Theme: I will go with the Everlasting Gospel

Key Text: Revelation 14-6-7 (New King James Version (NKJV)

Theme Song: Hark the Voice of Jesus

Calling SDA hymnal No. 359 by Daniel
March (1868-1909)

Kiswahili 107: Sauti ni yake Bwana

Key Text: Revelation 14:6-7

"HARK! THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING"

"The harvest truly is great,but the laborersare few …" (Lk. 10.2)
"Hark! The Voice of Jesus Calling." The text was written by Daniel March, who was born on July 21, 1816, at
Millbury, MA, the son of Samuel and Zoa Park March, and grew up on his father’s farm. At age seventeen, he
entered the Millbury Academy, and, after attending Amherst College, he traveled as a book agent and was
principal of Chester Academy in Vermont. Graduating from Yale University in 1840, he served as principal of
Fairfield Academy in Connecticut for three years during which time he married Jane P. GiIson in 1841. Then he
finished up his theology studies at Yale and became a Congregational minister in 1845, working with
Congregational and Presbyterian Churches in Cheshire, CN; Nashua and Brooklyn; NY; Philadelphia, PA; and
Woburn, MA (serving twice, from 1856 to 1864 and again from 1877 to 1895).
Intensely interested in missions, March visited many countries and was well known for lecturing on his world
travels, being awarded a D. D. degree from Western University of Pennsylvania. His wife died in 1857, and he
married Anna B. Laconte in 1859. In 1868, he was invited to deliver a sermon to a Philadelphia, PA, Christian
Association meeting at the Clinton Ave. Congregational Church with the text "Here am I; send me" (Isa. 6.8).
Unable to find a suitable hymn for the occasion, he penned this one which was first sung from a manuscript and
then published in the 1869 Bright Jewels for Sunday School edited by Robert Lowry (1826-1899). The first line,
originally "Hark! the voice of Jesus crying," was changed to its present form in the 1878 Hymnal of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Other works by March include Night Scenes in the Bible and Our Father’s House
or the Written Word, both published in 1869. His second wife died in 1878, and March himself died on Mar. 2,
1909, at Woburn, MA.
 Several melodies have been used with this hymn. The song encourages us to do whatever we can in
responding to the call of Jesus to spread the word.

REFERENCES:

Retrieved from https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/quothark-the-voice-of-jesus-callingquot/

Table of Content:

Preliminaries Page

 Compiled by : Ruth Mioro-Tirop (EKUC)

  Editors : Pr. Richard Nyakego
 Cover page : Dennis Magati (HCK)
 Theme Song : Music Department, EKUC (Pr. Paul
Chepkwony
 Brief story of the song writer : Ruth Mioro-Tirop (EKUC)
1. Introduction/Word to Camp Meeting Speaker for 2021
2. Spirit of Prophecy Sermons: Pr. Elias Muthoka
3. Camp Meeting Bible Study Pr. Silas Saro
4. Camp Meeting Sermons: page -------------
 Day 1 –
 Day 2 –
 Day 3 –
 Day 4 –
 Day 5
 Day 6
 Day 7
5. Departmental Messages
 Health Messages - Elder John Okello
 Stewardship Ministries - Pr. Ernest Nyakina & Alfred Babu
 Education - Pr. John Macharia
 VOP/Special Needs Ministries: Pr. A Kiurire
 AMR: - Pr. Silas Saro
 Family Ministries - Pr. Pr. Richard Nyakego
 Ambassadors/Young Adults: Pr. Paul Chepkwony
 Publishing/ LES Promotions: Pr. Elias Muthoka & Pr. Njoroge Mburu
 Children Ministries - Pr. Sibiah Miyienda
 Children ministries Activities - (separate booklet) Pr. Sibiah Miyienda

A WORD TO CAMP-MEETING SPEAKERS 2021, EAST KENYA UNION

CONFERENCE

Receive our sincere Greetings with love from East Kenya Union Conference Office.
First and foremost, we thank Our Lord for His guidance and care. He has been faithful to us in
all ways, irrespective of the challenges we have undergone through. We praise and give glory to
Him for His abundant Mercy and Blessings.

We thank the leadership of God’s Church in all levels for the calmness and order in our
organizations. As we begin our camp meetings this year, we need to humble ourselves to be
taught by the Holy spirit as we share the message. If it were not God on our side, we could be
nowhere.
The theme for this year: Reach the world, I will go –with the Everlasting Gospel.
Key Text: Revelation 14:6-7
Theme Song: Hark the voice of Jesus.
Kiswahili: Sauti ni yake Bwana – no. 107.

East Kenya Union Conference through EKUC Committee has compiled these materials, to
guide you in ministering to the church members in our territory. May God help us to be
transformed by His message as we present the same. We encourage you to read the message
prayerfully, own it and then present it as the Holy Spirit will lead you. Other materials are for
promotions and enrichment.

May you give God a chance to use you as you minister in this year’s camp meetings.

Thank you and many blessings.

Pr Richard M. Nyakego
EKUC, CAMP MEETING COORDINATOR

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY – (SOP)

We thank God for giving us another year for camp meeting .We want to join Isaih 6:8… :that I will go “ All the
same a few things need to be done so that we qualify to go and reached the world with the true message.

Read carefully the verses given, books and quotations, take time to reflect on them and then do the needful. May
our good Lord bless you and guide you as you prayerfully and thoughtfully go through this lessons one after the
other,

DAY ONE
In Mathew 25:5 we read that all the virgins slept. The difference between the two groups consisted in the nature
of the previous preparation. The wise also slept, but they had entered beforehand into a vital experience with
God. They had the oil of the Holy Spirit. The foolish lacked this vital condition for salvation
The ten virgins represent the church of the last days. All members believe the same truths and wait for the same
Lord. But not all are preparing themselves for this most glorious event. Those who will not prepare will not
receive the latter rain. They will be like the foolish virgins. They have the same sincere desire as the wise, but
the lack preparation. Many types of counsels have been written to show the church its great need:

The time of trouble, such as never was, is soon to open upon us and we shall need an experience which we do
not now posses and which many are to indolent to obtain, GC 622.

“My brethren do you realize that you own salvation, as well as the destiny of other souls depend upon the
preparation you now make for the trial before us? Have you that intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which
will enable you to stand when opposition shall be brought against you? If God has ever spoken by me, the time
will come when you will be brought before councils and every position of truth which you hold will be severely
criticized. The time that so many are now allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the church that God has
given us of preparing for the approaching crisis” – 5T716,717” T324”.

“I saw that God’s people are on the enchanted ground, and that some have lost nearly all sense of the shortness
of time and the worth of the soul.”- EW 120,
“The people need to be aroused in regards, to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep.”- T715”
2WW322”.

“Satan in marshaling his hosts; and we are individually prepared for the fearful conflict that is just before us?
Are we preparing our children for the grater crisis?” – The Adventist home PG 189.

The season of distress and anguish before us require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and anger- a faith
that will not faint though severely tried.” – GC 621.
“The Lord will have the people as true as steel, and with faith as firm as the granite rock. There are to be
witnesses in the world, His instrumentalities to do a special, a glorious work in the day of his preparation “ - 4T
594,595 “ITT 590”.

“We should therefore be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation
necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of that Lord. Let all remember that God is Holy and that
none but Holy beings can eve dwells in his presence.”- EW 71.

Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power Of His might. Put all the whole armor of God that
He may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13.
“Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the prize what it may, have heeded
the counsel of the true witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus defeated for translation .”-ITT187
(ITT65).

“I saw that many wee neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of refreshing and the
later rain) to fit them to understand in the day of the Lord and to leave in His sight . Oh, how many I saw in the
time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could no receive
the refreshing that all must have to fit them in the side of a Holy God…. I saw that none could share (refreshing)
unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, of a pride, Selfishness, love of the world, and over every
wrong word and action.” EW 71

“We need to able our selves before the Lord, with fasting and prayer, and to meditate much upon his word,
especially upon the scenes of the judgment. –GC 601.

“Those who make no decided effort, but simply wait for the Holy Spirit to compel; those to action will perish in
darkness. You are not to sit still and do nothing in the work of God.” – ChS228.

DAY TWO

“I have been shown that many who professed to have knowledge of present truth know not what they believe.
They do not understand the evidences of their faith. They have not just appreciation of the work for the present
time. When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining
the position thy hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested
they knew not there great ignorance. And there many in the church who take it for granted that they understand
what they believe: But until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from
those of like faith and compel to stands singly and alone to explain their believe, they will be surprise to see how
confuse are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth” – 5T 707’ 2TT 312 “
“Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand for themselves the testimony of the scriptures.”-
GC 559.

“Those who are earnestly seeking acknowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through
obedience, thus doing what they can do to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense.”
-GC 560.

“Only those who have been diligent students of the scriptures and who have receive the love of the truth will be
shielded from the powerful dilution that takes the world captives.GC625

“ When the testing time shall come, those who have made God’s word there rule of live will be reveled in
summer there is no notable difference between ever green and other trees: but when the blasts of winter
comes ,the eve green remain unchanged while other trees a stripped of their foliage.”- GC 602.

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truth f the Bible will stand through great conflict…. The
decisive power is even now at hand. “– GC 593 594

“Search the scriptures. ; study your Bible as you have never studied it before. Unless you arise to a higher, holier
state in your religion live, you will not be ready for the appearing of our Lord.” – 5T717 2TT 324”
“As we near the close of this world‘s history, the prophesies relating to the last days especially demand our
study.” – SOL 133.

“God’s spirit has illuminated every page of whole writ, but there are those upon whom it makes little
impressions, because it is imperfectly understood.” – TM 112.

“When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angles flying in
the maids of heaven, He requires every person endowed with reasoning for powers to heed. The fearful
judgment denounced against the worship of the beats and his image (Revelation 14: 9- 11), Should lead all to a
diligent sturdy of the prophecies to learn whet the mark of the beast is and how they are to avoid receiving it.
GC 594.
“So in the prophecies the future is opened before as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of
Christ. The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparations for the time of trouble, are
clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of this important truth than if they had never been
revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that will make them unto salvation, and the time of
trouble will find them unready -GC 594.
“Perilous time is before us. Everyone who has knowledge of the truth should awake and place himself, body,
soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard
against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given through the spirit of
prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God
has spoken to us through His word .He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church and through the
books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy. The warning
that have been give , line up line ,precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can
we offer?’ – 8T 298” 3TT 275”

“Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to his people, because they do not read the
books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warnings.” – 4T 391

DAY THREE

“as the praying ones continue their earnest cry, at time a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their
hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw did no t participate in this work of organizing and leading.
They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like
a thick cloud. The angles of God left this and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones saw angles of God
hastened to the assistants of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angles and trying to
help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance but his angels left those who made no efforts to help
themselves and I lost sight of them.”- EW 270.
“They should make mighty intercession with God for help now. The love of Christ must be diffused in their own
hearts. The spirit of Christ must be poured out upon them .and they must be making ready to stand in the
judgment.”- 5T 454 (2TT 154’)

It is necessary for us to watch and pray with the same fervor that Jacob exercised in his night of trouble. Only
when we strive in this manner with God will our lives be transformed and our filthy rags exchanged for the robe
of Christ’s righteousness. Finally, as a result of our obtaining this necessary preparation, our names also will be
changed.

DAY FOUR
“Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have heard his
prayer and mercifully preserve his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfused sins to
appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed…
Satan leads many to believe that God will overlook their unfaithfulness in the minor affairs of life, but the Lord
shows in his dealing with Jacob that He willing no wise sanction or tolerate evil. All two endeavor to excuse or
conceal their sins, and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, unconfused and unforgiven will be
overcome by the Satan.” –GC 620.

“In view of that great day the Word of God, in the most solemn and impressive language, calls upon His people
to arouse from their spiritual lethargy and to seek his face with repentance and humiliation: “Blow ye the
trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm un My holy mountain” – GC 311.

“Therefore also now, Saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping.
And with mourning” Joel 2: 12
“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of
Jesus fully”. _ EW 71 “Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or
stain upon them it is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every
defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost,”
5T 214 (2TT 69).
“Said the angel: God will brings His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people” Some are
willing to receive one point , but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand
back, Because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. .Here they have opportunity to see what
is in their hearts that shut out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared
to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and prove a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed
the counsel of the True Witness”. – IT 187 ( ITT 64, 65)
DAY FIVE

“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought
which man can never accomplished for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into
human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world,
and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the
heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan”. DA 324
“Concentrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, Take me, O
Lord, as wholly thine. I lay all my plans at thy feet. Use me today in thy service. Abide with me, and let all my
work be wrought in Thee.’ This is a daily matter, each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day.
Surrender all your plans to Him, and thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and
thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” SC 70.

Our surrender to Christ, our consecration to God, in order to be effective, must be renewed each day,
“Satan does not want anyone to see the necessity of an entire surrender to God. When the soul fails to make this
surrender, sin is forsaken: the appetites and passions are striving for the mastery; temptations confused the
conscience, so that true conversion does not take place. If all had a sense of the conflict which each soul must
wage with satanic agencies that are seeking to ensnare, entice, and deceive, there would be much more diligent
labor for those who are young in the faith” – 6T 92, 93 (2TT 390)

BIBLE STUDY LESSON GUIDE

TOPIC: WHY THE DELAY?

DAY 1: MONDAY
Introduction:

The Bible is full of information on the imminent and unstoppable

return of Jesus Christ. However, many believers have lost the
urgency to prepare themselves or others for His return. In
Philippians 4:5 the Bible says, “… The Lord is near…” In
Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, ….”
John 14:3 “… I will come again, and receive you unto myself …”
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know
which day…” However, the big question we need to critically ask
ourselves is, “Why the delay?” What is the real cause of His delays?

A Spiritual Survey of the Church

The Goshen Syndrome

In order to get the answer, and perhaps understand why and what we have to
do as a church, we need to take a quick survey on the Church’s Spirituality.
One of the best examples of the current Church’s Spiritual state is the group
of Israelites who dwelt in Goshen in the land of Egypt.

Genesis: 45:10"You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be
near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your
flocks and your herds, and all that you have"(NKJV- emphasis added).
Almighty God entrusted this land to the Israelites. Additionally, He
attached a promise to this assignment: "There I will provide for you, lest
you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there
are still five years of famine"(Gen. 45:11, KKJV- emphasis added).

This land was also significant when God sent the ten plagues upon the land of Egypt. When the plagues hit the
land, there was a Why Goshen?

a. The meaning of Goshen is "drawing near" It was important that they stayed in the land of Goshen
because it was the land of provision, blessing, and protection.
Joseph told his brothers that they should live in Goshen, which was
located near to him, so that he could watch over them and care for them.
b. There was a distinction between the people of God and the people
of the world. All that dwelt in Goshen experienced provision and
protection. When the plagues hit the land of Egypt it hit the entire country except one part, the
land of Goshen! xodus 8:22 explains: "And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in
which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that
I am the Lord in the midst of the land" (NKJV). Exodus 9:26, "Only in the land of Goshen, where
the children of Israel were, was there no hail" (NKJV).

c. However, most importantly, God had sent them on a mission in Egypt. He wanted them to be a
 priesthood nation within Egypt and present the true God of Ibrahim, Isaack and Jacob. God had not only
rescued them from hunger and destruction. He had not only drawn them Closer to Joseph who would
protect them and provide their daily needs. But God, most importantly, had also brought them this far, to
be a light to this heathen nation.

The syndrome:

Instead of them realizing God’s ultimate task and expectation for them, they were contented with the life Goshen
provided them, contented with the fact that they were a special people with a special caring God. They ate and
drunk and just multiplied in numbers, forgetting God’s main purpose. They even forgot Him, their true God and
they did not offer sacrifices to Him. They lived like the Egyptians and never bothered to tell the Egyptians about
their true God. Because they did not carry on His Mission, God allowed them to suffer in the hands of Egyptians.

How different is the Church today?

2 Peter 2: 9 Amplified Bible But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special]
people for god’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues
and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Important questions to think about:

a. Are we, as individual believers, fully involved in proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us
from darkness into His marvelous light?
b. Is the Goshen Syndrome, in one way or another affecting our Spirituality?
c. Could this kind of syndrome, be one of the reasons for the delay of our Lord’s return?
d. Who then is to blame for His delay? Is it the Pastors, Elders, or every individual member?

DAY 2: TUESDAY

The Desert Mission School

Our God is so patient with Human beings. He provides second

chances whereby man is to reflect upon his relationship with
Him and reconnect back to Him, in order to do His will. When
God found that His own chosen people had failed to do the
mission for which He had sent them to do in Egypt, and instead
focused on enjoying life and multiplying themselves, He stopped
the provision, protection, and prosperity, and allowed them to
become poor, and suffer in the hands of the heathen people. Under
a previous administration, the Israelites had royal permission to live in the land and to work it. But here the new
king of Egypt sensed in their numbers a threat to his national security and thus decided to deal “shrewdly” with
them (Exod. 1:10).

Does God sometimes allow you to go through situations that you begin to wonder whether He actually cares for
you? When that happens, look back. (Rev 2: 1-7) …“Forsaken first love.” The word “left” is the Greek
word afihmi, “to leave, forsake, depart.” It stresses an act for which one is personally responsible. This is
not lost love, but left love. By probably leaving ones first connection, relationship with God, can lead to Him
allowing you to go through a type of desert, to teach and correct you.
Through the Desert Mission School, God showed the Israelites how to get back to Him as their true God, by
removing their doubts about Him and how to worship Him. Back in Egypt, they had forgotten Him. They never
sacrificed to Him as was required or worshipped Him in truth and in Spirit. This is why Moses had to ask God
what he was to say, when they asked him about the God who sent him. “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’
And He said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel:‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).

Why the Desert Mission School was necessary

1. To teach them how different The God of Abraham, Isaack

and Jacob was from the other gods.
2. To teach them to depend on Him though He was invisible
compared to other gods.
3. To hold a feast to their ancestral God, thus, bringing them closer
to Himself and build a new relationship with them. (Exodus 5:1) And afterward Moses and Aaron went in,
and told Pharaoh,Thus saith the L ORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold
a feast unto me in the wilderness.
4. To worship Him in truth and in Spirit –(Exodus 8:1) Then the L ORD
5. said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the L ORD says: Let my people go, so that they
may worship me.

6. To become a Holy, Priesthood Nation well prepared for Mission in the promised land. (Exodus
19:6 ) “…and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall
speak to the sons of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 14:2) “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the
Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the
earth.

The Jerusalem Syndrome

Did they live up to the expectations of God?

1. They relaxed and enjoyed life in Canaan

2. They were satisfied with being the Chosen descendants of
Abraham
3. They mingled and Intermarried (Ezra 9:2)
4. They worshipped other gods (Deut. 32:17)
5. They took pride in themselves, called other nations gentiles, regarding them as uncircumcised.
6. They failed to be a priesthood nation and they did not accomplish the Mission.

Questions: How different is the church today? Are we not contented with being Seventh-Day Adventists? Do
we not brag for being the Remnant and True Church? Don’t we judge other Christin’s of other denominations as
being in darkness? What lessons do you get from all this?

DAY 3: WEDNESDAY

Christ Special Mission Class

When the nation of Israel failed to accomplish the mission, God decided to come down Himself in the form of
Christ Jesus, to live with mankind, mingle with people, meet their needs, and call them to follow Him. So when
the nation of Israel failed in their duty, (Isaiah 49:6) He says, “It is too small a thing that To raise up the tribes
of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations, So that My
salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

1. God sent Christ to be “The Emmanuel” in order to practically show them how to be holy as the father is
and how to accomplish the mission, though His practical life. (Mathew 1:23)
2. Christ chose the 12 disciples, representing the 12 tribes of Israel in order to teach them how to do what
the whole nation failed to do
3. At first the disciples had their own desires and expectation about Christ’s ministry. They thought He
would be the one to save them from the Roman Power. But when they heard Him mention about His
arrest, suffering and finally death, they got discouraged.
4. They had followed Him to gain from Him.
5. Perter however, changed when His spiritual eyes were opened and
saw the Messiah in Christ after the fishing exercise.
6. The other disciples got their spiritual eyes opened when they saw
Him taken in the clouds and as He blessed them.
7. They went to Jerusalem to get ready to receive the Holy Spirit
8. They got Revived and reformed in the upper room
9. They all owned the Mission and got involved in preaching when the Spirit came upon them. As a result
3000 were baptized the same day.
10. They faithfully responded to the question “Who will go….” They all went out and although the world
hated them as Christ had told them, no one gave up their faith.
11. They remained Spiritually alert knowing His return was imminent, but they also went out preaching the
gospel to all the nation for that is what would bring the end and indeed His return.

Questions:

a. What went wrong?

b. Why is the church today not as Spiritually vibrant as the early Church?
c. Why are believers today not being hated by the world?
d. Why is there no suffering in Prison, or being stoned to death like it happened to them?
e. Who is to blame for having not accomplished the Mission?
f. Is it the Pastor, the elder, or every individual believer that is to blame?
g. Whom do you expect is to finish this work?
h. Can you take responsibility for Christ’s delay?
i. Do you feel you are to blame for His delay?
j.
What is our focus as a Church or Individual members?

Example of The Great Disappointment; what went wrong?

October 22, 1844, all Advent believers were heavily invested in the anticipation of Jesus’ return. “They had such
a love for Jesus and a desire to be with Him personally that it was a huge emotional letdown.”
They focused on being watchful lest they sleep, and on His imminent coming more, to the extent misinterpreting
prophecy, thus fixing even the date, than focusing on what would make Him come. (Revelation
14:6-11)
“The Great Disappointment story says at least two important things to us: The ‘blessed hope’ of Jesus’ return is
still our hope, our aim, and expectation, and Jesus is ministering for us now in heaven’s inner sanctuary, during
judgment time. While He does so, we are to take the ‘everlasting gospel’ to the whole world until He returns,”
said William Fagal, associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate
God expects the church to focus not only on; His soon return, watching lest it sleeps, but also
Math 28:18-20 /Math 24:14 - To go, teach/disciple and baptize. This task is not for a few individuals in the
church. It is for everyone who accepted Christ as their personal savior and became a disciple.

How different are we?

- The leaders did not guide the members on what would bring the end of the world and His return.
- While they looked into the member’s spiritual affairs lest any gets lost or be found asleep, they did not
disciple the members to go out to spread the news
- What is the leadership today focusing on?
- Is it Church’s development? Is there anything wrong with church development?
- While there is nothing wrong with doing developments, that should not take the place of mission.
- Members are to be made disciples not just followers
- Followers and different from disciples
- Followers wish to gain something out of following Christ and when they do not, sometimes they quit.
John 6:26 “… Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and
were filled. Luke 24:13-35 NLT “…. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue
Israel. Mathew 19:27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we
get?”

So why the delay?

- Because our spirituality is that of a follower not a disciple.

- We anticipate to gain something out of being church members
- We hope to get leadership positions, gain respect and honor or just be counted
- We are not ready to carry the cross of Christ but to enjoy that which comes with following Him.
- No wonder some of us for splinter groups when certain expectations are not met.
- We focus on the minor issues hence, unable to spread the gospel to all nations
- We have delayed Christ, by sitting with the truth that we have received and just striving to meet our
ambitions
- Are we not to blame for delaying Christ?

DAY 4: THURSDAY

Dead Sea Syndrome

In his article under Physical features, Ken Fletcher (2021), Dead Sea, in
Arabic is Al-Baḥr Al-Mayyit (“Sea of Death”), and in
Hebrew Yam HaMelaẖ (“Salt Sea”), also called Salt Sea, a landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan in
southwestern Asia. It lies in a desert and it receives its water from the
Jordan River, through deep gorges, but without any outlet.

Why the dead sea syndrome?

Although the Spirit of God has always come up with various ways of helping the church to focus on Mission, the
church’s Goshen Syndrome, and the Jerusalem syndrome, has become the Dead Sea Syndrome in our days. The
Church members are more into receiving than giving out. Members are
more dependent on Pastors and other leaders, than being dependent on
God. There is more of being preached to than going out
to share the good news. This way, Church members become like
the dead sea. They receive but they do not share the good
News. Or if there is any sharing, just a few are involved.

The role of Leadership in Mission

Early Church

• The leadership, though they remained watchful, they focused on mission and guided the
members to go to every place preaching. Mark 13:35-37 Watch therefore, for you do not know
when the master of the house is coming..., I say to all:
Watch! ” Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized ,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit…”

• They knew what would bring the end of time and Chris’s return was not being watchful and
prayerful alone but preaching the gospel to every nation. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will
come?

The church in 1844

The Leadership, did not focus on what would bring the end of time,
as seen in Revelation 14:6-11, so that Christ’s would come again,
but on being watchful and on His imminent coming, more, to the
extent of misinterpreting prophecy. Hence, the great disappointment.

The Church in our days

The leadership, looking at the spiritual feebleness, through the leadership of the Spirit came up with;

1. Revival and Reformation – for this is what happened in the upper room after which the Holy Spirit
came upon the Disciples in plenty and everyone got involved.
a. However, this was not fully understood. It was taken as an event on the Church calendar.
b. People gave reports of how they did the lessons and
how many were attending, but there was no true revival.
It came, remained on the papers and that time just passed by.
c. Still members did not wake up to the task and only a few
were involved through the old ways of reaching out, like
contributing to bring preachers and choirs from other places.
When the hot and powerful preachers with the guest vibrant
choirs left, most of those who got baptized during that time,
left the church too, for there was no direct connection with the local members
d. So when the leaders after the 5 years of Revival and Reformation, realized that still only a few were
 actually doing the work, through prayers, the Spirit of God reveled TMI to them.
2. Total Member Involvement – became a well-known slogan and
it still is. The problem however, is that, not many understood what
it entails. Members got excited and just increased the Evangelism
campaigns where many would contribute to send preachers and not
they themselves being fully and actively involved. The old methods
were still in use and only a few again participated, as the slogan
remained on our limps rather than being practiced as a lifestyle.
Members have not involved themselves in preaching as individuals at their work places, to their
neighbors, where they are doing businesses, hence, the current “I WILL GO” theme.
3. I will go, actually is more personal than TMI. It is still under the umbrella of TMI that leadership saw,
the need to make members respond as individuals
and go, just as the disciples did after the coming of the
Holy Spirit. Every member present spoke the message
according to how the Spirit led them. They all then went
out to spread the good news with joy. They never left it
to Peter alone, neither did they leave it to just a few. They
all got involved and each one responded, “I will go.”

So why the delay now?

1. We have not done our part well.

2. Revival and Reformation was not fully understood
3. TMI has also not been fully implemented
4. Many Church members are not sure of how to be Totally involved
5. Members may still be failing to understand what “I will go” really means
6. They are may be failing to know how they can go
7. The Pastor, a servant caregiver – is everything. Members look upon the Pastor as an employee
of the Church and these are his duties not theirs.
8. The Pastor, - looked at as a CEO/leader who combines
a mixture of some biblical insights and adaptation of
business practices, is depended upon by the flock, and
as he focuses on the needs of the local church to the
exclusion of the global church and Mission, he makes
God’s worker suffer. The emphasis becomes the building
of a megachurch, or other developments, at the expense
of the gospel.
9. While it is important for the church to have developments, if these are done at the expense of
Mission, (rather than building a Spiritually healthy, active and productive church or
discipleship), it becomes a misplaced priority. As important as they may be, church
developments and other programs should not make God’s work suffer, for Christ is not coming
back after these developments have been done, but when the gospel shall have reached all the
corners of the world.
DAY 5: FRIDAY

OUR SPIRITUAL FEEBLENESS

Need to remove “Spiritual Feebleness” among our Members

How can we led the people to be active and productive in mission, or lead them to respond; “I Will Go?”

We should;

a. Take responsibility for our mistakes as a church: Mathew 24:14 - accept that we have delayed Christ.
Actually each member should realize and accept that he or she is to blame for Christ delay, and that heaven
expects each individual member to hasten His coming by taking part in sharing the good news.

i. Each member should realize that it is the individual member who is to blame for
Christ’s delay.
ii. That it is each member’s individual responsibility to preach to hasten Christ’s
coming, not the Pastor or Evangelist. Every one called by Jesus is expected to share
Him not to keep silent about Him

b. Own the Mission: Mathew 28:18-20 Every believer should own the mission as if Christ spoke to
him or her alone. The Commission is for every individual disciple, every member not for Pastors or
evangelists, elders or missionaries alone.
c. Heaven’s expectation – Each one of the individual member to bear fruits, (John 15: 1-5) as an
individual branch … or else the branch, the member who will not be involved in winning souls, like
a dry branch, will be cut off. Have you, so far, brought any soul to Christ as a branch? Is it not by
grace that we are still existing? Could it be that through these processes of reminding ourselves to be
revived and reformed or to be totally involved or respond, “I will Go” God Himself is giving us
another chance? Shall we waste this too?
d. Each individual member should strive to find their Mission and respond “I Will Go” It is one
thing to know that our theme is “I Will Go.” But it is also quite another to understand how to go.
Some church members are willing to do something, but they do not know what they have that can be
useful or if they know, they may not understand how to put it in the work.

Leaders are to help members to:

1. Discover their Spiritual gifts, talents, passion, desires
2. Align these gifts and talents according to specific Ministries – (in reach or outreach).
3. Give them roles/duties according to their gift, talent or appropriate aligned ministry
4. Give them goals – to motivate them
5. Provide opportunities for reporting – to encourage them and others too.

Conclusion

Mathew 3”8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have
Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these
stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Let us each decide to bear fruits for no one can be saved for being believer that only hears but does not live
according to what the Spirit teaches. It is not enough to know the truth, to be the remnant church, to the
commandment keepers. We are expected to bear fruits.

It is time for leaders to effectively assist members to be totally involved by helping them to see what it is that
they have which will make them to go. If members are not active and productive, the problem could be with the
leadership of the day, just as it was in 1844, when leadership focused on being watchful and spiritually alert, at
the expense of what would bring the end. Let us not make members to focus more on Church development,
Church unity or leadership, Spiritual growth, more at the expense of Mission. Or let us not focus on only one
method of reaching out, one area for evangelism, but let us try to diversify our approaches to Mission according
to the different gifts and talents. Christ will come only when the Gospel has been preached to all nations as a
witness. If 1/9 of the input is put towards outreach programs, a lot of results would be seen than it is right now.

Call
How many have realized that they are directly responsible for His delay? How many wish to change and start
bringing souls to the Lord? Are you asking the Lord help you to know your talent, gift, passion and the
appropriate mission? May God forgive us for what we have failed to do in the past and guide us to be active and
productive in mission, in order to hasten His second coming.
 MAIN SERMONS
DAY 0NE – DEFINITION OF THE GOSPEL

REACH THE WORLD ‘’I WILL GO’’ WITH THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL:

In order for us to reach the world with the In Rom. 1:1-7, according to the apostle Paul,
everlasting gospel, we need not only to understand the gospel was promised beforehand through His
it, but also practice and live it in our own lives. For prophets in the Holy scriptures, how Christ would
we cannot give what we ourselves do not have. You come from the lineage of David, die rise again
only give what you have, that which has touched showing the great power of the Holy Spirit, through
and changed your life. Him grace and apostleship is received to bring
about the obedience of faith among all gentiles for
The Gospel can be defined as unconditional
His name’s sake.
good news of salvation for all mankind. This was
made possible by the birth, life and death of Jesus Whoever accepts this Christ and calls on
Christ. Man was lost in sin, due to God’s great love, the name of the Lord shall be saved- Rom 10:13-15.
He sent His son, who was born as son of man (Heb. Those who have heard and accepted Jesus as their
2:14-15), lived and demonstrated by His own life personal saviour, have to share with others, so that
the obedience to God’s holy law. He was crucified they may also believe. The apostle Paul calls this
on the cross, was buried, he rose from the grave gospel, ‘’the righteousness of God” Rom. 1:16-17 –
and ascended to heaven, He is coming again. For I am not ashamed of the gospel…… for in it the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith,
While here on earth Jesus himself, went
as it is written, but the righteous man shall live by
about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, faith. Rom. 3:21 states- But now apart from the law,
and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…(Matt.
the righteousness of God has been manifested,
4:23). He was challenging people to repent…. Matt.
being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
4:17.He did His share of work, unfortunately people
rejected His message, they condemned Him and In the above texts Paul calls this gospel ‘’the
subjected Him to very shameful death (Gal.3:13). righteousness of God’’ , By this he means that
He died in place of all mankind. As He rose form which God:
the grave, He addressed His disciples by affirming
(a) Planned and initiated before the
to them that all power and authority had been given
foundation of the world (Eph. 1:14; Rev.
to Him, He then commissioned them to go (Matt.
28:18-20). In Mark 16:15 – And He said to them, 13:8)
(b) Promised since the fall of man (Gen.
‘’Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
3:15)
creation.
 (c) Fulfilled in the life and death of Jesus
Christ (John 3:16-17; Gal. 4:4-5

Put in another way, it is a righteousness

that is entirely God’s doing without anything from
the human beings. (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16). According
to this gospel , in Christ , man stands perfect and
complete before God and His Holy law. (Col 2:10;
Rom 10:4).

This salvation delivers us from the three

aspects that we face as sinful human beings.Saves
us from:
One the guilt and punishment of sin – our
justification.

Two the power and slavery of sin – our

sanctification.

Three the nature and presence of sin – our

glorification.
There is need to realize that as Christians
we can claim justification as an accomplished fact
(Rom 5:1), Sanctification is a continuos , on going
experience (1Thess 4:2-7; 5:23), Glorification is a
future hope to be realized at the second coming of
Jesus (Rom 8:24-25; phi 3:20-21).
All the three aspects of our salvation have
been accomplished in the birth, life, death and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. All are
offered to us in Christ. We have been justified, put
right with God , hence we need to walk ahead
not turning back (Rom 8:30; Heb 10:38-39).
Christ has accomplished all that is needful
for our salvation, all that we have to do is to accept
this by faith and be grounded in the truth. For it is
through faith that we identify ourselves with the
death of Jesus Christ, who died on our behalf, that
we can have life and that is indeed good news. This
is what we need to share with the rest who have not
believed. So then each individual will say ‘’I will
GO’’ May we go . Who is willing to go?
Commitment Prayer.
DAY 2 – SIN PROBLEM

Was it Like this from the Beginning?

The evil and the sorry state of affairs we see in the the fallen nature. This turn of events is what the
world today was preceded by good news (the Bible calls the fall or the sin problem.
gospel). Let me begin with a description of the good
news first and this will be followed by the bad news Paul affirms four things that describe man’s fallen
nature which makes him incapable of doing
that we see all around us. Genesis 1:31 gives an
anything good on his own however much he tries:
excellent comment from the mouth of God after
creating man as the crown of creation, “Then God  It is carnal sold under sin – it is under the
saw everything that He had made, and behold control of sin, “I am carnal, sold under sin”
everything was very good.” Ellen White was (Rom. 7:14)
inspired to give a commentary on this very good  Intention and reality of this nature are not
state of affairs as follows (Patriarchs and Prophets meeting anywhere, “For what I am doing , I
p. 45, 46): do not understand. For what I will do, that I
do not practice; but what I hate, that I do”
 Man was to bear God’s image both in Rom. 7:15)
outward resemblance and in character  Sin is man’s internal driving force for the
 His nature was in harmony with the will of outward actions, “So I am not the one doing
God wrong, it is sin living in me doing it” (Rom.
 His mind was capable of comprehending 7:17)
divine things  All that is in the human heart is depravity
 His affections were pure and bankruptcy. This is the source of man’s
 His appetites and passions were under the inadequacy, “For I know that in me (that is,
control of reason in my flesh) nothing good dwells. For to
 He was holy and happy in bearing the will is present with me, but how to perform
image of God and in perfect obedience to what is good I do not find” (Rom. 7:18)
His will  There is a constant conflict within man’s
 As man came forth from the hand of his heart preventing him from doing the desired
creator, he was of lofty stature and perfect good, “But I see another law in my
symmetry members, warring against the law of my
 His countenance bore the ruddy tint of mind, bringing me into captivity to the law
health, and glowed with life and joy of sin which is in my members” (Rom. 7:23)
 Adam’s height was much greater than men  Man’s challenge is a heart problem; it has
who now inhabit the earth. two main problems – deception and
 Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her wickedness all number one on God’s
form was noble, and full of beauty rating scale, “The heart is deceptive above
 The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; all things, and desperately wicked; who can
they were clothed with a covering of light know it ?“ (Jer. 9:17)
and glory, such as angels wear. As long as  It is impossible for man to change this
fallen state of human heart, “Can an
Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its
The Turn of Events spots? Then may you also do good who are
accustomed to do evil” (Jer. 13:23).
These words cannot be spoken about the  This one sin spread to all the human race
21st century world! The question is, how did we get throughout history; is inescapable!
here? The cry of desperation from Paul, “O “Therefore, just as through one man sin
wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from entered the world, and death through sin,
this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24) describes the and thus death spread to all men, because
hopeless situation all human beings are subjected by all sinned” (Rom. 5:12)
  The sin problem has only one savior – God flesh the law of sin” (Rom. 7:24, 25).
through Jesus Christ, “O wretched man that  The bad news is now followed by the good
I am! Who will deliver me from this body news again, “For the wages of sin is death,
of death? I thank God – through Jesus but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23)
myself serve the law of God, but with the

DAY 3 - GOD’S REDEMPTIVE LOVE

God created man in His own image and wanted man In English and most languages a single
to develop and be like Him in character. He started word for love is used. You cannot differentiate
a relationship, that needed total obedience from the between God’s love and human love which is
side of man. But serious trouble came in, when man polluted with self. God’s love (agape) is completely
doubted God and listened to other instructions, this different from human love (philos). The two are
brought about sin into God’s beautiful world. Sin incomparable, they are only contrasts. (Isa. 55:8,9;
brought separation between God and His creatures. Matt. 5:43-48; Rom. 5:6-8).
God was out to mend this relationship in line with
The New Testament writers had four
His Character.
Greekwords to choose from when descriping divine
The Bible says, ‘’God is Love’’ (1John and human love. These four are:
4:8,16). Does it mean that one of His attributes is
love? No, it means He is Love. Love is the essence (1) Storge – This is family love, or love for
one’s kin.
of His nature. Everything about God and all He
(2) Philos – Affectionate love between two
does should be understood in the context of this
love. His law and His wrath must be understood in people; brotherly love.
(3) Eros- Is love between sexes.
the context of His Love. (Matt. 22:36-40; Rom.
(4) Agape- This is the pure love untainted by
1:18-32). Paul defines God’s wrath passively as a
love that will not Coerse, but allows us to go when any selfish motive whatsoever.
The above were the words the Greek New
we deliberately choose our own ways (Rom.
Testament writers used to describe love.
1:24,26,28).
We should take note that, the divine agape
There is need to understand, that the basis love stands distinct to human love at least in
of our salvation is found in God’s nature of love. three ways.
Apart from this love, there would be no gospel, no (a) Human love (philos) – is always
good news, or hope for Mankind. (John 3:16; Eph. conditional – As humans we do not
2:4-7; Titus 3:3-5, 1 John 4:9). In order for us to love the unlovely. We love those who
understand and appreciate the good news of our love us, those who respond to our love.
salvation, we must be rooted and grounded in God’s God’s agape love on the other hand is
love (Eph. 3:14-19). unconditional. It flows from Him
spontaneously, without cause,
Our major challenge, to understanding independently of our goodness of
God’s love is that, we don’t distinguish it. We
selfworth. When this is clearly
mistaken as we project human ideals of love on God. understood, God’s salvation becomes
We lower God’s love to a human level, thus
unconditional good news (Rom. 5:6-10;
misrepresenting Him and distorting the Gospel of
Eph. 2:4-6; Titus 3:3-5). This is why the
His saving Grace in Jesus Christ. That is the reason Bible clearly stresses that we are saved
why Paul urges to understand, ‘’the love of Christ,
by grace alone, God’s underserved,
which passeth knowledge’’ (Eph. 3:19).
unmerited favour. (Acts 15:11; Rom,
3:24; 5:15-16; Eph. 2:8-9).
(b) Human love is Changeable: It is a love sacrificing, self giving. That is why
that fluctuates and is unreliable, for Christ did not cling to His equality with
instance in John 21:15-17, Jesus asks the Father, He emptied Himself
Peter if he loves Him and three times (Philippians 2:6-8). All the time while
Peter replies that he does. In the on earth Christ demonstrated God’s
English Bibles the questions of Jesus agape love. This the glory that the
and answers of Peter are the same each disciples saw – (John 1:14) He lived to
time.But in His first two questions to benefit others. He became poor for our
Peter Jesus uses agape, the love that sake, that through His poverty we might
will never fail. And Peter replies using be rich (2 Cor. 8:9). There is no self in
the word philos, human affection. But God’s love. His love reproduced in the
when Jesus asks Peter the third time if lives of Christians through the Holy
he loves Him, He uses philos. It is as if Spirit, is the most powerful witness of
Jesus says, ‘’Peter is this the only kind transforming, saving power of the
of love you have for me-this unreliable gospel.(John 13:34,35)
human love’’? At this time Peter is The supreme manifestation of God’s
upset. Humanly he tells Him, ‘’You self sacrificing love was demonstrated
know all things, you know I love on the cross when Christ died the
(phileo) you. This changeable, second death for all humanity (Heb 2:9).
unreliable philos is the only kind of Which meant saying goodbye to death
love humans can get themselves. In forever. This is what Christ did for
contrast, however, God’s agape love is Mankind, even though justified
unchanging. To the unfaithful Jews, Christians die, which is sleep, they are
God declared, ‘’l have loved thee with exempted from second death (Rev.
an everlasting love’’ (Jer. 31:3). Paul 20:6). On the cross Jesus was willing to
describes agape as love that, ‘’never be deprived of His life forever, so that
fails’’ (1Cor. 13:8). Jesus demonstrated we could live in His place. Such
it on the cross when, having loved His empting love transformed the disciples.
own who were in the world, He loved Before the cross they were dominated
(agapao),them unto the end’’(John by selfish interests (Luke 22:24) After
13:1).When we realize this unchanging, the cross they were more willing to
unchangeable nature of God’s love for follow Jesus’ example in sacrificing
us, we will become rooted and themselves for others. In the same way
grounded in love (agape)(Eph. 3:17). when we see the self sacrifing love of
We shall say like Paul as stated in (Rom. Jesus shining from the cross we too will
8:35,38,39) – ‘’ who shall separate us be transformed (2Cor. 5:14-15). God’s
from the love (agape) of Christ’’? love is the explanation of redemption.
(c) At its best human love is self seeking: Otherwise if it was law and justice
We are by nature egocentric, everything followed by God all will suffer their
we do or think, in and of ourselves, is consequences. But the very fact that
polluted with self love or selfishness. God is love meant that, He had to seek
Socially, politically, academically, and save that which was lost. He had to
materially, economically, religiously, find a remedy and solution for sin.
we all slaves to ‘’our own way’’ (Isa. Finally, we should realize that human
53:6; Philippians 2:21). We are shaped love is conditional, God’s love is
in iniquity, bent towards self, unconditional. Our human love is
consequently all without exception, fall changeable, God’s love is changeless.
short of God’s glory, His agape love Our human love is self centered, God’s
(Rom. 3:23). God’s love is self love is self sacrificing. Not until we
 recognize the threefold qualities of with confidence, ‘’I will Go’’ and reac
God’s agape love, will the everlasting the world with everlasting Gospel.
gospel become unconditional good God’s redemptive love is so deep and
news to us. And not until we become wide beyond our understanding. May
“rooted and grounded’’ in agape love God open our hearts that we may
will we be able to cast out all fear and understand, see and act in God’s way ,
serve Him with unselfish motives (1 in doing His will. Be blessed.
John 4:7,12,16-18). Then we can say

DAY 4 - CHRIST THE CENTRE OF THE GOSPEL

KEY TEXT: Ephesians 1:3-13

The centre is that which holds together, binds grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all
up, balances things. It is the backbone and the wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made
object of the rest. How is Christ the centre of the known to us the mystery of his will
gospel? according to his good pleasure, which he
purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect
when the times reach their fulfillment —to
The gospel defined it is not about what we can do bring unity to all things in heaven and on
for Jesus, or what he can do for us but what he has earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also
already done. Romans 1:14-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18 chosen,[e] having been
-25,15:1-11, Galatians 3:1-11 predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity
The uniqueness of Jesus: Jesus is the way the truth with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that
and the life. Christ is the lamb slave from the we, who were the first to put our hope in
foundation of the world. Christ is the center of it all. Christ, might be for the praise of his
John 3:16. (The verse starts with God and ends glory. 13 And you also were included in
with life and right at the center of the verse is the Christ when you heard the message of
word son). The truth is centered around the son. truth, the gospel of your salvation. When
you believed, you were marked in him with
Ephesians 1:3-13 a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a
deposit guaranteeing our inheritanceuntil
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ the redemption of those who are God’s
possession—to the praise of his glory.
3
Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual
blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him Christ is the center of all
before the creation of the world to be holy
and blameless in his sight. In i) Christ is everything for man. All manner of
love 5 he [b] predestined us for adoption to spiritual blessings is in him. He chose us
sonship [c] through Jesus Christ, in before creation and without him it was not
accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to possible to create as God foresaw sin.
the praise of his glorious grace, which he Ii In him we have redemption through his
has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
him we have redemption through his accordance with the riches of God’s
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all
accordance with the riches of God’s
wisdom and understanding)
iii) Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation all creation. For by Him all things were created,
of the world. He had offered to pay the both in the heavens and on earth, visible and
ultimate prize for sin. The sacrificial system invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
was pointing to his future sacrifice on the authorities—all things have been created through
cross.Jesus paid it all, all to him we owe. Him and for Him.
iv) Paul explains what Jesus is “ Of Him we
are in Christ Jesus whom God to be wisdom Although the Jehovah’s Witnesses blasphemously
interpret “firstborn” to mean that Jesus was the first
for us, righteousness, sanctification, and
being whom God created, verse 16 refutes that. If
redemption” 1Cor.1:30.Now that is really
good news. He says that whoever wants o “all things have been created through Him and for
Him,” then clearly He Himself is not created. John
brag let him brag about Christ for we are
nothing without him can do nothing 1:3 makes the same point: “All things came into
being through Him, and apart from Him nothing
without his grace. Paul went to Corinth to
came into being that has come into being.” As the
preach Christ who was crucified and had
risen. Upon such foundation he erected the creator, Christ is sovereign over all that exists. He is
the only rightful Lord of your life and of all that you
church of Corinth.
have.
v) Christ is the sum total of the NT. It is all
about him. The synoptic Gospels Mathew,
Luke Mark and John is the story of Jesus.
The Acts of the apostles continue the 3) Christ is eternal and in Him all things hold
wonders Christ does through the church. together.
The Pauline writings are an exposition of Colossians 1:17: “He is before all things, and in
what Jesus has done and its impact upon sin Him all things hold together.” “Before” refers to
and what it means to mankind. Revelation priority in time. As Jesus told the Jews who were
is the climax of the return a second time to attacking Him (John 8:58), “Before Abraham was, I
give this earth a fresh start. am.” He did not say, “I was before Abraham,” but
rather, “I am.” He was referring to Exodus 3:14,
1) Christ is the image of the invisible God, the where God tells Moses, “I am who I am.” The Jews
fullness of deity in bodily form. understood what Jesus meant, because they picked
up stones to stone Him. “In Him all things hold
Paul states (Col. 1:19), “For it was the Father’s together” means that Christ is the power that holds
good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.” every atom together. If He were to “let go,” the
He adds (Col. 2:9), “For in Him all the fullness of entire universe would disintegrate! This shows that
Deity dwells in bodily form.” This means that our we are totally dependent on Him for our very
only way to know the God who “dwells in existence and our every need.
unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can
see” (1 Tim. 6:16), is to know Him through Jesus 4) Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the
Christ. As Jesus told Philip when Philip asked Him dead.
to show them the Father (John 14:9), “Have I been Colossians 1:18: He is the beginning, the firstborn
so long with you, and yet you have not come to from the dead ….” In the context, “the beginning”
know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the means that Christ originated the church. As
Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” To Colossians 3:10 states, He created the new man,
know God, you must come to Him through faith in which refers to Christ the head and His body the
Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). church. By “firstborn from the dead,” Paul means
2) Christ created all that exists. that Jesus’ resurrection was the first of its kind.
Although there are other resurrections in the Bible
Paul states (Col. 1:15-16), that precede Jesus’ resurrection, the others were
temporary. Those people died a second time and
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
now await their final resurrection. Jesus alone has
been raised with an indestructible resurrection body together with Him, having forgiven us all our
that is a type of the bodies that believers will transgressions.” Christ is the answer to the problem
receive at His second coming. So He Himself is our of guilt! If Christ is all in the sense of forgiving us
hope that we will receive new bodies that will not all our transgressions, then you can’t add anything
be subject to disease, aging, or death. of your own to what He supplies.

5) Christ will come to have first place in

everything.
2) In Christ we are complete.
Colossians 1:18: “He Himself will come to have
Paul states (Col. 2:10), “In Him you have been
first place in everything.” In Ephesians 1:10, Paul
says that God will sum up “all things in Christ, made complete.” But in Colossians 1:28, he says
that his aim is to “present every man complete in
things in the heavens and things on the earth.”
Because He was willing to humble Himself and go Christ.”
to the cross, Paul says (Phil. 1:9-11), “For this 3) In Christ, we have all the treasures of wisdom
reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed and knowledge.
on Him the name which is above every name, so
that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of Colossians 2:3: “in whom are hidden all the
those who are in heaven and on earth and under the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” “Hidden
earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus treasures” implies that we need to dig and seek out
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This these riches
means that we must seek daily to put Christ in first That all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are
place and exalt Him in every aspect of our lives. found in Christ means that He is all in God’s
6) Through Christ the entire creation will be revealed Word of truth.
reconciled to God. 4) In Christ, we have the hope of eternal glory.
Colossians 1:20: “And through Him to reconcile all Colossians 1:27: “to whom [the saints] God willed
things to Himself, having made peace through the to make known what is the riches of the glory of
blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in
things on earth or things in heaven.” By “all things,” you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 3:4: “When
Paul is probably referring to the new heavens and Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also
new earth, which will be restored to the glory that will be revealed with Him in glory
the first creation had before sin entered this world
(Rom. 8:18-23). So in Christ, we can look forward Thus, since Christ is all in God’s eternal purpose
to that glorious future! Christ is all in God’s eternal and all in God’s plan of salvation …
purpose and we are in Him!

B. Christ is all in God’s plan of salvation.

Summary
As we saw (Eph. 1:3-4), God blessed us with every
God - Where did we come from? (Genesis 1, John
spiritual blessing in Christ and chose us in Him
3:16)
“before the foundation of the world.” In Colossians,
Paul shows us that…
Sin - Why did things go so wrong? (Colossians
1) In Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness 1:16, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:2).
of all our sins.
Christ - What will put things right? (Isaiah 59:2,
Colossians 1:14: “in whom we have redemption, John 10:10)
the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 2:13: “When
you were dead in your transgressions and the Trust - How can I be put right? (Matthew 4:17,
uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive Revelation 3:20).
Cost What do I do now? (1 Peter 1:18-19, Luke Christ is the center of the gospel, a solution to a
9:23-24 )

DAY 5 - THE GOSPEL AND LAST DAY EVENTS

We praise God for keeping us safe amidst the chaos Northwest Africa so immensely. Between 30,000
caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We must count and 50,000 people lost their lives. The Tsunamis
ourselves as having received God’s special favour. which are giant waves caused by earthquakes or
Each day that God grants us is for two purposes. volcanic eruptions under the sea have been
One to repent of any sin we may have committed witnessed recently and have been given various
and be ready for Jesus’ second coming and two to names are all telling of the soon return of our Lord
be in partnership with God in taking the gospel to and Saviour Jesus Christ.
others.
Persecutions and martyrdoms have been witnessed
The camp meetings this year are following the in this world in millions of Christians. During the
theme: I Will Go with the Everlasting Gospel. My Dark Ages for instance over 50,000,000 Christians
colleagues and fellow gospel ministers have written were murdered by the agents of the devil for
and shared with us the definition of the Gospel, the standing for the truth as in the Bible. The signs in
sin problem which the gospel was given to address, the all these prophecies which were given by our
God’s redemptive love, and Christ as the centre of Lord Jesus have been fulfilled.
the gospel. Now I wish to discuss the gospel and
As I was doing my search for information on this
the last day events.
subject I came across this very revealing
Christ said this in Matthew 24:14; And this Gospel information which was researched by George
of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world Randall Jnr and I would wish to share with my
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will readers; He says the following; “Jesus gave His
followers signs to recognize when the season of his
come(NIV). Jesus said these words while He was
return was getting near. Join me in Matthew 24 of
discussing the last day events that would precede
God’s Word, as we examine the signs He gave us.
His second coming. In that discourse He mentioned Verses 4-5, “…take heed that no man deceives you.
a number of those events as recorded in that same For many shall come in My name, saying, I am
chapter from verse 4. We are all witnesses of the Christ; and shall deceive many.” From Wikipedia –
fulfilment of these predictions. Many have come in List of Messiah Claimants, and List of People
the name of Jesus claiming that they are the Christ Claimed to Be Jesus – there have been 75 fakes, 12
and they have deceived many people. When you of which, or 16%, are living right now. Verses 6-7
look at the many mega churches today all claiming “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see
to be preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye be not troubled: for all these things must
you surely can see the fulfilment of this particular come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall
prophecy. rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:”
The first and most important point I want you to
The prophecy of wars and rumours of wars among give complete attention to is that even with the bad
nations of this world is nothing new to us who have news in these first several prophecies, Jesus tells us
witnessed the two major world wars that were do not be troubled.
fought in the nineteenth century not counting the
The only way we will not feel worried or downright
many other small wars that have claimed millions of
disturbed by such news as wars, famines, diseases,
human lives. Famines and earthquakes have been earthquakes is if we are unshakable in our faith in
witnessed in this world as Jesus Christ had him whose name is Faithful! We must trust that God
predicted. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 for is good, that He loves us, and that we, His children,
example that devastated parts of Europe and are in the palm of His hand as He’s said in John
10:27-29. Also cling to Psalm 61:1-5, 62:6-8. cases of rape in the world, with 139,815. from
“When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the abort73.com – consider also the cold-blooded
rock that is higher than I…He only is my rock and killing of innocent babies. America has “legally”
my salvation:” If we only believe, there is no room aborted more than 53 million children from 1973-
for fear! 2011 (the last year recorded). America may have
The facts and figures – from Wikipedia list of stopped counting but God has not! Truly the world
ongoing armed conflicts – only counting conflicts is progressively growing colder because of sin.
with at least 100 deaths in the past two years, there Friends, please don’t despair. Remember to keep
are 32 wars, involving 64 countries right now. Low- focused on Jesus for peace of heart in these end
end estimate is more than 12 million casualties in times. Isaiah 26:3 says, “thou wilt keep him in
the past 50 years. Continuing verse 7 “and there perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:
shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes because he trusts in thee
in divers (various) places.” from Wikipedia – (https://www.mtairynews.com/features/church/9077
famines – since 1980 to present approximately 5/unsettling-signs-of-jesus-return)
3,000,000 have starved to death. Suring the 20th George Randall Jr. is the minister to youth at Rocky
century alone, an estimated 70-100 million people Ford Christian Church in Cana, Virginia.
died from famines.
Looking at how the gospel has been preached since
Pestilence – Webster’s definition: “any virulent the times of the apostles it is clear that the end is
(deadly) disease.” From unaids report on the global very near and it is important that the church and its
aids epidemic, since AIDS began in the 1920s to the membership get ready for Jesus’ second coming
present, there have been 36 million people to die of
aids. Does anyone remember ebola of 2012? 12,913 One of the signs prior to Jesus’ return would be that
fatalities. From the World Health Organization, this gospel, the one Jesus’ brought (Mark 1:15),
cases of malaria, cholera, measles, hepatitis b, would be preached to all nations, and then the end
influenza, and rotavirus, the one-year total is would come (His return to judge the world).
1,504,200 deaths. According to the CDC, from late Haven’t most nations now been penetrated by the
2019 to our present hour, the Coronavirus global gospel? That doesn’t mean all people in these
pandemic has claimed more than one million lives. nations have heard the gospel, but the gospel has
now gone into all nations when you think about the
From the usgs.gov, significant earthquakes list – I reach that radio has had, as well as satellites, the
researched only those 6.0 magnitude and up. In 10 Internet (where available), or other wireless devices.
year increments from 1900-1909 (288), 1910-1919 Add to these the work of missionaries and Bible
(323), 1920-1929 (315), 1930-1939 (378), 1940- tracts that have been distributed worldwide, so on
1949 (466), 1950-1959 (451), 1960-1969 (655), the surface at least, it appears that all nations have
1970-1979 (1,031), 1980-1989 (1,111), 1990-1999 been reached. Again, all nations do not mean all
(1,186), 2000-2009 (1,498), 2010-2019 (1,496). In people in all nations, since that is logistically
the first 10 years of our 21st century we have had impossible. That doesn’t really matter though
five times more earthquakes than the first 10 years because all of us have no excuse, wherever we live
of the 20th century! (Rom 1:18-21). Jesus tells us when the end of the
Matthew 24:8-9 “they shall deliver you up to be age will come in Matthew 24:14 where He says,
afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed
all nations for my name sake.” From Open Doors throughout the whole world as a testimony to all
USA – most recent figures available show there nations, and then the end will come.” Has that
were 2,983 documented Christian martyr deaths in happened? If not, it is so very, very close that you
2019. Next in verse 12 “and because iniquity (sin) can almost taste it. Of course, the church has
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” always lived with that expectation. (
From the United Nations office on drugs and crime https://faithinthenews.com/has-the-gospel-now-bee
– worldwide in 2018 – 874,100 people were n-preached-to-all-nations/)
murdered (intentional homicide). Consider the I would not have done justice to this important
inhumanity of human trafficking. From fbi.gov subject if I ended without consulting with the
crime in usa report – in 2019 there were 1,203,808 servant of the Lord, Ellen G. White. This is what
cases of violent crimes. America is number 1 for she has to say about the second coming of Jesus
Christ. And this gospel of the kingdom will be 14:6, 14.) God “hath appointed a day, in the which
preached in all the world as a witness to all the He will judge the world.” (Acts 17:31.) Christ tells
nations, and then the end will come.—Matthew us when that day shall be ushered in. He does not
24:14. say that all the world will be converted, but that
Christ has given signs of His coming. He declares “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
that we may know when He is near, even at the the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
doors. He says of those who see these signs, “This shall the end come.” By giving the gospel to the
generation shall not pass, till all these things be world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return.
fulfilled.” These signs have appeared. Now we We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming
know of a surety that the Lord’s coming is at hand. of the day of God. (2 Peter 3:12, margin.) Had the
“Heaven and earth shall pass away,” He says, “but church of Christ done her appointed work as the
My words shall not pass away.” . . . The exact time Lord ordained, the whole world would before this
of the second coming of the Son of man is God’s have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have
mystery. come to our earth in power and great glory.

In the prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction Christ Those who watch for the Lord’s coming are not
said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of waiting in idle expectancy. With vigilant watching
many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto they combine earnest working. Because they know
the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened
the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a to co-operate with the divine intelligences in
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end working for the salvation of souls.—The Desire of
come.” This prophecy will again be fulfilled. The Ages, 632-634. From Homeward Bound - Page 68
abounding iniquity of that day finds its counterpart
in this generation. So with the prediction in regard In view of the foregoing information it is quite
to the preaching of the gospel. Before the fall of evident that the second coming of our Lord Jesus
Jerusalem, Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, declared Christ is even at the door. It is our turn now in this
that the gospel was preached to “every creature generation to each one of us who has heard the
which is under heaven.” (Colossians 1:23.) So now, gospel and received salvation to get up individually
before the coming of the Son of man, the and go tell someone else about Jesus. This is my
everlasting gospel is to be preached “to every nation, prayer for all church members in our union in the
and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Revelation name of Jesus Christ.
DAY 6 - GOD’S APPEAL TO EVERY BELIEVER
In the parable of the talent (Mathew 25:14- talents, to another two, to another one; to each
30), it is embedded in Jesus’ Eschatological according to his own ability”(dunamis—power,
discourse, in which he is urging preparation for His strength, ability) (v. 15a). Note Jesus’ approach to
Second Coming. Matthew is writing this Gospel these servants. “Then he went on his journey” (v.
late in the first century when the church is 15b). While he could dictate exactly how each
struggling with the issue of Jesus’ delayed Parousia servant will use his talent, he instead exhibits great
(Second Coming). This parable reminds Matthew’s trust, leaving them at latitude to take advantage of
church (and us) that they (and us) have been opportunities as they arise. He treats each of the
entrusted with the great treasure of the Gospel of three as an individual, allocating resources in accord
Jesus Christ, and will be held accountable at the with each person’s ability. He neither insults the
Second Coming for their (our) stewardship of this most able servant with trivial responsibilities nor
Gospel. “who called his own servants” (doulos) (v. overwhelms the least able servant with an
14b). those who offer their own service to Christ impossible task.
(Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; 2 The principles here means:
Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). Every believer was created/ saved for a purpose –
This is clearly voluntary service (not slavery or task Ephesians 2:5, 10
that are forced). “and entrusted his goods to them” Every believer is eligible to be used – 1Peter 2:9-10
(v. 14c). The master summons three servants, and Every believer is to be ready all the time/create time
entrusts his property to them. This is very much like for God’s work – 2Timothy 4:2
Jesus entrusting his work to the church and to Every believer is known of God and have been
individual members thereof. “To one he gave five
assigned work – Psalm 8:4-8; Jer. 1:5-6 reply is not really a refusal, but a common sense
Every believer have something to do - Heb. 12:12- decision to go back to what he knows. He’s not
13, prov. 24:11, 2Thess. 3:10-13 from the place where the children of Israel are
Every believer will give an account of going; he has interests that are worth pursuing back
himself/herself to God – Rom. 14:10-12; 2Cor. 5:10 home in Midian. He’s got a family that probably
Every believer is to heed to God’s appeal/call – doesn’t want to uproot and move. No doubt, he
Isaiah 6:8 loves Moses, and is happy for God’s people…but
Every believer will receive a reward according to he’d just rather not go. So, Moses comes back and
what he/she does now – Rev. 22:12 makes a second plea. And it’s this second plea that
Every believer has a specific role he/she is obligated is so pivotal for us today. In verse 31, Moses says,
to do– Isaiah 49:6 [Hobab], “please do not leave us, [please]. For you
know where we should camp in [this great]
GOD IS MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US wilderness, and [what’ more] you will serve as eyes
(ACTS 16:11-40) for us [on this journey].” It’s a qualitatively
- God want all believers to make Him known different kind of appeal… This is precisely what
and to reach all for salvation. Moses is saying to Hobab. As they stand at the
1Timothy 2:3-5 …3This is good and pleasing in the threshold of this great and perilous adventure,
sight of God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be Moses is saying, “Hobab, please do not leave us, for
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. you have skills that we need; you know this land;
5For there is one God, and there is one mediator you know where we’re to camp, and you will be like
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,… eyes for us.” You see, Hobab knew the territory –
Paul never lost his awareness of his identity as an this was, after all, his desert. He knew how to
ambassador of Christ. navigate it better than anyone else. He knew were
-When he sailed 150 miles, it was to represent the dangers were, the perils, the watering holes, the
Christ. smooth tracks, the rough places, the enemies. And
-When he met a group of ladies at the place of so Moses is saying in essence, “Hobab, if you won’t
prayer, it was to represent Christ. come for your sake, then please, come for OURS.
-When he was treated badly, he didn’t fight back We need you! Your abilities are of instrumental
because he knew that he represented Christ. value to the people of God.”
-When he had a chance to escape jail, he stayed
because he wanted to represent Christ to the jailer. If we listen closely to this story, we can hear that
great appeal that Christ makes to each one of us.
-And when the city wanted him to leave the city
On the one hand, Christ says “You need ME. For
while the false charges against him remained, he
the forgiveness of sins, the gift of salvation, the
would not. Not due to his own ego or pride, but
peace of knowing God and the joy of everlasting
because he knew that His identity was directly
life…you need ME! So, for your sake, follow me.
linked to the local church and he would not be
On the other hand, Christ says in some sense, “I
doing his duty to God if he left a bad witness for
need YOU! The kingdom of God needs you, for
that church. If we will pray like Paul, And partner
there is a great task that only you are fitted to
with God like Paul, And live according to our
accomplish…like Hobab, you have special skills,
identity as ambassadors of Christ like Paul, We will
talents, and abilities that are of instrumental value to
see God bring a great harvest through us, just as He
the people of God, and to this generation.” In this
did through Paul. “We are therefore Christ’s
passage, it tells us that there are specific tasks and
ambassadors, as though God were making his
labors that every individual is meant to do in this
appeal through us…”2 Corinthians 5:20
world. God has created each person with skills,
From the Book of Numbers chapter 10 is a story of gifts, abilities even a personality in advancing the
Moses and Hobab. In Numbers 10: 29, Moses says kingdom of God. Psalm 139 tells us that each one
to Hobab, “we are setting out for the place the Lord of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” “knitted
has given to us, come with us, and we will do good together in our mother’s womb,” “intricately woven”
to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” for God’s great purposes. In Ephesians 2, we’re told
Hobab declines. “I won’t go,” he says. “But that we are “Christ’s workmanship, created in Christ
instead, will return to my own land and my own Jesus for good works, which God prepared
kindred.” Now it’s worth it to say that Hobab’s beforehand that we should walk in them.” This is
important, because some of you have never really OUR RESPONSE: ISAIAH 6:8 ‘HERE AM I
looked at yourself like this - as someone for whom SEND ME’
God has destined to make a great contribution to GOD’S PROMISE; EXODUS 33:11 ‘..I WILL
this world. GO WITH YOU’
GOD’S APPEAL: ISAIAH 6:8 ‘WHOM SHALL ‘LET US INDIVIDUALLY HEED TO GOD’S
I SEND AND WHO WILL GO FOR US’ CALL TO BE FAITHFUL SERVANTS’

DAY 7 - THE JOYOUS EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION.

Key Texts: Revelation 14: 6,7. Matthew 24: 14.

Gospel.
• E. G. White Identifying the three angels
• Revelation14:6,7 KJV. And I saw another — “Christ is coming the second time,
angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the with power unto salvation. To prepare
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that human beings for this event, He has sent
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and the first, second, and third angels’
kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying messages. These angels represent those
with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory who receive the truth, and with power
to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: open the gospel to the world ” (Letter 79,
and worship him that made heaven, and 1900).
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of • The everlasting Gospel is the eternal
waters. purpose of God for mankind. (And you are
commissioned to send out this message!)
• Thus, even in a world which is crashing to
Matthew 24:14. NIV. And this Gospel of the
its doom, the everlasting Gospel is eternally
kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
valid. It helps people turn from vain things
testimony to all nations , and then the end will to a living God who made / created the
come. heaven, earth, sea, and all that is in them
KJV. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be (Acts 14: 15).
• But how can mankind experience and get
preached in all the world for a witness unto all
the joy of salvation?
nations; and then shall the end come.
• To experience ‘the joy’, the sin’s problem,
nature, depravity and enslavement must be
addressed.
• Here is the most profound, clear and • We must address the reality and results of
particular sign that precede the end of time sin.
as predicted in — (Matthew 24:14. NIV. • NB: While sin is the ultimate human
And this Gospel of the kingdom will be problem, the divine salvation is the ONLY
preached in the whole world as a testimony solution/treatement.
to all nations, and then the end will come). • Sin is a universal actuality which has
resulted in universal condemnation and
death.
• NB: The message of the Everlasting Gospel • To clearly apprehend the nature of
going to all races, tribes and tongues and Salvation, we must clarify three aspects of
peoples. the nature and reality of sin:
• In revelation 14:6, 7. The angels mentioned • Sin as deed. The immediate way in which
- represents God’s saints / people engaged sin manifest itself is as a misdeed.
in this task of proclaming the everlasting
• Humanity’s sinful actions are described in ‘to restore to the right’.
Romans 1:18—3: 20.  Therefore, that which makes it possible the
• Even our pupposed righteous deeds are as justification of a sinful person is the cross
unclean rags (Isaiah 64: 6). of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:9. “Since,
• Sin as depravity of heart. Sin is more than therefore, we are now justified by His
a misdeed. Although it may end up in an Blood, much more shall we be saved by
action, it begins in the inclination of the Him from the wrath of God”.
heart--see Gen.6:5 (See also— Isaiah1:5,6;  Romans 3:24-26 gives the Sacrificial
29:13; Jeremiah 11:8; 16:12; Matthew 7:18- character of Christ’s death. Here, it gives
23; James 1:14, 15; 4:1,2; Jer 17:9) the way by which God justifies the sinner.
• From these texts, the Bible testifies that Sin God set forth Christ as an atoning sacrifice.
is a perversion of a person’s heart and will, Its efficancy was to be received by faith and
moral nature, and the innermost being. its purpose was to show God’s
• Sin as enslaving power. This enslaving righteousness vis-à-vis His forbearance in
power is clearly described in Romans 5-8. passing over former sins (verse25).
Describes sinful actions as the product of  When this exhibition of divine
living under the rule of an alien, evil, and righteousness took place, it would be seen
enslaving power. Sin holds people in that God was — Righteous and the one who
slavery (Romans6:6, 16-18,20.) and pays puts in the right the person who has faith in
them wages (Romans 6:23). Sin like a Jesus (verse26).
demon can dwell in a person (Romans 7:17,  To understand this passage well, see
20). It deceives a person (Romans.7:11) just Romans 1:16,17. which states that the
as the serpent deceived Eve (Genesis3:13) proclamation of the Gospel is the medium
and finally effects death in a person through which God leads people of faith to
Romans6:16,23;7:11,14. salvation because in the Gospel God’s
• NB: The ONLY solution to the sin problem righteousness is being revealed!
lies in a deep new relationship with God.  It is at the cross that God’s justifying grace,
• It is ONLY under Christ’s Lordship we get which liberates from sin (Romans 3:24) is
true freedom. This is through the shown. This is the saving righteousness of
experience of justification (Salvation). God, which in the present is being actively
• Here, a sinner is called upon to repent, revealed and appropriated through the
confess, be baptized, and receive Gospel (Romans 1:17).
forgiveness of sins and cleansing from guilt.  Reconciliation. This word is really
(Acts 2:38; 2Peter 3:9; 1John 1:9) significant especially in the NT (New
• Way forward to a Person’s hatred of sin. Testament) e.g.
When sin is regarded as the evil inclination  In Ephesians 2:11—19 The gentiles are
of the heart or will, the sinner needs a new spoken of as “separated from Chirst” and
heart and right spirit (Psalm51:10). “alienated from … Israel.”
• NB: The person’s Joy and experiences from  Now because of the blood of Christ, those
the sin problem solution — lies in three who were once “far off have been brought
elements of Salvation: near” (Eph.2:13), and have received the
1) A New Relationship with God. message of peace (verses 14, 15, 17), the
2) A New Assurance Before God. ending of hostility and the reality of
3) A New Life from God. oneness with the covenant people of God
 All the three elements of salvation are found (verses 14,16).
ONLY “in Christ”. (Ephesians 1:1—14).  Adoption . Adoption is a correlate of
 A New Relationship With God. This justification. A right relationship to God
includes: justification, reconciliation and and being God’s child go together. It
adoption. happens because, through reception of
 Justification and Righteousness : The verb Chirst and faith in His name, God has given
“Justify” would refer to – ‘to be just or believers the right to be called children of
righteous’, ‘to give a verdict infavor of’, ‘to God, “who were born, not … of the will of
treat or declare as righteous’, ‘to vindicate’, man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13).
 A New Assurance Before God. That is the  It can also express human sorrow over
present assurance of the final salvation. Not wrong (Judges 21:6, 15; Jeremiah 31:19).
‘Once saved, always saved, no matter what I  it can also mean ‘to turn’ or ‘return’ or ‘be
do’; But the correct assurance of salvation converted’ (Acts 11:21; 3:19; Luke 1:16,17;
and the conviction that “He who began a 22:32; James 5:20).
good work in you will bring it to completion  Repentance involes a complete and radical
at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). transfomation of life. It is conversion at the
 So, they joyfully affirm that in the present deepest level and leads to the joy of
they have peace with God, access to grace, salvation and the new life in Christ Jesus
joy, and hope for glorification in the future (Acts 11:18; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
(Romans 5: 1-3). 3. Sanctification. Sanctification is an
 A New Life From God. The Human life is important and all-embracing concept in the
set within the circumference of God’s Bible. It has to do with God and person in
eternal plan for our good / and or salvation! relationships, worship, morals; with every
 Thus, there are a number of life-changing period of life, whether past, present or
processes that our saviour Jesus Christ future; and with every elements of the
through the power of the Holy Spirit make world, e.g., times and places, objects and
possible and necessary. rituals.
1. Regeneration . This refers to that creative  The basic meaning is to set apart or separate.
process of God whereby the natural person,  The person’s sanctification as (gives him) a
unable to fathom or fulfill spiritual things, new relationship and status.
becomes a spiritual person who can  To sanctify is to ‘make holy’ or ‘consecrate’.
appreciate the word of God and begin to Sanctification by implication has a moral
practice its way of life (1 Corinthians 2: goal— to be holy!
14—3:3).  Leviticus 19: 2. “You shall be holy; for I
 Sin has reduced human beings to slavery; the Lord your God Am Holy.”
Only God’s intervention can bring freedom.  God is Holy—in that He is separate from all
 Therefore, Regeneration covers both the other so-called gods.
awakening to spiritual life and its flowering.  He is different, unique, transcendent.
 NB: We are accustomed to evil and unable  We His people are Holy—different. By
to do good (Jeremiah 13:23). virtue of our relation to Him, we must be
 They (we) may wish to do good but will not holy. Because by His own action He has
be succesful, for evil always lies close at consecrated us to Himself
hand (Romans 7:18,21) (Romans  And thus, must be different (Holy).
7:5,9,11,13; Ephesians 2:1).  The joy and experience of salvation —
 From this old situation, a person can be makes us different.
made alive and empowered to good works  Brethren, Experience the joy of
only by the God of love who is rich in Salvation—AMEN!
mercy (Ephesians 2:4,5,10).
2. Repentance and Conversion . Repentance
indicate change. It is dependent upon a person’s

willingness to repent (Jeremiah 18:8).


 HEALTH MINISTRIES AND HIV/AIDS
I WILL GO: MAINTAIN THE SANCTITY OF THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WE
ENGAGE IN MISSION

Day 1: INTRODUCTION

We the Seventh Day Adventists truly believe in the bible teachings as a way of witnessing the love of our Lord
to the community. As we engage in the mission work, we the church members must enjoy good health to ensure
that the gospel is taken to all corners of the globe. One of the clear messages we carry across is to ensure our
bodies remain the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is not supposed to be defiled through the use of any harmful
substances that removes its sanctity.
The high prevalence of drug, substance and alcohol use in the church and community has brought a lot of
challenges in the mission of our church. The breakdown of family values because of use of harmful substances
by the family members including the parents and children impacts negatively to the mission of the church.
EKUC Health Ministries and HIV/AIDS department sees the prevalent use of harmful substances in our
communities as a stumbling block to achieving the Quinquineal goal of “I WILL GO”. We have borrowed
heavily from the teachings of Ellen G. White to put the points very clear as we engage as individuals, families
and community of believers to mitigate on the high prevalence of drug and alcohol use in the families and our
churches

The Original Perfection of Man

Created in Perfection and Beauty—Man came from the hand of his Creator perfect in organization and beautiful
in form. —Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene,
Man was the crowning act of the creation of God, made in the image of God, and designed to be a counterpart of
God. —The Review and Herald, June 18, 1895.

Adam was a noble being, with a powerful mind, a will in harmony with the will of God, and affections that
centered upon heaven. He possessed a body heir to no disease, and a soul bearing the impress of Deity. —The
Youth's Instructor, March 5, 1903.

He stood before God in the strength of perfect manhood. All the organs and faculties of his being were equally
developed, and harmoniously balanced.

God's Pledge to Maintain the Body's Healthful Action—The Creator of man has arranged the living machinery
of our bodies. Every function is wonderfully and wisely made. And God pledged Himself to keep this human
machinery in healthful action if the human agent will obey His laws and co-operate with God. —Counsels on
Diet and Foods, 17.

Responsibility to Heed Nature's Laws—A healthy experience demands growth, and growth demands that careful
attention be paid to the laws of nature, that the organs of the body may be kept in a sound state, untrammeled in
their action.
DAY 2: THE INCEPTION OF INTEMPERANCE

Satan gathered the fallen angels together to devise some way of doing the most possible evil to the human family.
One proposition after another was made, till finally Satan himself thought of a plan. He would take the fruit of
the vine, also wheat, and other things given by God as food, and would convert them into poisons, which would
ruin man's physical, mental, and moral powers, and so overcome the senses that Satan should have full control.
Under the influence of liquor, men would be led to commit crimes of all kinds. Through perverted appetite the
world would be made corrupt. By leading men to drink alcohol, Satan would cause them to descend lower and
lower in the scale.

The Secret of the Enemy's Strategy—Intemperance of any kind benumbs the perceptive organs and so weakens
the brain-nerve power that eternal things are not appreciated, but placed upon a level with the common. The
higher powers of the mind, designed for elevated purposes, are brought into slavery to the baser passions. If our
physical habits are not right, our mental and moral powers cannot be strong; for great sympathy exists between
the physical and the moral. —Testimonies for the Church 3:50, 51.

Satan comes to man, as he came to Christ, with his overpowering temptations to indulge appetite. He well
knows his power to overcome man upon this point. He overcame Adam and Eve in Eden upon appetite, and they
lost their blissful home. What accumulated misery and crime have filled our world in consequence of the fall of
Adam. Entire cities have been blotted from the face of the earth because of the debasing crimes and revolting
iniquity that made them a blot upon the universe. Indulgence of appetite was the foundation of all their sins.
Alcohol and Society

In these days when vice and crime of every form are rapidly increasing, there is a tendency to become so
familiar with existing conditions that we lose sight of their cause and of their significance. More intoxicating
liquors are used today than have ever been used heretofore. In the horrible details of revolting drunkenness and
terrible crime, the newspapers give but a partial report of the story of the resultant lawlessness. Violence is in the
land.
When the appetite for spirituous liquor is indulged, the man voluntarily places to his lips the draft which debases
below the level of the brute him who was made in the image of God. Reason is paralyzed, the intellect is
benumbed, the animal passions are excited, and then follow crimes of the most debasing character.
—Testimonies for the Church 3:561.

Why Alcohol and Crime Are Related—Those who frequent the saloons that are open to all who are foolish
enough to tamper with the deadly evil they contain, are following the path that leads to eternal death. They are
selling themselves, body, soul, and spirit, to Satan. Under the influence of the drink they take, they are led to do
things from which, if they had not tasted the maddening drug, they would have shrunk in horror. When they are
under the influence of the liquid poison, they are in Satan's control. He rules them, and they co-operate with him.
—Letter 166, 1903.

The result of liquor drinking is demonstrated by the awful murders that take place. How often it is found that
theft, incendiarism, murder, were committed under the influence of liquor. Yet the liquor curse is legalized, and
works untold ruin in the hands of those who love to tamper with that which ruins not only the poor victim, but
his whole family. —The Review and Herald, May 1, 1900.
Alcohol and the Home

Our Creator has bestowed His bounties upon man with a liberal hand. Were all these gifts of Providence wisely
and temperately employed, poverty, sickness, and distress would be well-nigh banished from the earth. But alas,
we see on every hand the blessings of God changed to a curse by the wickedness of men.

There is no class guilty of greater perversion and abuse of His precious gifts than are those who employ the
products of the soil in the manufacture of intoxicating liquors. The nutritive grains, the healthful, delicious fruits,
are converted into beverages that pervert the senses and madden the brain. As a result of the use of these poisons,
thousands of families are deprived of the comforts and even the necessaries of life, acts of violence and crime
are multiplied, and disease and death hurry myriads of victims to a drunkard's grave. —Gospel Workers, 385,
386.

Marriage Vows Melted in the Fiery Liquid—Look upon the drunkard's home. Mark the squalid poverty, the
wretchedness, the unutterable woe that are reigning there. See the once happy wife fleeing before her maniac
husband. Hear her plead for mercy as the cruel blows fall on her shrinking form. Where are the sacred vows
made at the marriage altar? where is the love to cherish, the strength to protect her now? Alas, these have been
melted like precious pearls in the fiery liquid, the cup of abominations! Look upon those half-naked children.
Once they were cherished tenderly. No wintry storm, nor the cold breath of the world's contempt and scorn, was
permitted to approach them. A father's care, a mother's love, made their home a paradise. Now all is changed.
Day by day the cries of agony wrenched from the lips of the drunkard's wife and children go up to heaven.
—The Review and Herald, November 8, 1881.
Look at the drunkard. See what liquor has done for him. His eyes are bleared and bloodshot. His countenance is
bloated and besotted. His gait is staggering. The sign of Satan's working is written all over him. Nature herself
protests that she knows him not; for he has perverted his God-given powers, and prostituted his manhood by
indulgence in drink.

An Expression of Satan's Violence—Thus he [Satan] works when he entices men to sell the soul for liquor. He
takes possession of body, mind, and soul, and it is no longer the man, but Satan, who acts. And the cruelty of
Satan is expressed as the drunkard lifts his hand to strike down the wife he has promised to love and cherish as
long as life shall last. The deeds of the drunkard are an expression of Satan's violence. —Medical Ministry, 114.

Calmness and Patience Lost—It is not possible for the intemperate man to possess a calm, well-balanced
character, and if he handles dumb animals, the extra cut of the whip which he gives God's creatures, reveals the
disturbed condition of his digestive organs. In the home circle the same spirit is seen. —Letter 17, 1895.

The Shame and Curse of Every Land—The bleared, besotted wrecks of humanity—souls for whom Christ
died, and over whom angels weep—are everywhere. They are a blot on our boasted civilization. They are the
shame and curse and peril of every land. —The Ministry of Healing, 330.
The Wife Robbed, the Children Starved—The drunkard has no knowledge of what he is doing when under
the influence of the maddening draft, and yet he who sells him that which makes him irresponsible, is protected
by the law in his work of destruction. It is legal for him to rob the widow of the food she requires to sustain life.
It is legal for him to entail starvation upon the family of his victim, to send helpless children into the streets to
beg for a penny or to beseech for a morsel of bread. Day by day, month by month, year by year, these shameful
scenes are re-enacted, until the conscience of the liquor dealer is seared as with a red-hot iron. The tears of
suffering children, the agonized cry of the mother, only serve to exasperate the rum seller....

The Drinker Responsible for His Guilt—Let not the man who indulges in drink think that he will be able to
cover his defilement by casting the blame upon the liquor dealer; for he will have to answer for his sin and for
the degradation of his wife and children. “They that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.”—The Review and
Herald, May 8, 1894.

More terrible still, the curse is striking the very heart of the home. More and more, women are forming the
liquor habit. In many a household, little children, even in the innocence and helplessness of babyhood, are in
daily peril through the neglect, the abuse, the vileness of drunken mothers. Sons and daughters are growing up
under the shadow of this terrible evil. What outlook for their future but that they will sink even lower than their
parents? —The Ministry of Healing, 339.

Day 3: Defiling the Temple of God

Inconvenient, Expensive, Uncleanly—The use of tobacco is an inconvenient, expensive, uncleanly habit. The
teachings of Christ, pointing to purity, self-denial, and temperance, all rebuke this defiling practice.... Is it for the
glory of God for men to enfeeble the physical powers, confuse the brain, and yield the will to this narcotic
poison? —Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 17, 18.

Looking Through Clouded Windows—The youth who has made a practice of using tobacco has defiled the
whole man. The will has no longer the promptness and force which made him trustworthy and of value before he
accepted the enemy's poison.... His mind need not have decayed.

Men professing godliness offer their bodies upon Satan's altar, and burn the incense of tobacco to his satanic
majesty. Does this statement seem severe? The offering must be presented to some deity. As God is pure and
holy, and will accept nothing defiling in its character, He refuses this expensive, filthy, and unholy sacrifice;
therefore, we conclude that Satan is the one who claims the honor. —Counsels on Health, 83.
Dulls Appreciation of Atonement and Eternal Things—When we pursue a course of eating and drinking that
lessens physical and mental vigor, or become the prey of habits that tend to the same results, we dishonor God,
for we rob Him of the service He claims from us. Those who acquire and indulge the unnatural appetite for
tobacco, do this at the expense of health. They are destroying nervous energy, lessening vital force, and
sacrificing mental strength.

Those who profess to be the followers of Christ, yet have this terrible sin at their door, cannot have a high
appreciation of the atonement and an elevated estimate of eternal things. Minds that are clouded and partially
paralyzed by narcotics, are easily overcome by temptation, and cannot enjoy communion with God. —The
Signs of the Times, January 6, 1876.
Were Peter upon the earth now he would exhort the professed followers of Christ to abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul. And Paul would call upon the churches in general to cleanse themselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. And Christ would drive from the temple
those who are defiled by the use of tobacco, polluting the sanctuary of God by their tobacconized breaths. He
would say to these worshipers, as He did to the Jews, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of
prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” We would say to such, your unholy offerings of ejected quads of
tobacco defile the temple, and are abhorred of God. Your worship is not acceptable, for your bodies which
should be the temple for the Holy Ghost are defiled. You also rob the treasury of God of thousands of dollars
through the indulgence of unnatural appetite. —The Signs of the Times, August 13, 1874.

He Will Not Defile God's Temple—God desires all who believe in Him to feel the necessity of improvement.
Every entrusted faculty is to be enlarged. Not one gift is to be laid aside. As God's husbandry and building, man
is under His supervision in every sense of the word, and the better he becomes acquainted with his Maker, the
more sacred will his life become in his estimation. He will not place tobacco in his mouth, knowing that it
defiles God's temple. He will not drink wine or liquor, for, like tobacco, it degrades the whole being.
—Manuscript 130, 1899.
 LEADERSHIP

....................................................................................................................................................................

STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT
STEWARDSHIP LESSONS

1. MATERIALISM AND ITS DANGERS TO CHRISTIANS

1 TIMOTHY 6:9-10

 Satan works on the assumption that every person has a price. Often, unfortunately he is right.
 Many people are willing to surrender themselves and their principles to whatever god will bring them
the greatest short-term profit.
 The Old Testament portrays Israel as a bride who has turned into a prostitute. She abandons her rightful
husband, God and sells herself to the highest bidder.
 The New Testament tells us that “greed……… is idolatry” (Colossians 3: 5). Idolatry is worshiping and
serving anything other than the one true God.
 Materialism consists of the two things God hates most – Idolatry and Adultery.
 The magnitude of God’s abhorrence for materialism surfaces in the final act prior to the return of Christ
– the destruction of the money-loving system of this world, called “Babylon the Great”. (Relevation 22:
17)

Dangers of Materialism

(i) Materialism prevents or destroys our Spiritual life (Revelation 3: 17-18)

(ii) Materialism blinds us to the curses of wealth ( Ezekiel 28: 4-5)
(iii) Materialism brings us unhappiness and anxiety ( Ecclesiastes 5: 12)
(iv) Materialism ends in ultimate futility ( Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11)
(v) Materialism obscures many of the best things in life, which are free – including the gift of salvation
( Proverbs 11: 4)
(vi) Materialism spawns independence and self-sufficiency, which are deadly to faith (Revelation 22: 17)
(vii) Materialism leads to pride and elitism. Wealth insulates us from discerning the true depth of our
need ( Deutronomy 6: 1-15)
(viii) Materialism promotes injustice and exploitation ( James 5: 1-6)
 (ix) Materialism fosters immorality and deterioration of the family ( Deutronomy 17: 14-20)
(x) Materialism distracts us from our central purpose ( Matthew 13: 22)

2. DEBT: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IT?

 Proverbs sound an alarm against debt ( Proverbs 1: 13-15; 17:18; 22: 26-27; 27: 13)
 Those in debt are warned to get out as soon as possible ( Proverbs 6: 1-5)
 Debt is bondage ( Proverbs 22: 7)
 The Mosaic Law reflects a strong connection between debtors and slaves. Both debts and slavery were
canceled in the year of Jubilee. More often than not, the person was a slave because he was a debtor (
Deutronomy 15: 2-12)
 Unable to pay debts, he was sold into slavery. Few sights are more pathetic than the well-meaning
person who goes further and further into debt, one day waking up to realize he/she is a lifelong slave
 We should not normally borrow and should we do we should always pay off debt as soon as possible.

The Debt Mentality involves Six Key Assumptions

(i) We need more than God has given us

(ii) God does not know best what our needs are
(iii) God has failed to provide for our needs, forcing us to take matters into our own hands
(iv) If God does not come through the way we think he should, we can find another way. Abraham tried
this approach, which proved dishonoring to God
(v) Just because today’s income is sufficient to make our debt payments, tomorrow’s will be too.
(vi) Our circumstances won’t change – our health will be good, we will keep our present job, our salary
will keep up with inflation, and God won’t direct us to another job with a lower salary or lead us to
increase our giving.

When Debt is Especially Dangerous

(i) Debt is especially dangerous when a possession’s resale value is less than what is owed
(ii) Debt is especially dangerous when it tempts us to violate our convictions
(iii) Debt is especially dangerous when we are tempted to rob our primary creditor ( God ) to pay our
secondary creditors ( people)
(iv) Debt is especially dangerous when our monthly payments leave us little freedom to respond to the
Holy Spirit’s prompting to give generously to meet others’ needs
(v) Debt is especially dangerous when it restricts our freedom to respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to
move or change
The Consequences of Debt

(i) Debt lingers (Overcoming it is a very difficult thing)

(ii) Debt cause worry and stress
(iii) Debt causes denial of reality
(iv) Debt leads to dishonesty
(v) Debt is addictive
(vi) Debt is presumptuous
(vii) Debt deprives God of the chance to say no or to provide through a better means
(viii) Debt is a major loss of opportunity – to help others
(ix) Debt ties up resources and makes them unavailable for the Kingdom of God

3. GETTING OUT OF DEBT

 Scripture makes it clear that if we’ve borrowed money, whether for good reasons or bad, it’s our
responsibility to pay back as soon as possible ( Proverbs 3: 27-28; Matthew 5: 25-26)
 To not pay a debt is to join ranks with the wicked ( Psalm 37: 21)
 Bankruptcy, no matter how legal it may be, is normally not a moral option
 If you are in debt, two questions are relevant: How did you get into debt, and how can you get out?
 The first question is important as it will help you make future decisions

How to Get out of Debt

(i) Repent

Acknowledge that you have taken your cues from the world, not God. Change your mind and your actions
regarding money, things, needs, wants, giving, saving, spending, and debt (Romans 12:2).

(ii) Immediately give God the first-fruits

By so doing you would have recognized God’s ownership and reinforced your trust in God to bless you
obedience.

(iii) Incur no new debts

Operate on the principle: “If I can’t afford it now, it isn’t God’s will now”.

(iv) Systematically eliminate existing debts

Draw up a careful budget. Make a specific plan to get out of debt. Seek wise financial counsel. Liquidate
unnecessary assets. It won’t happen overnight, but with a good plan and determination you can and you will get
out of debt.

(v) Perform plastic surgery on your credit cards

If the card is a temptation, destroy it. Otherwise make full payment before due date to avoid paying interest.

(vi) Stop rationalizing your debt habit

Curb the temptation of acquiring tempting items such as houses, cars, furniture etc. on credit.

(vii) If debt seems the best or a necessary choice, go slowly and prayerfully

Get objective financial counsel from good stewards.

(viii) Learn the difference between Saving and Spending

Saving is when you have more than when you started; spending is when you have less.

(ix) List your debts and, if necessary contact your creditors

Establish a schedule that is workable within your budget to repay your creditors.

(x) If you have done everything else and it still seems insufficient, consider ways to increase your
income in order to eliminate your debts

Be patient as it may take some time for you to get out of the situation.

Financial Principles to Live By

(i) Nothing is a good deal unless you can afford it.

(ii) Before you take matters into your own hands, God wants an opportunity either to provide your
needs or to show you that they are not really needs.
(iii) Just because you can afford something does not mean God wants you to get it.
(iv) Increased income does not necessarily mean that God is saying spend more. More often, His real
message is give more.

4. PRACTICAL GUIDELINES TO CONTROL SPENDING

 For many people, spending money is an addictive behavior similar to alcoholism or gambling. With
compulsive spending, the true enemy lies within.
 We need replace our obsession with short-term gratification and make our spending decisions from a
long-term perspective.
  We must replace our self-indulgence with self-control, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23)
 “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control” (Proverbs 25:28).
 Without self-control on the inside, our lives are made vulnerable to innumerable assaults.
 The following guidelines can help you become a better steward of God’s resources and free funds to use
for God’s kingdom purposes.
(a) Realize that nothing is a good deal if you can’t afford it.

Paying Kshs 1,500,000 for a piece of land worth Kshs 2,000,000 sounds like an excellent idea and deal. But if
we can’t afford it, it simply doesn’t matter. It’s always a bad choice to spend money on a “good deal” we can’t
afford.

(b) Recognize that God isn’t behind every good deal

Suppose we can afford we can afford it. Does it mean we should buy it? Self-control often means turning down
good deals on things we really want because God may have other and better plans for his money.

(c) Understand the difference between spending money and saving money

Saving is setting aside money for a future purpose. Money saved should be available for future use. If you buy a
Kshs 3,000 book on sale for Kshs 2,000 and think you have saved Kshs 1,000, you simply don’t understand the
concept of saving. Where is the Kshs 1,000 you think you have saved? It doesn’t exist. All you have done is
spend Kshs 2,000. If you keep “saving” like that, you will soon be broke.

(d) Look at the long-term cost, not just the short-term expense

Everything ends up being more expensive than it first appears, therefore count the cost in advance. For instance,
if you buy a car you will be required to incur other expenses, such as insurance, repairs and fuel, to keep it on
the road.

(e) Pray before you spend

When something is a legitimate need God will provide it. However, how often do we take matters into our own
hands and spend impulsively before asking God to provide it to us?

(f) Examine every purchase in light of its ministry potential

Every time we spend money, we gain something and lose something at the same time. What we lose isn’t merely
money but what could have been done with the money if used in another way.

(g) Understand and resist the manipulative nature of advertising

Advertising programs us as it is seductive and manipulative. We must consciously reject its claims and counter
them with God’s Word, which tells us what we really do and don’t need.

(h) Learn to walk away from things you want but don’t need

May you prayerfully resist the temptations of spending money on things that you may want but do not need. The
little drops don’t seem like much, but they add up to lots of litres. You may make more and more income but
until you fix the little leaks in your spending habits, you will never be able to divert the flow of money for
higher purposes.

(i) Realize that little things add up

Like water from a leaky bucket, money trickles through our hands.

(j) Set up a budget and live by it

You must have a grip on our management of God’s assets. If you don’t have well thought-out plans for what to
do with God’s money, rest assured that it will go to waste. Drawing up a budget and living within the budget will
help you to manage any resources God blesses you with well.

5. GIVING: RECIPROCATING GOD’S GRACE

“Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo.
Gratitude graces as thunder follows lightning.” – Karl Barth.

New Testament Guidelines for Giving

(a) Give

Christians give. There are no exceptions. Not all will give the same, but all will give. (2 Corinthians 9: 7). The
act of giving is a vivid reminder that our life is all about God, not about us.

(b) Give Generously

When a grateful woman anointed Jesus with a costly ointment, some observers rebuked her (Mark 14: 3-9).
“Leave her alone”, said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Mark 14:6).
Love generates lavish giving.

(c) Give Regularly

Many people don’t give at all, but most who do give do so sporadically.

Stewardship is not a once-a-year consideration, but a week-to-week, month-to-month commitment requiring

discipline and consistency. (2 Corinthians 8:11).
 (d) Give Deliberately

Whether it’s paying the tithe or giving the freewill offering, God’s children make choices and follow through on
them.

(e) Give Voluntarily

When the community of saints contributed to building the tabernacle, the words “willing” and “freewill” were
continuously emphasized (Exodus 35:21,26,29; 36: 3)

(f) Give Sacrificially

Describing the Macedonian Christians, Paul writes, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their
extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even
beyond ability” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3)

(g) Give Excellently

Paul says, “See that you excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Like piano playing, giving is a skill.
With practice, we get better at it. We can learn to give more, give more often, and give more strategically.

(h) Give Cheerfully

“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God takes delight in the believer who takes delight in giving.

There are many reasons for the joy in giving. One is knowing that we are investing in eternity and that one day
in the heavenly kingdom we will see the tangible results of our giving.

(i) Give Worshipfully

Cornelius is described as “devout and God fearing,” one who “gave generously.” When an angel of God
appeared, he said to Cornelius, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial before God”
(Acts 10: 1-4). Cornelius worshipped God through giving. Because of that, God thought of him with special
fondness.

(j) Give Proportionately

When there was an impending famine, “the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for
the brothers living in Judea” (Acts 11:29). God says when it comes to giving, “each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16: 2).

Proportionate giving is not equal giving. It’s a much greater sacrifice for someone who earns Kshs 10,000 a year
to give Kshs 1,000 than it is for someone who earns Kshs 80,000 to give Kshs 8,000. Although it’s true the
second person is giving away eight times as much as the other, he’s also left with eight times more to live on.

Be always reminded that God looks not only at what we give, but also at what we keep.

(k) Give Quietly

Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you
will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). When you give to the needy, he says, don’t
announce it, as do the hypocrites, who want to be honored by men. Instead, give quietly, not telling anyone, “so
that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew
6:4).

How many blessings have we robbed ourselves of in the last year by failing to give as we could have?

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
We praise the Lord for giving us an added year in our lives. We are grateful to the Lord for protecting us through
the difficult times we had last year during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic is telling us a lot as Christians
and we need to really agonize with the Lord to understand the times we are living in and align our lives with
such.

The education sector in our country was adversely affected by the pandemic in that schools were closed for nine
months. We thank the Lord that we did not receive cases of misconduct from our church maintained schools. We
want to give God all the credit for taking care of His own children and protecting them. We wish to thank all our
teachers who stood with the learners and who braved the hard economic times we experienced as a country and
church.
Now that we have gone back to school with the revised school calendar, we hope to continue delivering quality
education to all our learners in all our church maintained schools within the union. We need to remember that
our schools together with giving quality academic performances are missionary outposts and therefore they
should be in tune with the activities that are happening in the church both locally and globally.

The world church has voted to have the theme; I Will Go for this quinquennium and therefore all the local
churches, Fields, Conferences, Unions and Divisions and all the institutions are required to align their activities
with this theme.

We are grateful that our Division education director has prepared a sermon on this theme and I would wish to
share the same with all the local churches to be considered during this year’s camp meeting. After going
through this sermon, I was convinced that there are many worthy lessons we can take time and learn and by
God’s implement and bring serious changes in our children and the church and society at large
This is the sermon:

2021 ECD EDUCATION SABBATH SERMON

I WILL GO!

Key Text: Exodus 2:7 "Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and call you a nurse from the
Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’" (NIV)
I Will Go involves all church members reaching the world, inspiring and equipping them to use their God-given
spiritual gifts in witness and service for Christ. i

Introduction
As we celebrate the 2021 Education Sabbath in the East-Central Africa Division of Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Adventist Education is a critical partner in the Reach the World: I Will Go strategic plan a
rallying cry for Total Member Involvement. At its core, I Will Go is about you. It's also about the whole
church—Church members, Adventist Schools, local churches, missions, conferences, unions, divisions, the
General Conference, and other institutions—partnering to share the gospel with our communities and to the ends
of the earth.ii

The Great Commission in Matthew 28 is clear: Jesus' followers are to go and make disciples of all
nations. The gospel must be shared with the hundreds of unreached people groups around the world. I Will Go
outlines specific objectives and ways to accomplish this task. The value of the plan will be determined as the
Church, together as a worldwide team of brothers and sisters, under the power of the Holy Spirit, reach the
world like never before. We cannot afford to keep quiet and do nothing. We need to pray and act urgently. God is
calling upon us at such a critical time as this to reach the world.iii

The Story of Baby Moses

Exodus 2 starts with a beautiful story about baby Moses: "Now a man from the house of Levi went and
took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine
child, she hid him three months." (Exodus 2-1-2 NIV). The Bible talks about the woman conceiving and bearing
a son: The baby Moses opened his eyes to an unfriendly world. He was born in a mighty nation but was an alien
in an oppressed race when all babies such as himself were under a royal death sentence.iv Just at the time when
Pharaoh's cruelty rose to its height by ordering the Hebrew children to be drowned, the deliverer was born.v
Nevertheless, Moses had something special in his favor: he was the child of believing parents. Moses was not
the firstborn in his family. He had at least an older brother, Aaron, and an older sister Miriam.vi

In a literal sense, Moses' mother did precisely what Pharaoh said: put her son into the river (Exodus
1:22). However, she took care to put him in a waterproof basket and strategically floated him in the river.vii The
Hebrew word of the basket would be better translated by 'papyrus basket'; the term is used elsewhere only of
Noah's ark." viii But more so, for Moses' parents, this was a great example of trusting the child's welfare and
future to God alone. When Moses' mother let go of the boat made of bulrushes, she gave up something precious,
trusting that God would take care of it and perhaps find a way to give it back to her.ix The baby wept in River
Nile, and Pharaoh's daughter had compassion on him: In God's guidance, Pharaoh's daughter found baby Moses.
She was conditioned by her culture and upbringing to reject the Hebrews, but the cry of baby Moses melted her
heart. God had this beautifully planned for the deliverance of both Moses and eventually for the people of Israel.
x
He skillfully guided Moses's parents, the currents of the Nile, and the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to further His
plan and purpose. Using both the innovative initiative of Moses' family and Pharaoh's daughter's need, God
arranged for Moses' mother to train him in his early years and be paid for it.xi God rewarded Moses' mother's
faith, both as she trusted Him in hiding Moses for three months and as she trusted God by setting Moses out on
the river.

Miriam Willingness to Go and Save Baby Moses

Miriam must have been fourteen or fifteen at the time of the birth of Moses.xii She had heard the words
of the princess, pharaoh's daughter,xiii and thereupon she promptly spoke — "Shall I go and call you a nurse
from the Hebrew women?" (Exodus 2:7 NIV). No doubt, all had been prepared beforehand by the mother, who
had selected the place and time of the exposure from a knowledge of the habits and character of the princess,
had set her daughter to watch, and — so far as was possible — instructed her what she was to say.xiv But Miriam
at least carried out the instructions given her with excellent judgment and tact. She did not speak too soon, nor
too late. She did not say a word too much, nor too little. "Surely," exclaimed the princess, "this is one of the
Hebrews, children ." "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew mothers? " (Exodus 2:7 NIV) is the
retort. xv Egyptians, it is implied, cannot correctly nurse Hebrews — cannot know how they ought to be treated;
an Egyptian nurse would mismanage the boy — shall I fetch one of his nation? And the princess, feeling all the
force of the reasoning, answers in one short pregnant word — "Go." "Yes," she means, "do so; that will be
best." And then the result follows — "So the girl (Miriam) went and called the child's mother" (Exodus 2:8 NIV).
xvi
So the loving mother's scheming and the masterful performance of the part assigned to her by the clever sister
was crowned with success — Moses' life was saved. Yet, he was not separated from his natural guardian, nor
given over to the tender mercies of strangers: the child went back to his own home, to his apartment, to his
cradle; continued to be nourished by his own mother's milk; and received those first impressions, which are so
indelibly impressed upon the mind, in a Hebrew family.xvii Pharaoh's daughter said, "Take this child away, and
nurse him for me ."(Exodus 2:9 NIV). "Take him with you — take him to your own home for a while — and
there nurse him for me, as long as he needs nursing." (Exodus 2:9 NIV). “And to mark that he is mine, and not
yours — to silence inquiry — to stop the mouths of informers — "I will give thee thy wages"(Exodus 2:9 NIV).
Jochebed was more than content and "took the child and nursed him" (Exodus 2:9 NIV).xviii
Adventist Education and the "I WILL GO!" Campaign

Adventist Education and schools are meant to inspire a new generation of MIRIAMs, young people who
have Miriam's strength and courage, Moses's sister. Do we have people with the courage to say to Pharaoh's
daughter and the princess: "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?"
(Exodus 2:7 NIV). Who is willing to go and save baby Moses?

The "I WILL GO!" campaign is meant to inspire church members, young and old; after discovering
what is at stake, they become willing to go and leave their comfort zone and work for the salvation of others,
symbolized by the fate of the vulnerable baby Moses. What can we learn from this story and the heroic role of
Miriam?
1. Miriam was fully committed to working hard to take good care of her vulnerable baby brother Moses.
She took her responsibility very seriously. Any carelessness or sleeping on the job would have
seriously compromised the safety of her baby brother. Imagine if she was not on duty or alert when
Pharaoh's daughter came to bath by the river Nile.
2. Miriam was well trained and versed, she knew very well what to say when she encountered the
princess, Pharaoh's daughter. She did not stammer or hesitate. Miriam had a plan and a script. She
swung into action.
3. Having a good plan and script was not enough; Miriam dared to do the right thing to save her baby
brother. She dared to say "I WILL GO!" to get a nurse to save her baby brother. Baby Moses is in
imminent danger; who is willing to go and save the baby?

Our Responsibility and Challenge

In the Bible, Miriam's courageous and inspiring story is that she risks her life to serve God and save and
rescue her baby brother from destruction in ancient Egypt.
As we focus on the plight of many children born in the Adventist home and not attending Adventist
schools, each one of us can do something to advocate for and market Adventist schools. We are the modern-day
Miriam, and there is much at stake, especially the plight of many children seeking salvation and deliverance as
they lay abandoned in baskets of this life, in the River Nile of this world. Miriam urged Pharaoh's daughter to
allow her to get a nurse as she prayed for her baby brother's deliverance. Then, she ran fast to bring her mother
to the princess, risking her own life in the process.
There are several lessons we can learn from the story:

1. The hand of God is at work in the lives of His children. God used the circumstances in the plight
of baby Moses, as He uses humans' decisions and actions to work out His divine plans and
purposes providentially. We can trust in the Lord's sovereign care over every aspect of our lives.
God has a plan for our lives and for those who are "voiceless" and are in danger.
2. The Lord raised Moses, Joshua, Joseph, and many others to deliver His people from destruction.
Miriam was critical in saving baby Moses's life by her willingness to say: "I WILL GO!"
3. One person's courage can save and rescue a desperate situation and save the life of baby Moses
from imminent destruction. We must stand and speak with boldness. Miriam asked: "Shall I go
and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" (Exodus 2:7 NIV).
She was willing to speak and do everything to save her baby brother. God honored the courage
and faith of Miriam.
4. Miriam was willing to risk and take a unique opportunity and place in history to deliver her
baby brother. God uses everything and everybody for His divine purpose. And, the best thing we
can do for our lives is to search for and surrender to His will.
5. For Miriam, silence was not an option. She was willing to fit in God's purposeful timing and
plan to save her baby brother.
6. We are all given divine moments to alter circumstances around us and change the cause of
history. We can make a difference. We can become the "voice" of the children that have been
left behind in the world. Miriam's divine moment of providence came by accepting her
responsibility to go to Pharaoh's daughter and speak on behalf of her baby brother.
7. Miriam was only a teenager, and she never despised herself. Despite her age, she felt she had a
role to play in advancing the Kingdom of God. God is not a respecter of persons; He can use
anybody at any time to promote His work. Despite our age, we can gladly say: I WILL GO!

Where Do We Go from Here?

Miriam's story can inspire us to do something for Adventist Education and "save" Adventist schools and
many children in our neighborhood who are in imminent danger of the world full of moral decay. Further, many
Adventist schools are devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and aftermath. We could help mitigate the effects
of the pandemic by marketing and promoting Adventist Education.

Can we say that I WILL GO?

1. To save an Adventist School.
2. To recruit and encourage school-going family members, neighbors to attend Adventist schools.
3. To financially support an Adventist School.
4. To sponsor a student to an Adventist School.
5. To get actively involved with an Adventist school and support Adventist Education.

May God bless us as we seek to make a difference as Miriam and say I WILL GO!
REMAINING MATERIALS FOR CAMP MEETING

SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT

………………………………………………..

VOP DEPARTMENT

………………………………………………..

ADVENTIST MUSLIM RELATION DEPARTMENT (AMR)

…………………………………………..

COMMUNICATION

………………………………………………………
 Family Ministries
EKUC- Family Ministries – I will go – with the Everlasting Gospel:

Day 1 : The family Ties:

The family is a very important institution. It is actually the foundation of society, for families
make up schools, Churches, co-operative societies etc. The family is the first school to every child born,
where he learns to speak and experience social life. Given proper direction from the home the base of the
family , life continues well to other levels. It is critical to check on how the foundation is laid.
It is important then, that the families should be molded,grounded well and strengthened as they
begin, above all remember it was the idea of God to begin and establish the family, as it was not pleasant
at all for man to be alone. When Adam completed naming things as God gave him an opportunity to do,
there lacked something, hence look care to the words of Adam with the provision of the wife, Gen 2:23-
And the man said, ‘’this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because
she was taken out of man’’. Woman was derived from man. God could have used some other method to
create woman, but He saw it better to remove the rib from the side of man to make the partiner equal to
him. Gen 2:24- For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and
they shall become one flesh. This emphasizes the complete identification of the two personalities in
marriage. God instituted marriage, and that it is to be monogamous, heterosexual and complete union of
two persons. Check words used by prophet Amos, in Chapter 3:3-‘’Can two walk together unless they
agree?’’
The duty entrusted to husbands- Ephesians 5:28-29. Husbands ought to love their own wives as
their own bodies. (Eph 5:25, 33; 1 Peter 3:7; Coll 3:19). Maintain love, keep on being united, whether you
have entered marriage recently or you have been in it for awhile.
Day 2: Interdependence:

In Gen 2:24- A man leaves his parents and cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh. They are
interdependants. When both partiners leave their parents and cleave to each other, it has to be observed
that they now depend on each other. In Matt. 19:5- Jesus cites the purpose of God in creation, that
husband and wife should be one flesh, the oneness of kinship or fellowship with the body as a medium,
causing marriage to be the deepest physical and spiritual unity. (Eph 5:31; Mark 10:7-8).

It is important, that we understand that man and woman become one, hence they depend on each
other. There should be no misunderstandings in the family, this should be kept out. But incase there is
any uncomfort that is brought about it should be handled very amicably, iron it out. That is why there
should be healings when relationships turn sour. It is very critical. This even can lead into strengthening
your relationship.
Day 3: Role of Husbands:

The husband in the home is the head. To lead and guide the family in all aspects. God did not
create man and just leave him to decide on what to do. From the word of God the husband has what to do.
He has to serve as a priest in the home. The work of a priest is to stand between God and the family. He is
to bring the family to God in that way. That is where he is the head to guide the family and not to cause
headache to the family.
Gen 13:3-4 – As Abraham journeyed on, he never forgot to call upon the name of the Lord, at the
altar. In the family, in the house there should be an altar to call on the name of the Lord.

Gen 35:2-7 – The experience of Jacob in making an altar to the Lord and directing his family.

Deu 6:6-9 – God is addressing Moses, telling him what is to be done, if the legacy has to be kept,
men in their homes have to do the teachings of the word, give instructions to be followed according to the
word of God.

1Tim 5:8 – The husband is the provider of the home, not one wh only professes but does not do
much as stated in Titus 1:16.

Besides providing, he should care, show concern to the level that develops friendships for his
family members. One who sincerely loves them, knowing that one day, he will give an account to God for
what he did to the persons he was responsible in bringing them to the world.

Day 4: Roles of Mothers and Children:

While mothers (wives) do a good work in bearing and bringing up children in the family. They
have a role that is very impotant to play. The mother training, nurturing children is a job that is second
to none. They are the ones who stay with the children most of the time. That is why they are home makers.
They need to be models as the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31:15, 24-27). The wife works in
partnership with the husband, to make the home a good habitable place. Caring for and making a home,
she can be a role model and a friend to the children, hence transmitting a good legacy to the next group in
the lineage.

Children also have a role to play – To obey the parents as stated in Ephesians 6:1-3. They are also
partiners in the home, when they have been trained well in the way they should go, which they are
expected not to depart from it. They can give suggestions in some areas in the home, as they are guided in
other areas in life as they establish.

In family life, there can be discussions on companionship, parenting, mentorship and intergration
of new members to to the family, sons and daughter inlaws. Unity is very important as we plan and being
ready to say, we will go as a family to share. The family living well guided well can be a very great
influence than several sermons delivered from pulpits. Be good letters 2Cor 3:1-3). God bless you. May
God lead us that we can have exemplary families.

End.

AMBASSADORS CAMP MEETING STUDY

Ambassadors
How to Make a Difference As an Adventist Christian Youth
(Mathew 5:13-16; Isaiah 49:6; 1Timothy 6:17-19; 2Timothy 2:22)
If you want to make a difference as a Christian youth, you should remember that it's not just about going to
church or reading the Bible (although those things definitely matter). You can make a difference by living a
Christian life every single day. There are many ways you can give back and make a difference as a Christian
youth.
Day 1: Having the Right Attitude (Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:23)
1. Be a good example for other youth. (1Timothy 4:12; 1Peter 2:12) As a Christian youth, you should
lead by example. That means following Christian teachings. Everything you do in your life should reflect
the goodness of God.
o Show positivity, smile, and do good works. Don’t talk behind other people’s backs. Be kind to all
people, including those who aren’t popular. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Walk the walk, don’t
just talk the talk.
o Be a leader. Don’t participate or laugh at sinful subjects. Just walk away. But also try to get
people to stop doing it. If you see bullying occurring, intervene. Be the one person at your
school that doesn't tolerate strife, cussing or gossip.
o Don’t drink, smoke, party, cheat on tests, gossip, or engage in other negative behaviors. Be
someone who spends Friday night on their knees in prayer rather than at a party getting wasted.
2. Be patient and kind. (Galatians 5:22-23)- If people can't tell you're a Christian by your actions and
words, you're doing it wrong. You need to live every single day with the right attitude.
o Love others and be willing to help them even at cost to yourself. This is a fundamental
commandment that Jesus gave during his time on Earth. To love others as you love yourself is
so important. Don’t let ego and status stop you from treating others as you would your own
brothers and sisters.
o Don't be close minded. Love all people of all religions, social status, races, language, tribe and
beliefs. Don't swear or speak about inappropriate things, or make intolerant statements. You
can't make a positive difference if you are cursing or making dirty jokes. Be respectful,
honorable, and pure.
o Set an example of Christianity every day at work or school, or both. Be humble, kind, patient,
and respectful when engaging with all people including non-Christians.
3. Reach out to people who are shunned by others. (Luke 16:32-42) Jesus showed love to people who
were treated negatively by others or regarded lowly by society. Never give up on someone, and
especially never give up on God, in the good times and the bad.
o You will encounter islands in school and other settings. This means there are people who only
hang out with certain people because they don't know anyone else and won't make an effort to
know anyone else. It is something everyone does. You need to step up and be a bridge, which
means stepping out of your comfort zone.
o You can sit with someone who sits alone at lunch and just be a friend. Or you could lend a
listening ear to them. Building a personal relationship is a great first step to leading someone to
Christ. A subtle but effective way to spread faith is to plant seeds and allow the Holy Spirit to
take root within others.
o You have the relationships with the people around you already, and you can be the one who
encourages them, offers prayers, and lives out the Bible so as to be an example of God's love
and grace. Treat everyone as an equal. Whatever their status in life or profession, remember that
all people are God's creation and deserve a chance to be understood.
4. Be able to take rejection or loss with grace. (Psalm 27:10; John15:18; Psalm 34:17-20; 1Peter 5:7,8;
Jeremiah 30:17; Psalm 37:23-24) You should be happy to do the good deeds you do. However, it can be
more challenging to show a positive attitude when you are rejected or otherwise face negativity in your
life.
o When confronted about your beliefs, don't freak out. Remember that everyone has a different
story as to how they became a Christian, whether it was a dramatic conversion or they just grew
up in it, but no matter how you became a Christian, it's your firsthand account. Tell people why
you believe what you believe even if they ridicule you for it.
o Turn the other cheek. If someone is rude to you or cruel, show them forgiveness and love.
Forgiveness is a Christian trait. We are all born sinners, and we all struggle and we all fall at times.
Don’t let that discourage you. If someone’s hurt you, find a way to forgive.
o When you fall, forgive yourself too, and pick yourself back up and try again. What matters to
God is how many times you stand up. Strive to grow in a positive way. You are unique, you have
 your own gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Grow the positive aspects of
your personality. (Psalm 118:13-14)
Bottom of FormDa

Day 2: Learning more about your Faith (Hebrews 6:1-3; 11:6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 10:17; 2Peter 3:18;
Ephesians 4:15)
1. Keep studying your faith. Continue to study and learn about your faith as you get older. Know that
even adults still work on the tough questions.
o Come to youth group with a heart that wants to learn. People will notice a change in your group.
Start answering questions and step out of your comfort zone. Once you step out of your comfort
zone, others will start to step out of theirs.
o Spouting verse is all well and good, but understanding the deeper meaning behind it all, how it
fits into the entire narrative of the Bible, is more important. You can say "God so loved the
world that He sent His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16), but until you can show that same love
to others, it's difficult for others to see the positive change caused by your faith.
2. Read the Bible. (Joshua 1:8; 2Tim.3:16-17;Psalm 119:11 Job 23:12). You could try to read a scripture a
day. God’s word is vital to a Christian life because it provides guidelines. You could also listen to
podcasts or watch YouTube videos on your faith.
o Ask questions. You won’t know everything. There are many Christians who have studied faith
for their whole lives, but they still don’t know everything. Keep in mind that historical context,
language, translation, context or meaning can matter when reading Christian teachings.
o Seek out older religious teachers and show them great respect, such as a pastor or elders and
preachers. Ask them to help you learn more about your faith. Make sure that you keep involved
in a Bible study, preferably involving your age group. This is much more effective in helping
you learn and relate to the Bible than attending only traditional worship services.
3. Pray as often as you can and go to church. (Acts 2:42). You can simply start off by saying, “God, I do
not know what to do, but I have this desire in my heart to make a difference.” God doesn’t care what you
say to Him. He just loves to listen to you.
o You could start a prayer journal so that you can remember what you prayed for and then see
how God has answered your prayers. Don’t forget to pray for others too, not just for yourself.
o You should attend church as much as you can and ask your parents if they can go with you. Try
memorizing some important prayers and saying them before you go to bed and every meal. Just
take time out of your day to relax and think about God, what are you thankful for and what you
did wrong and could improve.
o Ask God what to do through prayer. God knows all your abilities, strengths, and weaknesses and
he knows what’s right for you to do to make a difference. Don't let your age or comfort zones
get in the way of doing what God calls you to do.
What's the most effective way to learn and relate to the Bible?Top of Form
Join a Bible study group; Join a church youth group. Just attend regular worship services.
Pray about it.

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Day 3: Giving Back to Others (2Cor. 9:6-8, 11; Luke 3:11; 6:30; Proverbs 28:27; 19:17 Hebrews 13:16)
1. Lead a food collection and a fundraiser or seek church assistance to help someone in need.
Maybe you start out by collecting spare change or donating your income. Find a worthy cause, and
help collect donations for it. Or just give whatever money you have to a good cause.
o You could use an online donation site/WhatsApp group. You can also help by joining or helping
a cause that revolves around helping people know about God and His Word; there are many
organizations that cater to the needs of less fortunate people all across the world as well as teach
 them about Christ.
o Perhaps you do car washes or lemonade stands. Sell books. It’s not necessarily how much you
donate that counts. It’s the fact you’re giving most or all of what you have that matters.
2. Join a youth group or mission (OYiM) (Acts 13:47; Mark 16:15). This is another way that you can
give back: By getting involved with group activities associated with your church. Try to get involved in
your local church's mission programs, whether they are around the world, national, or local. If your
church does not have these types of trips, you could bring the idea to the congregation.
o Try tithing (giving 10% of your money to your church) and donating some of the stuff you don't
use anymore. Inviting your friends to church or youth group are great ideas too.
o Don’t treat youth group like school, and don’t act like it bores you. Dedicate yourself to God, and
show this by always staying happy and cheerful and giving what you can to the group. You could
start/join an Adventist club at your school.
o Remember that a mission doesn't have to be across an ocean. You could go on a mission trip to a
local college or high school and help out staff with some church friends and talk about Jesus to
anyone willing to listen.
3. Be open about your faith and principles. (2Cor. 5:20; 1Peter 5:8-9; 2Timothy 1:13-14; 4:3; Titus 2:1)
You might feel like the only Christian youth around who is open about faith. Stand your ground.
Actively develop your relationship with Christ. Get out and interact with people and develop
relationships.
o Christian youth are ambassadors, not secret agents. In order to change people's hearts, you first
need to interact with them. Be as outward as possible about your faith. You could wear shirts
that spark conversations.
o Stand up for and voice your moral beliefs. You can do this in a way that sounds positive, not
negative. Be willing to stand up for what you believe in. Be a witness to what God has done for
you as a Christian. A lot of young people have some, little, or absolutely no faith in God
whatsoever. By being walking proof about what the word has to offer, you are making a
difference somewhere.
4. Give back by volunteering your time. (Ephesians 4:4-5; 1Peter 4:10; Hebrews 13:16; Romans 12:13).
You could help the homeless, take care of an elderly or disabled person, or work at an animal shelter.
Help at your church, school, and in your home too.
o You can also give back in smaller ways by simply being a positive force in your environment.
Help classmates with schoolwork out of class, for example. You can organize park cleanups or
volunteer for blood drives; donate food to the street children etc
o Help your church. Basically just volunteer to help your church. It could be something as simple
as holding the door for people visiting your church. You could offer to clean up after the
services.
5. Share your faith. (Philemon 1:2; 1Peter 3:15-16; Mark 16:15-16). This doesn’t mean that you try to
push your beliefs on others. However, if someone asks you about what keeps you strong in all you do,
gently tell them you believe in God, and you put all your worries/fears/pain onto God so that you can
help others with theirs.
o Also don't be afraid to share your testimony- talk to your youth minister/pastor about
opportunities to share your story, and where you can help within the church. The important thing
to remember is that simply letting people know you are an Adventist Christian can sometimes be
enough as long as you are happy and friendly and don't force anything down anyone's throat.
o It’s a good idea to let more people know that God has their back if you perceive that a person is
struggling and receptive to the message. However, understand that being a Christian is not about
beating out other religions. Christianity is a peaceful and loving religion. Learn to love the
people around you for who they are and that you cannot change them by shoving a Bible down
their throat. If you want to show how Christianity has made you a better person, be kind to those
around you regardless of their beliefs.
Tips
 If you ever feel distant from God, try to spend time praying or contemplating God in a quiet room with
 no distractions.
 Do not ever be discouraged about what others say. Be firm in your beliefs.
 Try listening to Christian music and reading Christian books.
 To make a difference in other peoples' lives, first change yours. If you aren't centered in God and if you
don't understand your own faith, it will be harder to make a difference.
 If you aren't sure how to pray, just try talking to God about what is troubling you.
Day 4: THE CHOICES OF YOUTH (summarize days 1-3 with this lesson)

Daniel 1:8

We want to thank God for you young people for being part of this church. Our prayers are with you and
your future in whatever you do. In Daniel chapter 1 there is a story about a teenager who made a decision that
changed not only his life, but his decision changed the destiny of the world and the destiny of a people. We're
going to talk about the choice that Daniel made, the choices of youth. You know, choice determines character.
Everyday we're faced with a series of choices. Choice determines destiny. Just a small choice can change the
direction of life. Every choice we make every day has tremendous eternal significance. As young people go out
into this world, whether it's as graduates, or whether it's back to high school or wherever, as men and women go
back to their jobs, we go back to a culture that's becoming more and more counter to Christianity. Even though
we have in our national anthem the words ‘O God of all creation’ we're living in a nation that seems to be more
and more opposed to the things of God and the principles on which our nation was founded, the principles of
God's holy word. So we're going to have to be confronted with some very difficult choices. Now, Daniel's
circumstance was that as a young teenager he found himself being carried away into a foreign land. The
foreigners from Babylon invaded the country of Israel and they took back with them many captives. And on
their first foray into Israel they particularly took the very brightest and very best of all the young people of Israel,
to take them back to Babylon and to educate them in the religion, in the customs, in the ways of Babylon, to give
them a first. Daniel and his friends had to make hard choices but they made it right. Will we as youths make the
right choices out there when faced with circumstances like that of Daniel in Babylon and Joseph in Egypt!!!.; To
Go out there and represent God well and bring hope and salvation to many??

Young Adults Lessons

Day 1: Caleb: The Man That Found the Fountain Of Youth

Scripture: Joshua 14:11

Caleb’s life is an amazing example of faith in the promises of God and shows us how when we abide in
Christ how He always provides.

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The bible contains a great number of little known big men. They are unknown and unsung. Caleb is one of these
great men of God. Caleb is right up there next to Joshua. Caleb was a great man of faith. Listen to the words
here in Joshua 14:11:

“I am still as strong today as I was in the day of Moses sent me; as my strength is now, for war and for
going out or coming in.”
Somehow or another Caleb had found the fountain of youth. Forty years in the wilderness were hard and only
Joshua and he were the only ones of their generation to make it through and he could still say, “I’m as strong this
day as I was forty years ago.” There are not a lot of people today that can say that. Many men like Ponce de
Leon and LaSalle have spent a lifetime looking for the fountain of youth with no avail. So what was Caleb’s
secret to finding the fountain of youth. I want you to look at three things concerning Caleb to see the answer.

I. Faith to Forget the Past

In the book of Numbers we are told that Caleb was one of the 12 spies chosen to go into the land, look it over,
and bring back a report to Moses. Now when they all returned with their reports they all had the same facts. The
land was flowing with milk and honey. But the interpretation of those facts differed between the spies. The
majority said let’s not go in. But listen to what Caleb’s response was in Numbers 13:30-31: “Then Caleb quieted
the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome
it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are
stronger then we.”

Now that was true. The people in Canaan were giants. But Caleb was a man of faith and knew what God has
promised. Listen to the following response of the people that had forgotten about God’s promises in Numbers
14:4: “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” The children of Israel wanted to go back to Egypt. They were
basically saying, hey those slavery days of making bricks for Pharaoh wasn’t all that bad. Those whippings we
took from the guard didn’t really hurt that much. They really started to believe that it would be better to return to
that.

Caleb though was able to forget those days, because he had faith in what God had promised. Notice what the
Bible says in Numbers 14:6-9: “But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among
those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the children of Israel saying, ‘the land
we passed through to spy out is a exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into
this land and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear
the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us.
Do not fear them.” Caleb had turned his back on the past life, and he was now focused on the promise of God.
When we focus on the promises of God and give God our all. He will always give us the strength to push on to
the prize.

II. Faith to Face the Facts of the Present.

The second part of Caleb’s formula was that he had faith to face the facts of the present. In the book of
Deuteronomy, we have a review of the wilderness experience and a statement from God to Caleb. Deuteronomy
1:30-33: “The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in
Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw hoe the Lord your God carried you just as a man
carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place. But for all this, you did not
trust the Lord your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by
night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go.”

Now notice God’s promise to Caleb in verses 34-36: “Then the Lord heard the sound of your words, and He was
angry and took an oath, saying. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore
to give your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the
land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the Lord fully.”
Caleb wholly followed the Lord. The world today is looking for a way to escape from the facts of life. A lot of
people today just can’t face the reality of life and they turn back to the past life, or they turn to alcohol, drugs, or
false reality games to hide. Caleb could face his present situation because he looked beyond it. God had called
Israel to go into the land of Canaan, and Caleb believed it could be done.
III. Faith to Face the Future

Notice Joshua 14:7, 10, 12: “7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-
barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. 10 Now behold, the Lord has
let me live, just as He spoke, these forty five years, form the time that the lord spoke this word to Moses, when
Israel walk ed in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty five years old today. 12 Now then, give me this
hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with
great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.” Caleb
picked the toughest place in all of Canaan to be his new home, and said one day that land were the giants live
will be mine. Caleb didn’t get to cross into that Promised Land that day after spying it out, due to the lack of
faith from the majority. And God sent them back into the wilderness for 38 more years. That desert was real to
Caleb, just like all the other Israelites. But the difference was as they kept looking back to what they knew in
Egypt; Caleb was looking to Hebron, the home of the Anakim (the giants). Did you know that the word “Hebron”
means communion with God. Caleb knew that one day he was going to be in that place of communion with God.
And when the others of his generation passed away looking backwards, Caleb had his eyes set on the promise of
God.

In Joshua 15:14, we see that Caleb did get to Hebron and he did drive out the giants. It was his possession now,
because he knew that God was bigger than the giants. Let us sum it all with the words of Paul in Philippians
3:13-14: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies
behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.”

Lesson 2– Day 2

Biblical Youths That Overcame Obstacles to Succeed

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:12

How our youth can overcome obstacles in their life to succeed.

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BIBLICAL YOUTHS THAT OVERCAME OBSTACULES TO SUCEED

I. MOSES, OVERCAME A THE OBSTACLE OF A SINGLE-PARENTING HOME

A. His parents had to give him away – Ex. 2:3”But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket
for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank
of the Nile. ‘

B. If they didn’t he would have been put to death –Ex.1:22”Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people:
“Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
C. He became Son of the Pharoah’s daughter – Ex. 2:10”When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s
daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

D. He Became a Great Leader and a Leader of a Great Nation

Heb. 11:24-29”By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25
He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was
looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he
saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of
the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry
land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. “

II. JOSEPH, OVERCAME A DYSFUNCTIONAL HOME

A. His father had two wives and two mistresses
B. He was the Eleventh of Twelve Sons
C. He was gossiperer, spying on his brothers
D. He’s brothers wanted to kill him, kill their own brother
E. We have to see the fundamentals that were in their hearts
F. The sold him to a foreign country
G. HE was sent to PRISON – NO future for those that have a criminal record!
H. Gn. 41:41-44”So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then
Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen
and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men
shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 44 Then Pharaoh said
to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”
I. He became the PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT

III. TIMOTHY, OVERCAME A DIVIDED HOME

A. His father was an unbeliever
B. His mother and grandmother were the only two Christians
C. His father was a Greek who worshipped other gods
D. This did not became an obstacle for His faith to diminish
E. 1 Tim. 2:5”I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your
mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. “
F. After the Apostolic Age – He became the CHRISTIAN LEADER OF the CHURCH

IV. LUKE, OVERCAME RACISM

A. He was one of the first gentiles that had been converted
B. Col. 4:11-14”And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow
workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a
servant of Christ, salute you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in
Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”
C. Not only a gentile but also a christian
D. He was a DOCTOR OF MEDICENE

V. JESUS THE ONE THAT CAME FROM A PERFECT HOME

Day 3: I Am Just A Youth

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Young people are called of God (I Will Go)
Jer. 1:Top of Form
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4-5 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And
before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
The book of Jeremiah contain the prophesies of a man called by God in his youth. A heartbroken prophet with a
heartbreaking message for his generation. His was called into ministry during the time of King Josiah the last
godly king of Judah. In one of Judah’s darkest hour, God raised up a youth name Jeremiah. Against all
persecution and hardships, Jeremiah stood his ground and boldly proclaimed a message from God to a stiff neck
generation. During his long ministry he warned God’s people that catastrophe would fall on the nation because
of their idolatry and sin. He lived to see this prophecy come true with the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon, the destruction of the city and the Temple, and the exile to Babylon of Judah's king and many
of the people. He also foretold the eventual return of the people from exile and the restoration of the nation. I
believed that in this dark hour, God is raising up His Jeremiahs, young man and young woman called by God
who will attempt mighty works for Him. In Jeremiah Chapter one, Jeremiah received a call from God. God told
Jeremiah that even before his was formed in his mother womb God already knew him and had called him to be a
prophet to the nations. Jeremiah being very young was overwhelmed by the task that God has given to him.
Jeremiah exclaimed No way God! I don’t know how to speak! I am just a youth! Common man God that is not
cool!
God replied and Do not say I am just a youth!. Are you running away from what God is calling you to do
because you are just a youth? I have good news for you! God is speaking to you right now, this moment , this
second "Do not say that I am just a youth!"
1Tim 4:12 “Let no one look down upon your youthfulness"
Three reasons why you should not be looking down upon your youthfulness. Don’t say I am just a youth because:
1. God has given you a Divine purpose.
As God has given Jeremiah a divine purpose for his time and generation, I believed that God has given this
generation of youths His divine purpose. There will be some of the youths who will become prophets like
Jeremiah and Isaiah, some of you will become like Daniel with the ability to influence the secular affairs of the
nations. As God has given Jeremiah a divine purpose God has called each and everyone of you youths seated
here today. In 1Samuel 3:12-13, Parents today, are just too permissive and staying overnight, going on trips with
friends
B. Young people do you see yourself as one with a divine purpose given by God?
- God uses young people and you do not need to look down upon yourselves.
- David was used by God to slay Goliath when his was a youth.
- King Josiah was eight years old when he became King. At an age of 16 when he was still a youth, he seek the
God of his father David and at an age of 22 he began to purge the land of Idolatry, bring revival to the land of
Judah once again.
- Young men and young women do not despise your youth, do not say I am just a youth, because you have a
divine purpose given by God!
2. God has given you Divine Backing.
Jeremiah said but I am just a youth! The task is too great for me. But God replied Jeremiah, no Jeremiah your
youth is not an excuse. Jeremiah you have to be obedient to the task I have given to you. You see there are two
types of responses to God's call. Isaiah just heard a heavenly discussion going on. He never even heard God
mentioning his name in the discussion, but he threw up his hands and say God I volunteer! Send me!! I am
something like Isaiah. Me me me send me please. Jeremiah was different. Me? No not me, the task is too
impossible send someone else!!! God is saying “What’s your problem Jeremiah?” The whole of heaven is
backing you up!
2King 6:15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with
horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha
prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes,
and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
God will not leave you with a task and not empower you for that task.
- If he prompts you to share the gospel to your friend, he will empower you for the task.
- So often after preaching and as I recall the things I spoke about, I wondered hey where did that statement came
from. I realized that those are words given by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2: 17 AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS, ’ God says, ’THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY
SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND
YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Some of you will become evangelist for God and He will empowers you.
Some of you will become pastors for God and He will empowers you.
Some of you will go forth to the nations and He will empowers you.

Conclusion
Do not let anyone despise your youth. God has given you a divine purpose; divine backing and a divine
empowerment. Ps 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. David was
speaking this with the confidence of the God of his youth will not leave him now as he gets up in Age. When
you trust in God in your youth …..it makes it easier as you grow older and base your life on the living God.

Day 4: "The Days Of Thy Youth"

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:2, Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

The challenge given by the writer of Ecclesiastes to the youth of his generation is a challenge that needs to be
sounded to every generation.
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"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near
when you say: ’I have no pleasure in them." Ecclesiates 12:1. The challenge given by the writer of Ecclesiates to
the youth of his generation is a challenge that needs to be sounded to every generation.

I. THE ONE CALLED TO REMEMBRANCE: "THY CREATOR".

1. Witness the testimony of the Old Testament: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1.

2. Witness the testimony of the New Testament: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that
are on earth, visible and invisible…all things were created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16.

II. THE CALL: REMEMBER NOW!

Now…in the morning years of your life. The time to remember to magnify God in our lives is now. Hear the call
of I Chronicles 20:5: "Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?"

III. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN REMEMBERING NOW THY CREATOR?

"Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering, and come into
His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Psalm 96:7-9.

For us to be motivated to do this requires that we must….

1. Remember His exaltation:

This will invoke praise, worship and reverence. He is holy, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

2. Remember His nature:

Compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness, grace. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7.

3. Remember His commandments:

We should respect and obey all the commandments of God. The Pharisees sought to entrap Jesus, asking Him,
"Which is the great commandment in the law?". The answer that Jesus gave is one that we would do well to
heed today.

"Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matt. 22:37-40

IV. WHY NOW? WHY NOT LATER IN LIFE?

1. Now…before the "difficult days come in your life". Habits and traits a person develops in their youth almost
invariably stay with them for the rest of their life.

2. "Now" is the only time in eternity we can be assured of having.

3. The fields are ready unto harvest (John 4:35).

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES CAMP

MEETING SERMON 2021
DAY ONE

THEME OF THE QUNIQENNIUM I WILL GO (ISAIAH 6:8)

Title: You have been Chosen

Theme: Jesus has chosen you to be on His side. You can say Yes or No.

Object: Baseball glove, ball, bat, World Series

Text: John 15:16 (NIV) 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go
and bear fruit—fruit that will last…

Have you ever played on a team?

There are two very important teams playing a very important series right now.

Have you ever heard of the World Series? The World Series is the championship playoff in baseball.

Let’s take an example of the World Series.

The series is up to seven games long, and whichever team wins four games first is the champion.

The winner will be crowned the best baseball team in the world.

When I was a kid I loved to play baseball. [Show glove, ball, and bat. This is all you really need]
l
Bal

e s at
gl ov
e

e B
Bas

Bas ase
B
During the summer we would get a bunch of kids together and go down the ball field.

And if we had enough kids, we’d pick up teams. Do you know how to pick up teams?

The two best players would be the captains and they would take turns picking others to play on their team.

How do you determine who picks first? (Rock, paper, scissors; eene, meenie,…)

[Demonstrate hand over hand up the bat.]

Now when you’re choosing a team, you always choose the best player that hasn’t been chosen yet.

And finally it gets down to the worst players that nobody really wants.

And you say, “OK, we’ll take Billy.” And then you put Billy in right field because you know that he’s really not
very good at all.

Sometimes you have to feel sorry for the kids that are picked last, because everybody knows they are not really
very good.

I never got picked last in baseball, but soccer? Ha! When they’re picking up I say, “Hey, don’t pick me. I stink
at this game.” I never played soccer when I was a kid; I don’t even know the rules.

Did you know that Jesus has a team? The Bible calls Him the “captain of the army of the LORD.”

And do you know who’s the captain of the other team? Satan, the devil.

These two teams are fighting for something more important than the World Series.

They are fighting to see who will rule the universe.

So Jesus and Satan pick up teams.

But it’s not quite the same as it is in baseball or soccer.

Jesus wants everybody to be on His team, so he chooses everybody.

But you know what? Satan does the same thing. He wants everybody to be on his team so he chooses
everybody too.

So which team are we going to be on?

If you say “yes” to Jesus, that you love Him and trust Him, and want Him to be your Captain, then you’re on
Jesus’ team.

If you say “no” to Jesus, then you’re on Satan’s team.

Do you know that most people are on Satan’s team. His team is really, really big.

But Jesus’ team, though it is a lot smaller, is really good, and our Captain is the best player in all the world.

Seventh game of the World Series. Bottom of the 9 th inning. Two outs. Our team is up to bat. We have the
based loaded, but we’re losing 6 to 3. And who steps up to the plate? Jesus our Captain. First pitch…Whack.
Over the left field fence! We win 7 to 6. Jesus is King of the universe.

Do you want to be on a winning team? Then let’s say yes to Jesus right now, what do you say?

DAY TWO

Title: Choose God’s Way

Theme: The most important choice we can make in life is to love and serve the Lord.

Object: Choices of foods to eat.

Text: Josh 24:15 Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord. ”

I am so glad that you all chose to come down front to listen to the children’s sermon today.

That was a good choice.

The Bible talks about the importance of making good choices.

We all make many choices every day.

We can choose to get up or stay in bed.

We can choose what clothes to wear and what to eat for breakfast.

We can choose to pray before we eat or we can choose to ignore God and not thank Him for our food.

We can choose what to play and who to play with, to play inside or to play outside.

When we get older, we can choose what college to go to, what kind of business we will work at, who we will
marry, and where we will live.

The choices we make in life are really very important.

They determine the kind of people we will become.

I used to have a poster on my wall at work that said this:

That means that where we end up in life is determined by the

choices we make.

This morning I brought with me some things that you can make a choice between.

But once you make a choice, don’t change it because someone else chose something different.

[Choices: Cheese-Its and Animal Crackers. Cherries and strawberries. Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Special K]
[Revised: Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios; strawberries or watermelon]

Choosing good food to eat is important, but not nearly as important as the choice Joshua put before the people in
the verse we read from the Bible.
The choice he gave the people was to either serve God or to serve idols.

And Joshua set the example for all the people by choosing who he would serve.

He said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Boys and girls, you can make the same choice today.

You can choose to love God, to pray to God, to be thankful to God, to worship God, and obey God.

Or you can choose to put something else in God’s place, and that becomes your idol.

One choice leads to eternal life; the other leads to eternal death.

How many want to say this morning what Joshua said?

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

DAY THREE

Title: Jesus is the Greatest

Theme: The greatest thing we can do is tell others about Jesus

Object: Bat and ball; Search a word on Jesus is the Greatest.

Text: John 1:26-27 (NIV) “I baptize with water, ” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not
know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” ----*time
to apply is now and
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Here John the Baptist is talking about Jesus and he says that Jesus is so great that John
is not good enough to even try to untie Jesus’ sandals.

Did you ever wonder how it would feel to be the greatest?

To do something that everybody loved: like be a great singer, or a great piano player or a great athlete?
How would it feel to be like David Ortiz and hit a home run that wins the World Series, and all of Fenway Park
is going wild?

I heard the story of a boy who took his bat and ball out to his back yard. He yelled out at the top of his lungs, “I
am the greatest hitter in the world.” He threw the ball up in the air, swung the bat, and missed. “Strike One” he
yelled. [Repeat two more times for strikes two and “Strike three, you’re out!”] He thought for a moment and
then yelled out at the top of his voice, “I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”
Everybody would like to be great at something.

[Remembrances of Mohammed Ali. “I am the greatest”]

At one time or another we have all dreamed of being the greatest at something.
But the Bible tells us about John the Baptist: he knew that Jesus was the greatest.

John was very popular in his day and people would travel for miles to see him and to hear him speak.
He was so popular that many people began to think that he might be the Savior that had been promised -- or that
he might be Elijah or one of the great prophets who had come back from the dead.

John assured people that he was not the Christ, or even one of the great prophets.
He told them that he was just a man who had come to tell them about One who was coming who truly was the
greatest.

He said, "The One who is coming -- why, I'm not even worthy to untie his sandals."
Of course, the one he was talking about was Jesus.

Most of us will probably never be known as "the greatest anything."

But we can, like John, tell others about the One who is The Greatest.
We can tell them about Jesus.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him to be baptized, John pointed to Jesus and cried out:
“Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.”
That’s one of the things that makes Jesus the greatest.

He died for our sins so that we can be forgiven.

There is no one else who can take away the sins of the world.
Like John, we can tell others that Jesus is the greatest because He can save them from their sins.

I can't think of anything that we could do that would be greater than that!

How many think Jesus is the greatest? Let’s tell our friends the good news!