Hope Sabbath School Lesson 1 Why Witness

[Music] [Applause] welcome to Hope Sabbath school an in-depth interactive study of the word of God I'm excited today we're beginning a brand new series making friends for God now you say Derrick I don't even know how to be a friend of God well we'll talk about making friends with God too but once you become a friend of God he wants you to share his love with those around you make friends for god it's gonna be a great series today why do we witness why do we tell people about Jesus I know you'll be blessed we're glad you joined us and welcome to our team this is gonna be a great study I'm excited because I want to make friends for God and someone made friends with me for God so I'm a friend of God now so that's awesome isn't there a song about being Friends of God we should all start singing while we've got a theme song we'll be singing in just a moment that talks about sharing the amazing truth of God with others but first a few emails first from Jamaica any Jamaican alright thank you Jamaica Dalia writes and says the word appreciate is an understatement I it was this morning I was recommending someone to tune into Hope Sabbath school it's amazing how the Lord has used Hope Sabbath school to share an teach the Word of God my life has been impacted tremendously says Dalia and I'm more confident in sharing the gospel that's what this series about right making friends for God thank you and to the whole media team for the awesome work you're doing for the Lord in these final moments of Earth's history god bless you all and we say Dalia thanks for writing to us thanks for remembering our media team to because they are very much involved with this ministry here's a note from a donor here in the US and it says greetings hopes have a school members I'm a shut-in and I claim hope Sabbath school as my Sabbath school class thank you for your consistent message of truth special greetings to members around the world from Zimbabwe where I was born 81 years ago well thank you so much you know your name if you're an 81 year-old Zimbabwean who set a donation to Hope channel thank you by the way a donation of five hundred dollars to help with the ministry god bless you it will come back to you pressed down and running over thanks to all of you who partner with us in this donor supported evangelistic media ministry maxime rights from the ukraine hello to all of you you are very nice people I tell you honestly and sincerely that when I look at you I see heavens radiance on your faces I just have to say hallelujah cuz we're not that beautiful are we but that's our prayer isn't it that the light of Jesus would shine out of us you have such enthusiasm and inspiration well Maxime thanks for writing to us all the way from Ukraine we're glad you're part of our hopes Abba school family here's a note from Andre Andres writing from California and Andre says I enjoy hope Sabbath school please tell Jason that's Jason on the front row here I like the way he shows excitement during the songs thank you for these good videos tell about Jesus my parents loved to watch it too I'm 12 years old so Andre thanks for writing to us and and we're gonna sing the scripture song in just a minute and Jason will be as enthusiastic as ever and we will - it's actually a beautiful song from Psalm 105 verses one to five but first one last note from Janet living in the UK but originally from Sierra Leone on Billy you're a international traveler where is Sierra Leone western Africa western Africa and here Janet writes and says hello hopes Sabbath school team I'm Janet originally from Sierra Leone but now living in the UK hope Sabbath school is so special to me I've been watching for years I've grown in my walk with God through your Bible teachings bringing the Word of God to life helping me to memorize the Bible by singing scripture songs I have in the past got my Sabbath school class to sing the song with me and I always used your outline when teaching the class you've been definitely a positive influence in my life I just have to pause and say Janet I'm going to show folks here here's the outline that we're going to be using for this series you can download it from our website hope tv.org / hope ss and Janet thanks for using the outline because it helps us to have a more interactive study doesn't it I know most of you by name she says and do admire your dedication in serving the Lord thank you and we say Amen praise God we're glad you're part of our family Janet we need your help right now to sing our new theme song it's from Psalm 105 by the way any of you can go to our website hope TV org / hope SS download the theme song download the sheet music mp3 file you can sing it in your Bible study group we're going to sing it together now [Music] Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] oh thanks to the [Music] Oh what a beautiful song I hope you'll learn it maybe some of you will send a little mp3 file to me saying I want you to hear me singing the theme song it's taken from Psalm 105 three thousand-year-old scripture song and yet so beautiful for us today word for word from the New King James version of the Bible right now we want to pray the topic why do we tell people about Jesus why witness in the first place it's an important theme so let's study as let's pray as we study together our Father in Heaven our hearts are filled with joy today because you're a great and awesome God and you bring joy and peace in fact you want to do that for everyone as we talk today in this new series on making friends for God there may be someone joining us who says I need to make friends with God may the principles we share help each one to know how we can not only be friends with God but how we can be make friends for God to share the beautiful love of Jesus with others may your Holy Spirit guide us in our study today we pray in the name of Jesus amen we're gonna start in Luke chapter 19 it's right at the end of a story about a little fellow who climbed up in a tree named zactly but we're not going to look at the story today but Brittany if you could take us to Luke 19 verse 10 because Jesus in a very concise way tells us his mission alright we're talking about making friends of a God Luke 19 verse 10 and I'll be reading from the New King James Version Luke chapter 19 verse 10 for the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost so what does that mean what does it mean to be lost maybe someone's watching Billy for the first time well what do you mean like they turned left instead of right and their GPS is saying recalculating lost what does it mean in the Bible when it says he came to seek and to save that which was lost I think it means those don't know him those who don't know the father and who doesn't know Jesus in the the gospel message that the fact that he comes to to save people who have been mistreated he's come to save people who have been misguided and he's there as the name of God to save them okay so they're lost from God really right they're separated somehow now there's some other text that came to my mind Jonathan math Matthew 1:21 where the angel said that Jesus says what does it say call his name Jesus Jonathan maybe you could read it for us Matthew 1:21 call his name Jesus the angel said what how does that read in your Bible Jonathan alright I'm reading from the New International Version it says she will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins so the people who were lost need to be saved from their sins now Celine I know you know a little of the Bible - the Bible says somewhere that the wages of sin is death that's right that's in Romans 6:23 so we're in trouble lost is not just oh well I'm okay right I'm lost from God I need to be saved for my sin and the wages of sin is death so the mission of Jesus is to find those people and save them that's right now I'm here let's look at another text first Timothy chapter 2 verses 3 & 4 this is a beautiful beautiful promise Herald do you have that first Timothy Peter and Paul is writing to this young spiritual leader Timothy and what does he say in first Timothy two three and four and I'll be reading from the New King James Version for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth how many does he want to be saved oh yeah it's I'm glad you didn't just say old man because he wants men and women right that's kind of a generic term isn't there a text in second Peter 3 that says he's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance repentance means God I'm lost I need to be connected to you I need you to save me right so it's an exciting journey now I'm going to James 5 now because here's an amazing thought you say well I'm sure God can handle that because God is omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent but do we have any role to play in helping people Trevor James chapter 5 verses 19 and 20 it's quite a startling verse let's see what the Bible says and I'll be reading from the New King James translation brethren if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins oh this is a tough question Stephanie but I'm gonna ask you can you save someone that's kind of what we heard can you save someone only Jesus is the way the truth and the life so what is James saying here though we can leave them to Jesus alright so with the way would you say that we can have a part yeah and that part is not the word the Savior right but you saying we can lead them to the Savior and in that sense we cover a multitude of sins someone can tell me what that means but if we confess our sins what happens to them he's gonna forgive them and cleanse us from one more text in Romans chapter 5 we're talking about connecting people to the same year Romans chapter 10 Romans 10 beginning with verse 8 and Jason I'm gonna ask you to read this it actually through verse 17 so it's a longer passage but it's got a really important message so I'd like it you listen carefully as we read Romans 10 what important message does Paul not only want Christians in Rome to hear but all of us I'll be reading here from the New King James Version Romans chapter 10 verses 8 through 17 but what does it say the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved for with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation for the scripture says whoever believes on him will not be put to shame for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same lord over all is rich to all who call upon him for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach unless they are sent and as is written how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace who bring glad tidings of good things but they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isaiah says Lord who has believed our report so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God now there's so much of that passage our first thought is did anyone get up today and go I have beautiful but those who take the good news about Jesus what does it mean beautiful feet anybody want to help me with that one are they beautiful because of the direction they're going the purpose okay the direction I'm heading what else is really important in this passage there's some beautiful insights here Brittany see that I see one is that he wants all to hear he talked about Jews and Gentiles and the second one is that how are people gonna know about God unless we tell them someone needs to tell them alright Tricia Lee I see an insight here for those who are sharing God's Word and you know in the verse it says in you confess with your mouth and you believe in your heart I mean unless you're a liar you're not going to talk about something that's not true to you so as I share about what I believe in God it just makes that more true to me my faith gets stronger my witness becomes stronger that's something we'll come to a little later in our study too and that is we are actually blessed Joseph when we when we share it yes what struck me is how simple it is I mean you believe and it's it's it's simple in a sense I mean it becomes complex in our world the complex is who has believed our message how do we do we keep believing do we keep with everything going around us and we would agree that if I call upon the name of the Lord and say Jesus I'm lost save me and we've got a life journey that goes after that but let's not make it so hard for people just say everyone who calls on the name of the Lord right shall be saved but I like the fact that we get beautiful feet you know it's like joy when we do that we're going to discover some of the blessings that will come so sure an opportunity that you had to talk to someone who didn't know Jesus and and needed to find a way back to God anyone would like to share an experience doing that 70 you smiling at me so I I believe this person already had heard about Jesus okay not that they had not heard about Jesus but my brother was doing an evangelistic series and I was helping him and this gentleman came in the door and he went to listen to the first seminar and he started to leave he wasn't going to come back for the second and I asked him are you coming back and he said no it's all the same there's no hope for me I've gone too far and I would the Lord gave me words to speak and share with him the Bible says that if we come before to God confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and he throws our sins into the depths of the sea and we prayed for him every night and two weeks later that gentleman walked in the doors and he is still in the church today so we praise God for His faithfulness by the way that raises an important question is it possible to be know about God and be lost is it possible even to be attending a church and be lost is that possible yeah that's a frightening thought isn't it it's that personal relationship with God God saved me right be Lord of my life like Jonathan said that is not complicated except the enemy puts obstacles in our way but if we'll make that confession we have a life journey of transformation that comes after that so here's another difficult question Travis I'm gonna ask you this one will people be lost if we don't cooperate with Jesus in telling them the way of salvation will people be lost if we don't answer quickly will people be lost if we don't cooperate with Jesus in telling them the way of salvation what do you think well I have this answer okay God didn't orchestrate this discipleship or the mission of making disciples in order that he can save the world he did it to save us yes because when we testify or when we witness it strengthens our belief okay you know so when we we first meet Jesus we fall in love and we're excited but that can fade away but as we keep bringing others to the gospel it's reignited and reignited and reignited and so God used this method to help keep the gospel strengthened inside of our hearts so Nicole you were kind of shaking your head you go wait a minute and what picture of God do we have from studying Scripture we've said that that he wants all to come to repentance so if I don't and pray to God it would not be me if a person doesn't cooperate with Jesus in sharing the truth about Jesus with someone is that person going to be lost because I don't do that I think the share the lack of sharing is the person who so I'm more at risk yeah an opportunity to reach that Persaud my sense my lane or you might send Trevor or Billy and say I was hoping I could ask exactly no but but you know what I'll call someone at work or someone a neighbor does that make sense I think we need to be careful that we don't think that their salvation depends upon us actually the the one who'll be blessed Travis says is us if we join him in his work I see a frown Jonathan no I mean I think I think our decisions are real and ahead of a real influence on other people I mean if I'm in a where I spread doubt if I spread things that has a real effect I mean it if I'm Eve and I eat the forbidden fruit it's not that oh well God has a way to prevent all results of that know it I think our decisions on both sides for good and evil are real and have real effect and yes God is in interaction with that but I I don't I think I think it's problematic to say that there isn't a real we can't have a real benefit and that's what James says you can't turn a person you can save a soul and there will be negative consequences but I want us to understand the loving heart of God he wants everyone to come to repentance right we got seven hands raised but we're gonna move on Stephanie when you talked about this gentleman and praise God that God used you to talk to him you were smiling I want to talk about how joy comes to somewhere else when people hear the truth about a God who loves them with an everlasting and unfailing love so could you take us to Luke chapter 15 and I'd like you to read verses 6 and 7 and then Tricia Lee I'd like you to read verses 9 and 10 and then Selena I'd like you to read verses 22 to 24 this is three parts of a parable we could talk about seeking the lost sheep and the lost coin and the lost son or sons but I want to highlight one aspect of the story so Stephanie we're in Luke chapter 15 verses 6 & 7 and I'll be reading from the King James version and when he cometh home he call it together his friends and neighbors saying unto them rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance officially verses 9 and 10 reading from the New King James Version and when she was found she calls her friends and neighbors together saying rejoice with me for I have found the peace which I lost likewise I say to you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents and Celine was still in Luke 15 22 to 24 and I'll be reading from the King James Version it reads but the father said to his servants bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry for this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found and they began to be merry I love that story it was like you see this father right what's the theme that you see in those three stories Harold there's joy whenever something whenever something was lost and was found or when somebody repents they actually came back to God and the thing that I noticed that I actually never noticed in the past was that the joy wasn't just kept for the person who found the coin they wanted to share it to everybody else okay it was like a community based I'm not sure if I was like to impact so that they can also be participants and like go find other lost beings or people so where's the joy centered in these three finding the lost where is it centered though is it in human beings or is it in heaven where is it Jason heaven it's in heaven it's in heaven isn't it angels of heaven and and the Father he represents God right father son Holy Spirit embracing that one who's come back right but I like what Harold said if Heaven's rejoicing we are should also be rejoicing trevor that's right we should all be rejoicing too we should be celebrating with heaven that someone has come home Tricia Lee it tells me is that there's value there's value in the one sheep it's not just like oh well there's 99 more you know count your losses and move on very nice value in one individual and may God help us to see each individual that comes our way that way and not just you know give up on folks or say wow there's a lot more of us here than the one person over there I have a confession to make I did not grow up just being overwhelmed by the immeasurable unfailing love of God but as I look at these stories yeah God is just celebrating yeah right how many is it you want to be saved oh look at this amazing testimony in Zephaniah chapter 3 verse 17 Zephaniah is hard to find Nicole did you find it right near the end of the Old Testament one of the minor prophets not to be confused with Zechariah Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse 17 gives us a picture of God that is stunning stunning let's let's see how your Bible reads the New International Version says the Lord your God is with you the mighty warrior who saves he will take great delight in you in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing there are a couple of you here I think I'm just scanning and seeing a couple of you that have children you can remember back when they were little and you just do their math right what does that do for you Nicole I know you're in that category you have some little ones who were getting bigger now but to see God rejoicing over you with singing talk to me about that image it's comforting because that's what you use to put your babies to sleep that's what you used to just give them comfort and peace and so for me it's very comforting peaceful that God is singing over me and loving me in such a way that he wants my comfort in my peace despite all that's going on around me was anyone blessed I'll come to your point Billy was anyone blessed to grow up with that beautiful picture of God Oh Britney praise God it is possible and by the way it is in the word right we're not creating a new picture here is a God who loves it so here's the father that Saleem read about running toward that lost daughter that lost son running kissing hugging right let's have a party really yeah I was gonna say that the joy the joy of God is contagious you know once you're in touch with it it spreads one instance that I had I've seen that was that was in South Sudan and there was war happening but then there was an evangelistic series happening and several people got baptized so even in the midst of war the church what they did they organized like a massive campaign and they were preaching and after they finished preaching the people got baptized he then just finished getting baptized and sent him home they brought him back to the church and every single person who was going around singing and rejoicing the fact that they yeah they got saved and that went on all night so they weren't scared of the war they weren't scared of the curfew and because the joy of God was in them they rejoice over the few people got baptized and that did not scare them to it to not rejoice even in the midst of war I wish I could have seen that because I guess they were really singing the joy of the Lord scripture says is our strength yeah and I like the fact that heaven wants us to participate in that joy there are some other blessings that I think come when we share the truth about Jesus with others we call that witnessing technically we share the truth veggies about God loving us with an everlasting and unfailing love let's look at a couple of texts in the Gospels John where Jesus is speaking John 7 verses 37 and there eight and Kenneth could you read that for us John seven verses 37 and 38 Jesus stands up Feast of Tabernacles and he cries out in a loud voice what does he say and I'll be reading from the New King James Version in a race on the last day the great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried out saying if anyone thirst let him come to me and drink he who believes in me as the scripture has said out of his hat will flow rivers of living waters so that's more than just a blessing for you this is a different image from being lost this is being thirsty that's the same need isn't it and it's saying if we come to Jesus what he'll give us the living water right but something else if you gave us another word Nicole it's gonna overflow from us to others how does it describe that in the text will flow rivers of living water flowing out of you yeah he speaks spoke it says on Later of his spirit right so the Holy Spirit so what is a blessing that comes to us when we join Jesus in this mission work what's the blessing errand we bless others we do bless others that joy I'm talking about a blessing for us but it is a blessing when we bless others it is a blessing that come because we are being transformed Wow other people being transferred can you just imagine for a moment being a conduit of heavens blessing I drilled well anyone ever drilled the well water well what's the water like when it first comes out of the well anybody anything sometimes dirty dirty right there's like from the drillings or whatever right but the more the water flows come on now gets cleaner and cleaner right the well is clean when the water flows so what's the blessing for us when the river of living water travis flows through us well it cleans us up as as we experience and one thing that it just kind of caught my attention is the water is multiplied because you're just taking a drink but rivers oh that's beautiful multiplied in you and that's that just blew my mind as I read this like wow Lord that's amazing so I'm so I cannot even possibly consume rivers of water can it and I like the fact that you said never said it's going to be a leak if you look carefully you receive the Word of God and become that kind of leak and then we we start saying my pond is bigger than you it's not a lake it's a river yeah Amis is flowing right look at one other text from Jesus Luke 6:38 we're talking about blessings that come when we join him we talked about the joy of the Lord we've talked about whatever cleaning and empowerment I need but let's look at Luke 6 verse 38 and Billy do you have that with you for us please and I'll be reading from the King James Version Luke 6:38 give and it shall be given unto you good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom for with the same measure that he means without it shall be measured to you again alright so give anybody have been on a mission trip anybody Selene where did you go on a mission trip Peru you went to Peru and what did you do on that mission trip we installed solar panels for some native people and then we did VBS for the children at the local school okay so solar panels so they could have electricity and you did a Vacation Bible School for children now it's interesting I know you can't all see Celine Church but she smiled when she talked about that what was some blessings that came to you that's a long way from home a lot of flying maybe not really comfortable accommodations I don't know if you were staying in a big hotel or something what was some of the blessings that came from being on that mission trip I think for the people they were so thankful like some of the ladies they made us bracelets and they were they could we couldn't really communicate with them as well because not all of us spoke the native language but it was it was amazing because you could see it on their faces they were so thankful and they offered to help us and to feed us and and then when I went to VBS it was amazing because the little kids they didn't really know us and then we were teaching them about Esther and Daniel and David and you could see like they were like glowing they're like wow this is so cool and yeah it was the next day the second day we did Vacation Bible School they were requesting songs someone else mission trip anybody else go on a mission trip you've been somewhere Stephanie my last one was Malawi my last one okay there are blessings that come when we go is that right by the way the mission trip could be next door or to the next cubicle right but tell us what happened in Malawi there were so many things that happen but I recall distinctly we did some VBS for the kids and they were so excited by some of the simple things in life and it made me think wow I take for granted just the things that are simple they put a leaves on a stick and it would fly through the air and it would turn the leaves and I thought wow if we could be satisfied with no batteries no batteries and they were smiling I even tried some jump roping which I hadn't done again if you could see I know our viewers can see Stephanie smiling what she's talking about that experience now Travis you also went to Malawi but you weren't holding a Bible School for children which they call VBS Vacation Bible School would you into something else and brought joy to a lot of people maybe even to you tell us about that well I know that some of the people had built churches they had made bricks from the ground and water and then built the walls and prayed some of them as long as ten twelve years praying that God would supply a roof and so we got a band of people together and raised money and we went over there and we put roofs on churches and and some people would sing the ladies of the congregation would sing while we were serenade us with song while we were putting the roofs on it was amazing these are tin roofs yeah they built the rest of the structure right but they didn't have money to buy sheet metal or the or the lumber so we bought the lumber and and built the trusses and put them on and and we would eat with them and sing with them and every every time we would finish a church we would there would be tears you know and we would leave and go to the next one and so now that's interesting because your background construction right so you're using a talent you have now he said churches so that means at least two right churches how many roofs as the team put on so far actually 31 31 roots and someone ought to get but what's that done for you it's a blessing I can't wait to go back so you know we're gonna continue to work there in plant churches and so the evangelists there is preaching and building more communities that then need a place to worship they make their bricks you bring in lumber and metal and put a roof on and that sounds like a joyful experience right as we join Jesus in his word Trevor I just gonna say I didn't go to a beautiful foreign country but just right here in our own community i participating in something called pathway to health where you help the community help them seek medical care and things like that and what I discovered is actually making friends with these people that are coming to get glasses or to get treated by a doctor you end up exchanging phone numbers and sharing the love of Christ so it's just been a blessing for me to participate in things like that in my own community and that's a very important point we don't have to go you know there was a song I learned when I was little you don't have to go across the seas to be a missionary right it can happen right where you are right and that's a beautiful beautiful thought well there's also a command I mean we talked about the mission of and we know that's true we know we bring joy to the heart of God and we experience blessings but there is also a command and I want to look at that because if we say I'm the follower of Jesus then his command to us what would you say what important let's take a look Britany could you read from mark 16 and verse 15 mark 16 and verse 15 I'll be reading from the New King James Version mark chapter 16 and verse 15 says and he said to them go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature gospel again can be translated what's the good news cuz someone may be watching for the first time and say oh I hear about gospel songs gospel meeting I don't know what that is good news watch it's all about Jesus that he loves us he wants to seek and save those who are lost we've got sin which brings death but he wants to forgive our sins and cleanse us and give us a new life in him right now so that's the good news and we're supposed to go tell that to everyone so here's a question why are so many professed Christians reticent to obey the command of Jesus this is not to be we're not throwing rocks but maybe you say well that's me too what holds people back from a very clear command now we know there's blessings right we know we'll bring joy to the to heaven it's the mission of Jesus and we're supposed to join him what holds people back Tricia Lee some of it can be a misunderstanding that certain people are the ones designated to go and share so I'm in a church or maybe I'm not I am not the type of person who should be sharing so they think maybe a pastor or Bible work or evangelist those are the ones who are to be witnesses so maybe we didn't tell them that or maybe we did you know you've got to leave that to the expert whatever that means right when the expert may not live next to your neighbor or work in the cubicle next to you or be in Peru where you go to old a meet my mission project right but one thing is I might think well I'm not really that trained I'm not that far eloquent we better leave that to the expert people whatever that means Travis is that does that make sense what else could hold a person back it makes a lot of sense and speaking personally is made you know from my personal walk you know with with God is that sometimes we may misunderstand the message we're supposed to give and so if we've not experienced if we've not made true friends we've got an experience that revival within we don't even know what our message is so we might be sharing a doctrine here in there that you know and and it's tough but when you like Paul say I care to preaching know nothing among you except Christ and him crucified the message becomes powerful so I'm not trying to win a theological argument I may go I don't know what to say well I want to come back Jonathan to something you said earlier because you said actually what we're supposed to share is quite simple but but not insignificant it's life-changing is it do you think people hold back because they think well I don't know enough well I'm not clear about what I'm supposed to share yeah I think so I think sometimes people are too fearful I do think there's there's benefit in making sure I mean we're going into all the world I mean you have to learn another language you have to know the local context so there's a balance there I mean we go in obedience to Christ but there there's certainly plenty of history of people making maybe unfortunate constant efforts that maybe give caution and say okay maybe we should be a little more careful so I think the devil plays with our fears and then other people's mistakes but yeah obeying is I want to just speak to our viewers for just a moment here because someone might say I don't know much of the teachings of the Bible and you know if they asked me well what really does happen when you die or how is a person saved I just was impressed by the Holy Spirit to tell you we have a series of Bible studies at home Bible study org Hope Bible studies org you say I'm already a follower Jesus I know but if we study those basic teachings of the Bible for ourselves not because we're trusting in them but but we ought to know why we believe what we believe right yeah and then if someone asks us well how is the word going to end i I can actually say well let me tell you what Jesus says so hope Bible studies dar org by the way hundreds of people are going to that website and signing up for Bible studies because you know a sharp axe is more useful right if we sharpen but there's something much more important than that Acts chapter 1 verse 8 and then I'll give an opportunity we're quite a few hands we'll raise tax chapter 1 and verse 8 and Selene would you read that for us here Jesus is speaking and it's a parting message to those who will go out on the mission what does he say the King James Version reads but you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth how many people is he speaking to how many how many do you think give me an estimate how many how many what's the core group looked like they here's 120 in the upper okay so somewhere around there somewhere around there right maybe they weren't all there when he was talking but it could be it could have been that core group and they're gonna go to where and the first question is how in the world is that possible through the power of the Holy Spirit through the power of the Holy Spirit and you read the book of Acts maybe it should be called the amazing acts of the Holy Spirit that's what the book of Acts is all about right but but it's not just going to hope Bibles the organ that's important we ought to know in fact the Holy Spirit will guide you in your Bible study yeah then when you go to share it has to be by the power of the Holy Spirit yeah yes Canada time this to the question you asked earlier why people are not willing to go and then share the message because they are not allowed themselves to be filled by the spirit if you also consider the statement the same good news the gospel command in Matthew chapter 28 jesus said and lo I'm with you to the end right after that great Matthew 28 Jesus is reverse to the end then there's no and we know that Jesus is with us by the Spirit of God and it says though I am with you always even to the end so that's a solemn thought that Kenneth is brought out that my reticence might be because I'm trying to do this by myself maybe that's a healthy reticence but it ought to help me to say Holy Spirit I mean we don't want a pond we want a river Holy Spirit use me it's gonna change my life Travis you said but use me let the blessings flow through me right because I can't possibly do it by myself test them anytime someone you had an opportunity me may have been on a mission trip may have been talking to a co-worker a friend when you just the holy sense the holy spirit using you to speak to a person there was a freedom that went beyond Travis your eyebrows raise and a smile and I know you shared something that happened just in the past day but maybe you have another thought in mind just since the Holy Spirit was opening the door you know it was one afternoon after church I just went door knocking I decided to go door knocking in the neighborhood and just tell people about Jesus people you didn't know didn't know and so I came across there so like oh right but so that's the Holy Spirit to use yeah and so I started talking with this lady and I don't want to mention her name no and so anyway I got to know her and her husband and I started doing some Bible studies and one afternoon she calls me and she's crying with a familiar message we heard today you know I've gone too far I've pushed God too far and she began to tell me that she was married five times and immediately the woman at the well the message came up and I opened the scriptures and I began to share with her as she began on chapter floor she can weep and cry because this lady this woman the Samaritan or a Sumerian woman at them at the well look just like she did and God and God blessed her and she was weeping and because that story related to her and it was such an amazing thing afterwards they she just felt refreshed and was a blessing to me I was like God you are amazing so Celine got a question for you how did Travis know to share that story from John chapter 4 the Holy Spirit helped him could it have been that he's also been reading his Bible isn't there a text that says the helper the Holy Spirit my name will teach you all things and bring to your this story flashes into his mind Selene says by the Holy Spirit because exactly the story that was needed does that sound exciting you know that's really saying wow I'm I'm part of something supernatural yeah Stephanie and I just have to say B even before that call he was impressed to go knock on that door so the Lord had already been preparing the groundwork for that all right anybody else a time when you just sense the Holy Spirit working John Kenneth so recently my wife and I we went on a safari we went for vacation Safari yes in Kenya Oh in Kenya yeah and once we were there we had other group who join us on the safari trip and once I realized that they realized anytime we are eating my wife and I we pray and then when we were going on the Safari car we pray and the day that we pray they realized that nothing happens to us so they said okay why don't we pray any time we want you to pray for us too yes so start praying for the larger group and anytime we pray when you go to the park we saw all these beautiful animals and then we had a chance to have some cocoa in a safari car and then we were able to share a lot of things with them from what we believed because they realized that we believe in God you know we prayed so you know I was telling my wife that you know it is by the grace of God that he sent us on this trip yeah cause it wasn't like we were just going there to have fun my god brought these people into our life so that we can share the gospel Oh Kenneth let me ask you are you a pastor is that your profession no look you're not but you want it to be available yes and actually before sharing with others they were a silent witness right is that right yeah yeah people saw something there can you pray for us - yeah we're going to see the Lions you know wherever we're going there's a black mamba loosen it again mm-hmm those those silent witnesses lay a foundation build a bridge right for a possible further witnessing anybody else want to share yes Harold many years ago while I was in college after I understood like the weight of Christianity what what Jesus called me to do I was kind of impressed to go to all my professors and gave material or even tried to talk with them and you weren't at a Christian University I was I was a secular University and you're going to all of your professors you know sharing with them yes and I was actually at times and the whole walk around twice because I was afraid but then relate to walking around twice an hour past the professor's office and I can and I will just hear the voice heart of go go I'll be fine and I will go and we find that many times they will take it and the many times some professor would even read the materials and question me hey come on come to my office I have questions I was still very ignorant I mean Bible wise so I couldn't answer many questions but that's an important point I let you finish your story do we have to wait until we know everything no remember the demoniac who was set free at Ghidorah he went back he just knew that Jesus said him free right yeah and actually the lure opportunities for me to go back to the scriptures and realize okay I know I messed up here let me go back and read and understand that's where hope Bible study org is helpful right go back and study the basic teachings of the Bible and it doesn't stop there I do it even at work even though I'm not supposed to I still wait for opportunities I see opportunities and actually has been a blessing too because many times many people have been receptive even though people that I misunderestimate like oh they're not gonna take it and the learn press amigo and these people are accepted so I haven't had much interaction but I've been given so much material that who knows what God is doing with a material with those people there's so much in that testimony I underestimated you know and yet like that man set free from a legion of demons became an evangelist in his home and people marveled Jonathan yeah I went on a very interesting mission trip a few years ago to Romania with Glo mission tracks where he would go and it was a glow mission trip and we'd handout as mini Glo as we can these are little little pamphlets right small like I passed out quite a few oh I think it was near a million with all the kids in the Romanian language yes okay yeah so it was a great experience of their you lots of great interaction with all of us and one some of the most fun was going through the market centers and going through and handing out to people and I went around and one guy had kind of figured out I I think I must hand it to when he came back and he can sort of having a conversation with me and he knew pretty good English and he started kind of challenging me and we ended up having a good discussion was respectful a good guy when he was trying to say why he his church was the one and only church and and these things but it was it was I was think about this just this morning earlier like it was interesting how God kind of leaves the conversation in ways like he did I don't think he thought about it but he just started seeing like yeah we need to keep the Ten Commandments and such and such and like okay you're talking about this but yeah okay yeah the fourth commandment what about the four commandant and it just it seemed like the Holy Spirit was working through this discussion to maybe plant a little seed they maybe need to go back and think about it's like yeah what about the fourth commandment I've got to come to the last section of motivation because I think if our motivation is on track if it's aligned with the will of God the Holy Spirit helps us if we have the wrong motivation we can make terrible mistakes so what would be supportive ations for going in witnessing what would be a poor motivation or anything are you okay I want to be the most active person I can come back and say I talked to 40 people you know they will slam the door in my face because I was so rough with them but know that wanting to earn credit for myself what would be another poor motivation financial motivation getting material benefits for oneself okay so I might try to exploit or trying to sell something or whatever I need to move to the good motivation and Tricia Lee I'm gonna ask you to go to second Corinthians chapter 5 because this is our takeaway and back to what Jonathan was saying and just sensing the Holy Spirit guide in that conversation if my motivation is true in harmony with God's purpose then the Holy Spirit is free I'm not hindering his leading in my life what is that motivation 2nd Corinthians 5 verses 14 and 15 and 18 through 20 reading from the New King James Version for the love of Christ compels us because we judge thus that if one died for all then all died and he died for all that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for him who died for them and rose again verse 18 now all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the Ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God is that beautiful and what's the motivation that should drive us to share the good news with others love of God and like you said I need a relationship with God I need to be friends with God to experience his love so that I can make friends for God because I'm sharing the love of God with them is there someone that comes to your mind we don't have a long story but you say really I see motivate motivated by the love of God to share the gospel with other people is there someone that jumps to your mind Stephanie my dad your dad that's awesome I hope he's listening today anybody else comes to mind Travis I have a friend Mike and Amy or just Mike and Amy just I got to meet my greasily just motivated by the love of God to share with others Trevor a pastor had a chance to work with a pastor rich just on fire for the father has two rich on fire someone else yeah a pastor I know pastor come there don't go okay I can't say the last name a pastor that Kenneth knows maybe you know someone and you say she's got it right he's got it right the love of God is what compels us we've made friends with God now we want to go make friends for God and the love of God in our hearts that's part of the river that flows to bless those around us I'd like to pray that God would fill you with his love and with his spirit that you can go out and make friends for God let's pray father in heaven you know what you want to do in US and through us we just want to open our hearts to you thank you for saving us and may your love and your spirit flow through us to bless those around us in the name of Jesus amen well this is going to be a great series making friends for God hope Bible study org if you want to learn more Bible truths most of all connected personal relationship Holy Spirit in you River not a pond but a river flowing through you to be a blessing go out now be a blessing to those around you [Applause] [Applause] you

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

Views: 48,758

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Keywords: Hope Sabbath School, Why Witness, Seventh-Day Adventist, Derek Morris, hopesabbathschool

Id: EqKO38vWeAs

Length: 58min 28sec (3508 seconds)

Published: Tue Jun 30 2020