the one with an old friend

This afternoon was rough. We had a long conversation with our landlord that didn't go over too well.

But God was good to us, and allowed us to connect with an old friend, and it was so encouraging

Today i am thankful for...

1. To be able to see my old friend after 2 years
2. To be able to call this guy friend
3. for his encouaging words & affirmation to me tonight
4. for his faith in Christ & love for others and hope in God
5. God's faithfulness in drawing all nations to Himself (this friend is one of maybe 10 in his people group to believe in Jesus).
6. That God has given him a burden for his people
7. That God has gifted him & equipped him to take the Gospel to his people
8. That God has faithfully provided a girlfriend - from the same people group, also a christian
9. That there are people in this city who really do care for us & love us
10. for our other friend who tried to help us in communicating with our landlord
11. for all those who have been translators for us
12. for my friendship with this other guy also
13. And his faith
14. God's timing
15. that we can trust God even when things don't go as we hope or expect


God is good.
God is faithful.
God is working.
God is worthy.

The one in the morning

What do you think of when you wake up in the morning?

Here’s what I think of- likely in this order

1.     What time is it? Can I go back to sleep?

2.     Man, that was a crazy dream, what was I dreaming. (I want to change that dream, or I want to go back to that dream)

3.     What do I need to do today? (Or Man! I got a lot to do today). First I’ll do…this… then that…  - and I map out my day

4.     Then after considering all that I need to do, I say: “God, Help me!”

5.     I probably at that point realize I need to lean on God, ask Him what He wants me to do this day.

6.     Then I think “I’m hungry”

7.     Then I think “I have to pee”

And that’s when I usually get up.

Of course, I will notice my beautiful wife… either before all that or after all that.

May be a bit different for some of us, but our thoughts tend to drift this way.

We get caught up in our own little world.

We’re thinking of our own comforts.

We get caught up in our to do list and consumed by it.

We think about God, but quickly regress.

Our belly becomes our God. Our tasks & responsibilities and to-do list becomes our Master. Our desires & passions become our King.

We are wrapped up in our own little world. We miss out on God.

See this is a problem.

Because we are so wrapped up in our own little world, we miss the bigger picture.

We miss out on seeing the beauty and splendor and wonder and glory of God.

And we focus just on those things near to us, the things we can see. And we miss out on God’s goal for His glory throughout the whole world and God’s glory in the Nations.

Psalm 67, Psalm 96, Acts... the whole Bible really.

God’s focus is not you. His focus is His glory, His great & glorious glory that deserves to be recognized and honored.

Let’s take our eyes off ourselves and our limited world, and seek to bring glory to God in all nations.

The Thing about the Nations

What do you do when asked to share about God’s heart for the Nations?

Why talk about the Nations when there is so much here that can be done?

I looked at the Bible, and there were several places I could look. In fact it is everywhere.

I decided to look at Psalm 96

Read it and allow yourself to feel. What emotions arise? What sticks out to you?

Anything compared & contrasted?

 ¹Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
   sing to the LORD, all the earth!
²Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
   tell of his salvation from day to day.
³Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
   but the LORD made the heavens.
⁶Splendor and majesty are before him;
   strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

 ⁷Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
   ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
⁸Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!

 ¹⁰Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
   Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
   he will judge the peoples with equity."

 ¹¹Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
   let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

 ¹²let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
 ¹³before the LORD, for he comes,
   for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
   and the peoples in his faithfulness.

What emotions are evoked? What feelings arise?

 People used words like exhilleration, passion, joy, excitement, fear, awe, right.

It just feels right.

And as it goes it just seems to build- become more and more consuming.

Yeah? Do you feel it?

This is a song of worship. The Psalmist is rejoicing in God. He is enthralled with the greatness of God. And he wants to express it, and get others to join in.

I compare it to when you see an amazing hit at a football game, and you exclaim “Woah! What a hit! Did you see that? You gotta see it. Wait for the replay… oh here it is… bam! Wow!”

You know, if something is amazing we want to tell others about it. We tell people to go watch movies or read a book. IF something is really cool , we may post it on facebook. This is what we do.

This is what the Psalmist is doing. He is worshipping God. And he wants others to see the greatness of God.

Someone took my illustration further. He said “If I convince people to go to Lucas Oil field to watch a game, I don’t just want them to enter the stadium, I want them to root for the Colts”

He compares the greatness of God to the worthlessness if idols.

He desires and craves that God be worshipped. He is disgusted by the worthless things being exalted.

He worships God, b/c God is great & greatly to be praised.

It is right. God is worthy.

If someone compliments me for cooking a great meal, but in fact my wife made it- well, I may take credit, but it wouldn’t feel right. I’d want to give credit to my wife.

Giving glory to God is right- because He is worthy of it.

And the reality is: in the nations, God is not receiving the glory He deserves. HE is not getting what He truly deserves anywhere.

He is God of all. And He is so great, He deserves praise from all.

Acts 17:16 Paul is grieved by the idol worship. Greived! He wants the name of Christ to be exalted.

In Muslim Nations, they say they honor God. But they insult the name of Christ. They call him a Prophet and say they honor Him better than Christians. But they insult Him by calling Him less than God.

He is great and greatly to be praised!

John Piper said it this way:

“Missions exist because worship doesn’t”

What do you think of that?

The whole quote:

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man… Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God… But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching… Missions begins and ends in worship.” – p.17

Missions is an act of worship.

We’re declaring what God does in the nations.

We’re not all called to go. We’re all called to be part of it.

If your worship doesn’t extend to the Nations, your worship is too small.

Here’s the thing:

God is working in the Nations.

People are coming to Christ all over the world.

This has always been part of His plan. From the time when the people were dispersed at Babel, He has had a plan to redeem.

We see it in His call to Abraham- thru him He will bless all nations.

We see it in Abraham’s new name: Father of Nations.

We see it throughout the Old Testament

We see it in the Great Commission: Go therefore into ALL nations…

Always there

Not only that, but it will happen

Revelation 7 shows us, there will be people from every tribe, tounge and nation.

Mattew 24:19. The message will be preached to the ends of the earth and then the end will come.

It’s going to happen.

And being there: well, it’s a priviledge, a blessing!

God is working and we get to be a part of it!

He is changing people, and what do we do? We watch as God amazes us.

And worship is a beautiful thing.

Worship in another language is a beautiful thing.

Worship in another culture is a beautiful thing.

We’re not all called to go. Some of us are blessed to go.

We can worship God in the Nations by going. By leaving our comfortable lives to serve the Lord. by leaving friends to follow God.

We can worship by praying for His glory in the Nations. By praying for Missionaries. By praying for the lost in different countries.

David Gap says Missionaries just go and reap the labor of those who prayed before them. Prayer is powerful & important- yea even essential.

We also are part of this work by encouraging those who are there, by supporting them.

And we worship thru giving. Giving are offerings of money toward God’s work in the world.

Still only 5-10% of all Christian workers go to the 90% most unreached people. So more people could go.

³Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
   but the LORD made the heavens.
⁸Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!

 ¹⁰Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!

The Lord is worthy of glory in the Nations.

We ask why go to the Nations when there is so much here to be done. We miss it. We so limit how glorious and great God is.

We have lost focus of God’s glory and scope.

He is worthy of worship- everywhere.

If your vision, your purpose, your goals, your worship – doesn’t extend to the world- it’s too small.

The thing about being called

I have lived the last 5 years in a foreign country. And had another year previously. I plan on going back soon. And living there for some time.

When people see me upon my return to the states they say “You must really like it there.”

A long-termer warned us people would think this and say it.

It’s natural to assume that. It makes sense. Why else would I be living there?

There are several advantages: It’s cheap, the food is good, there is a small tight community.

Plus, I actually like the pace of life.

Some may like the challenge -not me so much… Or the experience – but I could care less…

This is not the reason we’re there.

I don't really like it there that much, and i don't miss the place that much now that i've been gone.

Then why am I there?

Well, it’s not because it’s easy.

It’s not because I have better friends there.

It’s not because I like to travel.

It’s about God.

See… it’s not even what you may think… I don’t particularly love the people… or even like them.

The ministry is thriving… but it’s not easy.

If it were because of the people, I wouldn’t be there.

The reality is, the longer I’m in Asia… the more I dislike it. What I used to laugh at annoys me. What I used to tolerate, grates at me. What I used to see as innocent, I see as sinful. And what used to taste good, is old. What used to be nice, is aggravating.

The longer I am there, the more I see sin, the more I experience people taking advantage of me, the more people frustrate me.

But that is why I am there… b/c these people NEED Jesus.

BUT…

The Need itself is not enough… there is need everywhere!

 But this is where God called us. This is where God wants us to be.

And we are glad to be there.

We see God at work.

We experience His power and grace and faithfulness and provision

We grow in our faith… we depend on Him.

And we enjoy His glory.

God is working around the world, amongst the nations – and we want to be part of that.

Psalm 67 fuels my passion.

May the peoples praise You oh God

Shine your face upon them.

May the peoples praise You!

As Piper states “Missions exists because worship doesn’t”

We have seen God work. We have seen lives changed. We have seen movements develop. We have been amazed.

No, it’s not easy. And it is not fun. We don’t just have compassion on the people… but we do want to see God’s glory in the Nations. And that is the place to be.

We’re there for God’s Glory.

Ultimately though, it’s God’s Call.

We go because this is where God has called us to be.

It is hard. We long for stability. We long for a home. We long for good friends.

We know Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Acts: 20:22-24 is my calling verse:

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

I don’t know what will happen to me – except suffering – but I go bound by the Holy Spirit.

I don’t consider my life dear to myself, only that I may finish the course God has given me.

We want to see God’s Name Glorified.

We want to experience God’s glory.

We want to be where God wants us to be.

It’s about being where God wants us to be: for His purposes, His glory – in my life & in the world

We don’t make decision based on what we like or dislike. Not because it is easy, or because of the challenge. We don’t go b/c it is fun or an adventure, and experience or fun. We don’t go to feel good about ourselves, or simply to feel good.  We go bound by the Holy Spirit. We go to follow God. We go to honor Christ. We go to experience God’s glory. We go to worship. We’re there, because that is where God wants us to be.