June 25- July 1, 2000
General Introduction
The Saviour’s life on earth was not a life of ease and devotion to Himself, but He toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind. From the manger to Calvary He followed the path of self-denial, and sought not to be released from arduous tasks, painful travels, and exhausting care and labor. He said, ‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ Matthew 20:28. This was the one great object of His life. Everything else was secondary and subservient. It was His meat and drink to do the will of God and to finish His work. Self and self-interest had no part in His labor.
“So those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom He died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ, than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and are filled with the joy of His indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell. Like Philip when he found the Saviour, we shall invite others into His presence. We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ and the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in
the path that Jesus trod. There will be an earnest longing that those around us may behold ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world.’ John 1:29.
“And the effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature and, in their turn, of diffusing blessings to their fellow men. This is the highest honor, the greatest joy that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator.
“God might have committed the message of the gospel, and all the work of loving ministry, to the heavenly angels. He might have employed other means for accomplishing His purpose. But in His infinite love He chose to make us co-workers with Himself, with Christ and the angels, that we might share the blessing, the joy, the spiritual uplifting, which results from this unselfish ministry.”
—Steps to Christ, 78, 79.
MEMORY VERSE: “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:32.
STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 7–13.
INTRODUCTION: “It was the Saviour’s purpose that after He ascended to heaven to become man’s intercessor, His followers should carry on the work that He had begun. Shall the human agent show no special interest in giving the light of the gospel message to those who sit in darkness? There are some who are willing to go to the ends of the earth in order to carry the light of truth to men, but God demands that every soul who knows the truth shall seek to win others to the love of the truth. If we are not willing to make special sacrifices in order to save souls that are ready to perish, how can we be counted worthy to enter into the city of God?” Testimonies, vol. 9, 103.
“Go Ye Therefore”
1 How did Jesus express the commission to witness? Acts 1:8, last part.
NOTE: “His word is ‘Go, … teach all nations;’ and to the command is added the promise, ‘Lo, I am with you alway.’ The Lord requires of us nothing that He does not give us power to perform. The disciples obeyed the command to bear witness for Christ, and of their experience we read: ‘They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.’ Of you as well as of the disciples these words may be spoken.” Signs of the Times, March 26, 1902.
2 What promise accompanies the commission to witness for the Lord? Acts 1:8, first part.
NOTE: See Acts of the Apostles, 54, 55.
“Into All the World”
3 Where is the Christian to witness for the Lord? Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, Mark 5:19.
NOTE: “Every church member should feel it his special duty of labor for those living in his neighborhood. Study how you can best help those who take no interest in religious things. As you visit your friends and neighbors, show an interest in their spiritual as well as in their temporal welfare. Present Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour. Invite your neighbors to your home, and read with them from the precious Bible and from books that explain its truths. This, united with simple songs and fervent prayers, will touch their hearts. Let church members educate themselves to do this work.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 276.
4 What examples are we given of Christians witnessing for the Lord? Acts 18:24–26; Acts 8:26–38.
NOTE: “The truth should be presented with divine tact, gentleness, and tenderness. It should come from a heart that has been softened and made sympathetic.…Let our words be gentle as we seek to win souls. God will be wisdom to him who seeks for wisdom from a divine source. We are to seek opportunities on every hand, we are to watch unto prayer, and be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. Lest we shall impress unfavorably one soul for whom Christ died we should keep our hearts uplifted to God, so that when the opportunity presents itself, we may have the right words to speak at the right time. If you thus undertake work for God, the Spirit of God will be your helper. The Holy Spirit will apply the word spoken in love for the soul. The truth will have quickening power when spoken under the influence of the grace of Christ. God’s plan is first to get at the heart. Speak the truth, and let Him carry forward the reformatory power and principle. Make no reference to what opponents say, but let the truth alone be advanced. The truth can cut to the quick. Plainly unfold the Word in all its impressiveness.” Lift Him Up, 211.
“And Preach the Gospel”
5 What is to be the heart of the Christian’s message? Mark 16:15. Compare Revelation 14:6 and Matthew 24:14.
NOTE: “This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the Third Angel’s Message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” Evangelism, 190, 191.
6 What is the Gospel? Romans 1:16.
NOTE: “The gospel is called the power of God unto salvation because God alone can make the truth a power which sanctifies the soul.” Manuscript Releases, 56, 1899. See also Selected Messages, Book 2, 106.
“The Hour of His Judgment is Come”
7 In what special context is the Gospel to be preached today? Revelation 14:6, 7.
NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 355, 356.
8 What is the message of the judgment in practical terms? Amos 4:12.
NOTE: “Suppose that today Christ should appear in the clouds of heaven, who…would be ready to meet Him? Suppose we should be translated into the kingdom of heaven just as we are. Would we be prepared to unite with the saints of God, to live in harmony with the royal family, the children of the heavenly King? What preparation have you made for the judgment? Have you made your peace with God? Are you laboring together with God? Are you seeking to help those around you, those in your home, those in your neighborhood, those with whom you come in contact that are not keeping the commandments of God?… Are we getting ready to meet the King?” Maranatha, 98.
9 What is the preparation needed in the time of God’s judgment? Isaiah 58:5–14.
NOTE: “Through defects in the character, Satan works
to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these
defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9. Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them. We are now living in the great Day of Atonement.…All who would have their names retained in the Book of Life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart.’” God’s Amazing Grace, 69.
“Babylon is Fallen”
10 What further message must be given to the world? Revelation 14:8.
NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 382, 383.
11 When this message is repeated, what addition is made to it? Revelation 18:1–5.
NOTE: “God has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. There are God-fearing men and women in the fallen churches. If this were not so, we would not be given the message to bear: ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen….Come out of her, My people.’ Revelation 18:2–4. Many of the honest in heart are gasping for a breath of life from heaven. They will recognize the gospel when it is brought to them in the beauty and simplicity with which it is presented in God’s Word.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 110, 111.
“If Any Man Worship the Beast and His Image”
12 What solemn message must the faithful witness for Christ give before Jesus comes? Revelation 14:9–12.
NOTE: “No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the Third Angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.” Evangelism, 234, 235.
13 What choice is to be placed before the world by God’s faithful witnesses? Compare Revelation 13:13–17 with Revelation 14:9–11.
NOTE: “This symbol [the beast], as most Protestants have believed, represents the Papacy….The ‘image to the beast’ represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas….As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, papist writers cite ‘the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday.’ …What then is the change of the Sabbath, but the sign, or mark, of the authority of the Roman Church—”the mark of the beast”? Sunday-keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol sabbath. And it is not until the issue is…plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast.’ ” The Faith I Live By, 286.