Hope. Many in the world are looking for hope in very hopeless situations. Reyna was one of these people. She found herself in a terrifying situation and had no control over her own body. But her mind found the hope it needed when a radio was given as payment and helped her find physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QEg_XeTapY
Inside Story: India ~ Snakebite Transforms Village
By Wilson Measapogu
Sundar Rao, a 27-year-old farm worker, was intrigued when a white man showed up at his Indian village and read about a Creator God from a black book on Saturdays.
Image © Pacific Press
Sundar was attracted to U.S. missionary Theodore R. Flaiz’s Bible stories and decided to follow his God.
Sundar’s employer was furious when he didn’t go to the field the first Sabbath. His anger grew as Sundar kept missing Saturday work.
At home, Sundar angered his relatives by no longer participating in family religious festivals, including the worship of Naga, a snake god.
After some time, Sundar sought peace by building a house just beyond the brook that marked the village’s border. Soon he got married and had a daughter.
One day when Sundar was 29, the employer asked him to work on a Saturday. “After your worship ends on Saturday, come and help count bales of hay”, he demanded.
Sundar reluctantly obeyed. He arrived at the field after sunset but before darkness had set in. With help from others, he counted the bales. Noticing a small bale off to one side, he kicked it toward a larger bale. In a split second, a young cobra sprang from the bale, struck him on the leg, and fled.
No medical help was available, and Sundar knew he would die soon.
The villagers had no doubt that Naga was punishing him.
“Naga is very angry at you”, one said.
“It’s because you disobeyed all the village gods”, said another.
Sundar started to sweat. Formerly estranged family members gathered around him and wept. The village waited for him to close his eyes and die.
But nothing happened. An hour passed. Two hours. A snakebite specialist was summoned to check his leg. The specialist was astounded with what he found. He declared that the cobra had struck Sundar with the top of his mouth, not with the poisonous fangs, and had fled in fright without bothering to bite a second time.
The next day, the villagers were amazed to see that Sundar was healthy and happy.
“The protection of the white man’s God has saved him from the cobra bite”, they said.
From that moment, in 1957, many villagers joined Sundar in keeping the Sabbath.
Five years after the snakebite, I was born to Sundar.
Today, Gudem Madhavaram is an Adventist village. It has produced 40 pastors and Bible workers, and many educators and health professionals. On Saturdays, the whole village stops to worship the Creator God. This is the power of the God who turned a snakebite into a blessing.
Wilson Measapogu is executive secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Southern Asia Division, whose territory includes India. His father died in August 2017 at the age of 77.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide may be edited, altered, modified, adapted, translated, reproduced, or published by any person or entity without prior written authorization from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Amen!
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(1) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/I9I3lgE2GwE/
Friday: Further Thought – Sabbath: A Day of Freedom
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “From the Red Sea to Sinai”, pages 295-297, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Sabbath”, pages 281-289, in The Desire of Ages; Sigve K. Tonstad, “The Social Conscience of the Seventh Day”, pages 125-143, in The Lost Meaning of the Seventh Day.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“Jesus stated to them that the work of relieving the afflicted was in harmony with the Sabbath law. It was in harmony with the work of God’s angels, who are ever descending and ascending between heaven and earth to minister to suffering humanity …
And man also has a work to perform on this day. The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. God’s holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour’s pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day”. – Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pages 206, 207.
Discussion Questions:
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Summary:
God gave the Sabbath as a way of remembering Creation and Redemption, but it also has many practical benefits. It teaches us to trust in God’s provision for us; it teaches us to practice equality; and it can become a spiritual discipline that can transform all our relationships. Jesus demonstrated His ideal for the Sabbath by healing the sick and emphasizing the Sabbath as a day to benefit those in need.
Amen!(1)
(1) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/XQa-zm1W8GE/
ADRA responds across south Asia to help thousands affected by monsoons
Torrential rainfall has already devastated many households in the regions of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, causing landslides. The recent downpour has been blamed for the deaths of 180 people and reportedly affected more than 44 million people.
ADRA is working closely with local authorities in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh to assess damages and community needs. Below are updates on aid provided by ADRA in each country.
INDIA
Shelters have been established for more than 45,000 people who lost…
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/aijJcRmJWoM/
One boy’s song leads two to Christ
The choir director had an exciting announcement.
“Our Christ’s Kids children’s choir has been invited to sing at a musical concert at the big Cabaret des Artistes concert hall,” she said. “We need to rehearse.”
The 30 children in the Christ’s Kids choir from the Seventh-day Adventist English Church would sing five songs at the concert in Libreville, Gabon. Children’s choirs from other Adventist churches also would sing.
Twelve-year-old Bonte Medou couldn’t wait for the big day to come. He…
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/Dx-FlCRUn5Y/
