God on the Battlefield

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FRIDAY

November 26

Further Study:

“The gospel is a message of peace. Christianity is a system which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 47. “It is one thing to read and teach the Bible, and another thing to have, by practise, its life-giving, sanctifying principles engrafted on the soul. God is in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. If those who claim to be his followers draw apart, showing no affectionate or compassionate interest in one another, they are not sanctified to God. They have not his love in their hearts.”—Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, March 17, 1910.

Discussion Questions:

In your Sabbath School class, think of ways to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to the people of your community who do not know God personally.      What is faithfulness? Have different class members define faithfulness, using biblical characters as examples of faithfulness.     Many times we seem to be helpless and without any choices in our circumstances. What can we learn from a woman like Rizpah, who, despite her circumstances, acted so faithfully before the Lord?     Men of God with concubines? Descendants suffering for the sins of their fathers? This story leaves the modern reader with a lot of unanswered questions. Of course, as with everything in life, there are always unanswered questions. Part of what it means to live by faith is to live with unanswered questions (After all, if all things were answered, where would the need for faith come in?). How have you learned to live with the unanswered questions in your own existence? What have you learned from not having answers that could help someone else who struggles with questions that beg for answers that, for now, aren’t coming?       Dwell more on the power of example. Who are the powerful examples in your culture and society? Are they good or bad examples? What about your own example? What kind of influence do you think you have on those who watch your behavior? How different is your example at home from your example in public or in church? Would those who might admire your example in public be shocked if they saw your example at home?

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		I N S I D E Story
		God on the Battlefield by BENJAMIN SCHOUN Haben grew up in an orphanage in Ethiopia. When he was 15, he left to make his own way in life. War broke out, and Haben was drafted into the military. He trained as a soldier and spent three years on the battlefield. War terrified the teenager, and during his free time he listened to the radio. He discovered Adventist World Radio and the Voice of Hope. The programs comforted him and turned his thoughts to God. He began praying to the God he didn't yet know. Several times Haben faced death on the battlefield. Once his unit fought for three days without food or water. Most of his fellow soldiers were killed or seriously wounded, and Haben found himself and one other soldier facing a well-equipped advancing enemy force. The two men crowded behind a small boulder, partially exposed to enemy fire. It was a matter of time before he'd be injured or killed. He prayed, "God, if You want me to die, I'll see You in the resurrection. But if You save me, I will serve You the rest of my life." Hours later fellow soldiers rescued the two men. "I have no doubt that God saved me," Haben says. "In the thick of battle I saw for myself the love of God." On another occasion, as Haben and his fellow soldiers moved toward battle, he felt a hand pressing him to the ground. Suddenly a bomb exploded where he had been standing. His men were amazed to find him alive. "We saw that bomb fall on top of you!" they said. But Haben didn't have a scratch. He pulled his small Bible from his pocket and shared God's love with his men. The war ended, and Haben settled in Addis Ababa, where he took a job with the government. But he remembered his promise and prayed that God would lead him to His true church and show him how he could serve Christ for the rest of his life. A fellow soldier directed Haben to the Adventist church in Addis Ababa, where Haben received Bible studies and was baptized. He studied theology and worked as a Global Mission pioneer church planter. Today he helps produce programs for Adventist World Radio, the station that led him to God on the battlefield. He has given his testimony over the airwaves and has received many letters from soldiers who want to know more about the God he serves. Your mission offerings help support Adventist World Radio and many other outreach programs of the Adventist Church. Thank you for your faithful gifts. BENJAMIN SCHOUN is president of Adventist World Radio.
		Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email:   info@adventistmission.org  website:  www.adventistmission.org