EGW Notes - Lesson 6- Motivation and Preparation for Mission

 Sabbath Afternoon, November 4
Jesus would have those who are engaged in His
service, not eager for rewards, nor feel that they must
receive compensation for all that they do. The Lord
would have our minds run in a different channel; for He
sees not as man sees. He does not judge by appearances,
but estimates a man by the sincerity of his heart. . . .
Paul kept in view the crown of life to be given him, and
not only to be given to him, but to all who love His
appearing. It was the victory gained through faith in
Jesus Christ that made the crown so desirable. He ever
exalted Jesus. All boasting of talent, of victory in
ourselves, is out of place. “Let not the wise man glory in
his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his
might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him
that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for
in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”—Counsels on
Stewardship, p. 339.
The Lord desires us to rest in Him without a question
as to our measure of reward. When Christ abides in the
soul, the thought of reward is not uppermost. This is not
the motive that actuates our service. It is true that in a
subordinate sense we should have respect to the
recompense of reward. God desires us to appreciate His
promised blessings. But He would not have us eager for
rewards nor feel that for every duty we must receive
compensation. We should not be so anxious to gain the
reward as to do what is right, irrespective of all gain.
Love to God and to our fellow men should be our
motive.—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 398.
Willing service and joyous self-denial . . . is the only
spirit that should actuate the followers of Jesus. Our
divine Master has given an example of how His disciples
are to work. To those whom He bade, “Follow Me, and I
will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), He
offered no stated sum as a reward for their services.
They were to share with Him in self-denial and sacrifice.
Not for the wages we receive are we to labor. The
motive that prompts us to work for God should have in it
nothing akin to self-serving. Unselfish devotion and a
spirit of sacrifice have always been and always will be
the first requisite of acceptable service. Our Lord and
Master designs that not one thread of selfishness shall
be woven into His work. Into our efforts we are to bring
the tact and skill, the exactitude and wisdom, that the
God of perfection required of the builders of the earthly
tabernacle; yet in all our labors we are to remember that
the greatest talents or the most splendid services are
acceptable only when self is laid upon the altar, a living,
consuming sacrifice.—Prophets and Kings, pp. 64, 65.
Sunday, November 5
To Share the Good News
Christ’s first work on earth after His resurrection was
to convince His disciples of His undiminished love and
tender regard for them. To give them proof that He was
their living Saviour, that He had broken the fetters of the
tomb, and could no longer be held by the enemy death;
to reveal that He had the same heart of love as when He
was with them as their beloved Teacher, He appeared to
them again and again. He would draw the bonds of love
still closer around them. Go tell My brethren, He said,
that they meet Me in Galilee.
As they heard this appointment, so definitely given,
the disciples began to think of Christ’s words to them
foretelling His resurrection. But even now they did not
rejoice. They could not cast off their doubt and
perplexity. Even when the women declared that they
had seen the Lord, the disciples would not believe. They
thought them under an illusion.—The Desire of Ages, pp.
793, 794.
How many are still doing what these disciples did!
How many echo Mary’s despairing cry, “They have taken
away the Lord, . . . and we know not where they have
laid Him”! To how many might the Saviour’s words be
spoken, “Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” He is
close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not
discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not
understand.
Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that the eyes
might be opened to behold Him, that the ears might
listen to His voice! “Go quickly, and tell His disciples that
He is risen.” Bid them look not to Joseph’s new tomb,
that was closed with a great stone, and sealed with the
Roman seal. Christ is not there. Look not to the empty
sepulcher. Mourn not as those who are hopeless and
helpless. Jesus lives, and because He lives, we shall live
also. From grateful hearts, from lips touched with holy
fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen! He lives to
make intercession for us. Grasp this hope, and it will
hold the soul like a sure, tried anchor. Believe, and thou
shalt see the glory of God.—The Desire of Ages, p. 794.
We should cultivate kindliness and courtesy in our
association with those whom we meet. Let us strive
always to present the truth in an easy way. This truth
means life, eternal life to the receiver. Study therefore to
pass easily and courteously from subjects of a temporal
nature to the spiritual and eternal. While walking by the
way, or seated by the wayside, you may drop into some
heart the seed of truth.
There is work to be done for our Master. There are
souls who may by our influence be led to Christ. Who is
ready to engage in this work with all the heart?—Our
High Calling, p. 301.
Monday, November 6
A Prophetic Foundation
Jesus remained with His disciples forty days, causing
them joy and gladness of heart as He opened to them
more fully the realities of the kingdom of God. He
commissioned them to bear testimony to the things
which they had seen and heard concerning His
sufferings, death, and resurrection, that He had made a
sacrifice for sin, and that all who would might come unto
Him and find life. With faithful tenderness He told them
that they would be persecuted and distressed; but they
would find relief in recalling their experience and
remembering the words which He had spoken to them.
He told them that He had overcome the temptations of
Satan and obtained the victory through trials and
suffering. Satan could have no more power over Him,
but would bring his temptations to bear more directly
upon them and upon all who should believe in His name.
But they could overcome as He had overcome. Jesus
endowed His disciples with power to work miracles, and
told them that although they should be persecuted by
wicked men, He would from time to time send His angels
to deliver them; their lives could not be taken until their
mission should be accomplished; then they might be
required to seal with their blood the testimonies which
they had borne.—Early Writings, p. 189.
Those who have Jesus abiding in the heart by faith,
have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every individual
who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely
receives the Holy Spirit, to be his Counselor, Sanctifier,
Guide, and Witness. The more closely the believer walks
with God, the clearer his witness, and, as a sure result,
the more powerful will be the influence of his testimony
upon others of a Saviour’s love; the more he will give
evidence that he prizes the Word of God. It is his meat, it
is his drink, to satisfy the thirsty soul. He prizes the
privilege of learning the will of God from His Word.—
The Upward Look, p. 19.
Belief in [Christ] is essential to spiritual life. Those
who feast on the Word never hunger, never thirst, never
desire any higher or more exalted good.
The truest, the most exalted, knowledge is found in the
Word of God. In its simplicity there is eloquence. . . .
The Bible is our guide in the safe paths that lead to
eternal life. God has inspired men to write that which
will present the truth to us, which will attract, and
which, if practised, will enable the receiver to obtain
moral power to rank among the most highly educated
minds. The minds of all who make the Word of God their
study will enlarge. Far more than any other study, this is
of a nature to increase the powers of comprehension,
and endow every faculty with new vigor. It brings us
into close connection with all heaven, imparting wisdom,
and knowledge, and understanding. The gospel is
adapted for spiritual food, to satisfy man’s spiritual
appetite. In every case it is just what man needs.—Sons
and Daughters of God, p. 70.
Tuesday, November 7
Waiting and Mission
[Christ’s] anxious followers gladly listened to His
teachings, eagerly feasting upon every word which fell
from His holy lips. Now they certainly knew that He was
the Saviour of the world. His words sank deep into their
hearts, and they sorrowed that they must soon be parted
from their heavenly Teacher and no longer hear
comforting, gracious words from His lips. But again their
hearts were warmed with love and exceeding joy, as
Jesus told them that He would go and prepare mansions
for them and come again and receive them, that they
might be ever with Him. He promised also to send the
Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide them into all truth.
“And He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.”—Early
Writings, p. 190.
[We] must have times set apart for meditation and
prayer and for receiving spiritual refreshing. We do not
value the power and efficacy of prayer as we should.
Prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can
accomplish. . . .
The temptations to which we are daily exposed make
prayer a necessity. Dangers beset every path. Those who
are seeking to rescue others from vice and ruin are
especially exposed to temptation. In constant contact
with evil, they need a strong hold upon God lest they
themselves be corrupted. . . .
When we permit our communion with God to be
broken, our defense is departed from us. Not all your
good purposes and good intentions will enable you to
withstand evil. You must be men and women of prayer.
Your petitions must not be faint, occasional, and fitful,
but earnest, persevering, and constant. It is not always -
necessary to bow upon your knees in order to pray.
Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you
are alone, when you are walking, and when you are busy
with your daily labor. Let the heart be continually
uplifted in silent petition for help, for light, for strength,
for knowledge. Let every breath be a prayer.—The
Ministry of Healing, pp. 509, 510.
Those who are of the household of faith should never
neglect the assembling of themselves together; for this is
God’s appointed means of leading His children into
unity, in order that in Christian love and fellowship they
may help, strengthen, and encourage one another.
As brethren of our Lord, we are called with a holy
calling to a holy, happy life. Having entered the narrow
path of obedience, let us refresh our minds by
communion with one another and with God. As we see
the day of God approaching, let us meet often to study
His Word and to exhort one another to be faithful unto
the end. These earthly assemblies are God’s appointed
means by which we have opportunity to speak with one
another and to gather all the help possible to prepare, in
the right way, to receive in the heavenly assemblies the
fulfillment of the pledges of our inheritance.—Our High
Calling, p. 166.
Wednesday, November 8
“Whom You Crucified”
On the day of Pentecost the Infinite One revealed
Himself in power to the church. By His Holy Spirit He
descended from the heights of heaven as a rushing
mighty wind to the room in which the disciples were
assembled. Words of penitence and confession of sin
were mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven.
Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. All
heaven was bending low to behold and adore the
wisdom of matchless, incomprehensible love.
The apostles and disciples were lost in wonder, and
exclaimed, “Herein is love!” They grasped the imparted
gift. Their hearts were surcharged with a benevolence so
full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go
to the ends of the earth testifying, God forbid that we
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They were filled with an intense longing to add to the
church such as should be saved.—That I May Know Him,
p. 344.
Three thousand souls were added to the church. The
apostles spoke by the power of the Holy Ghost; and their
words could not be controverted, for they were
confirmed by mighty miracles, wrought by them through
the outpouring of the Spirit of God. The disciples were
themselves astonished at the results of this visitation,
and the quick and abundant harvest of souls. All the
people were filled with amazement. . . .
The arguments of the apostles alone, although clear
and convincing, would not have removed the prejudice
of the Jews which had withstood so much evidence. But
the Holy Ghost sent those arguments home with divine
power to their hearts. They were as sharp arrows of the
Almighty, convicting them of their terrible guilt in
rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory. “Now when
they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and
said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.”—The Story of Redemption, p. 245.
Peculiar and rapid changes will soon take place, and
God’s people are to be endowed with the Holy Spirit, so
that with heavenly wisdom they may meet the
emergencies of this age, and as far as possible
counteract the demoralizing movements of the world. If
the church is not asleep, if the followers of Christ watch
and pray, they may have light to comprehend and
appreciate the movements of the enemy.
The end is near! God calls upon the church to set in
order the things that remain. Workers together with
God, you are empowered by the Lord to take others with
you into the kingdom. You are to be God’s living agents,
channels of light to the world, and round about you are
angels of heaven with their commission from Christ to
sustain, strengthen, and uphold you in working for the
salvation of souls.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p.
436.
Thursday, November 9
A Picture of the Early Church
After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples went
forth to proclaim a risen Saviour, their one desire the
salvation of souls. They rejoiced in the sweetness of the
communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful,
self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truth’s
sake. In their daily association with one another they
revealed the love that Christ had commanded them to
reveal. By unselfish words and deeds they strove to
kindle this love in other hearts.
The believers were ever to cherish the love that filled
the hearts of the apostles after the descent of the Holy
Spirit. They were to go forward in willing obedience to
the new commandment: “As I have loved you, that ye
also love one another.” John 13:34. So closely were they
to be united to Christ that they would be enabled to
fulfill His requirements. The power of a Saviour who
could justify them by His righteousness was to be
magnified.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 241.
The apostle [Paul] exhorts his brethren to manifest in
their lives the power of the truth which he had
presented to them. By meekness and gentleness,
forbearance and love, they were to exemplify the
character of Christ and the blessings of His salvation.
There is but one body, and one Spirit, one Lord, one
faith. As members of the body of Christ all believers are
animated by the same spirit and the same hope.
Divisions in the church dishonor the religion of Christ
before the world and give occasion to the enemies of
truth to justify their course. Paul’s instructions were not
written alone for the church in his day. God designed
that they should be sent down to us. What are we doing
to preserve unity in the bonds of peace?
When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the early
church, the brethren loved one another. “They . . . did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
praising God, and having favor with all the people: and
the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved.” Those primitive Christians were few in numbers,
without wealth or honor, yet they exerted a mighty
influence. The light of the world shone out from them.
They were a terror to evildoers wherever their character
and their doctrines were known. For this cause they
were hated by the wicked and persecuted even unto
death.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 239.
Paul carried with him the atmosphere of heaven. All
who associated with him felt the influence of his union
with Christ. The fact that his own life exemplified the
truth he proclaimed, gave convincing power to his
preaching. Here lies the power of truth. The unstudied,
unconscious influence of a holy life is the most
convincing sermon that can be given in favor of
Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may
provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a
power that it is impossible wholly to resist.—The Acts of
the Apostles, p. 510.
Friday, November 10
For Further Reading
That I May Know Him, “He Is Coming Again!” p. 348;
Reflecting Christ, “Glorify God in Our Body and Spirit,”
p. 138.