Discipleship Project, Week 5, Day 2
DAY 2
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WITNESS
William Booth once gave the following allegory, describing it as a vision or dream he had experienced. He said he once had a vision concerning the conditions of the multitudes. He saw a dark and stormy ocean filled with huge and threatening waves. In that ocean were multitudes of poor human beings shouting, struggling and drowning, they rose and shouted again and then some sank to rise no more. And he saw out of this dark angry ocean a mighty-rock that rose up with it’s top towering above all the dark clouds. And all around the base of this rock there was a vast platform. Onto the platform, he was happy to see a number of poor struggling, drowning people continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And he saw a few of those on the platform who were already safe were working and scheming with ladders, ropes, boats, and other means to help the poor people still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety also. But he went on to say that only a few were really doing much to get the people out of the sea. Although all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, most of them didn’t seem to care about others just like them all around them who were going under. … many of whom were their own husbands and wives and brothers and sisters and even their own children. This wasn’t because of a lack of knowledge because they could see it happening all around them. They even talked about it some times. Many of them went weekly to meetings where it was discussed. Yet they were busy with all kind of other things… some of them were caught up night and day with business and with storing up their savings in boxes, safes and things like that. Some were amusing themselves growing flowers on the side of the rock, others playing music, or dressing up in different styles and walking around hoping to be admired.
But there was more. At the center of those who were trying to save others was a magnificent person unlike all the others. He was leading the whole work himself and calling for every one who had been saved to help him save others. And yet most of those on the platform who had heard his voice clearly and who felt they ought to obey it – those who confessed to love him and were in complete sympathy with his work who worshiped him or at least professed to do so were all taken up in their jobs, and enjoyments and their families and friends, that they didn’t really listen to what he was saying. He himself was down in the sea rescuing people. But they didn’t care. In fact some of the people on the platform to whom this wonderful person was calling, wanting them to come and help him in his difficult task, were themselves always praying and crying out for Him to come to them!
Some wanted him to come and stay with them and spend time in making them happier. Others wanted him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings, some wanted him to come and help them with the very things that were distracting them. They were crying out “Come to us, help us,” while all the time he was down in among those who were struggling with his arms around the ones who were drowning trying to drag them to safety looking up and longingly calling to them come and help Him! He understood it all. It was plain enough.
Do you understand it? Write your thoughts on the key points of this “vision”:
Read the verses below. Beneath each one write at least one reason for your witness.
Philemon 1:6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
John 15:8 & 16 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. ….
Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
John 20:2 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Your Daily Quiet Time: Today’s reading: 1 Peter 1:9-12. Write down any notes in your notebook to share in class. Pray through the Lord’s Prayer. If you have time review your memory verses.
Larry is the senior pastor at 
I had no idea who William Booth was so I looked him up and then the allegory made even more sense. He is the founder of the Salvation Army. Obviously, General Booth made it his life’s mission to rescue the lost. I feel I can safely say I will never be known for founding an organization like the Salvation Army, but it does not take away from my task of rescuing the “perishing multitudes”. The sea General Booth described is the “ocean of life-the sea of real, actual earth”. I want to remember that I too was perishing and was rescued, and I want to thank God that I now have the task of teaching others about the “true Immanuel”.