Evangelism Coach

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In part I of God’s Heart for the Nations, we saw God’s heart for the nations, and how reaching the nations is part of God’s ultimate plan.

In part II of God’s Heart for the Nations, we saw how the Father initiates in the choice of Israel to begin the process of redemption.

In part III of God’s Heart for the Nations, we saw how the Son accomplished the work of reconciliation.

In this final part, we’ll layout briefly how the Holy Spirit applies that reconciliation to us, and empowers us to fulfill God’s plan.

The end of history

The Bible points us to the goal of human history:  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.

Regardless of skin color, flag, economic condition, gender, nationality, the people from every nation, tribe, people and language will be in worship.

We will enjoy the presence of those from Columbia, from Russia, from Australia to Uganda.  From Canada to Argentina.  Israelis who worship Jesus, Saudi’s who worship Jesus.

How do we get there from here?  Looking at world events, how does one get beyond ethnic slaughter, genocide, and other atrocities before reaching God’s goal of History?

The Holy Spirit  Empowers the Church

The disciples were unable to transform the world. 

Jesus had given them a command to go to all nations in Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

But they couldn’t do it.  How would a little rag tag band of 11 disciples reach the nations, going, making, baptizing, and teaching?

Instead, Jesus promised to give them the Holy Spirit, not so they could have psychedelic trips of charismatic spirituality.  Rather (Acts 1.8)

. . . so that you may be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the ends of the earth.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to participate in God’s plan of drawing the nations to that day when the all the saints will worship.

On that day of Pentecost, it was a multi-national gathering.  The Nations had already gathered for a different reason.  The Holy Spirit was poured out, and the people heard the praises of God in their own language.  God was glorified.  It was a foretaste perhaps of Revelation 7:9.

On the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church, the nations heard the praises of God.

We are to be a blessing to the Nations. . . . .

We have received the Holy Spirit within us at conversion. 

Some of us have received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit upon us to be equipped for ministry.

We are not filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can feel stoned in the presence of Jesus.

We are filled to be a witness to the ends of the earth.

Back to the Father’s Heart for the Nations.

We are back at the beginning. 

The Father has worked his plan to pursue the nations.  Christ accomplished what the Father has desired.  The Holy Spirit applies that work of Christ, and empowers us to participate in God’s plan for the redemption of nations.

A whole Christ for my salvation, a whole Bible for my staff, a whole Church for my fellowship, a whole world for my parish.
                                                         —St. Augustine

A Closing Prayer

Give us your heart for the nations,
let us be light to the world;
use us to declare your salvation to the people of the earth.

May we be moved by compassion,
let us know your love for the lost;
Lord, use us to lead them to the cross.

Father, here we are,
standing in your presence;
send us forth to lead them to the cross.

“Heart for the Nations” by Martin Nystrom and Gary Sadler. 1994 Integrity’s Hossanna! Music/ ASCAP.

Let me Suggest this?

Spend a few moments in prayer, asking God for His heart for the nations.  Salvation is not about you.  He wasn’t thinking of “you, above all.”  Rather, God wants to use you in His plan to reach the nations.

 

God’s Heart for the Nations Series

Part I of God’s Heart for the Nations
Part II of God’s Heart for the Nations
Part III of God’s Heart for the Nations

In part I of God’s Heart for the Nations, we saw God’s heart for the nations, and how reaching the nations is part of God’s ultimate plan.

In part II of God’s Heart for the Nations, we saw how the Father initiates in the choice of Israel to begin the process of redemption.

Today, we’ll focus in on how the Son accomplishes the redemption that will be for the nations.

In the film, “Finding Nemo,” Nemo’s father goes looking for Nemo at all costs.   It’s an act of pursuing love.  It can be a wonderful parable about the Father’s love and pursuit of us. 

Lost people matter to God.

Jesus uses the word “Lost” so I’m not ashamed to use it when appropriate.  We see the parable of the Lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son in Luke 15 as parables of the Father’s heart for his children.  We see that Jesus came to seek and save the Lost.  We read that Jesus had to go through Samaria to reach the Samaritan woman.  Lost people are not a nebulous them. 

They are people with faces, names, and people that we know.

The Father’s Heart

He longs that no one should perish (1 Tim 2.4).  In fact, God so loved the world that he gave His only son (John 3.16), not to condemn the world, but to save it.  The lake of fire was not prepared for humanity, but for the devil and his angels.

God’s Solution

God was pleased — so it says in Colossians 1:19-20.

The verb “please” has in it’s root the idea of taking a decision because of the intended pleasure from carrying out the decision.

You can be pleased by surprise or by intent.

If I tasted a food that I have never tasted before, I might find something tasty and be pleased by surprise.

Or I might be surprised by a rotten flavor that I may never want to have in my mouth again.

One can be pleased by intent.

After walking in the hot sun in the afternoon, I know that my body will be refreshed and cooled by jumping into a swimming pool. Knowing that the outcome of my decision will produce pleasure, I will make that decision. Or put it this way.  I know the caffeine buzz I will get by drinking a morning cup of coffee.   Knowing that pleasure is coming, I drink my coffee.  I’m pleased by intent.

Consider this:

Was God pleased by accident?

Or was God pleased by intent?

Did the incarnation bring God a surprise? Or was it his plan that he foreknew would bring him joy to send his son into the world?

Two aspects to the Father’s pleasure

God’s pleasure came as a result of

First – the incarnation. “To have all of his fullness dwell in Christ.” God became man.  That’s an act of pursuing Grace.

Second – the purpose.  “To reconcile to himself all things.” To restore to himself the fallen creation.  That’s an act of pursuing Grace. 

All things — nations, peoples, individuals.

To every nation

This blessing of God can be offered to every nation on earth – offering reconciliation, hope for healing, and hope for restoration. Abraham’s offspring will continue to bless the nation.

It is the work of the Son that makes this possible.

Yesterday in Part I, we saw that God’s redemptive plan was for the nations. It is accomplished by individuals, but ultimately, the plan of redemption will impact nations.

Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord – Phillipians 2:9-11

Today, we look at the development God’s redemptive plan for the nations.

God chose the people of Israel.

Was God playing favorite? Why would God choose one nation as his favorite?

We see in the Old Testament a history of God’s relationship with Israel, but the New Testament is much more international in its focus.

God’s plan for the nations hinged on the raising and blessing of one nation to serve as a blessing to all others.

In the Old Testament, that nation was “Israel.” In the new testament, that nation is the church.

It didn’t take but a few generations for Israel to descend into slavery and Egypt.

Yet God was faithful to his promise that they would be a blessing to the nations – he brought them out of Egypt and restored them to a relationship. The nations who watched were awestruck at the revelation of God’s power and care for His people.

This poor nation, having no wealth, no resources, no army was to become a model nation for the world – how to live in covenant relationship with God. God redeemed Israel because of His love for the nations, and his covenant with Abraham.

The central promise of the covenant, almost every time the covenant is renewed and restated is this: “I will be their God and they will be my people.” Exodus 6.7. The law was given to help define that covenant, that relationship, along with its blessings and consequences.

In Exodus 19, God reminded the Israelites that they were the treasured possession out of all the nations – the whole earth was his, yet He chose Israel. Remember, God’s love was for all nations. Israel was to be the kingdom of priests and a holy nation (19:5-6)

Yet with this choseness, came the responsibility: they were to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood. They were to serve as a witness of God’s activity in the world. They were blessed, to be a blessing.

Turning away

Yet repeatedly throughout history, the nation failed to live up to its covenant obligations. They drifted.

They did what was right in their own eyes. God in his pursuing grace, raised up judges to call the people back to that relationship.

God in his pursuing grace mercy kept sending the prophets as covenant prosecutors to call the people back to right relationship with him.

Isaiah, feeling this call, could plead: “Come now, let us reason together, though you sins are like scarlet, they shall be made white as snow.”

The writers of the Psalms would write the words of God to Israel: “Be still and know that I am God, that my name would be known among the nations.”

The temple was meant to be a house of prayer “for all nations” yet in their self-behavior, they prevented the nations from coming.

Not my people

God promised through the prophet Hosea that he would expand that covenant relationship to include people outside of the chosen people of Israel. “I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one’ and I will say to those called “not my people” “you are my people” and they will say “You are my God.” (Hosea 2:23)

God’s pursing grace and redemptive plan was expanding the covenant promise to include the people outside of the special relationship with Israel. He would write the law on their heart, and give them a heart of flesh for the heart of stone.

From a broken nation, God would work out his plan of redemption.

Let me ask you this?

Questions from Miller’s Study guide.

1. God used a broken nation to work out his plan for redemption. Where were you once broken, but now healed and restored?
2. How can you be a blessing to those around you? How can you use your gifts to fulfill God’s purposes for you where He has placed you (Acts 17.26)

Today, we begin a series entitled “God’s Heart for the Nations.”

Salvation is not just for individuals, but for the nations.

What burns in my heart as my passion in life, is to help the Church get passionate about evangelism and leading people into discovering their faith in Christ. I have spent hours, days, months, and even years reflecting on the question: Why bother with Evangelism? What drives me? What motivates me?

Well, one answer to that question is that I have “tasted” God’s heart for the nations. With a brief glimpse of God’s heart, my entire life direction has been transformed.

I have viewed heart warming slide shows of people of different cultures played to beautiful music, but that’s simply images. Anybody can move you with images and well placed music.

I have heard inspired sermons on God’s heart for the nations. 

I have traveled to over 10 different countries, all in Latin America with the exception of two weeks in Austria.

But even with that global experience, tear jerker missionary slide shows, calls to evangelism or mission services, there is still the question of “why should I throw my life into mission?”

Why upset the fruit basket of the comfort of our life and move to the mission field?

I got a glimpse God’s heart for the nations.

Nations

Darrow Miller reminds us in a study guide that Scripture has over 2000 references to “nations.” Every nation in the world will be impacted by God’s redemptive plan.

In the Old Testament, the primary usage for “nation” is the Hebrew word mishpachah, which means a family group, tribe, or clan.

The New Testament uses the Greek word ethnos, indicating a race, people, or ethnic group.

While reading the Bible, it’s important not to confuse the modern meaning for nation, which is a nation-state, with these biblical definitions.

“Ethiopia is a nation-state, but it’s home to nearly one hundred people groups or nations.”

God created the diversity of nations:

When I look at the creation accounts, I see diversity in God’s intent and design.

It says 9 times in Genesis 1, that he made the plants, fishes, and animals “of every kind.” When God created Adam and Eve, he created them male and female.

This creation, this diversity, was “very good.” It replaced the “formless and void” of Genesis 1:2.

We see in Genesis 10 the development of the different nations from the descendants of Noah, they move from clans, to nations, with different languages (10.4, 20, and 31). 10.32 says that “From these, the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.”

Chapter 10 of Genesis makes a historical sweep covering generations of history. Genesis 11, the tower of Babel, is like a snapshot in time that occurred – it elaborates the creation of the nations.

Before Babel, humanity was mono-cultural – one language, one culture group. But at Babel, God confused the languages of the people, and then scattered them “all over the earth” (v.9). Multiple nations were thus born.

Paul goes on to say in Acts: 17.26, “from one man, he made every nation on earth, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

In other words, God created the diversity nations.

Abraham’s calling: Genesis 12:1-3.

Then Abraham appears, Gen 12. He was one man, out of the man different nations that had been created. To Him, God states clearly his purposes for the nations through his redemptive plan.

God makes three promises to Abraham.

1. I will make you into a great nation.
2. I will make your name great.
3. I will bless you.

The men of Babel wanted to make their name great, and God confused their languages. Now, God is promising 1 man, from one nation, to make his name great.

In these promises, God has given Abraham a responsibility

“You will be a blessing, and all the nations on the earth will be blessed through you.” (12.3)

In one sentence, God has revealed his plan for the redemption of the world. At the end of time, every nation of the earth will be impacted. God’s heart is for the nations.

This promise was stated again and again in Genesis when the covenant was restated.

• Genesis 18:18: “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nations, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him”
• Genesis 22:18: “and through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
• Genesis 26:4 “and through your offspring, all the nations on earth will be blessed” (said to Isaac)
• Genesis 28:14: “All the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring” (said to Jacob – 3^rd generation)

The Goal of History: Revelation 7:9

While there are other verses we can look at along the way, let’s jump to the end of history as revealed to us in Revelation:

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.

This is the vision of the end of time. This is the destination of God’s story.

God’s plan of redemption that was unfolded through the nation of Israel, fulfilled in Christ’s work, and in the future will be a diverse gathering of people. God’s plan of redemption is not just individuals, but nations.

No matter what their skin color. No matter what their heritage. No matter what their income level. No matter what their language. Ultimately the nations of the earth will enjoy God’s presence in spite of any racial or cultural differences.

Let me ask you this?

(Questions come from Miller’s study guide)

You’ve been called by God to live where you are at the moment (Acts 17.26ff). Perhaps you are in your own country. Perhaps you live in a different nation because of a missionary calling.

• What are some positive attributes of your nation? From this list, what do you like best? Why? How does this affect you personally?
• What are some areas of brokenness of your nation? Which concerns you the most? How does this affect you personally?
• What are you doing to bring redemption to this area of brokenness? If no, why not? Are you ready to start doing something about it?
• Why do you think God has “determined this time set for you and the exact place where you should live” (Acts 17.26)?

Robert Priest, PhD, has written an excellent article for my alumni rag about short term missions in Latin America.

It is an article at looking at the local impact that short term missionaries from America have on the local church and it’s outreach. Many articles have been written about the missionaries, but this article looks at the fruit in the local area.

I’ve done Short Term Missions (STM), and our family is moving into Latin America full time to serve. We will be on the receiving end of missionary teams from the US that want to come and serve. This article offers excellent insight into the fruit of such evangelistic efforts.

Let me ask you this?
Do you think STM are viable means of mission or an extensive waste of resources? Why?