Tuesday: The Mission of the Church While We Wait
Read James 2:14-26. In what ways do these verses encapsulate who we are and why we are here?
In Sunday’s study, the disciples start out pointing to the beauty of the temple buildings. Jesus points their attention to the condition of the church within and its mission to an ending world. The fact is that the church exists because there is a mission, and not vice versa.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as expressed in the General Conference Working Policy (A 05) is “to make disciples of all people, communicating the everlasting gospel [gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14)] in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and unite with His remnant church, discipling them to serve Him as Lord, and preparing them for His soon return.” Preaching, teaching, and healing are the suggested methods to pursue this mission. Under “Healing” the Working Policy says: “Affirming the biblical principles of the well-being of the whole person, we make the preservation of health and the healing of the sick a priority and through our ministry to the poor and oppressed, cooperate with the Creator in His compassionate work of restoration.”
This quarter began with the concept that Jesus wants to restore His image in humanity and empower us as His followers to be instruments of wholistic restoration in our communities. “The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago-a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.” – Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
After hearing a seminar that presented the ministry of Jesus as a model and mission for His end-time church, a church member made this statement: “In our part of the world, we are not very open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. What we have heard this week about following the ministry method of Jesus actually is not new. It’s an old idea. We just forgot it.”
“Faith without works is dead.” How have you discovered the reality of how closely linked faith and works are? In what ways do works increase your faith?
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By doing works, you are affirming your faith in Christ's words and teachings. If you claimed you had faith and did not actually act on it, then you would simply be a lukewarm believer. When know from Revelations 3:15-17 that God would rather we be spiritually hot or cold than lukewarm. So because we have faith, we should produce works.
Individuals do things in line with their beliefs. If I believe that Jesus is coming soon,I prepare to meet Him. If I am not preparing to meet Him, then what I have is a 'dead ' Faith
I'd like to comment briefly, if I may, on part of the title of the last two days' Lessons.
The words, "while we wait", are significant to me. Because in a sense God is waiting for us too.
"It is not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus DELAYED... For 40 years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have DELAYED the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan." (Evangelism p.696)
In Revelation 7, God's four angels are described as holding the four winds of the earth. They are assigned the job of holding those winds of strife (the plagues etc.,) "UNTIL we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (Rev 7:1-3.)
Everything is held in restraint UNTIL God's people are prepared. When that preparation is accomplished, and we are ready to face Him, then the winds will be released. Jesus will then be on His way, and soon thereafter, all the waiting will be over.
Indeed,meeting spiritual needs goes along with meeting physical needs.In this manner with the grace of God,we can fulfill the great commission given to us to spread God\'s message in every part of the world.
Get the whole quote: Eph 2:8-10
We are saved by grace through faith to do good works
So the reason we are saved is so that we will do good works.
Do you agree?
I am 4th generation Adventist and have to wonder how much longer is the wait. I have seen great grandparents talk about the second coming, grandparents and parents all pass with the hope of His Return. I have heard people say over the years the end is near see the signs. Yet He has not returned. It can cause one to question their faith
Halo Charles, while we wait", we wait in faith that is to mean we have faith in what our Almighty Father in heaven promised, If we truly believe and trust Him we produce true fruit Galatians 5:22. Now what the past generation has been expressing as you have highlighted is faith remaining on course to the end - Heaven, even the Patriarchs did the same as outlined in Hebrews 11:13
Yes, it should - why do I accept Jesus as my Savior - for the reward or for the relationship?
Jesus told the disciples that no one knew the time of His Second Coming, except the Father. Yet, at the same time, He told stories and gave admonitions to the effect that His followers should *always* be in a state of expectancy regarding His Coming. Christ knows us only too well. He knows that if we should consider His Coming afar off, we'd get too entangled with the world and thus be lost.
And His Coming is "soon" for all of us - at the latest when we die of natural causes, and perhaps much earlier through an unforeseen accident. In such cases, for us, Jesus is coming, because the next instant (on our resurrection) we will either see Him come the second time or the third time.
‘While we wait ‘,this alone tells us that when we are waiting there is something that we need to do. It takes me back to Simeon from the book of Luke 2:25-35, whilst he was waiting for the promise that ,he was not going to die before he saw the Lord’s Christ, he stood firm for his faith (devout) , he had the character of God in him (righteous) and the Holy Spirit was upon him and he was led by the Holy Spirit. This applies to us as well, the way we live should be the light to the world. Our lives should depict what we preach like Simeon. Simeon heard the Word of God and he patiently waited for the Lord’s Christ and he was not living anyhow. He was in right standing with God.We need to be hearers and doers of the Word.
At times we expect other people to change because of the Word we speak to them,let us also live that Word.It begins with us!Waiting takes patience,and patience is a fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22.Simeon was not die before he saw the Lord’s Christ. We also need not to die ‘spiritually’ whilst we are waiting.No matter how long it takes,all we need to do is wait and live a holy life and tell others of the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.The Bible did not specify when Simeon received the message but I presume it took him some waiting for him to see what God promised him.Ooh yes He is a faithful God,who fulfils His promises.His promises are Yes and Amen!
When we truly believe and have faith in God, we will be moved to acts of compassion towards those in need. True faith always leads to good practical action. Opportunities are aplenty for God's children to meet the needs of fellow human-beings. As children of the Almighty and merciful God, we are exhorted to show special concern for marginalized and vulnerable members of society. Christ said, "By their fruits you will know them........ Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 7: 16-20). Our transformed christian life will show by the good works we do to others.
While we wait suggest that something needs to be done! We have a job to prepare others to meet Jesus, we must proclaim in word and conduct God's word and we must preserve God's people for His coming.
This is powerful, we are suppose to encourage each other, in return our faith is strengthened. I can't see a better way of encouraging each other than putting our actions where our mouth is. It us easy to tell someone I will pray for you, than to pray with them, and really work with them. If we could all think like this, God's word, would have dispersed in a quicker manner, because people would of felt this love. This lesson is definitely challenging me. I realized I truly need a reformation.
Jesus points our attention to the condition of the church within and its mission to an ending world. The fact is that the church exists because there is a mission, what a powerful statement, challenging.If we fulfill our mission within we will by His grace fulfill our mission to a dying world.But my prayer is that revival starts with me.
There is a lot of comment about doing something, but apart from a few platitudes about spreading the Gospel and being led by the Holy Spirit we seem somewhat short on practical application.
Here is something to think about:
Become a good friend of an unchurched person. You can do that either face-to-face or electronically. It may take an effort but it is worth it. If we all developed a friendship with an unchurched person think of the potential that has to change their lives. "Occupy till I come!"
I would love to hear from all our friends on SSNet what they have decided to do as their part in spreading the gospel.
I have decided that my job is to sow seeds by sharing my Biblical insights electronically on SSNet and Facebook.