By John Thiel
Jesus was the greatest missionary. If we do it different to him its mans intervention. We will now look at missionary work for this time of earth’s history. There was a forecast that Jesus made. This is directly relating to our missionary call for these last days.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
How close are we to the end? Its just about upon is. How long have the end time prophecies been going on? Ever since 1844. That was a long time ago. The three angel’s messages are a direct reference to this. We are living in a time when iniquity abounds. The love of many is growing cold but he that shall endure to the end; the same shall be saved. This is our lot. The message of the three angels is a direct parallel. We will look at the reality of the time we are living in.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
This is the missionary work. This first angel’s message is preaching the everlasting gospel.
Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness. Did you ever think about this? Does it say allot of people are going to be brought into the church? It is a witness. What are we to witness? His glory because the hour of HIS judgement is come. The world in the last days is to learn from Gods children the character of God. That is the work of the first, second and third angels message.
Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Just at the time of the end, what are we to do? Demonstrate to the world, the character of God. To witness to all nations. Fear God and give him the glory. We are to be witnesses. Jehovah Witnesses believe they are witnessing by going door to door. Are they witnessing of the glory of God? You can go around thinking you’re doing missionary work in the last days when you can be falling off the correct procedure. Give God the glory. Identify, be a witness of Gods character. That is the call, to be witnesses.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
We read in the three angel’s messages that the beast and his image are false prophets. The image of the beast is apostate Protestantism that is called the false prophet. Can you begin to see the true missionary work that is required here? The one upon whom Gods glory is seen. That is the missionary work. The whole world needs to be illuminated with Gods glory. However, not by going to the people and saying, here, you need to believe in Jesus, here’s some information. How are we to give him the glory?
But I would inquire if our dear friends here seek to respond to the light that God is letting shine upon them? It is not the amount of light that comes to us individually that will save us, but it is the use that we make of this light that is given us from heaven. Light has been flashed upon our pathway, and we want to know how much better it makes us. Has it discovered to us our imperfections of character? and has it perfected us so that we cease to sin?–Ms 19a, 1886, p. 4. “Lessons from the Life of Abraham,” March 27, 1886.) {6MR 5.3}
What is this stating? It says, Arise, shine; for thy light is come. What does the light do? What you do with it. It will show your imperfection of character. What is the greatest powerful argument that God exists? The manifestation that people do not sin. People can’t believe that. When I was working, people tried to get me to do this and that and in the end, they had to acknowledge I wouldn’t’ do it. When the light of Jesus comes upon us, it is what we do with that light. It’s exactly the same as child training. You can tell a child to do as it’s told. You can punish it but you as a parent are doing the thing you’re telling the child it shouldn’t be doing. It’s much harder to train a child than to punish. We are doing a missionary work that isn’t just going door to door passing out leaflets. The literature that is to demonstrate to the world is Gods character in your life and people reading it. That is missionary work.
When the human agent feels his need of the Sun of Righteousness, when he comes to Jesus saying, Lord, I am sinful, unworthy, hopeless; save me, or I perish, he is accepted in the beloved, and his heart is warmed by the rays of divine love. In this sincere coming to Christ he opens the door to Him who has long been saying, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” He is accepted by faith, and he knows what it means to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.–Ms 164, 1898, pp. 1, 4. (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect,” typed December 14, 1898.) {6MR 5.1}
The human agent takes hold of Christ and knows its weakness and sinfulness.
The work of consecration must go forward and upward, elevating the mind, elevating the speech. Thus we become more and more heavenly minded, better prepared for translation. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Man is to be perfect in his sphere, as God is perfect in his sphere. How can we attain so lofty a standard? The required perfection is based on the perfection of Christ. In Him is our righteousness. He spoke these words, and he was by birth a human being, though allied to divinity. Every provision has been made that man should be a partaker of the divine nature. God never issues a command without furnishing the grace essential to carry it out. He says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” –Ms 157, 1898, pp. 1, 2. (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect,” typed December 5, 1898.) {6MR 5.2}
With the gospel of Jesus in our life, we are to stand before the world as witnesses of that glory. How many do you think God needs to spread the world with his righteousness?
Ten members, who were walking in all humbleness of mind, would have a far greater power upon the world than has the entire church, with its present numbers and lack of unity. The more there is of the divided, inharmonious element, the less power will the church have for good in the world. {5T 119.1}
If there were just ten members. How are they going to cover the world? How many times I’ve heard this. You heard it some weeks ago, cut up Perth into its different sections and everyone go and letter box. The witness to the world is the glory and character of God who have ceased to sin.
By doing that, we are opening our heart to Jesus to let him in. Its not just works, works. Come on we have to go out on Sunday morning to do missionary work. Missionary work is the reflection of Gods character in our life. The world that is growing in gross darkness will see that. It only needs ten members. Our focus of missionary work is to be that. There is work to be done, but it’s a work that is based upon opening the heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God. Those who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour were thankful for an opportunity to work. Their hearts were full of gratitude to the one who had accepted them; and when at the close of the day the householder paid them for a full day’s work, they were greatly surprised. They knew they had not earned such wages. And the kindness expressed in the countenance of their employer filled them with joy. They never forgot the goodness of the householder or the generous compensation they had received. Thus it is with the sinner who, knowing his unworthiness, has entered the Master’s vineyard at the eleventh hour. His time of service seems so short, he feels that he is undeserving of reward; but he is filled with joy that God has accepted him at all. He works with a humble, trusting spirit, thankful for the privilege of being a co-worker with Christ. This spirit God delights to honor. {COL 397.3}
In fact it’s probably five minutes before midnight. What is missionary work? The joy of cooperating with the master worker. People who are workers to have great results, will be disappointed. God isn’t judging the amount of work we do, but the joy we do it with. It’s not the amount of work we do.
It is the motive with which they work, not the amount they do, that makes their offering valuable in the sight of Heaven.–GW 222. {CS 107.1}
It is Gods character that makes the missionary work valuable. Arise, shine, for thy light is come. What does God mean to you in the 11th hour workers? We don’t have to be pushed into it. We are representing the character of God.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let your light shine. Let Jesus in to the heart. Walk and talk with him and obey him. Follow his character. Inadvertently you will be a witness. In the gross darkness, Gods people will be a witness by demonstrating the character of God. The other work of studying the bible with people and giving out literature is only a tiny, tiny bit of the work. The church is to stand as a people united demonstrating the character of God.
Ten people. How many were there with Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego? Four. The whole world heard about it. It was spread across the entire empire of Babylon. We must not lose sight of this. Anything different to this will wear us out.
How is it? Are we confessing Christ in our daily life? Do we confess Him in our dress, adorning ourselves with plain and modest apparel? Is our adorning that of the meek and quiet spirit which is of so great price in the sight of God? Are we seeking to advance the cause of the Master? Is the line of demarcation between you and the world distinct, or are you seeking to follow the fashions of this degenerate age? Is there no difference between you and the worldling? Does the same spirit work in you that works in the children of disobedience? {TDG 139.1}
If we are Christians, we shall follow Christ, even though the path in which we are to walk cuts right across our natural inclinations. {TDG 139.2}
How are we to witness? It is by our life. The character that is demonstrated by a loving and lovable Christian. By a life of total difference to a world that is bent upon self and aggrandisement. In fashions and customs of the world. You will stand out like a beacon. The people will say, why are you doing this? The more faithful we stand when people ridicule us for our practises, we meet them with loving kindness and courtesy but we stand boldly in the ways of God. That is missionary work. Ten people doing that kind of missionary work, will have a power in the entire world.
Habakuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Waters cover the sea. If you want this message to cover the world, just stand out and be different. Then testify of your faith and its going to spread around the world. It can be ten members. This goes back to our study of the three angel’s messages that there will be little companies all over the globe. Just two’s and three’s who will stand out so different to the rest that when the Sunday law is enforced, the world will know about us. This is how it’s going to happen. For us to develop a character, we can do it every day of your life. You can do bible studies. We know when we give bible studies it gives such a thrill. Missionary work of sharing with others is an important work. But we’re not to think its going to spread the message. What is going to spread the message is your singularity. For a witness. It won’t win allot of people but they will acknowledge it, we don’t want that they will say, but they will know. The knowledge of the glory of God will cover the earth. They will know. That is the reason why so many will be judged at the end ‘cos they didn’t want it. Never lose sight of this. Take new courage and do not think you’re not being a missionary.
Amen.
