Magnifying Christ Through Global Missions and Suffering
Devotional
Day 1: God's Global Glory and Our Mission
Our mission is rooted in the profound understanding that God is not a tribal deity but the Creator of all, and every person and nation is created for His glory. This truth compels us to engage in missions, as Christ claims the worship of every human being. The vision of God's global glory is a cornerstone of our faith journey, reminding us that our God is the Creator of all things, and every person and nation is created for the glory of Jesus Christ. This truth is not just a theological concept but a call to action, urging us to participate in the mission of spreading the gospel to all corners of the earth. As we embrace this mission, we acknowledge that our lives are part of a larger narrative, one that seeks to bring glory to God through the worship of every human being. [03:57]
"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 1:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's mission to make His name great among the nations today? What steps can you take to engage in this global vision?
Day 2: Satisfaction in Christ Amidst Suffering
Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, especially in suffering and death. This satisfaction is not just poetic but a powerful reality that fuels our missionary endeavors. In the face of hardships, our soul satisfaction in Christ shines brightly, making Him look magnificent to the world. This profound truth challenges us to find our deepest joy and fulfillment in Christ, even when circumstances are difficult. It is in these moments of suffering that our satisfaction in Christ becomes a powerful testimony to the world, demonstrating that our hope and joy are not dependent on external circumstances but are rooted in our relationship with Him. [19:27]
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing suffering or hardship? How can you find satisfaction in Christ in the midst of these challenges?
Day 3: Embodying the Riches of Christ
Missions is about embodying and proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations. Our soul satisfaction in Christ shines brightly in hardships, making Him look magnificent to the world. As we engage in missions, we become the bridge between Christ being magnified among the nations and the nations being satisfied in Christ. This bridge is built by missionaries who are deeply satisfied in Christ, carrying this satisfaction through all trials and tribulations. The heart of missions is not just about spreading a message but about living a life that reflects the unsearchable riches of Christ, inviting others to experience the same joy and fulfillment that we have found in Him. [20:15]
"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things." (Ephesians 3:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embody the unsearchable riches of Christ in your daily interactions with others? What practical steps can you take to share this richness with those around you?
Day 4: A Life of Sacrifice and True Joy
Our calling is not for an easy life but for a life that magnifies Christ through suffering and sacrifice. True joy comes from being satisfied in Christ above all else, not from the false promises of prosperity. The prosperity gospel offers a false promise of an easy life, but true fulfillment is found in a life that is fully surrendered to Christ, even when it involves sacrifice and suffering. As we embrace this calling, we discover a deeper joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing Christ and making Him known to others. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Him. [25:34]
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'" (Matthew 16:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: What sacrifices might God be calling you to make in order to magnify Christ in your life? How can you find true joy in these sacrifices?
Day 5: The Mystery of God's Calling
God has been at work in our lives, preparing us for His purposes. As we grow in satisfaction in Christ, specific scriptures may grip us, leading to a calling that we cannot shake, turning senders into goers. The mystery of how God calls individuals to missions is profound, and it is not by accident that we find ourselves where we are today. God has been orchestrating events in our lives, preparing us for His purposes and calling us to participate in His mission. As we grow in our satisfaction in Christ, we may find ourselves drawn to specific scriptures or truths that ignite a passion within us, leading us to a calling that we cannot ignore. [31:14]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What specific scriptures or truths have gripped your heart recently? How might God be using these to prepare you for His purposes and calling in your life?
Sermon Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to drink deeply from the wells of God's global glory, a vision that has been a cornerstone of our church's mission. This vision is not born out of thin air but is deeply rooted in the leadership's commitment to the global glory of God. We are reminded that our God is not a tribal deity but the Creator of all things, and every person and nation is created for the glory of Jesus Christ. This truth compels us to engage in missions, as Christ lays claim to the worship of every human being on the planet.
The essence of our mission is captured in the profound truth that Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, especially in our suffering and death. This satisfaction in Christ is not a mere poetic notion but a powerful reality that fuels our missionary endeavors. As we face hardships, our soul satisfaction in Christ shines brightly, making Him look magnificent to the world. This is the heart of missions: to embody and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations.
Our calling is not for an easy life but for a life that magnifies Christ through suffering and sacrifice. The prosperity gospel is a false promise; true joy and fulfillment come from being satisfied in Christ above all else. As we engage in missions, we become the bridge between Christ being magnified among the nations and the nations being satisfied in Christ. This bridge is built by missionaries who are deeply satisfied in Christ, carrying this satisfaction through all trials and tribulations.
The mystery of how God calls individuals to missions is profound. It is not by accident that we find ourselves where we are today. God has been at work in our lives, preparing us for His purposes. As we grow in our satisfaction in Christ, specific scriptures and truths may grip us, leading us to a calling that we cannot shake. This is how God turns senders into goers, and it is a beautiful mystery of His providence.
Key Takeaways
1. The Global Glory of God: Our mission is rooted in the understanding that God is not a tribal deity but the Creator of all, and every person and nation is created for His glory. This truth compels us to engage in missions, as Christ claims the worship of every human being. [03:57]
2. Satisfaction in Christ: Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, especially in suffering and death. This satisfaction is not just poetic but a powerful reality that fuels our missionary endeavors. [19:27]
3. The Heart of Missions: Missions is about embodying and proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations. Our soul satisfaction in Christ shines brightly in hardships, making Him look magnificent to the world. [20:15]
4. A Call to Sacrifice: Our calling is not for an easy life but for a life that magnifies Christ through suffering and sacrifice. True joy comes from being satisfied in Christ above all else, not from the false promises of prosperity. [25:34]
5. The Mystery of Calling: God has been at work in our lives, preparing us for His purposes. As we grow in satisfaction in Christ, specific scriptures may grip us, leading to a calling that we cannot shake, turning senders into goers. [31:14] ** [31:14]
Psalm 96:3-9 - "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"
Philippians 1:20-21 - "It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Colossians 1:24 - "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church."
Observation Questions
What does Psalm 96:3-9 say about the nature of God and His relationship with the nations? How does this passage emphasize God's global glory?
In Philippians 1:20-21, what is Paul's attitude towards life and death, and how does he see Christ being magnified through both? [12:52]
How does Colossians 1:24 describe Paul's perspective on suffering, and what does he mean by "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions"? [23:57]
According to the sermon, what is the role of satisfaction in Christ in the life of a missionary? [19:27]
Interpretation Questions
How does the concept of God's global glory in Psalm 96 challenge the idea of God as a tribal deity? What implications does this have for missions? [03:57]
In Philippians 1:20-21, Paul speaks of Christ being honored in his body. What does it mean for Christ to be magnified in our lives, especially in times of suffering? [12:52]
Colossians 1:24 mentions "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." How can this be understood in the context of missions and the church's role in the world? [23:57]
The sermon suggests that true joy and fulfillment come from being satisfied in Christ above all else. How does this satisfaction empower individuals to endure hardships and engage in missions? [19:27]
Application Questions
Reflect on your understanding of God's global glory. How does this perspective influence your view of missions and your role in it? [03:57]
Consider a time when you faced suffering or hardship. How did your satisfaction in Christ impact your response to that situation? How might it change your approach in the future? [19:27]
The sermon challenges the prosperity gospel by emphasizing sacrifice and suffering. How can you cultivate a mindset that values satisfaction in Christ over material prosperity? [25:34]
Think about the "mystery of calling" mentioned in the sermon. Are there specific scriptures or truths that have gripped you and might be pointing you towards a particular calling? [31:14]
How can you actively participate in missions, whether as a sender or a goer, in your current stage of life? What steps can you take to support global missions in your community? [26:42]
Identify one area in your life where you can magnify Christ through your actions or decisions. What practical steps can you take this week to make Christ look magnificent to those around you? [12:52]
Reflect on the idea that God has been at work in your life, preparing you for His purposes. How can you remain open to His leading and ready to respond to His call, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone? [07:52]
Sermon Clips
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples for great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He used to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and Majesty are before him, strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." [00:01:43]
"Christ is most magnified in you when you are most satisfied in him, especially in your suffering and death. And today in global focus, we're simply going to draw out the missionary implication of that. Christ is magnified in his world through servants who are satisfied in his worth, that's more than poetically cute, especially in their suffering and death." [00:10:48]
"The peoples of this world will come to magnify Christ, glorify Christ, honor Christ, worship Christ through servants who are so satisfied, so soul satisfied in Christ that this soul satisfaction in Christ carries them through all missionary suffering." [00:11:38]
"When Christ is so valuable to us that everything is lost by comparison, looking great in our lives, looking great, he's looking magnificent, especially when that happens as you die or suffer. And we know Amen it globally, right? Because the chapter 1 verse 5 of Romans he says, my ministry is for the sake of Christ among the nation's." [00:14:10]
"Christ will be magnified in my death because I will experience death as gain because I'm gonna be with him. He's everything to me, way better than life. So argument, Christ will be magnified in my death because Christ is more precious to me than life." [00:17:50]
"Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Christ, especially in our suffering and dying. It's in the hardships, not the sunny days, that you make most of Christ. Anybody can be cheerful on a sunny day, healthy relationships all working, no threat to your life, piece of cake." [00:19:27]
"The purpose of God in creation and redemption and mission, so the total purpose, I like to have clear the purpose of the universe or a fydd Ian, the total purpose of the universe, all creation, all redemption, all mission, the total purpose is Christ magnified among the nation's." [00:21:03]
"The essential means which offer purpose, means bridge, the means of that purpose being fulfilled among the nations is Nations so satisfied in Christ's death can't break the joy. That's how it happens unless the nation's be glad is not a clever book title, it's a quote from Psalm 67." [00:21:24]
"The bridge between Christ magnified among the nations and nations satisfied in crisis not incidental that that bridge consists of missionaries who are embodiments of Christ magnified through their souls being satisfied through suffering." [00:23:21]
"It is a great mystery how God turns goers, I mean senders into Gore's. This is a great mystery. We just think about your life for a moment. You're sitting here, you're sitting there, why? California, South Dakota, Virginia, how'd you get here? Where were you born? How did you grow up?" [00:29:00]
"As Christ becomes more and more precious to you, more and more satisfying to you, it's not unlikely that some truths, some scripture is going to have your name on it. You won't act impulsively, you won't disregard counsel, you won't disregard gifting, don't disregard the church or the community, but you won't shake it." [00:33:35]
"Father, every year now for almost 40 years, this has become a critical moment of confirmation and guidance. And so in Mounds View right now and in Lakeville right now and here downtown, I ask you to keep on working just like you have been and in the mysteries of your catapulting people into your harvest." [00:37:07]