They were also to be God's witnesses (Is. 43:12). Israel tragically failed God's purpose in both. Other than some psalms, we see no record of their praying for the salvation of the nations. (Google image, Israel flag).
Then God raised up the church to fulfill His plan for the world. We are now to be exercising the role which Israel failed to fulfill. We in the church are now to be God's kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:5; 9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10).
God's means of blessing the world (Rom. 12:14; 1 Cor. 4:12; James 3:9). We are to be God's salt (Matt.5:13), light (Matt. 5:14, 16; Eph. 5:8). and witnesses (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8).
GOD'S GREAT PLAN
God is the Supreme Planner. Before the beginning of creation, God planned for creation, earth, time eternity, humankind, the atonement, and His people (Matt. 25:34; Eph. 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20; Rev. 13:8).
God's plan is that of all creation His special care relates to this earth. Of all beings He created, God chose a unique role for humankind. He created us in His own image, sending His Son to be eternally incarnate as man and in no other form.
He planned for only one group of beings to share eternally in closest personal relation to His Son as the Son's bride — the church. The angels of God are assigned to assist and care for redeemed humanity (Heb. 1:14). None other is to be God's deputy ruler of earth (Gen 1:26, 28; Ps. 115:16).
We are to be God's witness on earth and God's evidence to help the angels understand God better (Eph. 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12). Only we can lead people to Christ. The Holy Spirit works with and through us. Only we share Christ's present priority ministry of intercession (Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim. 2:1).
Christ perfectly completed the atonement. We preach the finished work of Christ in accomplishing redemption for humankind (John 17:4; 19:30; Eph. 3:11). However, He placed upon the church the responsibility of making His plan of redemption available to the world.
This is the great unfinished work of the church and in that sense is the great unfinished work of Christ. It consists primarily of intercession (which He also continues with us) and witnessing-evangelism (Matt. 24:14).
A chief responsibility of all church leaders now is to prepare every member to participate in an all-out harvest crusade of intercession and witness to complete Christ's unfinished task. His great eternal plan. For all we do to this end, He will eternally reward us. This is God's priority for the church in this age.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
blaze for God
#55 Prepare Your People for Eternal Reward
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 172-173) ZondervanPublishingHouse
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| Praying man |
Father, Israel failed Your original purpose of being priests for the whole world, so the church has now been called to be a kingdom of priests, for that purpose.
You mean for us to bless the whole world; by being the salt needed to enrich our effectiveness, a light that draws people to Him like moths to natural light, and we're to be witnesses of Your grace through Your Son's work of salvation on the cross.
You've placed upon the church the responsibility of making Your plan of redemption available to the whole world, which includes Israel, Your beloved people.
Christ's unfinished work of the church consists primarily of intercession, which He continues to do along with us in heaven. He is guiding our witnessing-evangelism efforts, too.
Help our church leaders prepare every member to participate in the local harvesting of precious souls for the Kingdom.
We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen
Today's Bible verses-
Rom. 15:13 KJV) "Now the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in
hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Eph. 5:27 (KJV) "That he might present it [the Church] to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
and without blemish."
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) "But without faith it is impossible
to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him."
Rom. 15:13 KJV) "Now the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in
hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Eph. 5:27 (KJV) "That he might present it [the Church] to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
and without blemish."
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) "But without faith it is impossible
to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him."
Today's quotes-
~Adam Holz- "Spills are almost never a good thing. But there might be one exception. The apostle Paul uses that image of overflowing to describe a people so full of God's Spirit that what naturally spills out of them is hope (Romans 15:13).
I love that picture of being filled to the brim with joy, peace, and faith because of His powerful presence in our lives. So much so, in fact, that we can't help but exude and express winsome confidence in our heavenly Father.
That might be during the beautiful, sunny seasons of our lives. Or when the proverbial cup of our lives gets jostled. Either way, what sloshes out over the top is life-giving hope to those around us who are 'drenched' by it. By Adam Holz
Lord, spills happen in life. But when they do, help us to be so full of Your Spirit that what pours out of us is the kind of hope that others can't help but notice and be blessed by.
The Father gave us the Spirit to make us like the Son."
(Taken from Our Daily Bread®, © 5/18,2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. www.odb.org)
~ Brent Riggs- "We suffer because the world hates Jesus. We suffer because we proclaim a single path to salvation. We suffer because declaring something sinful convicts those who indulge. We suffer because we still live in sin-cursed bodies and a sin-cursed
world. We suffer a “little while” then comes perfection, security, strength, peace and reward. It is a small price to pay for our eternal salvation which we did not deserve, could not earn, and cost Jesus His all." (Taken from Serious Faith)
world. We suffer a “little while” then comes perfection, security, strength, peace and reward. It is a small price to pay for our eternal salvation which we did not deserve, could not earn, and cost Jesus His all." (Taken from Serious Faith)
Do you know that you have a personal garden to keep?
We've all been called to be keepers of what we've been entrusted with.
1. Steward the garden of our words. James 3:5 speaks about our tongues. Eph. 4:29 recommends we take the opportunity to use them for the Gospel. Prov. 15:23 tells us that "a word spoken in due season" is good! Pro. 16:23 tells us that the heart of the wise teaches his mouth, adding learning to his lips.
2. Phil. 4:29 speaks of not allowing corrupt communications to come out of our mouths, but that which is good to the use of edifying. Prov. 4:23 we're to keep our hearts with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
3. Our devotions: reading the Bible and prayer. Ps. 1:2 our delight should be in the law of the Lord; to meditate on it day and night.
4. Our Health: We're to purpose in our hearts to tend our own selves, as to what goes into our bodies. Fasting is good for the body at times, as it lets the body know it is not in charge.
5. Our Time: We need to learn to not waste our time by our being diligent to make and keep boundaries. Ps. 90:12 tells us to number our days so we can apply our hearts to receive wisdom.
6. Our finances: Prov. 28:20 tells us that a faithful man will abound in blessings, but someone who is in a hurry to get rich, won't be innocent.
7. Steward your house: get in there and work! Bloom where you are planted.
8. Family: rule your own family with God's help. Ask for wisdom to deal with "weeds."
9. Steward your dreams: get busy with your dreams, or cross them off.
10. Your calling: tend your weeds in your garden. 1 Tim. 6:6 tells us that "godliness with contentment is great gain." Prov. 16:3 tells us we're to commit our works unto the Lord, so our thoughts will be established.
We've all been called to be keepers of what we've been entrusted with.
1. Steward the garden of our words. James 3:5 speaks about our tongues. Eph. 4:29 recommends we take the opportunity to use them for the Gospel. Prov. 15:23 tells us that "a word spoken in due season" is good! Pro. 16:23 tells us that the heart of the wise teaches his mouth, adding learning to his lips.
2. Phil. 4:29 speaks of not allowing corrupt communications to come out of our mouths, but that which is good to the use of edifying. Prov. 4:23 we're to keep our hearts with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
3. Our devotions: reading the Bible and prayer. Ps. 1:2 our delight should be in the law of the Lord; to meditate on it day and night.
4. Our Health: We're to purpose in our hearts to tend our own selves, as to what goes into our bodies. Fasting is good for the body at times, as it lets the body know it is not in charge.
5. Our Time: We need to learn to not waste our time by our being diligent to make and keep boundaries. Ps. 90:12 tells us to number our days so we can apply our hearts to receive wisdom.
6. Our finances: Prov. 28:20 tells us that a faithful man will abound in blessings, but someone who is in a hurry to get rich, won't be innocent.
7. Steward your house: get in there and work! Bloom where you are planted.
8. Family: rule your own family with God's help. Ask for wisdom to deal with "weeds."
9. Steward your dreams: get busy with your dreams, or cross them off.
10. Your calling: tend your weeds in your garden. 1 Tim. 6:6 tells us that "godliness with contentment is great gain." Prov. 16:3 tells us we're to commit our works unto the Lord, so our thoughts will be established.
Upcoming posts-
#56 Two Great Ages for the Church
5/24th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
God's Loving Pursuit
26th- Saturday's post by Max Lucado
#57 The Two-fold Role of Every Christian Leader
29th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#58 The Day of Accountability is Coming
31st- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#56 Two Great Ages for the Church
5/24th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
God's Loving Pursuit
26th- Saturday's post by Max Lucado
#57 The Two-fold Role of Every Christian Leader
29th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#58 The Day of Accountability is Coming
31st- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Jean's published book Paper back $7.95
(Be sure to "look inside" to see contents
through the 2nd devotion)
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