Lesson 12 for March 21 2009 God

Lesson 12 for March 21, 2009

God wants His people not just to serve Him, but to share the Gospel to the whole world too. “You are the light of the world. ” Matthew 5: 14 “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. ” (Isaiah 49: 6)

First missionary boat to the Pitcarin Islands J. N. Andrews Oakland, California, April 1, 1874. “I dreamed that several of our brethren were in council considering plans of labor for this season… One of dignity and authority—One who is present in all our council meetings—was listening with deepest interest to every word. He spoke with deliberation and perfect assurance. ‘The whole world, ’ He said, ‘is God’s great vineyard. The cities and villages constitute a part of that vineyard. These must be worked. ’ " Ellen G. White, Testimony Treasures, vol. 3, p. 88)

After the 1874 visión, J. N. Andrews was officially sent as a missionary outside the USA. As a result of that expansión, the Adventist Church is present in almost every country (as per December 31, 2015): Countries where Adventism is present (of the 237 the United Nations recognizes) Churches Church membership Divisions 215 81, 552 19, 126, 438 13 Unions 132 Local conferences 362 Local missions 270 J. N. Andrews

“Not all can go as missionaries to foreign lands, but all can be home missionaries in their families and neighborhoods. There are many ways in which church members may give the message to those around them. One of the most successful is by living helpful, unselfish Christian lives. Those who are fighting the battle of life at great odds may be refreshed and strengthened by little attentions which cost nothing. ” Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, p. 485)

The Israelites were told how important is to educate our children in God’s ways. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ” (Deuteronomy 6: 6 -7)

Ellen White received several visions from 1872 on the principles of Christian education A partir de 1872. They became counsels on: Ø Bible study as the main education. Ø Why are schools necessary. Ø General principles on education. Ø The education at home. Ø Founding and administering Adventist schools. Ø The importance and the preparation of teachers. Ø Combining study and work with recreation. Ø Missionary preparation at our schools. Ø Universitary education. Those counsels can be found in the next books: Christian Education (1923), Messages to Young People (1930), The Adventist Home (1952), and Child Guidance (1954) Andrews University, USA. Sagunto Adventist Campus, Spain Dominican Adventist University

The building of the first Adventist School, Battle Creek The first Adventist school was founded in Battle Creek in May 1872 with 12 students. The education work grew and spread throughout the whole world. As per December 31, 2014: INSTITUTIONS STUDENTS Primary schools 5, 332 1, 145, 006 Secondary schools 2, 296 566, 301 Tertiary institutions 115 147, 123 49 5, 922 7, 792 1, 864, 352 Worker training institutions Newbold College (United Kingdom) TOTALES

“There is no work more important than the education of our youth. I am glad that we have institutions where they can be separated from the corrupting influences so prevalent in the schools of the present day. Our brethren and sisters should be thankful that in the providence of God our colleges have been established, and should stand ready to sustain them by their means. Every influence should be brought to bear to educate the youth and to elevate their morals. ” Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p. 46) Palawan Adventist Academy. One of the beneficiaries of our offering this quarter. BE GENEROUS

“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you. ” (Exodus 15: 26) God gave the people of Israel sanitary and alimentary laws that could protect them from many plagues and diseases (for example, Leviticus 11 -15) During the Dark Ages, many Jewish neighbourhoods didn’t suffer plagues because of those sanitary laws. Jesus healed all kind of diseases, and the Holy Spirit gives the gift of healing as a spiritual gift. (Acts 10: 38; 1 Corinthians 12: 9)

“It was at the house of Brother A. Hilliard, at Otsego, Michigan, June 6, 1863, That the great subject of health Reform was opened before me in vision. In the light given me so long ago (1863), I was shown that intemperance would prevail in the world to an alarming extent, and that every one of the people of God must take an elevated stand in regard to reformation in habits and practices. . The Lord presented a general plan before me. I was shown that God would give to His commandmentkeeping people a reform diet, and that as they received this, their disease and suffering would be greatly lessened. I was shown that this work would progress. I accepted the light on health reform as it came to me. It has been a great blessing to me. I have better health today, notwithstanding I am seventy-six years old, than I had in my younger days. I thank God for the principles of health reform. ” Counsels on Diet and Foods, Appendix 1, p. 481 -482 A. Hilliard’s home

As a result of that vision and other ones, Ellen White wrote down counsels on several areas of health: How spirituality and diet are related. The right diet and estremes. The inappropriate diet as a result of disease. Eating in excess and controlling the appetite. The consistency of meals and fasting. Diet during pregnancy and childhood. Healthy cooking methods. How to administer hospitals. How to use diverse types of food and drinks. How to teach health principles. Those counsels can be found in the next books “Counsels on Diet and foods”, “Counsels on Health”, “Temperance” and “Mind, Character, and Personality”

Clinics and Dispensaries 385 Hospitals and Sanitariums 175 Nursing Homes and Retirement Centers 140 Orphanages and Children’s Homes 29 Airplanes and Medical Launches 7 Food Industries The first nursing promotion in Loma Linda 22 Those who follow the principles of the health reform live a longer and healthier life. Loma Linda sanitarium

“And you shall write them [my words] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. ” (Deuteronomy 11: 20) The Bible is the greatest publishing work God has given us. “Mezuzah”. Quote from Deuteronomy, 6: 4 -9 y 11: 13 -21 that Jews hammer to the door’s post in a box.

“At a meeting held in Dorchester, Massachusetts, November, 1848, I had been given a view of the proclamation of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish the light that was shining upon our pathway. After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: “I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world. “ (Colporteur Ministry, p. 1) An excerpt piece from “The Present Truth” The first publication was "Streams of Light" They gathered to pray for God’s blessing before sending the pamphlets by mail. Review & Herald offices

The publishing work reaches the whole world today. Publishing Houses and Branches 62 Literature Evangelists, Full time, Interns, Part Time Review and Herald building, 1868 21, 306 Literature Evangelists, Credentialed and Licensed 4, 463 Languages Used in Publications Media Centers Pacific Press building 1880 s Safeliz Publishing House (Spain) 2009 379 15

“I have been instructed that even where the people hear the message from the living preacher, the canvasser should carry on his work in co-operation with the minister; for though the minister may faithfully present the message, the people are not able to retain it all. The printed page is therefore essential, not only in awakening them to the importance of the truth for this time, but in rooting and grounding them in the truth and establishing them against deceptive error. Papers and books are the Lord’s means of keeping the message for this time continually before the people. In enlightening and confirming souls in the truth the publications will do a far greater work than can be accomplished by the ministry of the word alone… The same ministry of angels attends the books that contain the truth as attends the work of the minister. ” (Colporteur Ministry, p. 100)

Ellen White was also instructed by the Lord with visions about how to stop and clarify some theological mistakes in the early Adventist Church: ü People that thought they were perfect. ü Changes on the sanctuary belief. ü People who thought they shouldn’t work anymore. ü The Pantheism Dr. Kellog promoted. ü Setting dates for Jesus’ coming. ü Arianism. ü Legalism. ü …

Ellen saw her first vision on December 1844. She saw the path the Adventist people must follow as we walk towards the New Jerusalem. Her last known vision was on March 3, 1915. That vision was related to what should Adventist young people read. She recieved about two thousand visions and prophetic dreams during her lifetime.