We are entering into a new quarter where our personal Attention is stirred up to witness for Christ. This weeks SSLesson deals with the question "Why Witness?". The following are to be considered as to what motivates an individual to witness to others? A. To Offer Salvation, B. To Make God Glad, C. To Grow, D. To Obey, E. For Love Sake

Prayer Thought:

• The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. {AA 9.1}

Memory Verse:

• "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4

A. To Offer Salvation

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

1. Offering of Christ

A failure to appreciate the value of the offering of Christ, has a debasing influence; it blights our expectations, and makes us fall short of our privileges; it leads us to receive unsound and perilous theories concerning the salvation that has been purchased for us at infinite cost. The plan of salvation is not understood to be that through which divine power is brought to man in order that his human effort may be wholly successful. {RH, August 19, 1890 par. 6}

2. The Innocent Offering

But in the innocent offering slain by his own hand he beheld the fruits of sin--the death of the Son of God in his behalf. He sees the immutable character of the law he has transgressed, and confesses his sin; he relies upon the merits of the Lamb of God. . . . {TMK 17.2}

3. Man's Substitute

In becoming man's substitute, in bearing the curse which should fall upon man, Christ has pledged Himself in behalf of the race to maintain the sacred and exalted honor of His Father's law. . . . God has given the world into the hands of Christ, that He may completely vindicate the binding claims of the law and make manifest the holiness of every principle. {TMK 17.3}

God reveals Himself in several ways: How God Reveals Himself to Humanity?

— Through the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32)

— Through nature (Psalm 19:1)

— Through special or providential circumstances (1 Chronicles 16:12)

— Through the life and ministry of Jesus (John 1:18)

• Despite being able to use all those means of communication, God has chosen us to announce the plan of salvation to others.
• He wants those who have accepted Salvation to share it with others. He wants us to share what we have received, giving others the opportunity to accept eternal life (Matthew 10:8; James 5:20).

B. To Make God Glad

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

1. Presence of Jesus makes us Glad

Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee." {ST, January 13, 1904 par. 10}

2. Strengthened by His Spirit

Those who choose Christ as their leader, grow daily more like Him. "Strengthened with all might by His Spirit," they form characters that will win for them entrance into the holy city. {ST, January 13, 1904 par. 11}

3. Numbered with the Servants of Christ

We now have the opportunity of deciding whether we shall be numbered with the servants of Christ or the servants of Satan. Day by day, in word and act, we show what choice we are making. Shall we not decide as did Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?" {ST, January 13, 1904 par. 12}

• Have you ever wondered how God feels about the pain, suffering and injustice sin has brought to our world? (Jeremiah 13:17).
• When a heart accepts Christ, the angels burst into shouts of cheerfulness, and God sings joyfully (Luke 15:7; Zephaniah 3:17).
• What can be more rewarding, more fulfilling, than knowing your witness brings joy to the heart of God in a world of sadness?

C. To Grow

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

1. Living Streams of Salvation

That rock was a symbol of Him who by His death would cause living streams of salvation to flow to all who are athirst. Christ's words were the water of life. There in the presence of the assembled multitude He set Himself apart to be smitten, that the water of life might flow to the world. In smiting Christ, Satan thought to destroy the Prince of life; but from the smitten rock there flowed living water. As Jesus thus spoke to the people, their hearts thrilled with a strange awe, and many were ready to exclaim, with the woman of Samaria, "Give me this water, that I thirst not" (John 4:15). {RC 18.2}

2. Growing in Christ as a Spiritual Temple

Instead of growing up into Christ, they have grown away from Christ, and have nourished the elements of character that have been like those of Satan. These characteristics of evil excluded Satan from the royal courts above, and they will exclude you from the family of God, "except thou repent." Your heart must be softened and made susceptible to the influence of the Spirit of God, that you may grow up into a spiritual temple in Christ. The saints on earth must love as Christ loved, or they will not be saints in heaven. If your sympathies have become dried up, turn to God, humble your proud heart before him, fall on the Rock and be broken, and then Christ will mold you after his own similitude, and make you a vessel unto honor. {RH, February 10, 1891 par. 12}

3. Former and Latter Rain for Growth

The work is to be done "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. If we keep our minds stayed upon Christ, He will come unto us "as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3. As the Sun of Righteousness, He will arise upon us "with healing in His wings." Malachi 4:2. We shall "grow as the lily." We shall "revive as the corn, and grow as the vine." Hosea 14:5, 7. By constantly relying upon Christ as our personal Saviour, we shall grow up into Him in all things who is our head. {COL 66.1}

• As we mentioned before, God has many ways to reveal Himself. However, even when revealing Himself directly, He always put people in contact with other people. Check the experiences of Saul or Cornelius, for example (Acts 9:3-6; 10:1-6).
• Preaching the Gospel is a blessing for us. We can grow spiritually and rejoice with Christ when people accept Him.

D. To Obey Jesus' Command

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

1. Fishing with nets

Night was the only favorable time for fishing with nets in the clear waters of the lake. After toiling all night without success, it seemed hopeless to cast the net by day; but Jesus had given the command, and love for their Master moved the disciples to obey. Simon and his brother together let down the net. As they attempted to draw it in, so great was the quantity of fish enclosed that it began to break. They were obliged to summon James and John to their aid. When the catch was secured, both the boats were so heavily laden that they were in danger of sinking. {ST, May 6, 1908 par. 3}

2. Work of Winning Souls

Every one who in living faith follows Jesus, with an eye single to His glory, will see of the salvation of God just as surely as these discouraged fishermen saw their boats filled by the miraculous draft. It was because Christ was in the ship that they were successful in their efforts to catch fish. The indwelling presence of the Saviour is equally necessary in the work of winning souls. {ST, May 6, 1908 par. 6}

3. Obey His Commands

The believer may bear the testimony in his life and character that God loves the human agent who obeys His commands as He loves His Son. How amazing is this statement--almost beyond the comprehension of the finite mind! Jesus says further, "I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" [verse 26]. {14MR 85.2}

• God doesn’t want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
• God has chosen men and women (2Pet. 2:5; Gn. 12:1-3), nations (Is. 49:6) and peoples (Acts 1:8) to make Salvation known through history.
• For the church to neglect or minimize the command of Christ is to fail in the purpose of her existence and miss her prophetic calling to the world.

E. For Love's Sake

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

1. Test and Trial Comes

Test and trial comes to every child of God. The intensity of your love and fidelity will be tested by difficulties, disappointments, and trials. These your faith must overcome. The burden you bear for Christ's sake, the service you render to Him in the complete surrender of your will to God's will, is the measure of your love for Him. [1 Peter 1:3-8, quoted.] {20MR 229.4}

2. Elevated Platform of Love

Nothing that man can manufacture can take the place of God's Holy Spirit! Nothing that man's wisdom can invent will justify the violation of truth, or a disregard of the rights of humanity. Truth is too pure to set her delicate feet off from the elevated-platform of love to God and love to our fellow-man. {1888 1527.1}

3. For the Truth sake

When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of unrighteous tribunals, Christ stands by his side. All the reproaches that fall upon him, fall upon Christ. Christ is condemned over again in the person of His disciple. When one is incarcerated in prison walls, Christ ravishes the heart with His love. When one suffers death for His sake, Christ says, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, . . . and have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:18. The life that is sacrificed for Me is preserved unto eternal glory. {DA 669.3}

• The love of Jesus moved Paul to spread the Word of God all over the world since he understood that Jesus had given His life to save him (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
• Witnessing is a loving response to God’s love.
• “Most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear […] out of goodwill. […] [they] do so out of love.” (Philippians 1:14-16).

From the Pen of Inspiration:

• “In the power of the Spirit the delegated servants of Christ are to bear witness for their Leader. The yearning desire of the Saviour for the salvation of sinners is to mark all their efforts. The gracious invitation, first given by Christ, is to be taken up by human voices and sounded throughout the world: ‘Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ Revelation 22:17”