This week, Chris and Susanne Donaldson, from Christchurch New Zealand, came to speak on the Missions heart of God.
One fact that they shared is that only 2% of all missionaries are reaching to the people who have not been reached. Only 2%.
God is a God of Missions. In the Old Testament, God sets up the Israelites to be missionaries. In Deut. 4:5-8 Moses says that if you follow the Law, the Nations will see how we are at peace, how we are not sick, and how we are in tune with our God.
And in Joshua, the cities that are to be conquered by the Israelites are trembling with fear because God has delivered them from Pharaohs hand by parting the Red Sea.
Every one around them were seeing, and recognizing that their God is a God that was real.
Chris also talked about the different roles that missionaries are to take on, according to their gifts.
Paul was the Pioneer. Romans 12:20, 2nd Cor. 11:22-24, Acts 20:3,4
Phillip was the Evangelist. Acts 8:4-8, Acts 8:26-36, Acts 11:19-20
Barnabus was the Encourager and Supporter. Acts 4:36-37, Acts 9:26-27, Acts 13:1,2
Gaius was for Hospitality. 3rd John 5-9
And there are many more to add to the list...
We then talked about how even when there is former existence of God in Nations, he will still make himself known.
In Athens when Paul was visiting, he went to debate with the scholars of the day. He then brought up the alter to the "Unknown God." Who that Unknown God was, was the Lord Almighty.
In the 6th Century BC, there was a very bad plague that was going around Athens. Once they had all offered sacrifices to the major gods (Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, ect...) they then went to the Oracles of the day. God gave a vision to the Oracle of Delfi to go see the Poet Epimenides regarding the matter. Epemenides said that you should get sheep to fast for several days, and when the days are up, send them out. Where they lay down, you will build an alter, and sacrifice to this God. Epimenides did not give the name of the Lord, because he did not know it. One thing about sheep is that they will not lay down until they have been feed, and their stomach is full. For the Greeks to see starving sheep laying down was a sign to them that this "unknown god" was the true God. Once they made the sacrifice, the plague stopped, and they want back to their ways.
God will make himself known to nations, but needs us to be his hands and feet to reach to the nations that are waiting, and hungry for the truth. When God calls you to a certain area, he will also call others to support you.
God is a God of Missions. Amen?
Thank you for your continual prayers and support!
God Bless you all!
David.
God will make himself known to nations, but needs us to be his hands and feet to reach to the nations that are waiting, and hungry for the truth. When God calls you to a certain area, he will also call others to support you.
God is a God of Missions. Amen?
Thank you for your continual prayers and support!
God Bless you all!
David.
3 comments:
I'm not so sure the "Unknown God" was necessarily the God of the Bible. The statue was erected because they were so fearful of somehow missing a god, and therefore bringing damnation on themselves. Paul used that statue as a point of intersection between their radically different world and his. He proclaimed the truth by starting with something they knew. I understand what you meant, though. I've always just thought this was a very interesting passage of Scripture. If you go do end up going to Millar, Jorin Green will teach you a lot on that subject. :) Miss you lots!
PS you may get more comments if you allow anonymous comments on your blog... just a thought. Most people will put their names anyways, if it's someone you know.
What the speaker was getting at was that before he started spitting off random fact, Paul did some reaserch and spiritual mapping before he taught in the area. Before we go into an unknown area, we need to find what are the needs/beliefs/spiritual strong holds in the particular area in question.
thank you Andrea, I miss you guys too!
:( :)
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