God's Call to Service (lesson -6)

A Call to the Individual

A distinct work is assigned to every Christian.Southern Watchman, Aug. 2, 1904.God requires every one to be a worker in His vineyard. You are to take up the work that has been placed in your charge, and to do it faithfully.Bible Echo, June 10, 1901.

Were every one of you a living missionary, the message for this time would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to every people and nation and tongue.Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 438.Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver. The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life.The Desire of Ages, p. 195.

God's Purpose for His Church ( lesson -4 )

He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49:8-16.

The church is God's fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people.

God's Call to Service (lesson -5)

With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in whole-hearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love.
The Desire of Ages, p. 297.

We must be laborers together with God; for God will not complete His work without human agencies.
Review and Herald, March 1, 1887.

God's Purpose for His Church ( lesson -3 )

"Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses." "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." Isaiah 43:10-12; 42:6, 7.
"In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them

God's Call to Service (lesson -4)

God could have reached His object in saving sinners without our aid; but in order for us to develop a character like Christ's, we must share in His work. In order to enter into His joy,the joy of seeing souls redeemed by His sacrifice,we must participate in His labors for their redemption.
The Desire of Ages, p. 142.

As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took upon Himself humanity, that He might reach humanity. Divinity needed humanity; for it required both the divine and the human to bring salvation to the world. Divinity needed humanity, that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man.
 The Desire of Ages, p. 296.

God's Purpose for His Church (lesson 2)

Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the church. "Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isaiah 56:7. "I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; 10 there shall be showers of blessing." "And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God. And ye My flock,the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God." Ezekiel 34:26, 29-31

                                           

God's Call to Service (lesson -3)

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 for the church, vol. 9, p. 103.

In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch with fellow
beings who know the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall
impart it to those in darkness. Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of
wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises
its transforming power on mind and heart.
The Acts of the Apostles, p. 134.