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In Your Bible Read This Here Is Your Memory Verse Afterwards Talk About This Something To Do Before Next Time Written Diploma Work Meditate On These Verses
We normally associate the Great Commission with the last words of Jesus in all the gospels, particularly in Matthew 28, 16-20, and in Acts. In Genesis a disappointed, betrayed Father God walks in the garden in the cool of the evening looking for his beloved man and woman, the apples of his eye, who have just broken their trust, preferring to obey Satan and bringing untold destruction to a future world. The Father's words reflect his heart, "Adam, where are you," and he was not referring to where Adam was hiding! The Bible shows us that God begins to put things right with a promise. Genesis 3.9Also in Genesis is the story of Joseph, a man sent by God to save a nation. Genesis 37 to 50. Exodus reveals Gods ability to deliver an entire nation from the grip of slavery. He wants to bless them by making them into a missionary nation to carry the word of God and his life to the whole world. Exodus 3, 7 to 19,6In the Psalms God's heart for the world breaks through time and time again, as in Psalm 67; Psalm 2; Psalm 72.17. The prophets and minor prophets like Jonah are filled with inspired glimpses of a divine heart for the world. eg. Isaiah 6, 1-8; Isaiah 54,1-5, Hab. 2.14,.God’s plan for all the world is revealed prophetically by Isaiah who declares that there are four things that God intends to do and two things that he wants us to do. See Isaiah 66, 18-21. 1. God Says, "I Am About To Come" Here in 66,18 is a prophetic revelation of the Second Coming of Christ. This time He gathers all the nations together because of their actions and imaginations. He did not do that at his first coming. We will talk about this in detail later on and see the signs in the earth, and in the Kingdom, that point to the imminent return of Jesus. This means there is a last day. This is good news for the believer but also means that there is a deadline for every one of us to win our families, friends and nations for Christ.2. I Will Set A Sign Among Them The sign in 66,19 is the Cross, known the world over. For the unbeliever the Cross is the clearest statement of God's great love for the whole world, John 3.16. But for the believer the Cross has a deeper meaning altogether. Calvary began in Gethsemene and for Jesus in his humanity the Cross meant a struggle to -
But there was no other way, and for the joy set before him, the joy of seeing you safe in heaven, Jesus endured the Cross, and so must we, for others. Hebrews 12.2 3. I Will Send Some Of Those Who Survive To The Nations Far away Spain, Libya, Asia, Greece, and the islands of the sea are mentioned in 66.19. Today it is people in the developing world churches who are the closest to the world’s unreached peoples and Jesus will surely call and send some to also go far away as missionaries.
Now we’ll find out about the two things that we must do in response to God's call and his sending. They are not too difficult. 4. They Will Proclaim My Glory What is the glory of God? It is the Living God himself. We proclaim his presence, his love, his might, his power, his mercy, grace and compassion. We proclaim his Son, his life, his death, his resurrection, and that he is alive to save, to forgive, heal, deliver and fill people with his Spirit today. Then the glory of God becomes visible in changed lives. Isaiah 66.19; Acts 1.8. 5. They Will Bring All Your Brothers The gospel will always do exactly what the gospel promises and men will respond and follow Jesus. 66,20; John 12.32. We are to bring them to his holy mountain- which speaks of discipleship at the feet of Jesus, eg. Matthew 5.1.
6. I Will Select Some To Be Priests The final step in Isaiah's revelation is in verse 21. It is an accurate prophecy of what God is doing today, worldwide. He is calling men and women from all cultures and backgrounds who have chosen to follow the Lord, to leave all and follow Jesus. We may see a rough new convert struggling to get free from sin but Jesus sees the potential in him to make a man of God, and selects him to serve. Mark 1.17. When the unknown American bush evangelist Mordecai Ham preached the gospel in a town many years ago he never imagined that the tall young man who gave his life to Christ that night would later preach to millions of people worldwide over a long lifetime of service. Who was that young man? It was Billy Graham and that night God selected him for his holy purposes.
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