Inside Story for Friday 29th of December 2023

By Andrew McChesney

Joseph Delamou had prayed to God to reveal His true church, but Joseph didn’t know where to worship in Conakry, capital of the French-speaking country of Guinea in West Africa. After studying the Bible with his English teacher, a Seventh-day Adventist named Fortunate Kaloubilori, he fasted for three days and pleaded with God to reveal His will.

Then Joseph had a dream in which he was locked up in prison. A prison guard was a relative, and he begged him for freedom. “I cannot free you even though we are from the same family,” the relative said.

Joseph attempted to escape but was caught and reproved by his relative.

“Don’t play with me,” the relative said. “If you try that again, I will punish you in a way that you will never forget.”

A voice boomed out with a description of the punishment. “Someone will bring straw and put it under you and set it on fire,” the voice said.

Joseph understood that the punishment represented hell after Jesus’ coming. He prayed, “I’m not better than the others. Only don’t let me die here. I want to accomplish something for You before I die.”

After the prayer, he was somehow removed from the prison cell and into the presence of three soldiers. One soldier said, “Joseph, you must pay the ransom for your freedom.”

“Only God freed me, not you,” Joseph replied. “Jesus paid the price on the cross. I owe you nothing.”

But the soldier insisted, “If you don’t pay, we will take you back to prison.”

“My freedom did not come from you, and you cannot go against God, who freed me,” Joseph said. “My life depends on God, and if you harm me, you are not harming me but God.

The soldiers left, and Joseph turned around and saw Fortunate.

“Your freedom is from God,” Fortunate assured him.

Then Joseph woke up. It was 3:00 a.m., and he was sweating. The dream seemed so real.

He prayed, “Thank You, God. Every time I ask for help, You answer me. I thank You, not for answering me but for loving me.”

Today, Joseph is 24 and a faithful Adventist.

“When I was a child, I asked God to lead me to the right path,” he said. “God answered this prayer by bringing me to the Adventist Church. I am ready to serve God.”

Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this Sabbath will help spread the gospel in the West-Central Africa Division, which includes Guinea. Thank you for your generous offering.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/23d-13-inside-story-dreaming-dreams-part-3/

Daily Lesson for Friday 29th of December 2023

“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. ‘The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ ”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 342.

But before that can become a reality, it is our duty to partner with God in His mission to reach the world with the message of warning so that people can accept and be a part of God’s promise of re-creation.

“I long to see very many laborers at work for those who know not the evidences of our faith. Many have received great light through hearing the three angels’ messages, and now they should proclaim these messages in all parts of the world. I desire to do my part and to open the way for others to carry the light of truth. May the Lord help us to put the armor on. The believers are to unite in the solemn work of giving the last note of warning to the world.”—Ellen G. White, Letter 390, 1907 (unpublished).

Throughout this quarter we have studied various aspects and issues related to God’s mission. This week we concluded our study by exploring Revelation’s keys to understanding what a restored relationship with God looks like, and it climaxed with a vision of the mission ­fulfilled—the re-creation and restoration of the earth. While it is true that the destruction of sin and suffering will be the most terrifying days of earth’s history, God casts our vision to a time beyond this destruction and provides comfort and encouragement in the promise of the earth restored.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the “everlasting gospel”? Why is it “everlasting”? And why must what it teaches be foundational to our mission?
    
2. Why do we have such an emphasis on the three angels’ messages? How do you respond to the argument that we need to focus on Jesus and not on something as supposedly “negative” as these messages, which include very strong warnings?
    
3. How has this quarter helped you better understand not only the importance of mission but how you and your church could better participate in it, which is what we have been called to do?
    

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/23d-13-further-thought-the-end-of-gods-mission/