Lesson 12

KEY TEXT

“Herein is my Father

glorified, that ye bear

much fruit; so shall ye

be my disciples” John 15:8

In many respects this lesson is a continuation of the previous lesson. Christ established spiritual leaders for the distinct purpose of proclaiming the kingdom of God. The principles and methodology that Jesus employed must remain the spiritual foundation for the Christian’s preparation today. In other words, modern leadership development theories must never supplant the foundation that Christ Himself laid. Whenever hype and publicity take precedence over spiritual growth, the results are shallowness and spiritual sterility.

Whenever proselytizing displaces repentance, conversion, and spiritual transformation, the mission falters. Training leaders to conduct membership drives, media blitzes, and public relations campaigns instead of preparing them for spiritual warfare is courting disaster. True evangelism and disciple-making are centered around (1) the acknowledgment of our sinfulness, (2) genuine heartfelt contrition, (3) our unreserved spiritual surrender, and (4) the irrepressible compulsion to disseminate God’s divine message to others.

“Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the

laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to

send out laborers into His harvest.”” (Luke 10:2)

Jesus saw the Gospel seed growing in the hearts of the crowd

around Him.

But who would lead them to the Savior?

Laborers (both pastors and laymen/laywomen) are needed to

harvest the precious seed.

“Our churches are languishing for

the want of whole-hearted, self-

denying workers. Our smaller

churches are losing their vitality

because their members do not seek

to work for those around them. God

can work with few as well as with

many, but personal responsibility

does not seem to be

comprehended as it should be by

the members of our churches. Can

God bless the church that is

indolent and selfish?”

EGW (The Review and Herald, June 16, 1891)

“Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few;

therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””

(Luke 10:2)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,

He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things

that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

The testimony of humble

repented sinners—who are

guided by the power of the

Holy Spirit—may persuade

other sinners like no angel

could do.

Why does God want to use men and

women to spread the Gospel? Isn’t

the Holy Spirit able to do that by

Himself? Could the angels do that

better than us?

Not everyone is called to mass evangelism.

For example, the stories of Andrew, Philip and

the Samaritan woman show the power of simple

and passionate testimonies.

We are called to do so.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,

He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things

that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

A good laborer must be guided by

his employer.

The Spirit caught Philip away and

took him to Azotus (Acts 8:39-40)

The Spirit didn’t let Paul preach

in Asia. He guided him to preach

in Europe (Acts 16:6-10)

“We cannot use the Holy Spirit; the Spirit is to

use us… Only to those who wait humbly upon

God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is

the Spirit given”

(EGW, God’s Amazing Grace, July 23)

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry

in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from

on high.” (Luke 24:49)

“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also

send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if

you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”” (John 20:21-23)

As the Father commissioned Jesus,

so Christ commissions His disciples.

Through the Spirit, the Father

invested Christ with divine power.

Through the Spirit, Jesus likewise

invests His disciples with divine

power commensurate with their

earthly assignments. Every

necessary skill, talent, capability,

and strength has been supplied.

Jesus delegated His authority to His

disciples. We must also delegate it

to others. No one can do God’s work

by himself.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that

which was lost” (Luke 19:10)

Men took the wrong path and don’t know

how to get back on the road. Jesus came to

seek the lost and to take them back home.

He wants us to

become finders of the

lost. He wants us to

love and to reach the

lost, regardless of the

kind of people they

are or the kind of lives

they live.

“In this work all the angels

of heaven are ready to

co-operate. All the resources

of heaven are at the command

of those who are seeking to

save the lost. Angels will help

you to reach the most careless

and the most hardened.

And when one is brought back to God, all heaven is made

glad; seraphs and cherubs touch their golden harps, and

sing praises to God and the Lamb for their mercy and

loving-kindness to the children of men.”

EGW (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 15, pg. 197)

How can our anxious spirits be calmed to await patiently

for the Spirit’s leading? What practical things should modern believers do in their

attempts to cultivate such patience?

What does patient, prayerful trust indicate regarding our

relationship with God?

REFLECTION

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