 1 Cor. 1:18. "Power of God. The gospel is the way in which God exerts His power for the salvation of men. Wherever the gospel finds believing hearts it is a divine power by which all the obstacles to man's redemption are removed."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Rom. 1:16. - "There is a great work to be done. The world will not be converted by the gift of tongues, or by the working of miracles, but by preaching Christ crucified. The Holy Spirit must be allowed to work."—Testimonies to Ministers, page 424. What did Christ say would give His disciples power to witness and carry out His commission to go into all the world? Acts 1:8. "It is the unction of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the living witness that is to warn the world. The worker for God is the agent through which the heavenly communication is given, and the Holy Spirit gives divine authority to the word of truth."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commen- tary, Vol. 6, p. 1053. THINK IT THROUGH To what extent is our salvation the concern of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Why did Christ entrust the proclamation of the gospel to finite, erring men? "I saw that God could send means fice for each other, and by thus doing from heaven to carry on His work; but show how highly they prize the sacri- this is out of His order. He has ordained fice that has been made for them."— that men should be His instruments, that "Spiritual Gifts," Vol. 2, p. 245. as a great sacrifice was made to redeem 'FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies to them, they should act a part in this Ministers," pages 423-425. work of salvation, by making a sacri- 102 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Monday September 20 Part 2 "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in tres- THE MIRACLE OF passes and sins; wherein in time past ye walked accord- TRANSFORMED ing to the course of this world, according to the prince LIVES of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in Eph. 2:1, 2 the children of disobedience." "Quick, Quicken. Old English words appearing in the KJV with the meaning 'alive' and 'to make alive' (Num. 16:30; Ps. 55:15; 71:20; Acts 10:42 ; Rom. 4:17; etc.)."—SDA Bible Dic- tionary, page 897. This epistle was addressed to the Ephesian church, to which the apostle John wrote a generation later that they had left their first love. Rev. 2:4. After reminding the Ephesians that they had been "made alive" by the love and grace of God, how did Paul describe their present state? Eph. 2:4-6. What had made the transformation in their lives? Eph. 1:13. Men, physically dead, cannot restore themselves to life. Nor can men who are spiritually dead. The power to impart life must come from outside themselves. "Miracles can be wrought through the Word; for it is profit- able for all things."—Evangelism, page 489. In writing to the Corinthians, what picture did Paul paint of men before and after this transforming experi- ence? 1 Cor. 6:9-11. Paul reminds the Corinthians, persons whom he says are "called to be saints" (1 Cor. 1:2), of their notorious past. But he indicates that God's gift of justification and His promise of sanctification had given them a wholly new outlook. See 2 Cor. 5:17-20; 6:1 for the responsibility resting on one who has experienced transformation through Christ. THINK IT THROUGH What new relationship does the Christian sustain to God after conversion? 1 John 3:1, 2; John 1:12. "Through the power of Christ, men wrought by the Word, it is one of the and women have broken the chains of deepest mysteries of the Word. We can- sinful habit. They have renounced self- not understand it; we can only believe, ishness. The profane have become rev- as declared by the Scriptures, it is erent, the drunken sober, the profligate 'Christ in you, the hope of glory.' "— pure. Souls that have borne the likeness "The Acts of the Apostles," page 476. of Satan have become transformed, into FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Acts of the the image of God. This change is in it- Apostles," pages 469-484. se-ifthe - n -ciEle of miracles. A change —cii 103 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Tuesday September 21 Part 3 "And the word of God increased; and the number of THE MIRACLE OF the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great A HARVEST company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7; 12:24; "But the word of God grew and multiplied." 19:20 "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." How inadequate meager human resources must have seemed to Noah when God called him to warn and save the world of his day ; or to Abraham, when God promised that his seed would become as sand upon the seashore; or to Israel, a slave nation, when God called them out of Egypt; or to Gideon, when his army was reduced to 300 men; or to the eleven apos- tles, to whom Christ committed a world task; or to the pio- neers of the remnant church, when God entrusted them with a threefold message for the world. What facilities do we have in our day that Paul and the other apostles did not have, or that the pioneers of the message did not have one hundred years ago? Are we making the best possible use of all of these facilities? "God does not generally work miracles to advance His truth. If the husbandman neglects to cultivate the soil, God works no miracle to counteract the sure results. He works according to great principles made known to us, and it is our part to mature wise plans, and set in operation the means whereby God shall bring about certain results. Those who make no decided effort, but simply wait for the Holy Spirit to compel them to action, will perish in darkness."—Christian Service, page 228. 1). Having the message, the commission, the assurance of power, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, what shall we do? Matt. 9:38; John 4:35. Christ never told His disciples to pray for the harvest. God has promised the harvest if we will pray for laborers, and then help Him answer our prayers. THINK IT THROUGH In this godless age in which we live, are there any prospects of reaping a good harvest? "Among earth's inhabitants, scat- China, in India, in the islands of the tered in every land, there are those sea, and in all the dark corners of the who have not bowed the knee to Baal. earth, God has in reserve a firmament Like the stars of heaven, which appear of chosen ones that will yet shine only at night, these faithful ones will forth."—"Prophets and Kings," pages shine forth when darkness covers the 188, 189. earth and gross darkness the people. FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Evangelism," In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands pages 692-707. of Europe and of South America, in 104 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Wednesday September 22 Part 4 "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them THE MIRACLE OF also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there ONE WORLD shall be one fold, and one Shepherd." CHURCH John 10:16 There is no more reason to think that there may be several folds or several flocks than to rationalize that there must be more than one Shepherd. In every instance, Christ spoke in the singular. The apostolic church thought in terms of one church (1 Cor. 12:12, 13, 25, 27), one faith (Eph. 4:13), one baptism (Eph. 4:4-6)—not a divided church or a divided Christ. •Christ loved the church, not churches (Eph. 5:25-27), which He earnestly desires •to cleanse and purify so "that He might present it to Himself a glorious church." When the Adventist pioneers considered organizing the church, they thought in terms of one church, as they did of one message. Today the organization has grown into missions, conferences, unions, and divisions of the one church the world around. In this respect Seventh-day Adventists stand out as unique in the Protestant world. In striking contrast, with China as an example, in the book The Communist Church in China, Francis Price Jones describes the religious situation there in 1949: There were some fifteen or twenty separate Lutheran mission boards at work, eight different Methodist mission boards, three from Britain, four from the United States, and one from Canada. In varying degrees the same might be said of many another country. As a result, sixty years ago Protestant mission boards inaugurated what was called the "comity" plan, of dividing up each country among the boards already operating there. But in all the world there is only one Seventh-day Adventist Church. This church functions on the basis that it has a distinctive judg- men-hour message to proclaim, indeed the closing gospel invi- tation and final warning to be given to all the world. What final invitation has God extended to His "other sheep"? Rev. 18:4. THINK IT THROUGH What is my part in this whole plan? "To you, My disciples, I commit this gathered into one church."—"The Acts message of mercy. It is to be given to of the Apostles," page 28. both Jews and Gentiles—to Israel, first, FOR DEEPER STUDY: "SDA Encyclope- and then to all nations, tongues, and dia," article "Mission." people. All who believe are to be 105 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Thursday September 23 Part 5 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in THE MIRACLE all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then OF A COMPLETED shall the end come." TASK Matt. 24:14 "Christ made it clear that the kingdom He established at His first advent was not the kingdom of glory."—SDA Bible Commentary, on Matt. 3:2. "The 'kingdom of heaven' was established at the first advent of Christ. Jesus Himself was King, and those who believed in Him became its subjects. . . . But, as Jesus Himself made clear, this kingdom of grace was preparatory to the kingdom of glory."—Ibid., on Matt. 4:17. "Hand in hand with foreign missions have gone the trans- lation and circulation of the Scriptures. Whereas the first 18 centuries of the Christian Era saw the Bible translated into only 71 languages, the next century—the 19th—saw the total climb to 567. By the middle of the 20th century the number had grown to over 1,000. [And today, that number has swelled to over 1,400]. There are but few people in the world today who do not have access to at least some part of Scriptures in their own tongue."—Ibid., on Matt. 24:14. "Christ ascended to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to give power to the work of His disciples. Thousands were converted in a day. In a single generation the gospel was carried to every nation under heaven."—Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 26. As human beings we are prone to want to speculate and figure. From the human point of view we may say that it has taken so many years for the church to reach its present position, and that it will take us so many more years to warn the whole world. People are being born faster than we can reach them. Obviously, to complete the task will take a miracle of God's power. What did Paul say about the work of God in the earth? Rom. 9:28. How will God "finish His work" and conclude the task of warning the world? Read Joel 2:1, 28-32; Rev. 10:7; 18:1. THINK IT THROUGH Are there now evidences of the "latter rain"? "Let them understand that there is commission, the whole world will soon a large work to be done outside the be warned and the Lord Jesus will re- pulpit by thousands of consecrated lay turn to this earth with power and great members. . . . When the members of glory."—"The Acts of the Apostles," the church of God do their appointed page 111. work in the needy fields at home and FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con- abroad, in fulfillment of the gospel troversy," pages 611, 612. 106 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 ❑ Friday September 24 Part 6 "I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man THE MIRACLE OF could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, THE CHURCH and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the TRIUMPHANT Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their Rev. 7:9 hands." There may be different views concerning the relationship of the great multitude to the 144,000 presented in the first part of chapter 7 as having been sealed. Suffice it to say that here we have pictured the redeemed from all the earth, the trium- phant saints of all ages. "Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand."—Ellen G. White 'Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 970. In Rev. 14:3 the 144,000 are pictured again, while in the fifteenth chapter (verses 2, 3) we find the great multitude of redeemed saints. What is the difference between the two groups as to (a) their experience, (b) •their victory, and (c) their song of rejoicing? "What sustained the 'Son of God during His life of toil and sacrifice? He saw the results of the travail of His soul and was satisfied. Looking into eternity, He beheld the happiness of those who through His humiliation had received pardon and everlasting life. •His ear caught the shout of the redeemed. He heard the ransomed ones singing the song of Moses and the Lamb."— The Acts of the Apostles, page 601. What will be the reward of the faithful? 1 John 3:1, 2; Rom. 8:17. THINK IT THROUGH Is "reward" the best word with which to refer to the reward of the faithful? "When the earthly warfare is accom- between the legal, the prophetical, and plished, and the saints are all gathered the gospel. The church history upon the home, our first theme will be the song earth and the church redeemed in of Moses, the servant of God. The sec- heaven all center around the cross of ond theme will be the song of the Calvary. This is the theme, this is the Lamb, the song of grace and redemp- song,—Christ all and in all. . . . It is a tion. This song will be louder, loftier, new song, for it was never before sung and in sublimer strains, echoing and in heaven."—"Testimonies to Ministers," reechoing through the heavenly courts. page 433. Thus the song of God's providence is FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the sung, connecting the varying dispensa- Apostles," pages 593-602. tions; for all is now seen without a veil 107 The Miracle of Missions LESSON 13 September 25 Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS 0 A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER 1. "God has ordained that men should be His and by thus doing show how highly they the that was made for them." 2. What is the meaning of the old English word "quicken") How does this happen spiritually) 3. True or False: It is wrong to pray for a harvest of souls 4. Is it true that only members of the Seventh-day Adventist church can enter heaven? 5. The work of carrying the gospel message to all the world is assigned pri- marily to (a) ordained ministers, (b) elected church officers, (c) trained mis- sionaries, (d) all church members 6. What is the theme of the new song the redeemed will sing in heaven? (The answers are at the bottom of the page.) Ile uc pue lie ;spy° (9) ./3 (9) !ou (q) :aged (g) !(4j.uds AloH ato 4statip jo aansod tpnoato „'ontie atietu o;„ (g) !aogpaes 'quatunitsu! (I) :sremsulf 108 he Commentary ieference Series is one o he most essential helps or YOUR lesson study An invaluable self-contained li- brary set for every Sabbath School leader, teacher, and stu- dent. The SDA Bible Commen- tary in seven volumes is a verse- by-verse exegesis of the whole Bible, supported by recognized scholarship in ancient lan- guages, chronology, sacred his- tory, and modern archeology. The special articles in these fields are illuminating. The Bi- ble Dictionary defines every sig- nificant Bible word. The Source Book provides reliable historical aid in understanding prophecy. The Encyclopedia contains the history of the Advent Church, its organizations, major doc- trines, and beliefs. $14.75 a vol- ume. Complete 10-volume set, $139.95. RECENTLY RELEASED—In one vo ume. Ellen G. White's Commern compiled from the 7-volume Bibi Commentary set. Numbered 74 and bound to match the set. $7.9 Please add 35c per book for mailing. Include State sales tax where necessary. AT YOUR BIBLE HOUSE! WORLD HISTORY INTER- PRETED FROM A BIBLI- CAL VIEWPOINT. Makes sense out of the rise and fall of nations. Now available in —the- paperback-DIM E NSI ON Series. • At your Book and Bible House Thirteenth Sabbath Overflow Offering SEPTEMBER 25, 1971 • TRANS-AFRICA DIVISION The Congo and Central African Unions, which are French- speaking areas, comprise nearly one half the membership of the Trans-Africa Division. These unions include the countries of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Congo, to which our Thirteenth Sab- bath Overflow Offering goes. The specific projects are (1) a class- room and administration building at Kivu Adventist Seminary, Congo; (2) an administration building, including a library and laboratory, for the Gitwe College in Rwanda. After years of trouble and war, stability and peace have now come to the Congo. This country, four times the size of the state of Texas or the country of France, offers great potential and promise for our work. Tribalism is gradually eroding. The prejudice and opposition which made our work difficult in past years have all but disappeared under the existing government. The word missionary is still magic in this country, for great re- pect and appreciation are shown the missionary who has left his homeland to help these people in their need. Be assured, however, that our national believers do not sit back in indolence, expecting the work of spreading the gospel to be done by the missionaries alone. They work together as an effective team. You may not have been to the Congo, Rwanda, or Burundi. But you know their people: They are the same as you; they want to learn; they want to be of help to others—to be ready to meet Christ. You are both alike—except they need an opportunity. Lessons for the Fourth Quarter of 1971 Sabbath School members who have not received an adult Lesson Quarterly for the fourth quarter of 1971 will be helped by the following outline in studying for the first lesson. The title of the series is "Home Relations." The title of the first lesson is "The Home Is Built." The memory verse is Psalm 127:1. The outline is as followers: (1) God, the Architect. Gen. 1:27, 28. (2) Man, the Builder. Prov. 24:3, 4. (3) The Role of the Husband. Eph. 5:23. (4) The Role of the Wife. Prov. 18:22. (5) Role of the Children. Eph. 6:1-3. (6) The Pur- pose of the Home. Prov. 24:3, 4. Litho in U.S.A. 1. KIVU SEMINARY 2. GITWE COLLEGE Adm'nistration Administration Building Building Library and Science Facilities rilli 1. KIVU SEMINARY RUNDI 2. GITWE COLLEGE RWANDA CONGO SOUTH-WEST REPUBLIC/ Ill TRANS- SWAZILAND AFRICA OF SOUTH AFMCA DIVISION LESOTHO I 111," Church Sab. Sch. Union Population Churches Memb. Members Central African U. 5,550,000 483 86,604 177,452 Congo U. 16,400,000 156 23,250 49,660 South African U. 7,626,255 141 12,220 13,997 South-East Africa U. 4,042,412 165 28,038 47,898 Southern U. 14,979,000 157 10,908 17,854 Zambesi U. 9,875,600 345 51,565 103,793 Division Totals 58,473,267 1,447 212,585 410,654