Sabbath: Sharing the Word
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for this Week: Ps. 119:105, Jer. 23:29, Heb. 1:1-3, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, 1 John 1:7-9, Eccles. 3:1, 2 Tim. 4:2.
Memory Text: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11, NKJV).
When we witness, we speak of Jesus. But what would we know about Jesus without the Bible? In fact, how much would we know about the great controversy, the love of God, the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and return of our Lord if we did not have the Scriptures?
Although nature reveals the majesty and power of God, it doesn’t reveal the plan of salvation. Jesus, through the Person of the Holy Spirit, is the “true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9, NKJV). Still, without the Word of God to fully explain divine truth, the Holy Spirit’s revelation to our hearts is limited. God’s written Word is the clearest and fullest revelation of Jesus, the Living Word.
Although the religious leaders studied the Word of God, many missed its primary message. Said Jesus: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39, NKJV). Rightly understood, every teaching of the Bible reflects the beauty of Jesus’ character. When we share the Word of God, our primary goal is not to prove that we are right and that the other person is wrong; it is to reveal Jesus in each facet of the truth we share.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 15.
(30)
This is what Jesus said:
This is what Jesus did:
From many comments through my years of listening to Bible teachers I got the impression that the Jews of Jesus' time were only interested in a temporal kingdom and that is why they rejected Jesus. So I was interested to realize theJews were also concerned about eternal life. In John 5:39 Jesus says that they were searching the Scriptures to learn about eternal life.
I also read of the instance where a rich young ruler asked Jesus what must I do to inherit eternal life Luke 18:18 and another time an expert in the law asked the same question Luke 10:25. So it became apparent to me that eternal life was a concern on their minds.
But I thought John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples preached "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" so surely it is not surprising for people to expect a literal kingdom? Yes, if that was all Jesus said, however if we search the teachings of Jesus we will notice that He continually spoke of eternal life as being the goal to be attained.
I do believe that the kingdom of heaven and literal(earthly) kingdom are two different entities. Also 'is at hand' m means, since I have repented and become baptized, I now have assurance of eternal life, I have grasped and hold eternal life in my hand if you will. Philippians 3:12. Now for us to occupy the kingdom of heaven, we will have to wait till He comes back to take us to His home(heavenly kingdom). John 14:3. Thessalonians 4:16-17.
I believe the Jewish leaders and those who followed their example were only capable of misinterpretation due to their love of the world and praises of men. Where sin dwells, the light of Truth cannot find entrance. Remember the parable of the sower, where only the "good ground" produced up to "a hundredfold", and what Jesus told Nicodemus about "seeing" the kingdom of heaven?
Today is no different.
We share the Word of God with others because of the conviction,joy, hope and assurance we have in the Man; Jesus of Nazareth. We share a testimony of what the Man; Jesus of Nazareth can do in this life and in the life after death. This is the greatest personal story one can ever tell. This is the loudest story we can ever tell. Like the man born blind and healed by Jesus in the Book of John chapter 9, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”(John 9:25).The whole world can dispute the content of the message shared, but like the blind man, Jesus saves.
My apology to the monitor for the length of this comment - as I was writing, it became needful so to arrive at my final point; some might have been able to say the same things with fewer words. Writing these comments has helped me gain new insights into testifying to the wonderful Love of God the Father.
The title of this quarterly's lesson book is "Making Friends for God", with the under-title 'The Joy of sharing in His mission'. Witnessing - the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit, talents, etc. have been a topic now for a good while and there is still more to learn.
John 1:7-9 - v.9:'That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world'. This caught my attention! One can read this verse as saying 'it *can* light every man, or lighteth *every* man that cometh into the world'.
Subconsciously, my impression was that the person I witness to has not been given the exposure to hear from the Father directly. As this verse points out, though, if I take it as it reads, then I need to re-calibrate my assumption, which leads me to interact differently with the people I encounter.
'The conflicting presence of truth and untruth, fact and falsehood, constitutes the potential of error'. It is imperative to know and fully grasp the whole Truth for one to be truly effective when 'witnessing'. Pre-conceived ideas or perceptions are part of 'causing potential error'.
If every man coming into the world has received the Light of the Holy Spirit (at birth?), when and why did it diminish to the point where they cannot see this Light any longer? Can this diminishing of the Light be assigned as a 'fault' to the person, or as a calamity of circumstances and choices poorly/ineffectually responded to?
Living in the Kingdom of God is the spiritually experienced state of life(being); but the 'lost' of this world experience the effects of living in the kingdom of this earth, established, and limited by the flesh.
I am sure there are millions upon millions who would prefer to walk in the Light of God instead of in the light of this world if they could just find the right 'jump-off' point.
Mark 4:19 - The 'lost' were not born without Light, but they lost contact with the spiritual Light because of the fear-producing circumstances overwhelming their life; leading them to focus their search for light(answers/direction) in all the wrong places. Some are still close enough to see the glimmer of God's Light, some are close enough that they can see the outline of the Spirit of Jesus - His Holy Spirit; some might reject this Light because they have established themselves comfortably in their own light.
If we can think of them as being lost because of having lost connection to the Heavenly Light and therefore 'lost the right way', instead of being 'bad'(disobedient) people, the message of Hope will appear in a different Light. (pun intended 🙂 )
Gal.5:22,23 talks about the Fruit of the Spirit. The first three are Love, Joy and Peace - exactly the qualities in life that everyone seeks.
2Tim.3:16,17 - Matt.11:29,30 - When sharing the Word of God, it would be more effective to focus our witnessing first on addressing what will happen to the seeker's life should he/she decide to walk in the newness of the life being illuminated by the Heavenly Light instead of the earthly light; addressing/meeting spiritual, physical and emotional needs and building trust; a hug for a grieving or lost soul!
A few days ago, a certain understanding came to mind when watching a commercial on TV; gaining me a bit of insight into 'marketing' a product.
Not to sound disrespectful, though one aspect of witnessing could be compared to marketing a certain product. This 'marketing' is being guided by, submitted fully to the Powers of the Holy Spirit.
The insight gained was:
'Focus the witnessing/message FIRST on the *effects*(a 'surer way of life' which LEADS to trust, faith in God) which the product(Gospel message) will have on the individual's life, instead of pointing out the quality(identity of the Producer/Manufacturer - God) of the product'.
Gal.5:22,23 - remember there is no 'law' against this first spiritually then materially, experienced/manifested fruit.
If the witnessing/message stays with the quality of the product(Gospel), no one could reject it when the Fruit of the Spirt becomes manifest in their life; but if witnessing focuses on the veracity(conformity to facts; accuracy) of the producer(God), it will change the conversation from the effect of the Gospel to whether God exists or not.
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jer 20:9 (words of Jeremiah)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Matt 23:37-38 (words of Jesus)
Sharing the Word
It appeared like sharing the word of God was not easy for the people in bible times. At times it was easy to share the word to a great Christian/Jewish society where everyone knows and loves them, but what about those hostile societies. Those societies like Sodom and Gomorrah, the time of Noah, the forty years in the wilderness, times of the bad kings, time of John the Baptist, time of Jesus ministry, Peter, Paul, etc.
Genesis-Revelation is summarised by Paul to the Hebrews. We read about those who were treated badly for the word of God. It is nice to tell people all will be well, God is love, he loves me and you, leave a track and move on. But it is different when we tell them about the coming Judgment and Jesus will judge the wicked and they need to repent of sin. When one call sin by its righted name, Satan is sturred. He launches back.
In Jeremiah 20:1-8, Jeremiah told Pashur about coming judgment from the Lord because of the wickedness of him and the people. Pashur in turn struck him and placed his in the stock.
'The prophet’s words, instead of leading to confession and repentance, aroused the anger of those high in authority, and as a consequence, Jeremiah was deprived of his liberty. Imprisoned, and placed in the stocks, the prophet nevertheless continued to speak the messages of Heaven to those who stood by. His voice could not be silenced by persecution. The word of truth, he declared, “was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:9. {PK 432.1}
Is there a reality of sharing the word of God? Yes!!
Women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they have sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
If many are told when we leave home today to carry the word of God to a hostile world, we might not return home, many will not go. Hebrews 11:35-40.
When will the militant church get to this point?? To die we must!!
I am particularly blessed by the memory text, Isaiah 55:11. It is a powerful declaration of what the Word of God accomplishes. God has already stated that His Word shall not return to Him void.
This pronouncement gives us, His disciples the guarantee, the assurance that as we share His Word, that ‘it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it’
The prosperity of the Word is the receptivity of it in our hearts and the outcome is the change of behavior - new creatures in Christ ( 2 Cor 5:17)