Closer To Heaven
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Support for the mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been part of the Sabbath School program. This video is Mission Spotlight for this week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sp857g_KEM&w=560&h=315]
(0)The post Mission Spotlight for March 5 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-march-5/
At the age of 18, I longed to share Jesus with others. But I was afraid.
“I’m scared,” I prayed often. “I don’t know how to share You.”
Image © Pacific Press
Then I learned that I needed surgery, and I was hospitalized in Tula, a city located about 2 ½ hours by car from Russia’s capital, Moscow. Three of the six beds in my hospital room were occupied when I arrived. The other female patients were reading or watching television. My operation was scheduled for the next day.
“What should I do?” I thought. “What does someone do before an operation?”
I opened my Bible.
The woman across from me immediate spoke up.
“Are you a Christian?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Which church do you go to?” she said.
I didn’t want to be mocked for being a Seventh-day Adventist. Many Russians belong to another Christian denomination and dismiss Adventists as members of a sect.
“I’m a Protestant,” I said.
The woman wasn’t satisfied. “Which Protestant church do you belong to?” she said.
What could I say? “I’m a Seventh-day Adventist,” I said.
A big smile lighted up the woman’s face.
“Wow, a Seventh-day Adventist!” she exclaimed. “I know Adventists! They are the best people!”
The woman spoke enthusiastically about the church, its work, and Zaoksky Adventist University located outside Tula. The two other patients listened silently. They had never heard about the Adventist Church.
“Adventists are good Christians!” the woman said. “My father knows some nice Adventists.”
As she spoke, the physician entered the room. He was surprised to see her.
“What are you doing here?” he said.
“What do you mean?” she replied.
“I ordered you to be discharged yesterday,” he said. “You should already be at home.”
Her husband picked her up within 30 minutes.
Looking at her empty bed, I realized that God had answered my prayers in an unexpected way. God had revealed Himself on His own in my hospital room. I hadn’t done anything. God had done everything. As a result, the other patients knew that I was an Adventist and that Adventists love Jesus with all their hearts.
Before the hospital stay, I went to church and believed in Jesus. But being a Christian is more than that. Being a Christian is also telling others about Jesus. If you long to share Him, He can arrange it. He will do everything for you.
(0)The post Inside Story: God Is the Best Witness appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-god-is-the-best-witness/
“Christ’s ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people. …
They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him!” — Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, Pages 38, 46.
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(0)The post Friday: Further Thought ~ Jesus Opens the Way Through the Veil appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-jesus-opens-way-through-veil/
It is argued that believers “have come” to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, through faith. In this sense, their experience anticipates the future. Thus, the heavenly Jerusalem belongs to the realm of the things “hoped for” and “not seen” but nevertheless assured to us through faith (Hebrews 11:1).
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
While true, this is not the whole meaning of this passage. We have also arrived at Mount Zion, in the very presence of God, through our representative Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 3:1). Jesus’ ascension is not a matter of faith, but of fact. It is this historical dimension of Jesus’ ascension that provides compelling force to the exhortation of Hebrews to hold fast to our confession (Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 10:23). Paul says: “Since … we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, … let us … with confidence draw near” (Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 4:16, ESV).
Thus, we have already arrived through our representative and, therefore, should act accordingly. Through Him, we “have tasted the heavenly gift … and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:4-5, ESV). The reality of Jesus’ ascension and ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19, ESV), the guarantee that the promises have substance and are worthy of confidence (Hebrews 7:22). For us, faith has a historical anchor.
God’s purpose will be fulfilled not only in Jesus, however, but also in us. We have said that Jesus’ ascension fulfilled the typology of the first two yearly pilgrimages of Israel, Passover and Pentecost. According to Hebrews and the book of Revelation, the last pilgrimage, the Feast of Booths, is yet to be fulfilled. We will celebrate it with Jesus, when we are in the “city … whose architect and builder is God,” in the heavenly homeland (Hebrews 11:10 [NIV], Hebrews 11:13-16). We will not build booths, but God’s booth, or tent, will descend from heaven, and we will live with Him forever (Revelation 7:15-17; Revelation 21:1-4; Revelation 22:1-5; Numbers 6:24-26).
| How can we learn to make the promise of eternal life real to us now, amid a world so full of pain and suffering? What answer can you give to those who say that this is all just a fantasy to help us feel better about our life here and now? |
(0)The post Thursday: They Will See His Face appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/thursday-they-will-see-his-face/
You can view an in-depth discussion of Jesus Opens the Way Though the Veil/a> in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)The post 11: Jesus Opens the Way Through the Veil – HopeSS Discussion Video appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-jesus-opens-the-way-through-the-veil-hopess-discussion-video/
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