Monday: The Desire of Ages
Jesus Christ is Lord of both the church and the world. His coming is a fulfillment of the Old Testament expectations of a saved community that would extend far beyond the Jewish people. The coming of Jesus, especially His suffering and resurrection, ushered in a new age in which the distinction between Jew and Gentile, as far as the gospel is concerned, disappears.
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
Jerusalem would remain the center, at least for a while. However, the point of departure was no longer Herod’s temple in Jerusalem but the Jews converted to Christ; they had become the living temple. These Christian Jews would then be the true remnant
of Israel at that time in the early church, the ones called to bring the gospel to the world.
This announcement of the worldwide, universal mission of Christ as Savior of all nations was repeated at His birth, during His childhood, and at His baptism.
What do the following texts teach about the universal mission of Jesus to the world?
No question, Jesus came as the Savior for all humanity. What does this truth mean for us in the context of mission?
The missionary spirit needs to be revived in our churches. Every member of the church should study how to help forward the work of God, both in home missions and in foreign countries. Scarcely a thousandth part of the work is being done that ought to be done in missionary fields. God calls upon His workers to annex new territory for Him. There are rich fields of toil waiting for the faithful worker.
—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 29.
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I've found myself oftentimes asking why have we grown to be such a power driven church/ people. Why aren't we mission built people. Being about the missionary kind to me is way more important that power. I'm more concerned about my soul salvation and others soul salvation then who's in charge of this or that.
Very good observation, Danielle, regarding the power struggles in our church. I suppose this can stem from a lack of understanding of what church is all about. If church is viewed as an institution, it becomes a place for power struggles. If church is seen as a movement with a mission to save souls for the kingdom, human power becomes a non-issue because the Lord's work is run, empowered and directed by His Spirit (Zech 4:6)
He was supposed to be the “Desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7). When the Messiah showed up among His chosen (Deuteronomy 7:6), the people whom He led through the waters (Red Sea) and wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-5); and out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9) did not seem to recognize the Rock of their salvation (Deuteronomy 32:15). And the builders despised and rejected the foundational stone of abundant life (Acts 4:11).
Only a remnant of the Jews, a little flock embraced the true Desire of ages (Acts 1:14, 15). By and large the Jews sought a messiah who satisfied their standards of loveliness and fit their model of a savior and missed the mark.
Staying on mission at the cross the Savior introduced Himself to the world (including gentiles) in a way not previously done (John 12:32, 33). Even angels stood amazed. Still, the present dying race in need of new life is also failing to recognize what they ‘desire.’
They have been deceived into thrill seeking, pleasure pursuits and intemperate indulgences, hoping these fleeting experiences will make their lives full. They are also in danger of missing the mark, the seal of God (Revelation 7:3).
Can they and will they see in Jesus, the one fountain of eternal blessing and hope of salvation (Genesis 22:18)? Perhaps there is a little more time for a remnant to fully embrace the One for whom the heart has truly craved. The invitation is still open while the remnant is gathered together.
The remnant then honor their Lover and Lord not by selective focus on those things which they think will capture the imagination of the worldly or please the unregenerate heart, but by doing all that the Lord says (Matthew 28:20) in their life and testimony (Revelation 12:11). Theirs is a Holy Desire.
I am doing a survey, please answer the question in one sentence.
Jesus Christ is our Saviour, He came to seek and to save those that are lost.
What does it mean "to be saved"?
(Clue - think of how, what, who, why, where & when)
In one sentence. The term we would use is "The plan of salvation". The verse to a song that is the most well known hymn says, " I once was lost but now am found,was blind but now I see". "SAVED",salvation is a gift of Gods grace.
Because of God's grace I can be his daughter/son it means DADDY, I am home!
Living my life as an expression of gratitude to carryout His will, because of the great salvation God has granted to me through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering far from the fold of God; he to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood. -Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Everyone has sinned. The penalty for sin is death. Jesus died on the cross for our sin & arose on the 3rd day. To be saved means that I have been saved by grace (undeserved mercy) through faith. The Holy Spirit drew me to God & He gave me understanding & the faith to believe in a risen Savior & the knowledge that I was a sinner who was condemned & unable to save myself & that is why I needed a Savior. I repented, turned from my sins & confessed my sins. I asked Jesus to come into my heart to live in me. God has now changed me from the inside out & made me new, clean, & whole. I have been freed from the power of sin & the fear of death to live a life free of guilt, pain, & suffering. I have given my life completely to God. God is my new Master whom I will willingly serve because I am so grateful for a new chance at life. I will never be the same. I will continue to freely give myself to Him daily & I will spend time with Him daily in prayer & in Bible study so that I can know Him & become like Him. Best of all, He has promised to come back for me one day so I can live with Him forever. In the mean time, I know that He loves me completely & that He is my best friend who I can continue to trust, & that He will never leave me alone.
John 3:16
Hi Shirley, thank you for the timely survey question.
]To answer your query, may I add a qualifier: we are saved from the guilt and shame of sin (past), we are being saved from the power of sin (present) and we will be saved from the effects of sin--death, sickness, sorrow, pain -- (future): all these by the grace of God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Savior and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
A significant number of Christians do not understand that, when a person gives their heart to Jesus, two things happen at the same time: 1) Jesus forgives their sins, and 2) the Holy Spirit puts within them a desire to obey God--an attitude of obedience, if you will.
to be saved means to be redeemed from a fatal consequence
I am a child of God. The Lord has forgiven my sin. As I continue in this relationship with him, I will be saved when He comes again.
Its not a coincidence that the birth of Jesus Chrst was fulfilled and announced by different men at different intervals. He\'s truly the one who was foretold by the prophet Isaiah
Thank you to all for your answers, they are very insightful.
Maybe we can summarize them as follows:
Restoration to perfection by transformation, which is a miracle, so that we may love the LORD, be like Him and dwell with Him.
Unsatisfied Longings. The one thing that all the world is seeking after is power. Some seek it by means of wealth, others through politics, others through learning, and still others in various other ways; but in whatever enterprise men engage, the object is the same！power of some kind. There is in the heart of every man an unrest, an unsatisfied longing, placed there
by God Himself. The mad ambitious striving of some to exalt themselves at the expense of others, the unceasing struggle for wealth, and the reckless plunging into a giddy round of pleasures, are all vain endeavors to satisfy this longing. God has not placed in the human heart a craving for any of these things; and the pursuit of them is a perversion of that desire which He has implanted in the human breast. He desires that man should have His power; but none of the things which men ordinarily seek can give it. Consequently none of these things satisfy man. WHO IS THE DESIRE OF ALL HUMANITY?
Men may set a limit to the amount of wealth which they think to amass, in the vain idea that when that point is reached they will be satisfied; but when the fixed amount has been gained, they are as unsatisfied as ever; and so they go on seeking for satisfaction by piling up more wealth, not realizing that the desire of the heart can never be met in that manner. None but Christ can satisfy. He who implanted that desire is the only one who can satisfy it. God is manifested in Christ, and Christ is indeed "the desire of all nations," although there are so few who will believe that in Him alone is there perfect rest and entire satisfaction. To every unsatisfied mortal the invitation is given, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. "How precious is Thy loving-kindness, O God! and the children of men take refuge under the shadow of Thy wings....PSALM 36:7,8"
Power is what men desire in this world, and power in
what the Lord wants them to have. But the power which they are seeking would ruin them, while the power which He desires them to have is power that will save them. The Gospel brings to all men this power and it is nothing less than God's own power. Jesus Christ is "the power of God,"(1Cor1:24) so that only in Him can the longings of the heart be satisfied. Let us consider the nature of the power that he gives, for when we have discovered what it is, we shall have before us the whole Gospel.
The Power of the Gospel.
In the vision which the beloved disciple had of the time just preceding the coming of the Lord, the Gospel message which prepares men for that event is thus described:！ "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour...Revelation 14:6,7"
Jesus is our example on how we are to share the gospel with mankind. With this in mind we or I need to study his life with love and kindness he has drawn us and he has given to us the way in which we are to spread the gospel and let all know that judgment is coming and to tell our family as well as the world to repentance and warn them of the end of this world. That is love beyond measure. Help us Father to share in our home as well as on our job the warning to other of the coming judgment that we will all face when the books are open and we are judge according to the works we have done in this body.
I have given my heart to Jesus. He has taken away from me my sins, and my sinful nature(power, selfishness, pride, and poor stewardship), than replaced it simultaneously with a desire to obey--or as I lay my hand on Him, I appropriate His merits if you will, again simultaneous with His forgiveness of my sins, all as a gift to me, for chosing to give my heart to Him. I can not even give my heart to Him for He already owns it. "The cattle on a thousand hills are His." Psalms 50:10 You know what? Then the rich current of His love flows through my nervous system, and I jump up with vigor, and tell others what Christ has done for me. Just a chapter over, is my prayer the Psalmist gave me. Psalms 51:10. The desire of men and women through the ages is to be connected to God again. Heavenly Father I want to thank you for giving us your Son. Amen.
" The mystery of redemption plan for sins of humanity through Jesus Christ"... One sentence.
In my journey with the LORD I have been sidetracked too often and only when I realize what being saved means and why I want to be saved do I find I am truly following the Way.
I asked myself, why do I follow Jesus and this is my answer:
I follow Jesus not through fear of punishment nor for hope of reward, I follow Him because of who He is, because He loves me, because of His worldview, because of His wisdom, because of His divine power, I am drawn to Him and I want to be with Him and to become like Him.