Agents of Hope: God's Great Missionaries Third Quarter – July , August, September

1. Agents of Hope:God's Great Missionaries Third Quarter – July , August, September

2. Preface  The Bible gives us many stories of God's agents of hope. This quarter we will focus on some outstanding missionaries; whom they were and what they did in seeking to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

3. Once upon a time there was a man nearly chilled to death in deep snow. He was about to give up struggling for his life when he heard the moans from a fellow traveler nearby. His first impulse was to rescue the other man.

4. When he found him, he rubbed the man's frozen limbs. He finally got him to his feet and carried him through the drifts to safety.

5. Then "the truth flashed home to him that in saving his neighbor he had saved himself also" by quickening "the blood which was freezing in his own veins."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 319.

6. The point? A healthy church is a church focused on mission to others. Sharing God's love with the community brings fresh life and energy into the church

7. We need to focus on our mission to this dying world. There is nothing more refreshing, or more life-giving, than reaching out to others.

8. The author of this Sabbath School lesson is Gary Krause, an Australian born to missionary parents in Fiji, is director of the Office of Adventist Mission at the General Conference. He is married to Bettina, and they have one daughter, Bethany Grace. Their prayers are that this quarter's lessons on biblical agents of hope will lead us into a renewed commitment to share God's love with our neighbors and friends and in mission fields around the world. And that we will enter into a whole new dimension in our Christian lives.

9. Introduction Who declared the following words? “…Forifyouremaincompletelysilent at this time, relief and deliverancewillarise… fromanother place, butyou and yourfather’shousewillperish. Yetwhoknowswhetheryouhave come tothekingdomforsuch a time as this?” Then _____ toldthemtoreplyto _______: “Go, gatheralltheJewswho are present in Shushan, and fastfor me; neithereatnordrinkforthreedays, nightorday. My maids and I willfastlikewise. And so I willgototheking, whichisagainstthelaw; and if I perish, I perish” Ester 4: 13 -16

10. Mordecaitoldthemto Esther

11. For Such a Time As This: The SS Lesson 1 for the 5th of July, 2008

12. The apostle Paul was a key leader His background, personality, and calling from God made him the right person at the right time to guide the church into this new era of mission to all people.

13. The Seventh-day Adventist Church went through a similar process, when it began its mission work outside North America. This was a radical step that laid the foundation for today's international Adventist mission work in more than two hundred countries.

14. Sunday:Paul’s Background Questions Who was arguably the most influential person in the New Testament, apart from Jesus Himself and he took the good news about Jesus to much of the then-known world? Theapostle Paul Paul wasborn in Tarsus, thenthe capital of Cilicia, a Romanprovince Where was he born? What is that place called now? Present-dayTurkey Tarsis was known for what? Thisareawasnotedforitsgoats'-haircloth, whichwaswidelyusedfortentmaking, Paul'strade

15. Sunday:Paul’s Background Questions With how much money could one purchase roman citizenship, and what was that amount worth? A personcouldpurchaseRomancitizenshipfor 500 drachmas, closetotwoyears' wagesfortheaverageworker. What were the privileges of Roman citizenship? Safety fromscourging and no deathpenaltywithout a trial; therightto vote, makecontracts, and have a legal marriage; and exemptionfrompayingtaxes What other citizenship did he have? He wasalso a Jew, onewith a rich spiritual heritage Who was his teacher? He studiedunderthegreatGamaliel, one of theleadingJewishteachers of the time

16. Whataspects of yourownlife (nationality, education, upbringing, etc.) can be of special use in witnessing? How can youtakeadvantage of yourbackgroundtobetterwitnessforthe Lord?

17. Monday Paul: His Conversion and Calling “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

18. “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink”. Acts 9:1-9

19. Questions The apostle Paul was called by what other name? Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of theearlychurch AgainstwhodidSaulthreatened and desiredtokilled? Againstthedisciples of the Lord Whatdid Paul wantfromthehighpriest? To do what? Letters of Damascusstatingthatif he findanymenorwomen, disciple of the Lord, he couldbringthembound unto Jerusalem. WhathappenedtohimonhisjourneytoDamascus? Suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

20. Questions What else did the Lord tell him? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks How and what did Paul ask Jesus? And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? What was Jesus indication to Paul? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do What happened when Paul tried to see, and how did he reach Damascus? When his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus How many days was he without sight, food or liquids? 3

21. “Stricken with blindness, helpless, tortured by remorse, knowing not what further judgment might be in store for him, he sought out the home of the disciple Judas, where, in solitude, he had ample opportunity for reflection and prayer.” AA 118

22. “He saw the mistakes of his life and recognized the far-reaching claims of the law of God. He who had been a proud Pharisee, confident that he was justified by his good works, now bowed before God with the humility and simplicity of a little child, confessing his own unworthiness and pleading the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Saul longed to come into full harmony and communion with the Father and the Son; and in the intensity of his desire for pardon and acceptance he offered up fervent supplications to the throne of grace. The prayers of the penitent Pharisee were not in vain.”AA 119.2

23.      While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in vision to "a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias," telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight," the heavenly messenger said, "and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."      Ananias could scarcely credit the words of the angel; for the reports of Saul's bitter persecution of the saints at Jerusalem had spread far and wide. He presumed to expostulate: "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." But the command was imperative: "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." AA 121

24. Obedient to the direction of the angel, Ananias sought out the man who had but recently breathed out threatenings against all who believed on the name of Jesus; and putting his hands on the head of the penitent sufferer, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." AA 122

25.     ”When, in the midst of his blind error and prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting, he was placed in direct communication with the church, which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ's ministers upon the earth, who are appointed to act in His stead. In Christ's stead Ananias touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ's stead he places his hands upon him, and, as he prays in Christ's name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication.” AA 122

26. Mostlikely, few of ushavehadthekind of dramaticconversionexperiencethat Paul did. Yet, weall, at somepoint, needconversion. What has yourownconversionexperiencebeen? Mostimportant, whathaveyoulearnedfromthatexperiencethatcouldhelpyou lead otherstowardhavingtheirown as well? WhenGodneedsan individual to do a noble workforhim, he doesnotrespectgender, status oranybackground criminal history. He needsmen and womenwithPassion, justlike Paul…Tuesday, Paul A Man of LikePassions.

27. Tuesday Paul: A Man of Like Passions Theapostle Paul wasnotperfect. He mademistakes. He neededthedailygrace and forgiveness of Jesus in hislife, just as we do. Indeed, fromallthatwe can tellbyhiswriting, Paul wasveryaware of hisownsinfulness. No doubtitwasfrom, partially at least, thisawareness of hisownweaknesses and faultsthatmadehimsuch a powerfulteacher of God'ssavinggrace.

28. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:27 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure .” 2 Cor. 12:7 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Rom. 7:24

29. Though Paul wasnotperfect, Godusedhimanyway. Whyisitimportantthatwhilebeingaware of ourfaults and claimingGod'spromisesforvictorywenotallowthemtodiscourageusfromworkingforthe Lord? Godagainmakes no exception of people. He lovesthecholerics, sanguines, phlematic, melancoly. He cametothisearthtorescueus and toofferuslife and salvationthroughJesusChrist….Wednesday, Life and SalvationthroughJesusChrist!!

30. Wednesday Life and Salvation Through Christ Severalmajorthemesdominated and motivatedtheapostlePaul'slife and mission. At the top of thelistwasthestory of Jesuscrucified. Thiseventwasthebasis of everything he taught and did. He wrotetotheCorinthians, "For I determinednottoknowanythingamongyou, saveJesusChrist, and him crucified"1 Cor. 2:2, and totheGalatians, "ButGodforbidthat I shouldglory, save in thecross of our Lord JesusChrist". Gal.6:14 These verses show thatfor Paul the Cross of Christwasthe central theme of hiswholetheology.

31. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:15-17 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7 How nice is that we have redemption and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, according to His bountiful grace. These are exuberant themes of hope…Thursday, Themes of Hope

32. Thursday Themes of Hope Thursday, touchedbrieflyonsomeothermajorPaulinethemes • Living a godlylife (sanctification) Paul’swritingsto Timothy • “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” • 1 Timothy 6:11 • Salvationis free, a giftwecannotearnordeserve. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • Romans 6:23

33. “But salvation does not free us to behave as we did before we met Jesus. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:20-32

34. In response toHisgrace, wemustlive as Jesusasksustolive. We do not do whatisright in orderthatJesuswillsaveus; we do whatisrightbecausewehavebeensaved. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”Eph.2:10

35. WhenweacceptJesus' gift of salvation, we are acceptedtotally and unconditionally

36. We obey God because His powerful love leads us to good works. We obey Him because His love compels us “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died.” . 2 Corinthians 5:14 Summary: Paul provides a wonderful example of the fact that there is no limit to what God can do through us—human and weak though we may be. Paul's unique background and gifts enabled him to take the good news about Jesus to an entirely new mission field.

37. Next week’s Lesson 2 is entitled: All Things to all Men: Paul teaches to the world Memory Verse: "I havebecomeallthingstoallmen, that I mightbyallmeanssavesome" 1 Cor. 9:22