President of UnveilinGlory

 

Many years ago I was speaking to a missions committee and asked them the question, "How many passages can you name that directly relates to the Great Commission?"  They discussed it for a while and came up with two: Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20.  They were sending out couples with children to the Muslim world where martyrdom was a very real possibility, and they did this based only on two passages!
 
Basing missions on only two passages non-verbally communicates to the average Christian that missions is not that big of a deal.  Go to someone who has done extensive research on money in the Bible and they will gladly tell you that there are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that deals with money.  2,000 verses versus 2 passages-obviously God cares a lot more about how we use our money than He does on winning the world to Himself.  Or does He?
 
For the longest time as a believer, I read my Bible incorrectly as 66 independent books with various messages woven throughout it.  But someone finally stopped me and showed me how to read my Bible as one book, with one introduction, one story and one conclusion.  Once I read it that way, there was no turning back!
 
The introduction is found in Genesis 1-11.  In it God sets the stage by creating diversity (the tower of Babel) so He can bring it back together in harmony through His son Jesus Christ. 
 
Once the nations are created, God wastes no time and immediately makes a commitment to reach every one of those groups of people that were created at the tower of Babel.  He did this in a promise to Abram in Genesis 12 where He says two basic things:  "Abe, I want to bless you and I want you to be a blessing to all the families (people groups) on the face of the earth."  Because He used the one word "all," what we really have here is the Great Commission!
 
Now for the longest time I always thought Jesus gave the Great Commission as if it were a previously undisclosed purpose of God.  But Jesus didn't give the Great Commission, He reviewed it with His disciples by pulling out the Old Testament Scriptures and teaching them that "repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached to all nations" (Luke 24:45-47.)  You see, the Great Commission was 2,000 years old when Jesus came on the scene.  It is 4,000 years old today.  It is the very heart of God.
 
The conclusion is seen in Revelation chapter 5 verse 9 where we read that He did indeed redeem people from "every tongue, tribe and nation."  In other words, what God set out to do in a promise to Abraham, God pulls off at the very end of time.  Genesis holds the promise, Revelation shows the fulfillment.  Promise, fulfillment-promise, fulfillment-everything in between, is one story.  The story of a God who is creating diversity and bringing it back together in harmony!
 
There aren't merely two passages that talk about missions.  The entire word of God points to God's heart for the nations.  And all of the other verses need to be understood in context of what God has been doing for 4,000 years!  Once you read your Bible that way, you'll never see it the same again.

Sixteen:Fifteen is excited about our newest ministry partner: Unveiling Glory ministries. 
 
Unveiling Glory, probably best known for the teaching and writing of Bob Sjorgen, exists to "unveil God's glory with the church, so believers of all ages passionately radiate His glory in all areas of their lives and become engaged in revealing it to all peoples of the world."  They do this by offering seminars, retreats, videos and other resources designed to help believers understand the greater picture of the Bible (God's glory) and how to become involved in the spread of the same.
 
One quite popular seminar is called Cat and Dog Theology, which creatively highlights the difference in these two popular pets and how they represent two common approaches to God. Some Christians act like cats in that they seek God primarily to have their own needs met and their own lives made more comfortable. But others, who have truly caught a vision for the glory and honor of God, relate to God more like a dog. They are willing to do anything for the Master and are constantly seeking to please Him!
 
Cat and Dog has been translated into six languages and has been taught in more than 30 countries. It and numerous other powerful teachings are usually presented in church-wide seminars, which can be customized to fit the particular needs and wishes of a local church.
 
At Sixteen:Fifteen, we are passionate about God's glory - especially as it relates to spreading it to "every nation, tribe, people and language" (Rev 7:9) We have often seen what happens within a local church as members collectively gain a vision for the spread of God's glory. Interest and involvement in missions increases. People give, pray and go.
And as people give, pray, and go their passion increases - and it spreads to others. 
 
If you would like to see this sort of passion for God's glory-and for missions-increase within your congregation, check out Unveiling Glory at www.unveilinglory.com, or call Mark Elkins at 1-804-212-9286 to find out how they can partner with you in motivating your church to fulfill the Great Commission.  Be sure to tell them that we sent you.

 

 

  

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Before Isaiah could GO on mission with God, he had to GAZE upon Him in worship. Learn how a passion for God in worship must precede the offer of God in missions.