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.

God's Purpose for His Church (lesson 1)

The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.
                        

God's Call to Service (lesson -2)

"Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon." Thus God gave evidence of His regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church. The angel was not commissioned to tell Cornelius the story of the cross. A man subject, even as the centurion himself, to human frailties and temptations, was to be the one to tell him of the crucified and risen Savior. The Acts of the Apostles, p. 134.

The angel sent to Philip could himself have done the work for the Ethiopian, but this is not God's way of working. It is His plan that men are to work for their fellow men.The Acts of the Apostles, p. 109.
   

"We have this treasure," the apostle continued, "in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." God could have proclaimed His truth through sinless angels, but this is not His plan. He chooses human beings, men compassed with infirmity, as instruments in the working out of His designs. The priceless treasure is placed in earthen vessels. Through men His blessings are to be conveyed to the world. Through them His glory is to shine forth into the darkness of sin. In loving ministry they are to meet the sinful and the needy, and lead them to the cross. And in all their work, they are to ascribe glory, honor, and praise to Him who is above all and over all.
The Acts of the Apostles, p. 330.