Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come
Matthew 24:14
If we truly and earnestly long for Christ’s return than we would spend ourselves completing the prerequisite for his return. The end will not come until every nation receives a credible testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ has not yet returned; therefore we have not completed our task! If we truly love the Lord’s returning than we would do everything to bring to Gospel to every nation of the world. I believe that the church today has the potential to fulfill this purpose in this generation. With millions of believers, and billions of dollars at our disposal what is stopping us from sharing the Gospel with everyone in every nation. Is it foreign policy, if so, we are instructed to obey the governments only if it doesn’t contradict with God. Should we not be willing to put of lives on the line for the sake of Christ. Just because a country is dangerous or hostile, should that stop of from sharing the gospel…no, but it does. We need to love Jesus to the point that his returning would be the greatest thing we could imagine. His kingdom needs to be our number 1 priority, greater than RRSPS , GICs or even mutual funds. He needs to be more than a weekend or weekday topic suited for church related activities or helps us when we need help. Do our plans for that long-waited retirement stunt our passion for his return, what about business goals, family goals, or even our next meal?
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38
Anna was fasting and praying all night seeking the redemption of Israel. In verse 38 she meets the Messiah child and she thanks God for speaks of him as the one who will redeem Israel. For Anna yearning for the redemption of Israel meant a life of fasting and prayer. I think God included this story to show us how the believer who loves the Lord’s appearing will act in response to their longings. Oh how much better we know God’s promises than Anna did. The following is quoted from John Piper:
“Her hopes were based on the promises of God like ours are. But oh, how much more we have seen than she had seen. How much more of the Messiah we know and can hope for! She has never heard the words of authority and wisdom and love as we have. She never saw the blind receive their sight and the lame walk and lepers cleansed and the deaf hear and dead raised to life and the poor evangelized the way Jesus did it. She never saw him consecrate himself in Gethsemane, or be crucified for our sakes on Golgotha. She never heard the merciful words, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” or the triumphant words, “It is finished.” She never saw him risen from the dead triumphant over sin and death and hell. And yet from what she knew of him in the Old Testament, she yearned for him and fasted with prayers day and night awaiting “the redemption of Israel.”
But we have, and we have seen all these things. We knew Jesus a hundred times better than Anna did. Yet we long for him less than Anna did. God forgive us for this, and renew in us a longing for your return, a passion like Anna’s praying and fasting for your return day and night.
God, we confess our lack of zeal for your return, forgive for our luke warmness. I pray that we as a body would long for your return above all other earthly goals, May we seek for ways each to share the gospel with unsaved nations, living as a testimony of your love, and sharing it with the people around us. Oh Lord, we want your work to be done and your kingdom to come.
Soli Deo Gloria, In Jesus name, Amen
Matthew 28:19-20
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come
Matthew 24:14
If we truly and earnestly long for Christ’s return than we would spend ourselves completing the prerequisite for his return. The end will not come until every nation receives a credible testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ has not yet returned; therefore we have not completed our task! If we truly love the Lord’s returning than we would do everything to bring to Gospel to every nation of the world. I believe that the church today has the potential to fulfill this purpose in this generation. With millions of believers, and billions of dollars at our disposal what is stopping us from sharing the Gospel with everyone in every nation. Is it foreign policy, if so, we are instructed to obey the governments only if it doesn’t contradict with God. Should we not be willing to put of lives on the line for the sake of Christ. Just because a country is dangerous or hostile, should that stop of from sharing the gospel…no, but it does. We need to love Jesus to the point that his returning would be the greatest thing we could imagine. His kingdom needs to be our number 1 priority, greater than RRSPS , GICs or even mutual funds. He needs to be more than a weekend or weekday topic suited for church related activities or helps us when we need help. Do our plans for that long-waited retirement stunt our passion for his return, what about business goals, family goals, or even our next meal?
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38
Anna was fasting and praying all night seeking the redemption of Israel. In verse 38 she meets the Messiah child and she thanks God for speaks of him as the one who will redeem Israel. For Anna yearning for the redemption of Israel meant a life of fasting and prayer. I think God included this story to show us how the believer who loves the Lord’s appearing will act in response to their longings. Oh how much better we know God’s promises than Anna did. The following is quoted from John Piper:
“Her hopes were based on the promises of God like ours are. But oh, how much more we have seen than she had seen. How much more of the Messiah we know and can hope for! She has never heard the words of authority and wisdom and love as we have. She never saw the blind receive their sight and the lame walk and lepers cleansed and the deaf hear and dead raised to life and the poor evangelized the way Jesus did it. She never saw him consecrate himself in Gethsemane, or be crucified for our sakes on Golgotha. She never heard the merciful words, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” or the triumphant words, “It is finished.” She never saw him risen from the dead triumphant over sin and death and hell. And yet from what she knew of him in the Old Testament, she yearned for him and fasted with prayers day and night awaiting “the redemption of Israel.”
But we have, and we have seen all these things. We knew Jesus a hundred times better than Anna did. Yet we long for him less than Anna did. God forgive us for this, and renew in us a longing for your return, a passion like Anna’s praying and fasting for your return day and night.
God, we confess our lack of zeal for your return, forgive for our luke warmness. I pray that we as a body would long for your return above all other earthly goals, May we seek for ways each to share the gospel with unsaved nations, living as a testimony of your love, and sharing it with the people around us. Oh Lord, we want your work to be done and your kingdom to come.
Soli Deo Gloria, In Jesus name, Amen
