Embracing the Divine Call to Global Missions

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Mystery of God's Call to Missions

The journey of committing to world missions, especially among unreached peoples, is a profound mystery orchestrated by God. This divine process involves various elements such as messages, books, experiences, relationships, and the Bible. However, there remains an unquantifiable aspect that only God can orchestrate. It is a work beyond human understanding, requiring trust in God's sovereign plan. As individuals open their hearts to serve among the unreached, they must rely on God to guide and encourage them in this mission. This mystery is a testament to God's power and purpose, moving individuals from their current state to a lifelong commitment to His global mission. [00:23]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a moment when you felt a nudge towards a mission or purpose. How can you trust God to guide you in understanding and pursuing this calling today?

Day 2: The Individual Heart of Faith

The Great Commission calls for making disciples of all nations, emphasizing that while nations are groups, salvation is an individual experience. The miracle of regeneration occurs in the human heart, underscoring the personal nature of faith. Each person's journey to faith is unique, and it is through personal faith that one can experience the miracle of regeneration. This individual transformation is the heart of the mission, as it is only through personal faith that one can truly become a disciple of Christ. The focus on the individual heart highlights the importance of personal encounters with God and the transformative power of His love. [08:27]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your personal faith journey. What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with God and experience His transformative power in your life?

Day 3: God's Purpose in Diversity

God's plan for salvation involves reaching every tribe, language, and nation, reflecting His desire for diversity in worship. This diversity magnifies God's glory, as His greatness is displayed through the praise of a multitude of voices. The diversity of the nations is not an obstacle but a divine design to magnify God's glory. As believers engage in missions, they are called to be instruments through which the Lamb receives the reward of His suffering, fulfilling the purpose of God for the universe. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. [47:09]

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you celebrate and embrace the diversity of God's creation in your worship and daily life? What steps can you take to appreciate and learn from those who are different from you?

Day 4: Biblical Emphasis on Peoples

The focus on peoples rather than just places in missions is rooted in biblical teaching. God's purpose involves reaching distinct groups, and mission strategies must account for this emphasis on nations, peoples, tribes, and languages. The biblical understanding of nations, peoples, tribes, and languages recognizes that while the world is composed of diverse groups, the focus of salvation is the individual soul. This understanding directs believers to disciple nations, which are essentially groups of individuals who live or die by the authenticity of their faith. [21:18]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a specific cultural or ethnic group you are not familiar with. How can you learn more about them and find ways to share God's love with them?

Day 5: The Glory of God in Diversity

The ultimate goal of missions is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. The diversity of the nations is not an obstacle but a divine design to magnify God's glory. As believers engage in missions, they are called to be instruments through which the Lamb receives the reward of His suffering, fulfilling the purpose of God for the universe. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. [49:12]

"May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth." (Psalm 67:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the mission of glorifying God through diversity in your community or church? How can you encourage others to join in this mission?

Sermon Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound mystery of how God moves individuals from their current state to a lifelong commitment to world missions, particularly among unreached peoples. This process is a divine mystery, involving various elements like messages, books, experiences, relationships, and the Bible. Yet, there remains an unquantifiable aspect that only God can orchestrate. We prayed for God to work this mystery in the hearts of those willing to serve among the unreached, trusting that He will guide and encourage us in this mission.

Reflecting on personal experiences, I shared how God has consistently encouraged me to engage in His global purpose. From conversations with pastors to receiving inspiring emails from young missionaries, these encounters have reinforced the importance of our mission. We discussed the Great Commission's call to make disciples of all nations, emphasizing that while nations are groups, the miracle of salvation occurs in individual human hearts. This individual transformation is the heart of our mission, as it is only through personal faith that one can experience the miracle of regeneration.

We delved into the biblical understanding of nations, peoples, tribes, and languages, recognizing that while the world is composed of diverse groups, the focus of salvation is the individual soul. The Great Commission directs us to disciple nations, which are essentially groups of individuals who live or die by the authenticity of their faith. We examined the biblical basis for focusing on peoples rather than just places, understanding that God's plan involves reaching every tribe, language, and nation.

The ultimate goal of missions is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. The diversity of the nations is not an obstacle but a divine design to magnify God's glory. As we engage in missions, we are called to be instruments through which the Lamb receives the reward of His suffering, fulfilling the purpose of God for the universe.

Key Takeaways

1. The mystery of God's call to missions involves various elements, but ultimately, it is a divine work that moves individuals to commit to reaching the unreached. This process is beyond human understanding and requires trust in God's sovereign plan. [00:23]
2. The Great Commission emphasizes making disciples of all nations, highlighting that while nations are groups, salvation is an individual experience. The miracle of regeneration occurs in the human heart, underscoring the personal nature of faith. [08:27]
3. God's plan for salvation involves reaching every tribe, language, and nation, reflecting His desire for diversity in worship. This diversity magnifies God's glory, as His greatness is displayed through the praise of a multitude of voices. [47:09]
4. The focus on peoples rather than just places in missions is rooted in biblical teaching. God's purpose involves reaching distinct groups, and our mission strategy must account for this emphasis on nations, peoples, tribes, and languages. [21:18]
5. The ultimate goal of missions is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. [49:12]
** [49:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Opening Prayer
[00:23] - The Mystery of God's Call
[01:41] - Encouragement in Mission
[02:14] - Conversations with Pastors
[03:42] - Testimonies of Young Missionaries
[05:10] - Vision for Global Missions
[07:20] - Understanding Nations in the Great Commission
[08:27] - The Individual Heart of Faith
[11:04] - Who Are the Nations?
[15:27] - God's Purpose in Diversity
[21:18] - Biblical Emphasis on Peoples
[25:03] - Revelation 5:9 and the Goal of Missions
[29:03] - The Role of Individuals in God's Plan
[47:09] - The Glory of God in Diversity
[50:41] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Revelation 5:9 - "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'"
Genesis 12:2-3 - "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, what are some of the elements God uses to move individuals towards a commitment to world missions? [00:51]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between nations and individual salvation in the context of the Great Commission? [08:27]
What is the significance of diversity in worship as discussed in the sermon? [47:09]
How does the sermon explain the biblical emphasis on reaching peoples rather than just places? [21:18]

Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that the mystery of God's call to missions is beyond human understanding? How does this affect our trust in God's plan? [00:23]
How does the sermon interpret the Great Commission's directive to make disciples of all nations in terms of individual and group salvation? [11:18]
What does the sermon imply about the role of diversity in magnifying God's glory? How does this relate to the ultimate goal of missions? [49:12]
How does the sermon use Revelation 5:9 to connect the design of the atonement with the goal of missions? [26:21]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt a mysterious call or nudge from God. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [01:05]
The sermon emphasizes the personal nature of faith and salvation. How can you ensure that your faith remains personal and authentic in your daily life? [09:20]
Consider the diversity of your own community. How can you engage with and learn from people of different backgrounds to reflect the diversity of God's kingdom? [47:09]
The sermon discusses the importance of focusing on peoples rather than just places in missions. How can you apply this principle in your own efforts to share the gospel? [21:18]
How can you contribute to the ultimate goal of missions, which is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ? What specific steps can you take this week? [49:12]
Think about a person or group in your life who might be considered "unreached" in terms of the gospel. What practical steps can you take to reach out to them? [19:25]
How can you cultivate a heart that rejoices in the diversity of God's creation and seeks to glorify Him through that diversity? [48:05]

Sermon Clips

I'm struck father with the mystery, the real baffling, unquantifiable mystery of how you move people from where they are to a lifelong commitment to world missions in an unreached people. That is a great mystery, and I know that part of it is that you use messages, you use books, you use experiences, you use relationships, you use the Bible, you use friends who confirm or not are calling, and in the end, there is something that cannot be identified. It is a mystery. [00:14:33]

There is only one organ of saving faith, and that is the individual human soul. Families, tribes, peoples, nations do not have the organ of saving faith, that is the organ by which one can believe. They don't. The place where the miracle of regeneration intersects the fallen world is the individual human soul. Nowhere else. Passing from death to life through the divine gift of saving faith happens only in the human soul or as it's sometimes called, the heart. [00:50:48]

The Great Commission points in that direction. We'll start there just to give some biblical warrant for what I'm saying besides Second Corinthians 4:6. Make disciples of all nations, Greek ethne, plural neuter, and in inflected languages, pronouns that come after agree with their antecedent in gender, case, number. Make disciples of all nations, ethne, baptizing them, plural masculine, not neuter, does not agree with ethne, though that's its antecedent, seemingly. [00:57:56]

In the atonement, God ransomed by the blood of the Lamb a people from every tribe and language and people and nation, and now our missionary calling correlates with that. You go get what he bought. Go get him. You know the Moravians were not the only missionaries inspired by Revelation 5, but probably the Moravians gave expression to the beauty of the missionary implications of this text better than anybody. [00:59:12]

God decided that the human heart would be the point where his saving grace takes hold of humanity because the goal of salvation, according to Ephesians 1:6, is the praise of the glory of the grace of God. That's the ultimate goal of the universe, the praise of the glory of the grace of God, Ephesians 1:6, 1:12, 1:14. [01:11:08]

The fame and greatness and worth of an object of beauty shines with greater brightness in direct proportion to the diversity of those who rejoice in its beauty. That's a complicated sentence, so I'm going to read it again because I believe it is the answer to why God made the world diverse. Tell me why, why did you do, why not just one kind of people? [01:18:35]

The ultimate goal of missions is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ. This diversity in worship reflects the greatness of God, as His glory shines brighter when praised by a multitude of diverse voices. The diversity of the nations is not an obstacle but a divine design to magnify God's glory. [01:21:52]

The essence of praise is not the movement of lips. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, Matthew 15:8. The essence of praise is the admiring gladness of the human heart in the glory of the grace of God. The essence of praise is the admiring gladness of the human heart in the glory of the grace of God. [01:30:25]

If all believing human hearts were of one people group, one kind of human being, if all believing human hearts were from one people group, the full glad praise of God in that group would be a wonderful glory to God for his salvation, yes it would be, but if in the end all the redeemed hearts come from ten thousand different ethnic groups, then their united pleasure in the glory of God's grace will shine with the brightness of praise far beyond the praise of any one group. [01:35:05]

The miracle of passing from death to life, from being a child of wrath to a child of God, a new creation in Christ, that miracle happens in the human heart only. II Corinthians 4:6, God who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [00:54:32]

The Great Commission emphasizes making disciples of all nations, highlighting that while nations are groups, salvation is an individual experience. The miracle of regeneration occurs in the human heart, underscoring the personal nature of faith. God's plan for salvation involves reaching every tribe, language, and nation, reflecting His desire for diversity in worship. [01:23:16]

The focus on peoples rather than just places in missions is rooted in biblical teaching. God's purpose involves reaching distinct groups, and our mission strategy must account for this emphasis on nations, peoples, tribes, and languages. The ultimate goal of missions is to glorify God by bringing people from every nation to faith in Christ. [01:28:46]

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