Change and Hope

We may mention the situations of poverty - often on an intolerable scale - which have been created in not a few countries, and which are often the cause of mass migration. The community of believers in Christ is challenged by these inhuman situations: the proclamation of Christ and the kingdom of God must become the means for restoring the human dignity of these people.

Biblical Mandate for Missions

Isaiah is littered with the biblical mandate for missions!

For example in chapter twelve, “LORD we are thankful and we will worship only you. We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done!” One would assume this came right out of the New Testament however it was written 700 years before Christ! This is the answer to what the Bible says about would missions and why we should; because we are thankful and as an act of worship to our creator we will tell the world of what he has done!

This mandate is rooted in the very character of God. God has revealed Himself as a seeking missionary God. He is the God of creation and redemption. He is the God of the universe and the God of salvation for mankind. He has created human beings with the potential to know Him and serve His purposes. He has placed in the life of every human being the distinctive feature known biblically as the “image of God.”

 

John, in one particular chapter shares that there will be a future judgment (5:28-30), but it is already active now (5:22-23), so the believer is beyond the judgment (5:24-27). He is concerned that we understand who Jesus is as well as the eschatological realities present in his ministry. Those who have experienced the reality of the gift of the Father, the supremacy of the Son and the eschatological reality of passing from death to life (cf. 5:24)--have received the good news. Then, near the end of his gospel, John will make the point that those who enter this reality are commissioned themselves to share it (20:21-22).

 

 

God's purpose regarding evil

A tsunami wipes out an unsuspecting village. An act of violence kills an innocent bystander. A criminal goes free on a technicality. A child is abused. We ask ourselves why is there evil in the world and can this be a part of God’s plan? It all causes us to wonder if God is watching, if He cares, or if He even exists at all.

Jesus had to share our humanity, because that gave Him authority to defeat the devil. The power of the devil came through human disobedience and sin. By paying the penalty for sin, Jesus destroyed his authority. Forgiveness of sin translated into defeat of evil powers and authorities.

Satan’s PLAN was defeated to stop the promised Messiah from fulfilling His mission from God the Father on behalf of the human race here on Earth, and that mission of God was to take full punishment for each and every person’s sins, which He DID by being crucified on the cross, and the visible proof of that victory was that Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead three days later, and many spirits who had been waiting for this moment in time were released from captivity and were allowed to follow Jesus into the heavens!

The world is not man's eternal destiny, but the kingdom of God. Man cannot become too attached to the goods that are linked to a perishable world.
We find unceasing cries for "peace," "love," "toleration," and "unity." For what purpose? So that the Church might present a united front in order to present the gospel to the lost millions. What is hindering the battle for souls? 

The kingdom of God is not food and drink. It is righteousness, peace, and joy which come by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The one who serves Christ in this way—depending on the work of the Spirit for all the help you need and renouncing all self-reliance—pleases God and manifests His kingdom in the church and extends His kingdom in the world.

The words of our prayer
meaningful in the context of our worship today
the charge for the congregation, for each of our hearts
to fight against evil, no matter where we find it
a unison prayer, on Memorial Day
to not rest on the past
but to march on
to work as we may
to fearlessly contend against evil
with the aid of God.
This is our prayer.

The transformed life in Christ is our focus, releasing His power and presence to transform society physically, socially, spiritually, intellectually in establishing His Kingdom.

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