What Are You Doing?
Think over the energy you're throwing into life now trying to be a better Christian, a better student, a better family member, and a better you. Why ask so often for God's blessing on your life? If it's to have a nicer, happier life, that's not a bad goal. Especially since that's what heaven will be, an easier, nicer, perfect existence. If that were God's purpose for you right now, He would simply take you home to heaven, right? NO! That's because biblical discipleship is never described as nice or easy.
With Privilege Comes Responsibility
The Bible does not talk as though God is just out to save us as individuals or to save us from harm. God wants to make us His children with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that come with this relationship. He wants us to become joint-heirs with His only Son, whom He sent to die for us, so that through His blood we might be brought into the house of God. Not as servants but as children, who are part of a family.
Being a part of God's family is the most wonderful blessing you can receive. But this blessing He gives us is intended for all other peoples as well! In fact, blessing all peoples is the father's business. Being a child of God is more like being born into a family business where everybody is naturally expected to take part in the Father's work!
Don't just climb the Foothills: Strive for the Mountain-Peaks!
So what are you doing? Are you setting your affections on things the Father desires? Or do you think that joining God's family is becoming a part of a nice, privileged Christian group?
Those who satisfy themselves with the lesser blessing of seeing the beauty of the lower slopes will never know the deep satisfaction of those who venture up to the pinnacles by joining God in His Family business. The few who dare will know the thrill and return exhausted yet invigorated. Go ahead, set your affections on things above and the perseverance, toil, and sacrifice will become a distant glimmer compared to the mighty blessings of obeying God's will.
God's Unchangeable Purpose in the Bible
How many times have you heard or given testimonies about God's wonderful purpose for your life? Look into your Bible. It spells out a clear, specific task God has for you in His historic plan. He does have a wonderful purpose for your life!
The story of the Bible has a simple unified theme: The Redeemer offers every ethnic group on Earth the blessing of joining God's family.
He is putting together a people from every people group on Earth. This theme appears throughout the Bible.
When God's intention to reach all nations is clear, the Bible fits together sensibly and purposefully. The presence of a mission mandate throughout scripture is settled.
Check out Jesus' summary of Scripture and His role in it in Luke 24:44-47: "that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
What you'll see over and over in these passages about God's purpose on earth are terms such as peoples, nations, families, languages, tribes, the Gentiles or even Greeks all signifying the idea of people groups. God has blessed us not just for ourselves, but to be a blessing to the nations. Scripture is full of this two-part theme.
Nation Building
God can transform. He will reduce the suffering and improve the lives of people. Prejudice and community division can be reduced. His blessings will flow upon those who turn toward Him and act to bring God's blessing to other communities. Some Christians will be called nation-builders because the result of their work is a country that is better for everyone.
We are living at an exciting point in the history of the world! In China, the church is growing by leaps and bounds. Estimates are that there are at least 100 million Christians in that country! In 1900, the continent of Africa was only 3% Christian. Today it is over 40%!
In 1900 Korea had no Protestant church; it was deemed impossible to penetrate. Today Korea is 35% Christian
God is sending nonwestern missionaries to areas where western missionaries would not be allowed. Thousands of these missionaries from Brazil, Korea, India, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala are being sent out to reach the unreached people groups!
The Good News is spreading worldwide. Where the church is planted it grows. Yet a gap remains.
The Gap
While we're working so hard at improving our lives, deepening our fellowships and seeking God's healing for our families and our land, let's simply face the fact: we haven't yet given the same opportunity to many others.
God will accomplish His purposes. At the end of time Christ will be exalted with the song: "Thou didst purchase for God with thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" [Revelation 5:9]. So it's only a matter of when and through whom.
The Gospel will be preached as a testimony to all nations or people groups and then the end will come [Matthew 24:14]. A great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language will be before the throne and in front of the Lamb [Revelation 7:9]. From this we see the vision of the future; as we imagine this glorious scene there is no room left to doubt. We know that the great commission will be completed. The question is: Will you participate?
A Purposeful & Joyful Life
When you get involved in God's plans, get ready for action. Your life may never be the same. God will fill you with challenges and great satisfaction. There are hundreds of ways you can be involved either as a layman or full time worker. Writers, businessmen, engineers, teachers, students, housewives, everyone can participate! You will learn how later on in this course.
Real discipleship costs. The price is giving up any agendas that detract from God's global cause. The cost is to forsake claims of ownership to affluence and security. The demand for communities is to serve other communities, breaking down prejudice rather than hoarding God's blessings. The cost for individuals is to take risks and get out of the comfort zone, seek new ways to communicate the Gospel in a culturally relevant and sensitive way.
The price of being a part of God's global purpose is losing your life for His sake. Active participation in the big picture of God's plan is difficult. It requires that one not entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life [2 Timothy 2:4].
Take some time to read about some of the great men and women in history who gave away their lives for the sake of lepers, criminals ,the poor and unreached peoples.
What About My Career?
Are you thinking clearly about yourself? You need to ask God on your knees where you fit in. One key thing to realize is that the development of your career must not be your main concern. Yes, it will be in your heart of hearts again and again, a question of career vs. cause. Jesus today might have put it, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and your career will take care of itself." or "He that seeks to save himself will lose his life; he that will lose his life for my sake will find it."
What About My Future?
Is your problem that you can't see very far into the future? If you can't see very far ahead, go ahead as far as you can see. Lots of people would be glad to follow God if He would only tell them in advance exactly all the wonderful things He would do for them and what high-sounding job titles they might one day hold. But, remember Genesis 12:1? It is characteristic of the Christian life that God asks us to go without telling us where! This is not unfair on His part. The fact is that when we walk in the little light we have, and keep taking steps in faith, the ways in which He leads us are almost always (as we look back) something we could have never been told in advance! Untold marvels lie beyond each step of faith.
You don't really have to know what is beyond the next step. Again, it is characteristic of the Christian life that we can't see very far in advance. In fact, if you think you've got the next few years lined up you may be mistaken or you may be making your plans for God to bless. What does he ask? Nothing more than all we are and possess.
He doesn't ask us to do the easiest job we can think of but the hardest we are able to handle. He does not ask us to do what we cannot do, although He often enables us to do what we could not do without His special grace. It is amazingly true that when we are willing to do the most difficult thing we find that we are better off because of it.
Do you have it in you?
You have a part in God's historic purpose to disciple the nations. Is there any good reason why you don't take this seriously? Will you align your life with God's unchanging purpose?
Remember:
Only one life
It will soon be past.
Only what is done for Christ
Shall last
– CT Studd
Sprint Through the Bible
(From Catch the Vision by Bill Stearns)
The Bible is, in essence, a storybook about what God is doing. As any good saga, the Story of the Bible has a simple, unified theme: The Redeemer offers every ethnic group on Earth the blessing of joining God's Family. He's putting together a people from every people group on earth.
This theme can be glimpsed as you sprint through the Story of the Bible.
Genesis 3:15 The Redeemer Who would crush Satan's head is promised.
Genesis 12:1-3 God blessed Abraham and through him promised blessing to all families of the earth.
Genesis 18:18 God blessed Abraham and promised blessing to all families or peoples of the earth.
Genesis 22:17-18 God again blessed Abraham and promised blessing to all nations of the earth.
Genesis 26:4 God blessed Isaac and promised blessing to all peoples of the earth.
Genesis 28:14 God blessed Jacob and promised blessing to all peoples of the earth.
By now it's obvious God wants us to notice this twofold program of blessing!
2 Chronicles 6:32-33 The temple was for all peoples.
Psalm 67:1-2,7 The passage is startlingly clear: God blesses His people to be a blessing to every people group on the face of the earth
Malachi 1:11 God will accomplish His purpose of blessing every people.
Luke 2:29-32 Jesus was born as a Light to all people (Gentiles and Jews).
Luke 24:45-47 Jesus emphasized Scriptures' theme that the Gospel is to be proclaimed to all nations or people groups.
Matthew 28:19 In the Great Commission the nations are our focus.
Romans 1:5 The nations are our focus.
Revelation 5:9 God will accomplish His purpose of blessing every people. Some (Hell is a biblical truth) from every people group will be present in eternity.
The basic point: Throughout the Bible, God's plan is to bless His people and, through them, bless every people on the earth with the offer of redemption in Christ.
The Peoples in the New Testament
Luke 2:30-32 Jesus' birth was a fulfillment of God's promise to give a light to all peoples
Luke 24:44-47 Jesus' own definition of the Gospel includes the key phrase "preached in His name to all the nations, all the peoples of the earth".
Acts 1:8 Jesus promised that Spirit-power would strengthen the church for its mission (among its own people and other people groups), , not for its enjoyment or ease.
Acts 2:5-6 At Pentecost every nation of the world was represented. Acts 8:1-4 God used persecution of the early church to spread its message of blessing among surrounding peoples.
Acts 15:12-19 Paul and Barnabas related the wonders God was performing among the unreached peoples. Unfortunately, the church leaders' initial response to these events (which should have been easily recognized as part of God's ongoing, unchangeable purpose) was negative.
Romans 1:5 We have received grace and apostleship for the sake of the peoples of the world.
Ephesians 3:4-6, 10-11 God's processes involve not only blessing the earth's peoples, the Gentiles, but making them equal, "fellow heirs" in the Body of Christ. This was a mystery the Church is now demonstrating.
Hebrews 6:11-19a God wants us to have 'anchor-in-the-soul confidence' about what He is doing. He swore that two things in life would be unchangeable: His blessing of His people such as Abraham and that through His people all peoples would be blessed.
Revelation 5:9 When the aged Apostle John peered into the future, he saw the evidence of the success of God's purpose on earth. Gathered around the throne were representatives of every people.
Matthew 28:18-20 This familiar passage is foundational in our understanding of the Bible's emphasis on people-group thinking. 'Discipling the nations (ethne in the original Greek) is the epitome of our mission on the earth. Missiologists say it's possible to have churches planted within each remaining unreached people within a few years. Then those churches can be discipled to bless their own individual people with the offer of the Gospel.
Matthew 24:14 Regardless of our eschatology God's blessing of redemption in Christ to every people will be completed. Then the end will come. The work on earth will be done.
Lesson 1 Verses
Luke 24:44-47
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
2 Timothy 2:4
No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 12:1-3
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 18:18
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
Genesis 22:17-18
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 26:4
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,
Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
2 Chronicles 6:32-33
32 "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm – when he comes and prays towards this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house that I have built bears your Name.
Psalm 67:1-2, 7
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah 2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Malachi 1:11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
Luke 2:29-32
29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 24:45-47
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 1:5
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Luke 2:30-32
For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 24:44-47
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
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."
Acts 2:5-6
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
Acts 15:12-19
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 "`After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18 that have been known for ages. 19 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Romans 1:5
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Ephesians 3:4-6, 10-11
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 6:11-19
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no-one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.